Two beers away from another round number in my journey though "1001 Beers..." was enough encouragement to open a couple of bottles at the weekend:
219. De Ranke XX Bitter
Style: Belgian Ale (according to ratebeer) / Belgian IPA (beer advocate). ABV: 6.2% From: Drinkstore.ie.
Description: Mid-golden in colour, white head, and a slight haze. Floral hops lead the aroma, followed by Belgian yeast, bread, and something rustic and earthy. Taste kicks off sweet before giving way to some breadiness, floral hops, grapefruit, and some funky fruity yeast esters. Light-to-mid bodied, fizzy but creamy with it.
Thoughts: Not quite what I was expecting (I try not to read about these before trying to as not to influence what I think it tastes like) but in a good way. Drinkable stuff this and certainly worth trying.
Score: 7.5
220. De Ranke Guldenberg
Style: Belgian Strong Ale (RB) / Tripel (BA). ABV: 8.5% From: Drinkstore.ie.
Description: Poured a mango colour, hazy, with a tiny white head. Aroma starts with some funky Belgian yeast, but then its all soft stone fruit. Again the taste is surprisingly fruit led, peach, tangerine, nectarine, passion-fruit but a nice earthy malt/grain backbone. Hides the booze scarily well - I'd reckon this stuff is dangerous! Mouthfeel is light with good carbonisation.
Thoughts: Again this wasn't what I was expecting but again I was more than pleasantly surprised. This is really fruity, but not overly sweet - full on quaffable on a hot summer's day but with that ABV so well hidden this could get you in trouble. Great stuff.
Score: 8
I have tweaked the last post slightly, and still not sure it gets across quite what I was trying to say (this is why I do this for fun and nothing more - I'm crap at blogging!). Though I had a recent trip to Dublin that I think points to the future. I had about an hour in the city and got excellent beer and service at both The Norseman and Brew Dock - if you're in the city I can fully recommend both.
I had a very tasty pint of 8 Degree's Amber Ella which was even better, fresher and more unctuous on draft than it was in the bottle. I'm a fan. Next was a quick sample of Rascal's Ginger Porter, I said previously I'm not a big fan of ginger in beer - this could bring me round quick smart. Coffee and chocolate flavours, with a nice soft body, finishing nicely with a full on whack of ginger spicyness. Would love to try this again and take proper notes. Finally (and about time too) I got a taste of Galway Bay's Of Foam and Fury. Holy shite this is how you make a double IPA - mango, passionfruit, and pineapple balanced with a great, balanced, bitterness and lovely malt. While there's booze here you'd never peg it at 8.5%. Beer of the year so far? I might need a proper bottle to put it to the test but it's right up there.
With this quality available so close by the local guys may need to up their game. If they could replicate any of these I'd be in a beery heaven.
For those who want to see / taste more of these Irish Beers, Brewbot/BelfastBeerClub's Tour takes in both Galway Bay and Rascals. If there are in spaces left your in for a treat!
Cheers
Last Friday night I got a (brief) pass out and decided to hit the Hudson with a couple of mates. It was a great night's crack catching up and the beer offerings there continue to impress - I didn't take notes so not adding anything to the list but managed to sample the Founders All Day IPA, Thornbridge Jaipur, Dark Star Revelation, Partizan 9 grain Porter (which was excellent), and Williams Brother Kelpie will sitting outside in the lovely Hudson Yard. Man, life is tough...
Unfortunately the pass out didn't extend to Tuesday night's beer tasting by Light House Wines. Anyone want to enlighten me to what was on offer apart from Gamma ray on tap (can't believe I still haven't tried that yet)?
Anyway, another beer from the list was ticked:
209. Birrificio del Ducato Verdi (Black Jack)
Style: Imperial Stout. ABV: 10%. From: Drinkstore.ie
Description: Labelled Islay 2002. Poured tar black, a wisp of a brown head stuck about very briefly before disappearing. Wood, BBQ smoke and molasses on the aroma. Taste is peat, wood, smoke, a boozey warmth, a little honey, and some whisky notes (though not as much as expected). Dark and roasted. Thick and oily mouthfeel.
Thoughts: Enjoyable this, lots going on but surprisingly light on the whisky overtones, made it quite drinkable for an imperial stout. Not up there with some of the greats but certainly worth trying if you come across it (though it ain't cheap...)!
Score: 7.5
And a few outsiders:
172. Brasserie de la Senne Jambe de la Senne
Style: Tripel. ABV: 8%. From: Light House Wines
Description: Poured quite a light yellow colour with a white head. Aro,ma wise, Belgian yeast hits you first, then some grassy hops smells. My notes are a mess here... bready malt, brewing sugar, lots of grassy hops, herbal. Light, fizzy, coats your mouth a bit.
Thoughts: As it started off I wasn't too sure. Quite hoppy for a tripel. But as it warmed up I began to like it more and more. It certainly one worth trying but not up there with the Tripel Karmeliet for me.
Score: 7
173. 8 Degrees Amber Ella
Style: Amber Ale. ABV: 5.8%. From: Light House Wines
Description: Amber colour with an off white head. Floral hops, but also some peach and nectarine. Caramel malt, grapefruit, peach, decent citrus bitterness. Dry and slightly bitter finish.
Thoughts: Good stuff this and I can see how it recently took a bronze at the World Beer Cup. This is the sort of beer you can still feel in your teeth ten minutes after finishing. Would pick up again and I really should be trying more of this range.
Score: 7.5
Just finishing with a heads up for the next Beer Club Belfast - 29th May at the Hudson - its a meet the brewer and beer tasting with Marble Brewery. £10 quid in seems a bargain really! See you there.
Cheers
