3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Farmhouse Saison, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, USA

Sierra Nevada Ovila Abbey Saison – Mandarin Oranges and Peppercorns

Saturday, 11 July 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 7.5%
Style: Belgian Saison
Other Notes: 24 IBUs. Specialty Ovila series brewed in collaboration with the monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina, CA.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) An homage to the monks’ noble work, this unique farmhouse ale is incredibly complex with notes of lemon, pepper, straw and herbs balanced by the tang of Mandarin oranges and a spicy kick of pepper. The Mandarin oranges used to make this beer were locally grown, including a portion grown on the grounds of the Abbey of New Clairvaux and picked by hand by the community of monks living there. We hope you enjoy this collaboration ale.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.7
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A 12.7 fl oz corked and caged bottle packaged on 5th February 2015 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a clear orangey copper colour with a one finger white head that slowly dissipates resulting in a thin soapy layer and stringy lacing.
Aroma: Orange and honey aromas, some Belgian yeasty notes and ginger.
Taste: Sweeter than I expected but not too sweet which is good. I get citrus orange and lemon upfront followed by honey and caramel. There is some spice in the finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium to high carbonation, dryness.
Overall: Of the SN Ovila series that I’ve tried before (the other two being the Tripel and Quad w/ plums), this was the best one. Its unlike the other saisons that I’ve tried, but still a solid beer.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgian Pale Ale, Belgium, Brouwerij Haacht NV

Tongerlo 6 Blonde

Wednesday, 8 July 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Haacht NV
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: Belgian Pale Ale

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Abbey beer brewed with the approval of the Norbertins of Tongerlo. This beer was refermented in the bottle for a more refined aroma and a broader, richer taste palette. Contains barley malt.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.3
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.3

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before end date of 4th June 2016 and poured into a D’Achouffe tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy copper colour with a huge three finger head. Most of it dissipated within a minute but it left some thick lacing on the glass.
Aroma: Some slight funk at first followed by some fruity banana and apples, caramel and honey. There are also some bread, cracker malt aromas.
Taste: Flavour is sweet banana and honey first, but there’s definitely candied sugar, bubblegum and caramel mixed in.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium to high carbonation, sticky.
Overall: This was not bad but perhaps slightly too sweet for me. Leffe is also a tad too sweet for me, but I still may prefer Leffe slightly more.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Black Isle Brewing Co., Scotland, Smoked Beer

Black Isle Smoked Porter 2014 (small batch)

Tuesday, 7 July 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Black Isle Brewing Co.
Country: Scotland
ABV: 5.5%
Style: Smoked Beer
Other Notes: aka Black Isle Organic Smoked Oktobeer.

Brewer Description: (from website) Initially brewed for Jocktoberfest, where it was by far the biggest selling cask beer, we thought we would make this more widely available for those that missed out (this does not mean that if you were present at the event that you can’t relive the experience in the comfort of your own armchair!)

This is a blend of German roasted malts and our local smoked barley which might even put a smile on a disgruntled German Chancellor’s face. Balance is what this little beauty is about, something that takes great skill from the brew team and boy they have achieved it here in bucket loads, or we should say conditioning tank loads, one to be specific.. and even then not a full one.

Grab it while you can, it won’t be around forever.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.9
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 330ml bottle from the 2014 small batch, bottle number 6488 of 8480 with a best before end date of October 2015. It was poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: It poured a dark brown with a thinnish cream tanned head that did not stick around too long.
Aroma: Aromas of roasted malts with a bit of chocolate, licorice and slight peat smoke.
Taste: Starts slightly sweet caramel and chocolate maybe even some toffee, but finish is definitely smoky, bitter and lingering ash.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with light carbonation
Overall: I’ve had quite a few smoked beers before and although this was not at the top, it was still pretty good. I would buy this again.

1 - Poor (never again), Abashiri Beer, Beer Reviews, Fruit Beer, Japan

Abashiri Oto no Shizuku (Cherry Drops)

Saturday, 4 July 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Abashiri Beer
Country: Japan
ABV: 5%
Style: Fruit Beer
Other Notes: Happoshu based. Brewed in Hokkaido.

Brewer Description: Its in Japanese, which I unfortunately cannot read…

My rating: 1
My beeradvocate.com rating: 2.19
My ratebeer.com rating: 1.9

Intro: A 330ml bottle dated best before 28th October 2015 and poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a slightly hazy dull pinkish red colour with a half finger head that disappeared almost immediately.
Aroma: Strong aromas of candied cherry, some bubblegum, cherry syrup.
Taste: Immediate taste of candied cherry (like cherry soda) but then all of a sudden less than 2 seconds later, it all disappears. You’re expecting some sweetness or something, but its not there at all. It pretty much becomes like extremely watered down cherry water.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with light carbonation.
Overall: I saw cherry, and I didn’t need any more persuasion to buy this beer. This beer was happoshu based and there’s nothing wrong with that. I also enjoy cough medicinal flavours, and this kind of had this at first, but then it disappeared even quicker. Watered down cherry water, that’s what I got… it started off fine and then just fell off. I don’t know how I finished the whole thing… It was also damn expensive at around USD4 a bottle. Not worth it at all, save your money!

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project, Farmhouse Saison, USA

Crooked Stave Surette Provision Saison

Wednesday, 1 July 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Country: USA
ABV: 6.2%
Style: Saison
Other Notes: Aged in oak barrels.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Surette is a provision Saison with a tart and vinous character from extended barrel aging.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.53
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 375ml bottle from 2014/batch 15 poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: Poured a slightly hazy golden orange colour with a thin head that dissipates quickly but leaves nice lacing.
Aroma: Strong barnyard funk, slight tropical fruit pineapple, maybe mango and slight citrus tangy tangerine.
Taste: Excellent tart and sour tastes. Light lemon citrus along with some even lighter tropical mango and yeasty notes to balance.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, low to medium carbonation.
Overall: This was excellent, a definite must buy for me. Loved the upfront tart and sourness in the beer. Up to par with its Belgian counterparts for this style in my opinion, but probably harder to find in Hong Kong. I want more!

words of another dreamy traveller