2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), 8 Wired Brewing Co., American Amber / Red Ale, Beer Reviews, New Zealand

8 Wired Tall Poppy

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: 8 Wired Brewing Co.
Country: New Zealand
ABV: 7%
Style: American Amber Ale
Other Notes: 60 IBUs. Malts – Pale, 3 shades of Crystal, Munich and Wheat. Hops – Warrior, Columbus, Simcoe and Amarillo.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Every now and again you just want to have it all, so in this spirit we created Tall Poppy. This ale is not afraid of standing tall among other great beers, and head and shoulders above mass market mediocrity. It is intense, with a sharp and fruity hoppiness backed by a complex, caramel-like malty structure. The best characteristics of an American style IPA collide with a rich Amber Ale. The result is a beer that is big yet refreshing, bold but balanced. Cheers!

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.23
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.1

Intro: A 330ml bottle from batch # 65 with a best before date of 25th January 2017, poured into a Moonzen teku glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear brown colour with a reddish hue and a just over one finger beige head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Strong caramel malt notes with some dark fruits like plum, prunes and raisins. There is also a touch of pine and earthiness.
Taste: A touch of booziness hits first followed by everything in the aromas. Caramel, dark fruit, prunes, plum and raisins. The finish gives a touch of tea, coffee, pine and citrus.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: More amber ale than IPA in my opinion. But it was overly boozy and caramel-ly on both aroma and taste for me to fully enjoy it.

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

Deschutes Hop Slice Session IPA

Sunday, 11 September 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 4.5%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: 45 IBUs. Malt – Pale, Carapils, Honey Malt, Munich and Crystal. Hops – Centennial, Galaxy, Cascade, Azacca and Amarillo.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) India Pale Ale brewed with Meyer Lemon.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.14
My ratebeer.com rating: 3

Intro: A 355ml bottle with a best before date of 5th October 2016 and poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear golden colour with some orange hue. There was a big three finger white head with good retention and nice lacing.
Aroma: Lemon, tea, sweet mandarin, bready and dish soap.
Taste: Lemon zest, citrus rind, bready, light caramel malt and floral sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This was not bad, but I couldn’t really get around the aromas here. The dish washing detergent I use has a lemony smell, which is fine for washing dishes, but not something I want to drink. So getting that smell on the finish just didn’t work for me.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Sante Adairius Rustic Ales, USA, Wild Ale

Sante Adairius West Ashley

Saturday, 10 September 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
Country: USA
ABV: 7.3%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: Saison aged in French Oak Pinot Noir barrels with apricots

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Orange, lactic, and bursting with apricot aroma, West Ashley is built for consideration and conversation. While Ashley starts as a simple Saison, careful aging in French Oak Pinot Noir barrels with apricots, our house microbes, and warm encouragement transform her into a tart, complex and delectable beer. To enjoy all that she offers, we encourage you to rouse the residual yeast, bacteria, and fruit into solution before serving West Ashley in your favorite stemmed glassware. Sante!

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.6
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.5

Intro: A 750ml bottle at Himmergiet with no discernible bottled on date on the bottle although the menu states that it was 2016. Poured into a mini wine glass.
Appearance: It poured a hazy golden straw colour with a minimal white head and sparse lacing.
Aroma: An initial whiff of something that reminded me of tuna salad followed by tart, apricot, berries, funk, grass and hay.
Taste: Sour, tart, apricot, raspberry and cranberry.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: My first SARA beer and it was a very enjoyable and refreshing sour. Now I really want to get my hands on more West Ashley and other SARA beers if possible. Just not so easy for me…

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brasserie Cantillon, Lambic - Fruit

Cantillon Blåbær Lambik

Thursday, 8 September 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Fruit)
Other Notes: 400 litre barrel with 100kg of bilberries added

Brewer Description: (from 2015 bottle) 10 years ago, shortly before we opened Ølbutikken in Copenhagen, Denmark we approached our friends at Cantillon and asked them if they would make a special beer for our little store. 50 bottles came out of that first batch. 10 years later we make the same beer once a year and this is the 10th Anniversary vintage. We are happy about our continued friendship with Jean and his family and are excited about every years new batch! Enjoy! Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.72
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.6

Intro: A 375ml bottle at Himmergiet of the 2015 Vintage. Poured into a mini wine glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy ruby red dark purple colour with a one finger pinkish purple head that had good retention and sparse lacing.
Aroma: Blueberry, tart, funk, some acidity and lemon.
Taste: Blueberry, sour, tart and light funk.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: Wow, this was just special. One of the best Cantillon offerings I’ve tried along with the Lou Pepe Framboise. It’s just too bad I missed the 2016 release in Copenhagen by two days as I would have loved to open another bottle.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen, Lambic - Gueuze

3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze Cuvée Armand & Gaston

Wednesday, 7 September 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Gueuze)

Brewer Description: (from bottle) (in French) Assemblage de jeunes, mi-vieux et vieux lambic, brassés par 3 Fonteinen. Cent pour cent naturel, authentique, spontané et un peu têtu, mais toujours élégant et plein de caractère. La Pure Passion, comme Armand et Gaston l’ont toujours fait.

(English translation) Blend of young, middle-aged and old lambics, brewed by 3 Fonteinen. One hundred percent natural, authentic, spontaneous and a bit stubborn, but always elegant and full of character. The Pure Passion, as Armand and Gaston have always done.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.67
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.6

Intro: A 375ml bottle at Himmergiet, bottled on 7th October 2015 and best before 26th October 2035. Poured into a mini wine glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy golden orange colour with a one finger off white head that had pretty good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: 3F funkiness, sour, tart, barnyard, leather and lemon citrus.
Taste: Sour, tart, apple, farmyard, oak, grape, grapefruit and lemon juice.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, light bodied with high carbonation.
Overall: Another amazing gueuze from 3F. Perfect mouthfeel with wonderful matching aromas and taste. Must buy if you can find it!

words of another dreamy traveller