Saturday, 31 March 2012

Collaboration Review- Marston's Oyster Stout

Good afternoon all. The second collaboration review beer was chosen by Luke- Oyster Stout (4.5% ABV) from Marston's. No oysters are actually used in the brewing process, the name is simply to indicate that oysters would be a suitable pairing for this beer. We both seem to have devoted this year to exploring a particular beer style- whist I have opted to try as many Belgian beers as possible, Luke is going all out for stouts, hence his choice being at the darker end of the Degrees Lovibond scale. Review after the pic....


As mentioned in the last collaboration review, the reviews have been divided into the individual's opinions and the reviewers are denoted by their initials (EH being Elliott Hamilton and LA being Luke Albutt). 

EH:

Appearance- dark red, verging on black, off-white head that dissipates quickly to nothing in the glass. Oily "slick" on surface during drinking

Aroma- light chocolate and coffee, malt, sulfurous quality

Taste- malty, cocoa, diluted roasted malt flavour, dry finish, acrid bitterness, cloying after short time

Mouthfeel- thin, low carbonation

Overall, a disappointing stout that delivers a lot of roasted malt bitterness but nothing else to balance and suppress this flavour, leading to a lot of cloying on the palette. The mouthfeel is also far too thin and watery. Not recommended, try Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout, Camden Town Brewery Camden Ink or Young's Double Chocolate Stout for much better examples of low-ABV stouts that deliver a lot of flavour. 

LA:

Appearance- shimmers like a ruby in Icarus' gaze, generally quite black

Aroma- very subtle for a stout (typical yet subtle), noticeable sulfur presence that masks other aromas

Taste- very delicate and held back, personal preference is for more robustness from a stout

Mouthfeel- thin, low carbonation

Restrained stout, good gastro beer as flavours are subdued and wouldn't compete with the food. Seems like a failed experiment to an extent. 

Until next time....

Collaboration Review- Schneider Weisse Tap X Mein Nelson Sauvin

Good afternoon all. On Thursday evening my flatmate Luke Albutt and I decided to conduct a couple of collaboration reviews as I was departing for Devon the next day, so we both chose a beer and busted out the pontification. The first choice was mine so I opted for a bottle of Tap X Mein Nelson Sauvin, a Weizenbock (7.3% ABV) from Schneider Weisse with the interesting inclusion of Nelson Sauvin hops. Reviews after the pic....


The reviews have been split into individual perspectives and the reviewer is denoted by their initials (Elliott Hamilton being EH and Luke Albutt being LA). For the purposes of time saving, and because I can't remember verbatim what Luke said, I've opted to present the opinions as capsule reviews.

EH:

Appearance- pale golden colour with a short lived off-white head that dissipates to nothing in the glass

Aroma- banana, cloves, herbal quality, yeasty, dark fruits, honey, bittering hop quality

Taste- characteristic wheat beer, yeasty, herbal, hoppy bitterness, light citrus fruits, vinous character, banana

Mouthfeel- slightly thick, light carbonation

Overall, a fantastic beer from the masters at Weisses Bräuhaus G. Schneider & Sohn that's packed with typical hefeweizen aromas and flavours, and a refreshing injection of hop character. Immensely drinkable and a very interesting take on a classic German beer style. Well worth the money- it would be interesting to see how this changes with some age behind it! 

LA:

Appearance- translucent like set amber, head dissipates quickly

Aroma- characteristic wheat beer, berries, dark fruits, honey, vinous aroma

Taste- characteristic wheat beer flavours with some sharpness round the edges from the hops

Mouthfeel- not particularly lively, not too thin on carbonation

Overall, a good beer (probably the best wheat beer so far) that represents a thirst quenching and refreshing experience.

Until next time....

BrewDog Sunk Punk

Good afternoon all. I've amassed quite a backlog of beer tasting notes recently, mainly due to the last few days being packed with coursework, finalising project work and travelling. I'm currently back in Devon for Easter and enjoying a bit of time off before I resume my project dissertation, so I should have ample opportunity to write these up before starting on new ones! The first beer is from a brewery that regularly features on Misplaced Hours, and was brewed at the bottom of the North Sea using buckweed, sea salt, rum and a lager yeast. It can only be Sunk Punk, an American IPA from BrewDog. Review after the pic....


Sunk Punk (7.1% ABV) pours a dark amber colour with a bubbly off-white head that dissipates to a patchy covering over the surface of the beer. It's slightly cloudy but looks like a typical hoppy American IPA, good stuff so far. The aroma is composed of resinous hops, some sweetness (caramelised sugar) and a boozy rum quality in the background. Definitely has a maritime property to it- very interesting stuff and definitely seems like more than just another publicity stunt!. The hops are quite oily and piney, with virtually no tropical fruit character. The taste is predominantly herbal, with resinous hops, citrus fruits and a salty bite in the background. The finish has a warming alcohol quality, with some hop bitterness and a sweetness in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is slightly thick with moderate carbonation. Overall, an interesting take on a popular beer style, with characteristic piney hop character/bitterness cutting through an unusual oceanic herbal feel. Definitely worth trying once, although the price might be quite a deterrent for the beer equivalent of a curio.

Until next time....

Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Hardknott Vitesse Noir

Good evening all. After tempting me for a couple of months, I finally decided to break out my bottle of Vitesse Noir, a "triple imperial mocha vanilla stout" from Hardknott Brewery in Cumbria. This beer is an imperial stout brewed with coffee from Latin America, chocolate from France and vanilla from Papua New Guinea, and was made in conjunction with the website "aletalk" (full details on the process can be found here: http://www.aletalking.aletalk.co.uk/2011/10/vitesse-noir-the-beer-i-helped-brew/). Sounds like a very lavish concoction, so let's get down to the review....


Vitesse Noir (11.0% ABV) pours a dark red colour (verging on black) with a very short lived light brown head that dissipates to nothing in the glass. The aroma is simply incredible, with tonnes of coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, dark fruits (blackcurrant, raisins) and a noticeable boozy quality. It's one of the best stouts I've put to my nose, it's that rich. The taste continues to deliver, with hints of vanilla custard, coffee piquancy, dark fruits and rich dark bitter chocolate, with the coffee lingering in the finish predominantly but accompanied by the rest of the flavours in the background. The mouthfeel is quite thick and creamy with low carbonation. The flavours are quite heavy on the palette but not cloying, a testament to how balanced yet extraordinary the beer is. Overall, this is a fantastic imperial stout that I couldn't throw enough complimentary adjectives at. It's so rich and velvety, with each ingredient being supplied in heavy quantities but somehow not overpowering each other. I've had one other Hardknott beer before (the limited-release barleywine Granite 2011) and found it to be very good, but this takes things to a stratospheric echelon by comparison. Get a few bottles of this, drink one now and keep the rest for years to come, this beer can only improve with time. Perfect for desserts or as an after-dinner treat- very highly recommended!

Until next time....

Great Divide Brewing Company Titan IPA

Good afternoon all. Last night I had two rather special beers, the first of which came all the way from Colorado, a state renowned for its brewing prowess with the likes of Odell, Left Hand, Avery and countless other big names all based there. That beer was Titan IPA, an American IPA from Great Divide Brewing Company. This is my first beer from Great Divide- despite having a number of their beers waiting patiently in the cellar- so hopefully the hype will be justified. Review after the pic....


Titan IPA (7.1% ABV) pours an amber colour with a thick white head that settles to a thin halo around the inside of the glass. Because of the bottle-conditioning, there is some lacing present during the first half of the beer. It does look great though, the picture doesn't do it enough justice. The aroma is more subdued than I was expecting, with piney/resinous hops, plenty of tropical fruits, a vinous quality, malt and some sweetness in the background. The resin comes through every so often, but the predominant hop aroma is definitely the citrus/tropical fruits. The taste is composed of citrus fruits, pine, malt and grapes, with the finish delivering a slight bitterness but nothing overly offensive. The mouthfeel is slightly thick with moderate carbonation. Overall, this is a very well-balanced IPA that delivers plenty of characteristic flavours with a pleasing yet assertive bitterness in the finish. It's not particularly "aggressive" as billed in the bottle description, but frankly the flavours and aromas will leave even the most ardent hophead pleased. Definitely recommended, I'm more tempted than ever now to reach into the cellar to try the other offerings I've got from Great Divide, so expect more appearances from these guys in the future!

Until next time....

Monday, 26 March 2012

Mikkeller 19

Good evening all. Last year Mikkeller produced a series of 19 single hop IPAs, giving drinkers an opportunity to gauge how different hop types impart certain characteristics on a beer. These were released in bottles and on draft in various places, with one night at the Mikkeller Bar devoted to presenting all of the beers, during which votes were cast on the public's favourite and the results used to calculate the percentages of the hops that were used in the following beer- 19, an IPA brewed with a whopping 19 hop varieties. I've had this on draft twice before, but when I saw a bottle at Craft Beer Co I knew I had to purchase it and give it a proper review, which you can find after the pic....


19 (6.8% ABV) pours an amber/dark gold colour with a thick white head that settles to a thin halo around the inside of the glass. Looks like a typical high-ABV IPA, great stuff so far. The aroma is pretty amazing, with resinous/piney hops, citrus fruits, a slightly vinous quality and a light sweetness in the background. Despite the large number of hops used, the different aromas are surprisingly detectable and the hops are very fresh and oily. Tasting the beer brings up a similar response, with strong resinous hops, tropical fruits, malt, bittering hops, grass, some oily freshness and a bitter bite in the finish, accompanied by some cripsness from the bittering hops. There's a grape aftertaste and the finish is slightly dry. The mouthfeel is quite thick, with decent levels of carbonation. Overall, this is a surprisingly well-balanced IPA that demonstrates how, in the hands of skilled brewers, a large variety and number of hops can be blended together to create a distinctly unique experience that doesn't overpower the senses with a particular flavour or aroma. If you can get a bottle of this, or better yet try it on draft, don't waste the opportunity. It's also relatively easy to find bottles of the individual single hop IPAs at places like Cask Pub & Kitchen, and I would highly recommend getting as many as you can as they were all great learning experiences. 

Until next time....

The Mars Volta- Noctourniquet CD Review

Good afternoon all. When I started this blog all the way back in June last year, I was intending to focus on film/music reviews, with the occasional beer thrown in for good measure. However, once the Beer Advent Calendar got in the way I decided to shelve any plans to do music reviews and focus on man's favourite libation. Today is an historic day, as it marks the first of hopefully many departures from the beers as I review a recently released album. Anybody who knows me will be aware that I generally despise most modern music and the current music-buying culture of deifying glorified record players (DJs as they're commonly known) who wave glow sticks in the air and cover the audience in foam. I know there are some talented DJs out there so apologies to anyone who feels differently but it's simply not my preferred music genre. Also, the day oscillating sine waves and triplet-feel drums are no longer a prerequisite for chart success will be a glorious day in my book. Anyway, because of this I generally don't listen to many new albums, as hip hop is in quite a bad way (for example, listen to three Rick Ross songs and try to tell the difference), death metal is all about pig squealing and dischordant chromatic guitar runs, and electronic music is so distant from the likes of Kraftwerk and Cabaret Voltaire that it's almost unrecognisable. Despite this, every so often a new release will captivate me out of the blue, or I'll purchase an album from a band I've known for quite some time, and in today's case the latter is so. I've been a fan of The Mars Volta ever since I heard "Inertiatic ESP" on Kerrang! at the tender age of 14, being completely taken aback by Jon Theodore's incredible drumming during my most fertile years of study on the instrument, and every release since has built upon that fantastic template and taken their sound to new heights of aural bombardment. Despite the departure of drumming powerhouse Thomas Pridgen after the mind-blowing "The Bedlam in Goliath" and the comparatively serene yet brilliant "Octahedron", I've been looking forward to their new release for months now and felt it was appropriate that one of my favourite bands became the subject of my first CD review. The album's called Noctourniquet, and the review is after the pic....


The first thing you might notice, even before delving into the music, is the lack of Jeff Jordan's surrealist artwork on the cover. I didn't read into this too much until I started listening to the album, and then thought back to myself that it's probably to indicate the transformation they've undergone since their last album, and how they want to be viewed in a different light. This is no truer than on the first offering "The Whip Hand", with it's lurching odd-time beat, pulsating synthesizer arpeggios and restrained guitar work giving a feeling of trepidation before unleashing into a heavily distorted synth bass chorus that could make you forget Juan Alderete is even a member of the group. At least the synth bass isn't oscillating rapidly, I might just have skipped it otherwise. Cedric Bixler-Zavala seems to be the only unmodified element, alternating between disconcerting tenor and blaring soprano with relative ease. TMV have always dabbled in electronics before, but they were to create an atmosphere to accompany the more conventional rock instruments- this time round they're more at the forefront and are an integral part of the sound. There's also a significant trip-hop feel to some of the tracks, with new drummer Deantoni Parks channeling a mixture of the previous drummers to create rhythms that wouldn't be out of place on a DJ Shadow album (cases in point; "Lapochka", built on thirty-second note hi-hat beats with occasional bass and snare drum stabs, and "Imago", with plenty of gated reverb giving a pronounced boost to the anthemic feel of the track). Lead single "The Malkin Jewel" tramples from the outset with a gypsy-jazz aurora, complimented by decidedly menacing vocals from Bixler-Zavala and some well-placed organ work in the second half. One thing that might be noticeable from my review so far is the lack of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez's name, which is purely because he's not particularly noticeable in his usual form on this album. His guitar work is much more focused and limited on the tracks, which does work but makes me long for the frenetic passages and unique riffs that he's come up with over the years. Regular collaborator John Frusciante is also absent, meaning his blazing fuzz-laden guitar solos no longer permeate from the speakers. There are a few tracks that hark back to the more traditional days ("Molochwalker", "Aegis", "Noctourniquet") but overall, this is TMV like you've never heard them before. It's certainly not a bad album at all, but it might be slightly startling at first to fans expecting another barrage of sonic terrorism. The best thing about this album is that it demonstrates the lack of complacency that TMV has in regards to their music, and how they're continually striving to find a new sound regardless of what is incorporated. Give it a go and see if it grows on you, I know it will for me given enough time.

Arbitrary Rating: 7/10

Track Listing:
"The Whip Hand"
"Aegis"
"Dyslexicon"
"Empty Vessels Make T
he Loudest Sound"
"The Malkin Jewel"
"Lapochka"
"In Absentia"
"Imago"
"Molochwalker"
"Trinkets Pale of Moon"
"Vedemalady"
"Noctourniquet"
"Zed And Two Naughts"

Favourite Tracks: Aegis, Empty Vessels Make The Loudest Sound, The Malkin Jewel, Molochwalker, Noctourniquet, Zed And Two Naughts

Sunday, 25 March 2012

Brouwerij Verhaeghe Duchesse De Bourgogne

Good afternoon all. As part of my "Year of Belgian Beer" (that will hopefully have its own logo and a better title before the year is out), I've been seeking out the best beers that Belgian breweries can offer. A few days ago I had a bottle of Duchesse De Bourgogne, a Flanders Red Ale from Brouwerij Verhaeghe. Flanders Red Ales are fairly similar to lambics, but the particular yeast strains used impart a sharper character to the beer that is reminiscent of vinegar, representing an alternative to the fruity sourness of lambics. I've had a beer in this style before and enjoyed it, so let's see how I got on with this one. As usual, the review is after the pic....


Duchesse du Bourgogne (6.2% ABV) pours a dark amber colour with a short lived off-white head that dissipates to a patchy covering over the surface of the beer. The aroma is quite heavy on the acetic acid/vinegar, with a slight sweetness, dark fruits and hoisin sauce. The last one sounds quite out of place, but it's the first thing that came to mind when I detected some sweet fruitiness and it works well with everything else. The taste is composed of acetic acid, cooking apples and meat stock, with an acidic tart finish and an aftertaste of Campino sweets. The tart apple flavours linger long after drinking and mingle well with the sweetness. The mouthfeel is light/airy and the carbonation is moderate. Overall, a very interesting beer that cleanses the palette nicely and provides a truly unique experience. Potentially a good choice for wine drinkers looking to get into beer, and any lambic fans looking for a different take on sour beer. Definitely recommended.

Until next time....

Brewery Ommegang Rare Vos

Good afternoon all. Apologies for the lack of activity recently, I've been enjoying the sun too much over the last few days! Yesterday I took a jaunt to London for a friend's birthday, starting at The Riding House Cafe (http://www.ridinghousecafe.co.uk/) for an epic breakfast, followed by trips to Craft Beer Co., Byron Haymarket and the Cask Pub & Kitchen, culminating in a visit to the cigar terrace at Boisdale Belgravia. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable day with plenty of interesting beers, whiskies and food. Back to the blog though, and I've amassed a large number of reviews since my last post so let's get started with Rare Vos, a Belgian Pale Ale from Brewery Ommegang, based in New York but part of the same family of breweries that produces Duvel. I'm expecting good things from this beer considering the prestigious lineage, so let's get onto the review after the pic....


Rare Vos (6.5% ABV) pours an amber colour with a thick white head that settles to a thin halo around the inside of the glass. The aroma consists of spice, phenols, candy sugar, honey and a sweet fruity character that's reminiscent of dates. Nice characteristic Belgian aromas, definitely promising so far. The taste is composed of spice, phenols, grapes, blackcurrants, kiwifruit, honey and buttery malt (not in a diacetyl sense though), with no bitterness or bite to the finish. The mouthfeel is light-bodied with minimal carbonation. Overall, a good quality beer that combines typical Belgian character with an interesting array of fruity flavours. The one thing that lets this beer down is the lighter mouthfeel, as I like my Belgian beers well-carbonated to act as a counterpoint to the spiciness from the yeast. I would probably get this beer again just to see if the low carbonation is a consistent trait, but if that is the case then I wouldn't get it afterwards. Partially recommended, pending further tasting.

Until next time....

Wednesday, 21 March 2012

Brouwerij De Dolle Arabier and Oerbier

Good evening all. It seems like my project is moving forward again after a temporary hiatus, so if you couple that with the recent release of the new BrewDog IPA is Dead series- apologies to any non-shareholders or shareholders who have somehow found out about this through me first- things are definitely looking up! This evening's beer review consists of two beers froBrouwerij De Dolle, located in Esen, Belgium- Arabier, a Belgian Strong Pale Ale, and Oerbier, a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Based on their general similarities I've decided to review them both in the same post, starting with Arabier after the pic....


Arabier (8.0% ABV) pours a dark gold colour with a lively white head that settles to a patchy covering over the surface of the beer. The aroma is very spicy and phenolic, with cloves, malt, aroma hops (citrus fruits), sweetness (almost reminiscent of candy sugar) and some background funk. The taste is just as spicy and phenolic, with malt, citrus fruits, watermelon, some tartness and a sweet finish. The spice lingers in the finish long after drinking, and works well with the slight sweetness. The mouthfeel is quite thick and the beer is well carbonated. Overall, this is a fantastic Belgian Strong Pale Ale with plenty of characteristic Belgian spice, perfectly balanced by fruity flavours and sweetness- highly recommended! Let's continue the Belgian theme with Oerbier....


Oerbier (9.0% ABV) pours a dark red colour with a short lived off-white head that dissipates to nothing in the glass. The aroma is quite heavy on the dark fruits (blackcurrants, raisins), with some phenols, a candy sugar sweetness and an alcoholic/boozy quality. The phenols are more subdued that I was expecting, but it's still spicy enough to permeate through the heavy fruit aromas. The taste is composed of candy sugar, dark fruits, spice, phenols and marzipan, with a tartness/funky flavour in the finish and a dry, fruity aftertaste. The mouthfeel is light/airy with relatively low levels of carbonation. Overall, this is a solid and quite complex Belgian Strong Dark Ale, with plenty of dark fruit and spicy yeast flavours juxtaposed against an unusual yet endearing funkiness. Definitely recommended, although my favourite of the two has to be Arabier. Great stuff, I'll be looking out for more beers from De Dolle in the future.

Until next time....

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Brouwerij Affligem / De Smedt Affligem Tripel

Good evening all. As some of you may know I've decided to make 2012 the year that I enjoy more Belgian beer, as many of them are considered the finest beers that the world has to offer. and frankly they're also pretty damn tasty. I carry these sentiments with me whenever I venture to the Utobeer market, meaning I usually manage to find something interesting from that region. Two weekends ago was no exception, and the next two reviews form a small part of the beers that I picked up. The first is Affligem Tripel, a Tripel from Brouwerij Affligem / De Smedt. Review after the pic....


Affligem Tripel (9.0% ABV) pours a golden colour with a very short-lived white head that dissipates to nothing in the glass. The aroma brings up a bit of spice and the characteristic phenols, with fruit, cloves and a caramel sweetness. The taste is phenolic and spicy, with honey, light fruit flavours, biscuit/buttery malt, bittering hops and a subtle puckering bitterness in the finish, accompanied by a grape/apple aftertaste. The sweetness does become rather cloying after a while, and does occasionally mask the other flavours. The mouthfeel is moderately thick with light carbonation. Be warned, rousing a head from this beer does require a fair bit of swirling! Overall, an average and unusually sweet Tripel that needs more carbonation to improve the mouthfeel and the body of the beer. This beer would serve as a good introduction to Belgian beers for someone wanting to get into the style, but beyond that most seasoned drinkers might be put off by the excessive sweetness. I wouldn't get it again, and personally I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Until next time....

Sunday, 18 March 2012

Brasserie d'Orval Orval

Good afternoon all. Contrary to my stated plans I didn't round off St. Patrick's Day with stout and whisky, instead opting for a bottle of Orval, a classic Belgian Pale Ale from Brasserie d'Orval. This is one of the most highly revered Trappist beers and one that goes through a couple of processes that set it apart from the others, including dry hopping and bottle-conditioning using Brettanomyces (wild) yeast. I've had this beer before but it was so long ago that I wanted to refresh my memory and give it the full treatment. Review after the pic....


Orval (6.2% ABV) pours an amber colour with a thick white head that retains itself well throughout drinking. The aroma is quite phenolic, with some funk, a caramelised sweetness and a light hop character (aroma/citrus fruits). Definitely more subtle than the Trappists I've been having recently, but still very interesting, particularly when factoring in the sourness from the bottle-conditioning. The taste is comprised of spice, phenols, bittering hops, some tartness from the yeast and a light hop fruitiness. The finish is light and quite subtle, with the main bite occurring during drinking. The tartness does cause an effervescing sensation during drinking, which is probably why I wrote "sherbert" down as, in retrospect, it was very similar. The mouthfeel is quite thick and the beer is well carbonated. Overall, a more subdued Trappist offering but one that balances a lot of interesting flavours and aromas, including characteristic spicy phenols, fruity hops and sour yeast, making it a very drinkable beer despite the slightly high ABV percentage. If this was more readily available I could see it having a permanent residence in my cellar- highly recommended!

Until next time....

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

Good evening all. It's time for another review this evening, with a beer from one of America's oldest and most influential "craft" breweries. That beer is Torpedo Extra IPA, an American IPA from Sierra Nevada. Nothing more to say about that really, so as usual the review is after the pic....


Torpedo Extra IPA (7.2% ABV) pours an amber colour with a white head that settles to a patchy covering over the surface of the beer. The aroma is surprisingly sweet, with candy floss/caramelised sugar, resinous hops, malt, citrus fruits and a slightly vinous quality. This vinous quality is very reminiscent of Mikkeller's barrel-aged beers, and works very well with the fruity hops. The taste is composed of malt, citrus fruits, resin/pine and a caramelised sweetness, with a pronounced bitterness in the finish. At first the bitterness was quite subdued, but as the beer warmed up it became more noticeable. The impact of the resinous hops was also more subtle than I was expecting from this beer style- it's still quite a hop bomb, but in the context of bitterness rather than fruitiness. The mouthfeel is not overly thick and the carbonation is quite low. Overall, a good American IPA from Sierra Nevada, although it was definitely not what I was expecting. The alcohol is well disguised and the flavours and aromas are rather moderate, with a significant bitterness but nothing significant beforehand to ease the palate into this sensation. Definitely not as well-balanced as it could be, but still worth a try. I wouldn't get it again though as there are much better examples of this style for the same price (Stone IPA, Bear Republic Racer 5, any IPA from The Kernel, etc).

Until next time....

Saturday, 17 March 2012

Nøgne Ø Wit

Good evening all. I hope everyone is having a good St. Patrick's Day and all that. So far I've spent the day drinking a few very good beers at a couple of interesting locations (Pittcue Co and Cask Pub and Kitchen), and my plan is to have an imperial stout later and maybe even a dram of whisky (Scotch of course, I can't help my allegiances!). The next couple of beers I'm going to be reviewing were consumed a few days ago, and have enough going for them to make sure they don't end up as footnotes in my tasting pad. The first is Wit, a Witbier from Nøgne Ø. Review after the pic....


Wit (4.5% ABV) pours a straw colour with a white head that retains itself well throughout the duration of the beer. The aroma is phenolic and spicy, with cloves, banana, malt and citrus. Sometimes this combination comes across as musty, but this effect diminished as the beer was consumed. The taste is also quite phenolic, with malt, light bittering hops, spice, citrus and wheat. The finish is very light and has a crispness to it, reminiscent of a lager. The mouthfeel is thick with moderate carbonation and some early lacing. Overall, a relatively interesting Witbier with some characteristic Belgian flavours and a very creamy mouthfeel. I wouldn't get it again, but it's definitely worth trying once.

Until next time....

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

The Kernel India Pale Ale Double Citra

Good afternoon all. It's been a fun day today, with any potential progress on my project effectively ground to a halt indefinitely due to radiators leaking all over the analytical instruments, so I'm fairly confident I'll be having something strong tonight to quell the anger. Now that I've aired that grievance, it's time to review the beer I had last night. It's another hoppy beast from the masters at The Kernel, this time with a double injection of Citra, which might be why they chose to call it India Pale Ale Double Citra. Review after the pic....


India Pale Ale Double Citra (9.8% ABV) pours an amber colour with a bubbly white head that settles to a patchy covering over the surface of the beer. The aroma is amazing, with lots of tropical fruits, some pine/resin, a caramelised sweetness and a slightly boozy quality in the background supporting everything. In typical Kernel fashion the hops smell incredibly fresh and oily, which is always a delight to encounter. The taste is just as fruity, with piney hop flavours, citrus and caramel. There's a slight bitterness in the finish but  surprisingly this isn't excessive, despite the increased hop content. The mouthfeel is quite thick with moderate carbonation. Overall, yet another brilliant IPA from The Kernel that demonstrates the extreme fruitiness of Citra, but also shows how it can be used on its own to create a perfectly proportioned IPA that packs lots of fruit and pine and a noticeable yet very pleasing bitterness. Makes me want to visit the brewery again to pick up another bottle of this stuff- highly recommended!

Until next time....

Sunday, 11 March 2012

Ballast Point Brewing Company Sculpin IPA

Good afternoon all. It's time to continue with yesterday's beer odyssey! After a great bottle of Rapture from the wizards at Magic Rock, my next beer was Sculpin IPA from Ballast Point Brewing Company. This beer has garnered a lot of positive feedback and seems to be a firm favourite with the BrewDog scamps, being featured at all of their bars and on their online shop last year (which was where I picked it up from coincidentally!). It seems that hops were definitely the order of the day/evening, so I was looking forward to this one a lot. Review after the pic....


Sculpin IPA (7.0% ABV) pours a golden colour with a short lived white head that settles to a thick halo around the inside of the glass. There's plenty of lacing throughout the duration of the beer, most likely as a result of the bottle-conditioning. The aroma is hoppy as expected, but it's a combination of resinous/piney hops and fruity aroma hops, with grapefruit, citrus, malt and a background sweetness. The taste is comprised of resinous hops, pine, tropical fruits and a caramelised sweetness, with a light bitterness in the finish and a fruity aftertaste. The mouthfeel is moderately carbonated and not overly thick. Overall, a very well-balanced IPA that packs a lot of hop flavour (both piney and fruity) into an exceedingly drinkable experience. I can definitely see what all the hype was for and I'd get it again in a heartbeat. 

Until next time....

Mikkeller Burger & Bun L.A. Lager

Good afternoon all. It's been a gloriously sunny day here in Guildford, but I haven't been able to enjoy any of it as I've been relegated to my desk trying to get through the introduction to my final year dissertation. Yesterday was quite the busy day in regards to beer- mainly because it was so dull in every other context- so expect a few reviews in quick succession over the rest of the day. The first beer was Burger & Bun L.A. Lager from Mikkeller, a beer that I picked up almost a year ago from The Bottle Shop (http://www.bottle-shop.co.uk/). It's been catching my eye ever since I bought it, and I finally gave in and got out the bottle opener. Review after the pic....


Burger & Bun L.A. Lager (5.0% ABV) pours an amber colour with a decent white head. There's some early lacing and the beer itself is slightly opaque. The aroma is much hoppier than I was expecting, with grapefruit, citrus, malt, honey and a floral character. Every so often the sweetness manifests itself as a caramelised, burnt sugar aroma, which works well with the tropical fruits from the hops. The taste consists of malt, light citrus fruits, bittering hops and a vinous quality. The finish is crisp with a very light bitterness and a fruity aftertaste. The mouthfeel is well carbonated and surprisingly thick. Overall, a very nice lager with plenty of fruity hop flavours and aromas. I would say it's closer to a pale ale with the extra hops, but the well-rounded crispness and light bitterness in the finish justifies the name. Well, that and the weeks of cold storage! Definitely recommended if you're in the market for a refreshing lager with a difference.

Until next time....

Saturday, 10 March 2012

Thornbridge Bracia

Good afternoon all. I picked up last night's beer from the Utobeer stand in Borough Market last weekend, based on the unanimously positive feedback I've read on various blogs and beer review sites. After a pretty awful week in which every attempt to make progress on my project was disrupted (mainly by the analytical instrument I've been using), I definitely needed something to conclude the week on a high. That high is Bracia from Thornbridge, an English Strong Ale with very strong leanings towards an Imperial Stout. Review after the pic....


Bracia (10.0% ABV) pours a very dark red colour with a relatively thick chestnut brown head that settles to a halo around the inside of the glass. The aroma is rich in coffee, with chocolate, dark fruits, yeast extract and a pleasing sweetness in the background. Tasting the beer brings out plenty of roasted coffee, spice, phenols, dark fruits, vanilla custard, hints of tobacco, peat smoke and candy sugar, with a piquant/slightly bitter finish and a dry grape aftertaste. The candy sugar mentioned manifests itself as a barleywine quality, with aroma hop flavours mixing very well with the coffee and chocolate. The mouthfeel is not overly thick and well carbonated. Overall, this is a fantastic offering from Thornbridge that balances a lot of intense flavours in a very drinkable package. Every sip brings up new and interesting flavours and it consistently captivates throughout drinking. Go out and get a bottle of this now, you won't regret it!

Until next time....

Friday, 9 March 2012

Mikkeller Citra Single Hop IPA

Good evening all. Apologies for the fairly lackluster review this evening- it's been a less than ideal week so I'm not completely committed to hop-related prose at the moment. The show must go on though, so let's delve into the cellar and pick something interesting. It seems it's time for another single hop IPA from the gypsy brewing supremo Mikkeller- in particular, an offering centered on a hop type that garnered a lot of attention for its tropical fruit flavours and dual-purpose nature when it was released in 2008. The hop in question is Citra, and you can expect the review after the pic....


Citra Single Hop IPA (6.9% ABV) pours an amber colour with a white head that retains itself well during drinking. The aroma is resinous and piney, with some floral character and a background sweetness. These are all quite subtle though, and don't become pronounced as the beer warms up. The taste is composed of citrus fruits, malt, flowers, caramelised sugar and a grassy character, with a subdued bitterness in the finish and a candy floss aftertaste. The mouthfeel is quite thick and well carbonated. Overall, a solid single hop IPA that demonstrates the versatility of Citra very well. It can impart a surprising amount of citrus/tropical fruits with a pleasing yet noticeable bitterness, and produces a very decent IPA on its own. I wouldn't get this beer again but it is worth trying once, even if the only purpose is to increase your understanding of what different hop types can contribute to a beer.

Until next time....

Thursday, 8 March 2012

Mikkeller Sorachi Ace Single Hop IPA

Good evening all. I had this beer last night after purchasing it from Beers of Europe (http://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/) about a month ago, and at the time I was surprised to discover Mikkeller had produced a single hop IPA utilising this particular hop. As I've mentioned before, last year I managed to purchase 14 out of the 19 single hop IPAs that Mikkeller produced, and each beer provided an incredibly useful insight into how certain hop types contribute to the flavour and aroma of a drink. However, I didn't know at the time that one of the five I missed out on was made using Sorachi Ace, a Japanese hop type that came out around 2007-08 that I happen to be quite a fan of. A couple of days after visiting the website, I had a bottle of it in my hands, along with a bottle of the Citra Single Hop IPA as I missed out on that one too! I was looking forward to this one so much that I couldn't resist making it my mid-week beer. Review after the pic....


Sorachi Ace Single Hop IPA (6.9% ABV) pours a hazy dark amber colour with a thick white head that settles to a thin coating over the surface of the beer. The aroma consists of resinous and citrus hops, bubblegum, caramelised sweetness, a hint of lemon and some background funk. The overall combination is very reminiscent of a saison, with plenty of musty, earthy tones and some fruity esters. The taste brings out more of these esters, with malt, bubblegum, citrus fruits, piney notes and some grassy flavours. The finish is only slightly bitter, with a grape-like aftertaste. It's actually more tart/sour than bitter, but not as excessive as a lambic or a wild ale. The mouthfeel is quite thick with a decent amount of carbonation. Overall, this beer is a very good showcase of the Sorachi Ace hop type. Reading further into Sorachi Ace, it seems that it's famed for its lemony aroma and flavour, but I was only picking up very subtle hints of this every so often. For me, this hop is all about pine flavours and subdued earthy funkiness. A very interesting beer- I probably wouldn't get it again but it's definitely worth a try. 

Until next time....

Brasserie Dupont Saison Dupont

Good evening all. I seem to have created a backlog of tasting notes over the last few days, which is understandable when you have a new beer every evening and you're too exhausted from lab work to form semi-coherent sentences about an alcoholic beverage. Today was a relatively easy-going day though, so I'm going to plough through a couple of reviews in quick succession as the beers were too good to neglect writing about. The first is Saison Dupont, a world-renowned Saison/Farmhouse Ale from Brasserie Dupont. Review after the pic....


Saison Dupont (6.5% ABV) pours a golden colour with a thick white head that settles down to a foamy covering over the surface of the beer. The aroma is fairly strong on the phenols, with malt, bittering hops, citrus, a fruity character and some funk in the background. It's quite hard to describe the aroma of a saison, it's just one of those things you have to experience. The taste is composed of phenols, spice, cloves, fruity esters (ethyl acetate, giving a slight "pear-drops" flavour) and honey. The finish is rather dry with the spice lingering long after drinking. The mouthfeel is quite thick and well carbonated. Overall, a very good Belgian beer and one of the most well-balanced saisons I've had. Typically the earthy flavours can dominate the beer but this is definitely not a problem with this offering. Highly recommended!

Until next time....

Tuesday, 6 March 2012

Camden Town Brewery USA Hells

Good evening all. The last couple of days have been fairly frustrating due to project work issues, but fortunately there always seems to be a silver lining when I delve deep into the beer cellar. Tonight's choice is something special that I picked up from Camden Town Brewery during my visit last weekend- USA Hells, an unfiltered lager dry hopped with whole Simcoe flowers. The tour and the beers were great, with this beer being particularly nice on keg, so hopefully the bottled version will be just as good! Review after the pic....


USA Hells (4.6% ABV) pours a pale golden colour with a thick white head that retains itself well throughout drinking. As expected it's slighty cloudy, and there's also some lacing present at various points (typically after recharging the glass, the bottle is rather big!). The aroma consists of malt, floral hops, bittering hops and some sulfur, although the latter doesn't stay around too long after the beer has been opened. Tasting the beer brings up plenty of malt and some oaty flavours, with floral hops, subtle citrus notes, bittering hops and a honey aftertaste. The finish is crisp and slightly dry, with the main hop bitterness coming out during drinking. The Simcoe is surprisingly apparent in this beer, which is fantastic stuff as it's one of my favourite hop types. The mouthfeel is slightly thick and well carbonated. Overall, a very interesting beer that combines the hoppiness of a pale ale with the well-rounded crispness of a lager to create a fairly unique experience. As is the case with most beers, the keg version is much better as the extra carbonation really boosts the hop flavours and creates a more pleasing mouthfeel. Definitely recommended, but go for the keg if you have the opportunity. 

Until next time....

Monday, 5 March 2012

Brouwerij St. Bernardus Pater 6

Good evening all. My visit to London over the weekend gave me the opportunity to visit the Utobeer stand at Borough Market, which is probably one of my favourite places to go whenever I'm in the area. I picked up a bottle of Thornbridge Bracia, a beer I've heard very good things about, and St. Bernardus Pater 6, a Dubbel from Brouwerij St. Bernardus. The place was packed so, in the spirit of continuing my Belgian beer quest this year, I picked the first interesting-looking Belgian beer I could and got out of there! I had this yesterday afternoon to while away a boring Sunday, and finally I've gotten round to writing the review. Which is, as always, after the pic....


St. Bernardus Pater 6 (6.7% ABV) pours an amber colour with a reasonably lively off-white head that retains itself well throughout the course of the beer. There's also a bit of lacing present during the first half of the beer. The aroma was incredibly subtle at first but became more imposing as the beer warmed up, with phenols, raspberries, cherries, strawberries, malt, some sweetness and a slight sourness in the background (more Flanders Red Ale than lambic). The taste is composed of spice, phenols, malt, dark fruits, a light bittering hop character and a noticeably wheaty finish. The mouthfeel is thick with plenty of carbonation. Overall, a very decent beer in the Dubbel style that has a lot of flavour and Belgian character for such a relatively low ABV percentage. A word of warning- make sure the temperature of the beer isn't too low as the flavours are very easily masked. Definitely recommended, although Westmalle Dubbel and Trappist Achel 8° Bruin are definitely better examples of the style. 

Until next time....

Sunday, 4 March 2012

The Kernel India Pale Ale Chinook

Good morning all. Another post already, aren't you lucky? This beer was consumed on Friday and is from one of my favourite UK breweries, The Kernel. I've managed to have a few of their IPAs over the last year, and each one blows me away with its balance and the freshness of the hops being used. This particular offering has been brewed with Chinook hops, and naturally I have high expectations based on the prestige of the brewery and previous experiences, so let's get to it. Review after the pic....


India Pale Ale Chinook (7.1% ABV) pours a pale golden colour with a thick white head that settles to a patchy covering over the surface of the beer. There's a small amount of lacing during the first half of the beer, something I haven't seen for a while with all of the stouts I've been having! The aroma is fantastic, with resinous hops, flowers and a decent malty presence in the background. Plenty of fresh oily hop aromas that are well-balanced and not too imposing, typical Kernel brilliance. The taste is composed of light piney hops, grapefruit, citrus, malt and a slight sweetness in the background. The finish isn't overly bitter, and the hop flavours linger on, accompanied by a grape/apple aftertaste. The mouthfeel is well carbonated and quite thick, which supports and boosts the hop flavours and aromas very well. Overall, another stellar IPA from The Kernel- further proof that they are one of the finest breweries in this country right now. They produce a variety of fantastic beers, but the IPAs in particular are beyond belief. Highly recommended!

Until next time....

Rodenbach Grand Cru

Good morning all. This weekend has been very good indeed, with a visit to Camden Town Brewery for a tour and a taste of their fantastic new hoppy lager USA Hells, followed by a trip to Craft Beer Co. for many stellar offerings from the likes of Mikkeller, Evil Twin, Stillwater and Moor. I even managed to stop off at the Utobeer market to pick up a bottle of the highly-revered Bracia from Thornbridge, so all in all it's been beer-filled and beer-fueled, just the way I like it! The next couple of posts concern a couple of beers I had on Friday evening, with the first being Rodenbach Grand Cru from Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V., a Flanders Red Ale that uses lactic acid bacteria to impart a slightly sour flavour to the beer. Review after the pic....


Rodenbach Grand Cru (6.0% ABV) pours a dark amber colour with an off-white head that settles down to a halo around the inside of the glass. The aroma is a bit startling at first, with acetic acid/vinegar hitting hard but diminishing gradually to reveal dark fruits, cherries and a light sweetness in the background. Definitely not the same tartness as lambics though, so don't be put off yet if you're not a fan of that style. The taste is composed of acetic acid and cooking apples, with a grape aftertaste in the finish. The tartness lingers long after drinking, which is surprisingly refreshing. The mouthfeel is slightly thick and moderately carbonated, with the sourness effervescing over the palette to amplify the mouthfeel. Overall, a very interesting beer that encapsulates the desirable qualities of a lambic in a very drinkable experience. This  beer would serve as a perfect introduction to the world of sour beers, but it still has enough going for it to impress ardent supporters of the style. 

Until next time....

Thursday, 1 March 2012

BrewDog Paradox Jura and BrewDog/The Lost Abbey Lost Dog

Good evening all. Whilst the demands of a final year undergraduate student are, to say the least, numerous and unrelenting, it's always good to take stock with an epic beverage or two every so often. This statement is reinforced when your project seems to constantly evolve to accommodate work that isn't related to your field and/or won't produce data that can be used in your dissertation. Bearing this in mind, it was with great pleasure that earlier this week I received an order from BrewDog containing their latest porters- Paradox Jura and Lost Dog, the latter being a collaboration with The Lost Abbey from California. Naturally, I popped the caps off one of each of these bad boys as soon as I could, as it definitely seems to be the season for imperial porters/stouts from the Fraserburgh scamps! Review of Paradox Jura after the pic....


Paradox Jura (15.0% ABV) pours a dark black colour with a light brown head that settles down to a halo around the inside of the glass. The aroma is wonderful, with coffee, chocolate, yeast extract, blackcurrants and a caramelised, candy floss sweetness supported by a noticeable whisky kick in the background. Plenty of characteristic imperial stout aromas with a hearty, boozy injection of smoky whisky- fantastic stuff already! The taste is composed of chocolate, Marmite, piquant/tart coffee, dark fruits, candy floss and a slight burn from the whisky accompanied by a refreshing smokiness. The finish is sweet like a rich dessert but the whisky flavours don't last long enough to be a part of it. The mouthfeel is smooth, mildly carbonated and not overly thick. Overall, a fantastic addition to the always-stellar Paradox series. Before trying this beer I suspected that Jura might not be potent enough to impart anything significant to the beer, especially when considering the complex flavours of an imperial stout, but this certainly isn't the case. It's incredibly well-balanced and presents itself in the right proportions each time. Definitely recommended, get a few bottles of this and see how it improves with time!

The second imperial porter/stout is Lost Dog, an imperial porter aged in rum barrels for a year. I've never had a Lost Abbey beer before, but as they seem to do interesting takes on Belgian beer styles this seems to be a slight departure for them. As for BrewDog, this beer seems positively tame in comparison to their usual stunts! Review after the pic....


Lost Dog (11.5% ABV) pours a very dark red colour, verging on black, with a short-lasting light brown head that settles to nothing in the glass. The aroma consists of roasted malt, dark fruits, coffee, licorice, candy floss and a rich sweetness, with overtones of rum and a significant boozy quality. Interesting combinations, with the rum definitely taking a back seat to the other components. Tasting the beer brings up plenty of rum flavours though, with dark fruits, candy sugar and licorice. The drink can be quite buttery at times, with cake/bread-like flavours coming through every so often. The rum bites slightly during drinking but doesn't last to the finish, which is quite sweet and brings out a light coffee aftertaste with some piquancy and tartness. The mouthfeel is surprisingly thin with very little carbonation. Overall, an interesting beer from two well-known and respected breweries. There are plenty of characteristic imperial porter flavours for fans of this beer style, with the rum barrel ageing adding a "clean" element to the beer, cleansing the palette after the initial flavour bursts and becoming more predominant throughout the experience. I'd like to see what a bit of age does to this beer, so I'll revisit it again after a while and see what's changed. Still worth a try, but not highly recommended.

Until next time....