Hey Blondie...

So it’s undoubtedly BBQ season, and actually having space to BBQ in has meant I’ve taken advantage of it a fair bit this year. With friends round I feel a bit self-conscious whipping out the note book and sticking my nose into a glass of beer and prattling on about honey and citrus and rum, or whatever… So I’ve sampled a few recently and not taken notes.

Of these I did enjoy Short’s Brewery Huma Lupa Licious (again donated by a kindly friend who brought it back from the states) which from memory was fresh as a daisy, grassy with citrus and pine, but not overdone. Of the rest, not much stands out (Delirium Red was decent, Trouble Brewing Sabotage drinkable if not overly exciting, etc).

However, even with friends there, I did take notes of the beers from the list:

224. La Trappe Blonde

Style: Belgian Blonde. ABV: 6.5%. From: Drinkstore.ie

Description: First off I love these big bottles with a cork and cage top. The beer poured a light golden colour with a lively white head. Big funky yeast aroma, along with wheat, spice, and some banana esters. There is something slightly German wheat beer about this, and the banana and wheat carry over into the flavour – but there is more funky yeast here than in the Germanic version. Quite light bodied and easy drinking for 6.5%.

Thoughts: It wasn’t the first beer I’d tasted that night so it might not have been the fairest test, but the beer was decent without ever really being exciting. Not something I’d rush to but if offered I certainly wouldn’t refuse. The dubble was better for me.

Score: 7

225. Oud Beersel Oude Geuze

Style: Lambic - Guese. ABV: 6%. From: Drinkstore.ie

Description: This one poured quite a strong yellow; it was cloudy with a big fluffy white head. A lemon blast kicks off the aroma, with the wild yeast doing its funky sour thing, and finally there’s a hint of something herbal at the end. Taste again starts out lemon, with a whack of lemon rind. There’s a hint of fizzy sweet sherbet, but it doesn’t overcome the overall tartness. Light bodied yet the fizz lends a creamy texture.

Thoughts: Ah now this was good, not as tart and sour as some but it remained refreshing but drinkable though-out. Lovely.

Score: 8

Right, I'm off to another BBQ!

Cheers

Crafty Cardiff

Last weekend: Birmingham. This weekend: Cardiff. Next weekend: Bed...

A whole lot of not getting out much came to a sudden and juddering halt with a boys day night in Birmingham (that was supposed to involve going to a football match but failed) by a stag weekend in Cardiff. Have to say Cardiff is purpose built for that sort of thing... the hotel we stayed in seemed to be all drunken men in costumes and one very confused Spanish family. I think they survived it, I just squeaked though. To quote Indiana Jones "It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage".

Anyway normally this type of thing wouldn't be that suited to this blog but Cardiff was good for a bit of Craftwankerness as well - I even ticked another beer from the list:

199. 3 Founteinen Oude Gueuze
Style: Gueuze. ABV: 6%. From: Urban Tap House.
Description: It was a stag night, strangely I didn't have my note book with me so those won't be extensive notes! Was a pale cloudy yellow with a good white head. Big funky tart aroma - lemon and some sour fruits - a bit vinous. Taste starts a little sweet and light but then you get whacked over the head with a big lemony zesty sour hammer. Crisp and fizzy, tart and refreshing.
Conclusions: A bit of a wow beer for me. Even after the crap I had drunken beforehand it still kicked through as a little sour corker. Still puckering just thinking about it! 
Score: 9


Other things to mention:

• Zero Degrees was good for a crowd and beers. The pitchers made sense and give us the opportunity to try out a few things. The pale ale was a big american C-Hop affair with a good bitterness. The Red Ale was a nice malt and treacle affair, and the mango fruit beer was better than it sounds. Food smelt good too but didn't get to try it out.
• Urban Tap House is a little slice of beer geek heaven. Not cheap but great options and a good atmosphere. Enjoyed the Hadouken. 
• Brains - not so good. The pint of SA I had was definitely off. 
• The entire group managed (apart from a sex on the beach and a vodka) to order King Cobra rather than Cobra with our meal one night! It was actually better than I remember it but that might have been to do with the circumstances.

Overall great trip, very well organised (not by me a should hasten to add) with just the right amount of booze and carry-on. 

Right I'm off to detox till Friday. Well may be Thursday...

Cheers

Gueuzey Does It

Firstly apologies for that title, my excuse is that its a Sunday night and that's the best I could do! But at elast I managed to get my hand on another beer to tick off the list...

197. Boon Mariage Parfait
Style: Gueuze, ABV: 8%, From: LightHouse Wines
Description: Poured a light golden, with a big fluffy white head. Lots of fizz and slightly hazy. Big lemon aroma, some lemon rind, a little sherbet, a touch of wine/vinegar and a sour yeasty tartness. Main flavour is tart lemon, a little lemon grass, and a slightly salty finish. Light and dry.
Thoughts: Once you get over the shock of the first sip that makes your face pucker, this is a great beer. Dangerous too as you'd never guess its 8%. Give it a go.
Score: 8 

The other new beers this weekend were outside "1001 Beers..."
137. Ilkley Siberia
Style: Saison, ABV: 5.9%, From: LightHouse Wines
Description: Golden and clear. No real head, little carbonation. Aroma is quite subtle, some funky yeast and the hint of something tart and bitter. Taste is buttery, some grassy notes, bittersweet, with just a hint of rhubarb on the finish. Quite light, not much fizz. 
Thoughts: First couple of sips didn't do much for me, but as it warmed up I warmed to it. Interesting brew.
Score: 6.5

138. Ilkley Black
Style: Mild, ABV: 3.7%, From: LightHouse Wines
Description: Poured a translucent dark brown, small beige head. Aroma of smokiness, tobacco, leather, and toasted biscuity malt. Big smoky flavour (though not like this bad boy) and toasted malt. Mid bodied and quite smooth.
Thoughts: This was a cracking low ABV beer that delivered big flavour... might be the best of the Ilkley's so far.
Score: 7.5

139. Sierra Nevada Beer Camp #93 IPA
Style: IPA, ABV: 6.9%, From: LightHouse Wines
Description: Pale amber in colour, decent white head. Hazy. Aroma of hops, hops, hops - citrus and some floral notes. Tastes of grapefruit, bitter finish. Quite resin like mouth-feel, light-to-mid bodied.   
Thoughts: Again wasn't too sure of this at the start - I was expecting a bit citrus hop bomb - but actually it was a bit more subtle and bitter than that. Became smoother and better balanced with some heat. Good but not great.
Score: 7

Cheers.