Firstly apologies for the Fergal Sharkey reference in the title, any pretence at being "cool" is now well and truly gone.
World cup and this weather have meant plenty of beers being drunk but not much commitment to blogging about them... trying to make up for it now (but its still sunny outside, and the football is on, so this might be a tad half-hearted). The last post covered a couple of beers kindly donated to me via Michigan, well one of them was even on the list and is beer number 218 from "1001 Beers...".
218. Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Style: IPA. ABV: 7% From: A generous friend state-side.
Description: Poured light amber and hazy. Off-white head. Aroma is big on perfume, pine, and floral hops. Taste follows that; lots of perfumey floral hops, piny, but there's not much malt to balance it out. Bitter. Mouth-feel is sticky and resinous.
Thoughts: The description above reads like something I'd love, but actually it was all hops and not much else. Some malt or something might else might have helped to balance out the flavour a bit. It was grand but not something I'd rush to again. Though if your a real hop head this would probaly be right up your street - I'd guess people who love Jackhammer would also love this.Score: 6
The last beer from this little American selection was North Peak's Diabolical IPA (Style: IPA. ABV: 6.66%). This poured orange with lots of white head. Not much going on aroma wise, floral hops and some citrus but all quite subtle. Flavour is less subtle; again floral hops, astringent and bitter. Mid bodied with a nice resinous mouth-feel. Decent this as a big floral IPA, not as perfumey as the Two Hearted it carried a bit of a better balance - plenty of C Hops (Columbus comes to mind) I'd guess. Good but not great. Score: 6.5
I haven't reviewed Brewdog's Punk IPA here before (as I first drunk it ages ago) and I won't do a full one now either, but just to say I'm really enjoying the cans of it currently available in various spots across NI (try these places on Belfast Beer Blog for starters) - I'm not sure if it's psychological or not but they seem to taste fresher and more tropical to me... If you see them try them and let me know what you think!
Right back to the footy, sun and beers.
Cheers
Probably shows may age, but opening the big cork and cage bottle of La Trappe Dubble just brought me back to my childhood and the cartoon trapdoor... anyway enough of this nostalgic revelry and on with the beer.
216. La Trappe Dubbel
Style: Dubble. ABV: 7% From: Drinkstore.ie
Description: Poured a dark ruby red, maybe even heading towards a mid brown, tan head which went quickly. Aroma is a bit of funky Belgian yeast, earthiness, toffee and candy sugar. Taste is nutty and marzipan (biscuity), something sherbet like, almonds and a dark fruity whack of cherry, plum and dates. Lots of tingly carbonisation.
Thoughts: I rather enjoyed this, more so as I worked through the bottle... There are better out there but worth trying if you can get your hands on it.
Score: 7.5
217. Porterhouse Oyster Stout
Style: Stout. ABV: 5.2% From: Drinkstore.ie
Description: Black with a light brown head. Aroma of roast malt and coffee. Taste is toast, dark malt, light coffee, mineral, and (though it may be psychological) a slightly salty finish. Creamy mouth feel, lots of tight bubbles.
Thoughts: Not bad this, decent Irish stout, and the oysters added something this time, preferred it to the flying dog version.
Score: 6.5
I friend was recently state side and brought me home a couple of unexpected surprises! I had these two during the start of the world cup - neither from "1001 Beers" but still worth drinking...
First up was Dark Horse's Crooked Tree IPA (Style: IPA. ABV: 6% From: A very generous colleague!). Burnt orange in colour and proper cloudy. There was briefly a white head but it didn't last from the kitchen to the living room. Lovely aroma: piny; grapefruit; with a hint of caramel malt. Taste follows that; this a big piny citrus number with caramel to balance it out. Decently bitter but not over done. Resin like finish. This was lovely - reminded me a lot of Anderson Valley Hop Ottin IPA - and that's a compliment. Score: 8 .
Second was Bell's Oberon Ale (Style: Wheat. ABV: 5.8% From: A very
generous colleague!
). Apparently the appearance of this beer means summer has arrived in Michigan & it has a real lawnmower beer quality. Mango, opaque, and again no head. The smell is light; grainy, grassy, reminded me a bit of something like staropramen or kozel. Light orange taste, wheat, and a little spice; I got some pepper too as it warmed up. A fizzy number; light and sinkable. Nice summer beer but nothing outstanding. Paired well with with the cheese and onion mini cheddars I had with it (classy i know...).
Right I'm off to watch the world cup but just to flag a couple of upcoming beer events: the last blog highlighted the Beerclubbelfast/brewbot beer dinner and tour; and Lighthouse Wines have now announced their next beer tasting event on 10 July 2014.
Cheers
.jpg)
