Category Archives: Beer Reviews

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Pale Ale, Australia, Beer Reviews, Pirate Life Brewing

Pirate Life Pale Ale

Monday, 5 December 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Pirate Life Brewing
Country: Australia
ABV: 5.4%
Style: American Pale Ale
Other Notes: 50 IBUs. Malts – Ale Malt, Caramalt and Crystal. Hops – Mosaic and Cascade

Brewer Description: (from website) The ubiquitous Pale Ale. The workhorse of pretty much any modern brewery. The brief we gave ourselves for our flagship beer was that it should be able to be sent to any bar in San Diego and to stand proudly alongside the many great Pales produced in, and around, the west coast of the US. The schematic for a West Coast Pale Ale is bucket loads of big US hops, full malty backbone and a characterful yeast. That is what this Pale Ale is all about. Enjoy as fresh as possible.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.01
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 355ml can with a hard to read best before date, but I believe it says best before 22nd June 2017. Poured into a Mikkeller stemmed tasting glass.
Appearance: A slightly hazy copper amber colour with a big fluffy three finger off white head that dissipated fairly quickly, leaving some soapy lacing.
Aroma: Piney, citrusy grapefruit, caramel malt with a hint of tropical peach and mango.
Taste: Sweet caramel malt beginning with some tropical and stone fruits. Lightly bitter grapefruit and pine finish.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This is solid! Very easy and enjoyable drinking for any time of day and year.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, Deschutes Brewery, USA

Deschutes Sagefight Imperial IPA

Wednesday, 30 November 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 8%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: 75 IBUs. Malts – Pale, Crystal and Munich. Hops – Millennium, Bravo, Amarillo and Centennial. Other – Sage and Juniper Berries

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Citrusy hops go head to head with resinous sage and juniper berries in a flavour battle royale.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.03
My ratebeer.com rating: 2.9

Intro: A 355ml bottle with a best before date of 20th January 2017, poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear copper amber colour with a two finger foamy off white head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Strong herbal sage, pine, orange zest and blueberries with a touch of juniper berry.
Taste: Bitter, medicinal, sage and pine upfront with a juniper, wood and herbal finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: I like cooking with sage and juniper berries, but it just doesn’t seem to work for me in the few beers I’ve had including this one.

4 - Good (buy), American Pale Ale, Beer Reviews, Deschutes Brewery, USA

Deschutes Hop Trip

Wednesday, 30 November 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 6.1%
Style: American Pale Ale
Other Notes: 38 IBUs. Malts – Pale, Extra Special, Cara-Munich, Carapils and Munich. Hops – Bravo, Centennial and Fresh Crystal

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Hints of bright citrus and juicy grapefruit. The intense aroma of hops brewed mere hours after harvest.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.77
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 355ml bottle with a best before date of 26th December 2016, poured into a Mikkeller pint glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear copper amber colour with a two finger fluffy and foamy off white head that had decent retention and left thick-ish lacing.
Aroma: Leafy, grassy, pine with sweet pear, a hint of citrus and a light floral element.
Taste: Sweet and malty. Pine, grass and pear with hints of grapefruit, caramel and tea.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate to light carbonation.
Overall: It’s quite nice. Not getting as much of the citrus that others seem to be getting (I will try another bottle), but the sweet-ish pear, pine, tea combo works quite nicely for me.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, Stone Brewing Co., USA

Stone 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA

Tuesday, 29 November 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 9%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: 80 IBUs. Hops – Nugget, El Dorado, Centennial and Citra

Brewer Description: (from bottle) For 20 years our passion for brewing and our obsession with hops have challenged traditional styles and expectations for beer. So it’s only fitting we commemorate this momentous occasion by crafting a liquid ode to bold brewing that satisfies your hop thirst and pays homage to our flagship San Diego brewery, located on Citracado Parkway (which itself pays homage to the citrus and avocado agricultural history of the region).

“Citracado” also teases the two key ingredients of this beer. “Citra” refers both to the juicy gem of a hop and its citrusy (and tropical) aromas and flavors. “Cado” inspired us to utilize wonderful, native avocado flower honey. Combine the two and the result pours like silk abounds with enough hops to match our excitement for reaching this 20-year milestone. We thank you sincerely for the years of support and pledge that we will, as always, strive to live up to the reasons for your loyalty!

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.86
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 22 oz bomber, bottled on 28th August 2016, poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear copper amber colour with a huge four finger off white head that had excellent retention and left great lacing.
Aroma: Dank pine, caramel malt with citrusy mandarin, grapefruit and orange zest. Some tropical mango and peaches appear as it warms.
Taste: Citrus grapefruit bitterness, orange zest, lemon and pine with some light malt caramel and breadiness in the background.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to low carbonation.
Overall: It’s not bad, but I tried Stone’s 5th and 10th Anniversary IPAs over the past week and enjoyed them both slightly more than this 20th Anniversary Citracado IPA.

4 - Good (buy), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, Stone Brewing Co., USA

Stone 20th Anniversary Encore Series: 10th Anniversary IPA

Monday, 28 November 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 10%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: 2006 label, 2016 re-release. Hops – Summit, Chinook, Crystal and Simcoe

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Every one of you who spread the word has built up this brewery to what it is today. We can give no credit to a radio ad, to a TV ad or to a billboard – and I’m glad. MIKE PALMER // Team Stone since December 1998.

None of this would be possible if it weren’t for two visionaries. Greg Koch and Steve Wagner. Thanks for having the guts to go out and take a major risk and performing the near impossible. DAVE DYER // Team Stone since July 1998.

I came to the brewery almost seven years ago in response to a help wanted ad that read “if you like accounting and beer, send us your resume.” That’s for me, I thought. What the job really is, is much more than just accounting and much, much more than just beer. CONNIE GREEN // Team Stone since December 1999.

Stone is just not the company I work for, it is something I truly believe in. The culture, vision, attitude, and bragging rights over my friends and family make this company a passion for me. I appreciate all the Stone fans for their support over the years. JAKE RATZKE // Team Stone since January 2000.

My love to my family at home and to my Stone brothers and sisters and, of course, most of all to all the great Stone fans out there who make it all worth it. Cheers! MIKE LOPEZ // Team Stone since March 2000.

“Does Stone make a light beer?” NO! And stop asking, you wussies! KAREN WESTFALL // Team Stone since March 2000.

With the Stone 10th Anniversary IPA our love affair with the hop continues. My compliments and thanks to everyone who’s been a part of our history. We have an incredible Team here at Stone, and we’ve really enjoyed sharing our beers. GREG KOCH // Team Stone since October 1995.

Perhaps the most amazing thing is that after ten years there’s still so much I’d like to do with beer – more recipes to brew, experiments to try, other beers to sample and enjoy – that the next ten years won’t be nearly enough. STEVE WAGNER // Team Stone since October 1995.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.92
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 22 oz bomber, bottled on 25th August 2016, to be enjoyed by 23rd November 2016 (drank on the 27th, so I’m four days late). Poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear copper amber colour with a big three finger slightly off white colour with great retention and nice lacing.
Aroma: Tropical pineapple with touches of mango followed by citrusy grapefruit and mandarin, pine and a hint of caramel.
Taste: Caramel biscuit malt with a blast of tropical stone fruits, bitter citrusy mandarin and its zest with notes of pine and citrus pith.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and boozy on the finish.
Overall: This was nice, with my only minor complaint being that I’m not too fond of a boozy feel on IPAs or Double IPAs in this case. Other than that, I found it enjoyable.

words of another dreamy traveller