Category Archives: Style

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brasserie de Blaugies x Hill Farmstead Brewery, Farmhouse Saison

Blaugies x Hill Farmstead La Vermontoise

Friday, 13 May 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brasserie de Blaugies x Hill Farmstead Brewery
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: Belgian Saison
Other Notes: Collaboration beer

Brewer Description: A spelt saison brewed with Amarillo hops and made in collaboration with Hill Farmstead.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.99
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 750ml bottle with a best before end year of 2018 and poured into a Cantillon Iris ballon glass.
Appearance: It poured a very nice clear golden colour with a two finger white head that had pretty good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Farmhouse mustiness, straw, hay, red apple, honey, lemon zest and a hint of banana esters.
Taste: Cereal grains, honey, herbal, grassy, zesty lemon with a hint of peach and peppery spice.
Mouthfeel: Dry, light bodied with high lively prickly carbonation.
Overall: A solid saison from Blaugies and Hill Farmstead.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American IPA, Beer Reviews, Hong Kong, Moonzen Brewery

Moonzen Rose Oolong Session IPA

Thursday, 12 May 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Moonzen Brewery
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 4.5%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: Spring seasonal.

Brewer Description: (from facebook page) Introducing Moonzen Rose Oolong Session IPA (4.5%), with a luscious body and an enchanting aroma of hops and roses. Unbeknownst to all there existed a fifth Chinese beauty, 玫琳, who legend has it was so beautiful that the heavens would cry in admiration.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.69
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A 330ml bottle, bottled in March 2016 and poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a hazy golden orange colour with a puffy two finger white head that had great retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Tropical fruits of mango and pineapple with flowery rose, grass and tea.
Taste: Iced tea, grassy, herbal and flowery rose. Lightly bitter.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This was nice and easy to drink as its very tea like. Perhaps a bit too herbal and flowery for me though.

4 - Good (buy), Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Beer Reviews, Gose - Fruit, USA

Anderson Valley Briney Melon Gose

Thursday, 12 May 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 4.2%
Style: Gose – Fruit
Other Notes: Malt – Pale Two Row and Malted White Wheat. Hops – Bravo.

Brewer Description: (from website) Born from our passion for experimentation, our Briney Melon Gose boasts a thirst-quenching tartness that is perfectly balanced by subtle watermelon flavors and aromas. Gentle additions of sea salt create a refreshing harmony between the acidity and fruity sweetness leading to clean, dry finish.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.95
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 12 fl oz can with either a best before or canned on date that is not legible but should still be good. Poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy golden colour with one finger white head that dissipated quickly but left some stringy lacing.
Aroma: Lightly sour, a bit tangy with a hint of honeydew melon.
Taste: Salty, definitely salty and lightly sour before a nice refreshing kick of honeydew melon and watermelon. The finish is a light lasting sourness.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, light bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: I wasn’t impressed with my first sip, but I think I grew to like it more and more. Refreshing and easy to drink.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American IPA, Beer Reviews, Omnipollo, Sweden

Omnipollo Onda Mosaic IPA

Wednesday, 11 May 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Omnipollo
Country: Sweden
ABV: 7%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: Brewed by Omnipollo at De Proef Brouwerij (Belgium)

Brewer Description: (from website) Our second tribute to Sweden’s most prolific rapper. Onda 100% Mosaic IPA.

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

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 25th November 2016 and poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy golden orange with a one finger white head.
Aroma: Strong tropical aromas mainly of pineapple, peach, apricot and mango.
Taste: Taste was a bit more subdued with light mango and peach to start. This was followed by some grass, light grapefruit and lemon bitterness on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with light carbonation.
Overall: There was some great aromas here, but the taste could have used a kick as it was a bit weak. It could also have used a bit more carbonation. Having said that, it was still pleasant and easy to drink.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Brown Ale - Imperial, Clown Shoes Beer, USA

Clown Shoes The Barista

Tuesday, 10 May 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Clown Shoes Beer
Country: USA
ABV: 8.5%
Style: Brown Ale – Imperial
Other Notes: Brewed with Espresso, Oatmeal and Milk Sugars. Brewed and bottled by Mercury Brewing Co., Ipswich, MA.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A Clown Shoes legend, Brown Angel, put away her dancing shoes to focus on extracting espresso, brewing coffee, and pouring latte art with zen-like focus. The Barista Breakfast Brown is crafted with Maris Otter malt, flaked oatmeal, cold brewed espresso, milk sugars and the spirit of angel wings.

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

Intro: A 22 fl oz bomber bottled on 18th January 2016 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a dark brown colour with a darkish orange hue and a slightly more than one finger khaki creamy head that had decent retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Roasty espresso and brown sugar with hints of hazelnuts, almonds and chocolate milk.
Taste: Sweet-ish brown sugar, toffee and cacao nibs. Espresso was there but surprisingly not as much as expected considering how strong it was in the aromas. There was also a light nuttiness in the background.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with light carbonation.
Overall: This was pretty good. The aromas were nice and the taste was pretty good although I was hoping for more coffee. On top of that, it was pretty light bodied whereas I was expecting something thicker and closer to being mid to full bodied.

words of another dreamy traveller