3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Stout - Russian Imperial, USA

Sierra Nevada Narwhal 2014

Wednesday, 18 March 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 10.2%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout

Brewer Description: (from back label) Inspired by the mysterious creature that dwells in the deepest Arctic seas, Narwhal Imperial Stout is midnight black and bold with notes of baker’s cocoa and dark roasted coffee. This massive imperial stout is incredibly complex and explores the darkest depths of malt flavor.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.28
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.4

Intro: 12oz bottle packaged on 6 November 2014 as per the back label. Poured into a Westmalle goblet.
Appearance: It poured pitch black with minimal head and low retention.
Aroma: Mocha chocolate with hints of espresso at first but followed by some alcohol.
Taste: Bittersweet chocolate with some coffee. Later on some booze does show.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy and velvety. Very light carbonation.
Overall: I thought that this was a decent stout. Taste wise its not the best of its style but it is certainly solid. I’ve also heard that it ages well so I may have to find another bottle to age a few years.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), American IPA, Beer Reviews, Brewfist, Italy

Brewfist Spaceman

Thursday, 12 March 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brewfist
Country: Italy
ABV: 7%
Style: IPA
Other Notes: IBU 70

Brewer Description: (from Brewfist website) Orange colour West Coast style IPA. Dry and very hoppy. Grapefruit and peach nose with fruity and citrus aroma. Very American beer…

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.12
My ratebeer.com rating: 2.9

Intro: Best before 30 May 2015 as stated on the back of the bottle. Poured from a 330ml bottle into a La Chouffe tulip glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a nice copper orange with some haze caused by some small particles suspended. One finger white head.
Aroma: Citrus aromas hit first with some light pine and light caramel malt.
Taste: Bitter and malt with light grapefruit and some other citrus. Interestingly leaves a mango aftertaste. However the fruit flavours were not really strong and did not last long which was unfortunate.
Mouthfeel: Light body with medium/high carbonation.
Overall: The beer poured nice and smell kept me interested but I think the taste failed to live up to expectations from the initial pour. The taste just seemed to be missing something which was unfortunate as everything else seemed pretty good… except that taste is probably the most important… I probably wouldn’t buy this again.

5 - Excellent (must buy), American IPA, Beer Reviews, Deschutes Brewery, USA

Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA

Tuesday, 10 March 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 6.4%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: Citra, Mosaic and Nugget hops. 60 IBU

Brewer Description: (from bottle) This mouthwateringly delicious I.P.A. gets its flavor from a heavy helping of citra and mosaic hops. Don’t worry, no fruit was harmed in the making of this beer.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.33
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A friend brought this bottle to Hong Kong for me as its not available there yet. A 12oz bottle poured into a La Chouffe tulip. Best by 22 May 2015.
Appearance: Poured a deep amber orange colour with slightly less than one finger head. It’s darker than most IPAs but appears clear.
Aroma: It has a nice aroma but its not exactly leaping out. When it does appear though, its with nice tropical fruits and pine.
Taste: Mango, pineapple, more tropical fruits, pine, so good… with some grapefruit bitter ending.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, slightly sticky, medium body and medium carbonation. Feels great in my mouth.
Overall: A very nice IPA which I would definitely buy again if I could somehow get my hands on more.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Birra del Borgo, Country, Fruit Beer, Italy

Birra del Borgo Rubus

Friday, 6 March 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Birra del Borgo
Country: Italy
ABV: 5.8%
Style: Fruit Beer
Other Notes: 21 IBU

Brewer Description: (from website) A romantic love story in a shade of pink between raspberries and our Duchessa. A passionate adventure made of spontaneous and controlled fermentation, passion, time. An extraordinary plot, to be sipped until the last drop. Rubus idaeus – raspberry – is the main character, our spelt beer Duchessa is the starting point. 100 grams of fresh fruit are added for every liter of beer; they start a wild fermentation that gives the beer a unique profile with a marked sharpness, well balanced by the berries’ smell. It perfectly substitutes a pink sparkling wine as an aperitif.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.98
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A unique bottle shape and raspberries practically sold itself to me. A 330ml bottle poured into a La Chouffe tulip glass. Label on the back says best before October 2016.
Appearance: Poured a pinkish copper (rosa according to their own website), small amount of haze and very light head
Aroma: First thought was apple juice, then lots of tart raspberries
Taste: Definitely sour, acidic, tart raspberries and strawberry
Mouthfeel: Very crisp, light body, light carbonation but a bit sticky at the end
Overall: Went down easy like drinking juice. I like the sour tart raspberry flavour but would have preferred more carbonation

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

Sierra Nevada Ovila Abbey Tripel

Wednesday, 4 March 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 8.8%
Style: Tripel
Other Notes: 30IBU, Specialty Ovila series brewed in collaboration with the monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina, CA.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Ovila Abbey Tripel’s golden color and brilliant foam hide an incredible depth of flavor. It maintains a perfect balance between slightly sweet and bready malts, floral hop notes, and the fruity aromatics of a traditional Belgian yeast. Tripels were first created by Belgian monks, and this beer is our homage to the original blonde abbey ale.

My rating: 3/5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.29
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.2

Intro: A corked and caged 12.7oz (375ml) bottle poured into Westmalle goblet. Packaged and bottled on 13 August 2014. Sierra Nevada suggests 365 days expiry
Appearance: Poured a golden orange, mostly clear, small head
Aroma: Honey, candied sugar, bananas
Taste: Sweet, honey, pineapple (disappears fast though). The alcohol comes out as it gets warmer
Mouthfeel: Medium body, light carbonation
Overall: I bought it because I was attracted to the nice bottle and labelling. The beer itself was decent and not too sweet but I haven’t decided if I would buy it again yet.

words of another dreamy traveller