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.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Imperial Red Ale, Beer Reviews, Clown Shoes Beer, USA

Clown Shoes Evil Crawfish

Monday, 9 May 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Clown Shoes Beer
Country: USA
ABV: 9%
Style: American Imperial Red Ale
Other Notes: Self styled Imperial Red India Pale Ale. Brewed and bottled by Mercury Brewing Co., Ipswich, MA.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Once upon a time a man walked into a bar where a friend of ours was tending the taps. He tried to order an Eagle Claw Fist, but got it wrong, and asked for an Evil Crawfish. When we heard the story, after much laughter, we knew one day we’d make the beer. Finally, here it is, built off of ECF, but cleaner, meaner, less bitter, and dry hopped with Citra, Simcoe, Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.76
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 22 fl oz bomber bottled on 20th January 2016 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear amber copper colour with a slightly less than two finger off white head that had pretty good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Sweet biscuity caramel malt followed by some juicy apple, plum, pine and grass.
Taste: Starts with nice sweet malt with caramel and biscuit notes followed by prune sweetness. Bitterness comes through on the finish with pine, grass and orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with slightly less than moderate carbonation.
Overall: This was well balanced for me. It’s not my favourite style but this was pretty good with its nice lasting bitterness.

words of another dreamy traveller