Category Archives: Beer Reviews

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut, Garage Project, New Zealand

Garage Project Pas De Deux

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Brewery: Garage Project
Country: New Zealand
ABV: 11.6%
Style: Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut
Other Notes: Garage Project + Nautilus. Methode Aro Bière 2016

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A duet of perfect unison – strong blonde wort and the finest clear pressed pinot juice from Nautilus Estate’s sparkling vineyard. First blended and fermented together using a mixture of Belgian beer and champagne yeasts, then bottled and allowed to condition ‘sur lie’ for 18 months before being riddled and disgorged in the traditional method. The result of this intricate, painstaking process is a seamless union of beer and sparkling wine. A true pas de deux.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.91
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A corked and caged 750ml bottle, Methode Aro Bière 2016, poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy golden colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly to a thin ring around the glass, while leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: White grape, grape gummy candy, with ice wine notes.
Taste: Moderately sweet, vinous, white grape, candy sugar, with notes of apple, caramel and booze.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to low spritzy carbonation.
Overall: This was interesting, maybe more of a sipper for me, as the sweetness and booze combo is not my favourite.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Garage Project, IPA - New England / Hazy, New Zealand

Garage Project FRESH IPA (Jun 2020)

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Brewery: Garage Project
Country: New Zealand
ABV: 7%
Style: New England / Hazy IPA
Other Notes: Malts – Pilsner, Oats and Spelt. Hops – Simcoe, Centennial Cryo, Motueka and Azacca. Yeast – Wyeast 1318 London III

Brewer Description: (from can) Fresh IPA, a rolling, ever-changing monthly series of one-offs, brewed in small batches and available only from our brewery outlets, and only while stocks last. Each batch is an opportunity to try a new, brewery fresh IPA – unfiltered and unfined, showcasing a unique combination of yeast, malt and hops. Just fun, fresh hoppy beer at its best.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.1
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 440ml can, canned on 4th May 2020 (maybe… it’s not too legible). Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A hazy orange yellow colour with a three finger white head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Strong citrus pith, orange and lemon zest, with notes of pine and grass.
Taste: Juicy, papaya, melon, mango, citrus zest and pith, lightly bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a dry finish.
Overall: Easy drinking IPA with enjoyable aroma and flavours.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Brazil, Cervejaria Dádiva, Farmhouse Saison

Dádiva Saison Printemps

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Brewery: Cervejaria Dádiva
Country: Brazil
ABV: 5.9%
Style: Belgian Saison
Other Notes: 2017 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle in Portuguese) A Dádiva Printemps é única. Feita com pêssego e brettanomyces bruxellensis ela te convida a viajar por um horizonte selvagem, cheio de mistérios, cores e aromas. Tudo isso, com o frescor e a leveza da primavera.

(translated to English) Dádiva Printemps is unique. Made with peach and brettanomyces bruxellensis it invites you to travel across a wild horizon, full of mysteries, colors and aromas. All of this, with the freshness and lightness of spring.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.85
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A corked and caged 375ml bottle, with a best before date of September 2020. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A very lightly hazy orange colour with a half finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly while leaving some decent lacing.
Aroma: Light funk, brett, peach, apricot, honey, pineapple, mandarin zest and a touch floral.
Taste: Funky, brett, floral, light sweetness, apricot, white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: The carbonation was an issue here, but I also read many instances even up to early 2018 where the carbonation was lost. However, despite this, there was definitely some interesting aroma and flavours coming through.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Estonia, Põhjala, Stout - Imperial

Põhjala Cellar Series Pime Öö PX

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Brewery: Põhjala
Country: Estonia
ABV: 13.9%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Pedro Ximenez Sherry Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. 60 IBUs. Malts – Pale, Munich, Special B, Crystal 300, Crystal 150, Crystal 200, Carafa type 2 special, Chocolate Malt, Chocolate Rye and Oats. Hops – Magnum and Northern Brewer

Brewer Description: (from bottle) An Imperial Stout brewed for the darkest night of the year, aged in Pedro Ximenez sherry barrels.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.9
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 330ml red waxed bottle with a best before date of 10th June 2022. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a half finger brown head that dissipated quickly while leaving only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Toasted malts, tar, chocolate, brown sugar, sherry, wood, licorice, dark fruit, plum.
Taste: Sweet, sweet malt, light roast, chocolate, sherry, wood, syrupy, dark fruit, raisin, with notes of mixed berries.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: It’s got good complexity, but due to the sweetness, it was definitely a sipper. It was probably too sweet for my taste and it showed as it took a long time for me to finish.

4 - Good (buy), Barleywine - American, Beer Reviews, Estonia, Põhjala

Põhjala Cellar Series Odravein Bourbon BA

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Brewery: Põhjala
Country: Estonia
ABV: 14%
Style: American Barleywine
Other Notes: Bourbon barrel aged Barleywine. 65 IBUs. Malts – Pale, Melanoid, Cara Pale, Cara 150 and Cara 300. Hops – Magnum, Cascade and Goldings

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Our anniversary barley wine, aged in bourbon barrels.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.37
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 330ml dark blue waxed bottle with a best before date of 23rd September 2022. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: It was a slightly rusty orange brown colour with a half finger beige head that dissipated fairly quickly while leaving only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Sweet, fruit cake, raisin, plum, fig, bourbon, caramel, toffee, and lemon cream.
Taste: Bourbon, wood, caramel, toffee, dark fruit, raisin, fig, cherry, dried fruit, with notes of sherry and piney hops.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Going on the aroma, I was worried this was going to be too sweet, but I was pleasantly surprised as the flavour was well balanced and the sweetness subdued. This is a really good and enjoyable sipper.