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Sunday, May 29, 2011

Amager Bryghus Christianshavn Pale Ale - Denmark

Imagine a Sunday with blue sunny skies and a wife that needs work done around the home.
First step, escape to the hills on my bike for 3 hours of exercise, I really need the training for my approaching assault of Alpe d'Huez and Mont Ventoux!

A fifteen minute stop for coffee and cake on the way home meant fifteen minutes less work around the home.

An approaching cold front meant that the gutters had to be cleared out as a matter of urgency so an afternoon of climbing up and down the ladder. My thirst was starting to build.

I was also obliged to pay for my morning away by having to prepare dinner. With a Pale Ale chilling in the fridge my excellent home made bacon & bocconcini pizza seemed the ideal accompaniment.

With the pizza in the oven the ritual of "beer o'clock" was upon me.

This Pale Ale was perfect for this occasion, fresh citrus hop aromas, off white chunky head just screamed "DRINK ME NOW"! Not overly bitter, a pleasantly hopped finish, nice refreshing Pale Ale.

SCORE 4.1

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Stone Brewing Levitation - USA

This is the fourth offering from Stone Brewing that I have been fotunate to enjoy. I am starting to think these guys dont know how to make bad beer!

This Ale pours a dark mahogany colour , slightly cloudy (I think some yeast esters in the bottle),with a tightly beaded chunky head. A touch of sweet caramel malt and citrus hop aroma & taste but finishes bitter.

Only 4.4% ABV, down considerably on Stone's other offerings.

A very tasty lower alcohol option.

SCORE 4

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Haand Bryggeriet Dobbel dose IPA - Norway

Who likes head? Well I do, it is satisfying to pour a beer that has an obvious yeasty sediment (esters) in the bottle that give this reaction. This beer just kept on giving more head continuing to bead in the glass, check out the bottle in the photo!

Pours a cloudy orange amber with a pronounced citrus hop nose. The brewer has used a variety of hops to give both bitterness and aroma. Apparently it is overloaded with dry hops in the aging tank to add flavour and aroma. There is also a noticeable maltiness in the mid palate.

It is hardly surprising that this IPA would travel so well from Norway to Australia, that is what IPA's are supposed to do.

This is my first Norwegian beer and I am impressed.

SCORE 4.3

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Brew Dog Punk IPA in a can! - UK

 
Light golden lager appearance with an almost sweet fruity hop nose.
This beer really doesnt taste much like an IPA. All fruity hop with more a malty sweet finish than a traditional bitter hop finish. It tastes very much like "passiona".
IPA for pretentious wankers, dont believe the hype!

SCORE 3.2


Friday, May 20, 2011

Mac's Hop Rocker Pilsener - New Zealand


I bought a six pack of this beer from on a recommendation from the shop assistant at one of my favorite beer shops. Relatively in-expensive, interesting bottle with a neck that looks like rope around a bollard (Mac's is a nautical brewery) and a throw back to the eighties ring pull cap! It tastes just as good from the bottle as it does poured into a glass.

Lovely golden colour with a nice frothy head.
The Nelson Sauvin & Cascade hops give this a pleasant citrus hop aroma. Malt taste is also evident with no real hoppy bitter finish.
This is unusual yet refreshing "Pilsener". Relatively inexpensive for an imported tasty beer so I will buy it again. It will be a perfect spring beer.


SCORE 4.0

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Green Flash " West Coast IPA" & "30th Street Pale Ale" - USA

Green Flash West Coast IPA(left) & Monk (Belgian style)Wheat Beer (right)


This is the West Coast IPA contrasted with Monk Wheat Beer, note the lovely copper amber colour.
This IPA has a complex hop flavour. It is fruity, floral, citrus and richly aromatic. Apparently brewed with 4 hop varieties (Simcoe, Columbas, Centennial & Cascade).
Has a pleasant crisp bitter finish with 7.3% ABV.
Great example of an American craft brewed IPA.

SCORE 4.5
Green Flash 30th Street Pale Ale

The Green Flash Brewing 6th anniversary offering of a 30th Street Pale Ale.
Pours a dark almost copper amber  less dense  head than the West Coast IPA.
A balanced hopped Pale Ale with a slightly less bitter finish.
6% ABV


SCORE 4.0

Freo "Watering Holes"

Sail & Anchor in South Terrace Fremantle

Inside Little Creatures Fremantle


Monk Wheat Beer with Edamame (Japanese Soy Bean Beer Snack)

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Burleigh 28 Pale Ale - Australia


Pours a dark amber colour with a medium but short lasting head.
Has a floral hop aroma a fruity hop flavour with a mild bitter finish.
Not really a full flavoured Pale Ale but more in the mould of Little Creatures Pale Ale.
Tastier than a mass produced beer and easy to drink.

SCORE 3.6

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Weihenstephaner Tradition Bayrisch Dunkel - Germany


This is a traditional Bavarian beer brewed with a darker roasted malt than most modern beers.

It pours dark coppery brown with a small head and has a distinctive sweet roasted malty flavour that could almost be described as a burnt caramel taste.

Apparently this is achieved by decoction mashing. This is a process where grain is removed from the mash, boiled,  and then returned hot to the mash. Traditionally this was done to control brewing temperature but also adds maltiness to the brew.

Easy to drink dark beer but lacks a real complex flavour. I will have to taste more "Dunkels" as my taste buds may have been corrupted by the recent imbibing of hoppy ales!

SCORE 3.5

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Renaissance Discovery American Pale Ale - New Zealand


Marlborough has a big reputation for its Sauvignon Blanc wines. This Pale Ale has been brewed in Marlborough, New Zealand, by an American brewer.

It does not have the "in your face" hoppiness and bitter finish of the American Brewed IPA's I have tasted, this may be a result of the local Nelson, New Zealand, grown hops.


This Ale poured a beautiful golden colour and has a lovely hop aroma. It has a lovely malted sweetness and pleasant hop flavour without a bitter finish.

The brewer recommmends this Ale as "a tasty quaffer" best enjoyed with Thai or Mexican food, I cant argue with that!

SCORE 3.8

Renaissance Brewing New Zealand

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Suruga Bay Imperial IPA - Japan


This is one of the 4 Baird Beers I recently purchased for tasting.
It is a Double Hopped American style Pale Ale.
You can see in the photo it pours an orange/amber colour with a small head. This Imperial IPA does (as expected) have a lovely complex hop aroma. Has an almost sweet citrus hop flavour and is a very drinkable double hopped IPA.
I will buy this again!

SCORE 4.2

Baird Beer Japan

Monday, May 2, 2011

Arrogant Bastard Ale - USA

Arrogant Bastard Ale is a full flavoured American Strong Ale.
This brown ale (7.3% alcohol) has an almost sweet mid palate but a definite bitter finish. Quite complex hoppy taste a really flavoursome beer.
I have previously tatsed Stone Brewings  "Double Bastard" and "Ruination", both are also beers with flavour.
One of my favourites and I will buy again.

SCORE 4.6

Stone Brewing San Diego

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Nørrebro Pacific Summer Ale - Denmark

Golden amber colour with off white head.
Head is loose and disappears quickly.
Citrus hop flavours with a dry finish, brewed for summer drinking.
I enjoyed this beer much more on tap at Nørrebro Bryghus in Copenhagen. I don't think it has retained its full flavour in the bottle over a very long journey.

SCORE 3.6