4 - Good (buy), Ballast Point Brewing Company, Beer Reviews, Porter - Imperial, USA

Ballast Point Victory At Sea

Friday, 25 November 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 10%
Style: American Imperial Porter
Other Notes: 60 IBUs. Porter with coffee & vanilla

Brewer Description: (from website) A big porter crafted to weather any storm. Our Victory at Sea Imperial Porter is a bold, smooth brew with just the right amount of sweetness. We infused this robust porter with vanilla and San Diego’s own Caffe Calabria coffee beans. The subtle roasted notes and minimal acidity of the cold brewed coffee, balances perfectly with the sweet caramel undertones of the malt, creating a winning combination for your palate.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.15
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with a Julian bottled on date of 16044, meaning it was bottled on 13th February 2016. Poured into a snifter.
Appearance: It poured an almost black colour with a just over one finger tanned head that had decent retention and left sparse lacing.
Aroma: Roasted coffee bean, milk chocolate with hints of vanilla plus caramel.
Taste: Starts with roasty malt and bittersweet chocolate, followed by light caramel sweetness and a hint of vanilla. Finishes with strong espresso bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium to full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: Not getting as much vanilla as I would have hoped for, but still has nice roasty and bittersweet chocolate and coffee flavours.

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

Young Master 1842 Island Imperial IPA

Thursday, 24 November 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Young Master Brewery
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 8%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: 80 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from bottle) 1842 Island is a bold Imperial IPA that coaxes out and showcases every facet of an outsized malt and hop bill. It’s potent hop character is supported by a robust malt backbone lending it incredible complexity. Savor every sip as the flavor nuances unfold and culminate in a lingering, satisfying finish.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.81
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 31st May 2017, poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a hazy dark amber colour with slightly less than two finger off white head that had great retention and left nice sticky lacing.
Aroma: Strong caramel malts, citrusy grapefruit, pine and touches of floral elements.
Taste: Bitter and herbal with some grapefruit zest, caramel and toffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to low carbonation.
Overall: Nice lingering bitterness with pretty good malt and hop balance.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Pale Ale, Beer Reviews, Hong Kong, Young Master Brewery

Young Master Classic Pale Ale

Thursday, 24 November 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Young Master Brewery
Country: Hong Kong
ABV: 5%
Style: American Pale Ale
Other Notes: 35 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A true classic that won’t go out of fashion, the Classic Pale Ale is designed to be versatile – you can drink it all day and in all seasons. With an elegant balance of European malts and new world hops, this has just enough fullness balanced with zesty and crisp hop flavour to suit all palates.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.58
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.5

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 30th June 2017, poured into a Mikkeller pint glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy golden orange colour with a two finger foamy white head that had great retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: A bit weak, but what I do get is lightly biscuit and toasty with tropical pineapple, citrus grapefruit, lemon and pine.
Taste: Biscuit and mango with hints of pineapple, orange zest, pine and grass. Finish is lightly bitter.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: A nice Pale Ale that is easily drinkable.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Hanssens Artisanaal, Lambic - Gueuze

Hanssens Oude Gueuze

Wednesday, 23 November 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Hanssens Artisanaal
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Gueuze)

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Each bottle matured for over three years.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.35
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 375ml corked and caged bottle with a notched bottled on dating of November 2015, poured into a Cantillon gueuze glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy golden colour with an almost two finger white head that dissipated quickly to a thin layer while leaving no lacing.
Aroma: Sour, tart, funky and oaky with hints of apple and lemon.
Taste: Sour and tart to start followed by lemon, pear and sour apple fruitiness. The finish has some light funk, a touch of vinegar and nice oakiness.
Mouthfeel: Dry, acidic, medium to light bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: One of the more sour Gueuze’s out there, but still very nice and enjoyable.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American IPA, Beer Reviews, Canada, Driftwood Brewery

Driftwood Fat Tug IPA

Tuesday, 22 November 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Driftwood Brewery
Country: Canada
ABV: 7%
Style: American IPA

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Take a deep breath, sailor. It’s difficult to fathom, but such monstrous hop bitterness can be foiled by ample malt buoyancy; this hop monster dwells in the deep, its tendrils raised to Hoppy Nirvana.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.46
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.4

Intro: At first glance, there was no bottled on date, and I bought it anyway. Only after I got home and poured it out could I finally see this faint dating on the neck of the bottle in the light and I was kind of disappointed. To have a bottling date is great, but it should also be clearly shown… not hidden away only to be seen at certain angles. But anyway, this was a 650ml bottle with a bottled on date of 12th April 2016, poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy golden orange colour with a big three finger off white head that had good retention and left lots of sticky lacing.
Aroma: Strong orange, orange juice and orange zest aromas, tropical mango and passionfruit notes here and there along with pine and light caramel.
Taste: Lightly bitter citrus grapefruit, orange and orange zest. Sweet caramel malts, lightly biscuity, pine resin with a touch of pineapple.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This IPA was pretty good with nice bitterness, albeit also a little on the sweet side for me with the caramel, biscuit and pineapple.

words of another dreamy traveller