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
Ah during weather like that there's nothing better to do than get some work done in the garden as an excuse for breaking out a cold lawnmower beer, this one is from the list too:
215. Birrificio del Ducato Via Emilia
Style: Zwickle (apparently!). ABV: 5% From: Drinkstore.ie
Description: Poured light amber with a good sized white head, cloudy appearance. Some citrus in the aroma, but a with some bread / crackers in the background - I got a bit of hefe spice too. Pineapple is the first taste to hit my tongue, but again there's some light spice there too, followed up by some grass and a bit of grain. Light bodied, decent fizzy, easy drinking.
Thoughts: This hit the spot on a warm day - not huge flavour-wise but very drinkable. Could have a few of these and I would buy again if more accessible
Score: 7.
Even better I made it to this months Beer Club Belfast, and what a month to make a return with a meet the brewer evening featuring Marble - there was a good turn out and nice to see a couple of familiar faces too! As geeky as I am, I couldn't bring myself to take my note book with me, so this will be a quick overview...
First up was the Manchester Bitter - pale golden, perfectly clear (despite the fact that Marble doesn't use finings in any of its beers, these bad boys are all vegan friendly), a decent bitterness - probably the most sessionable beer of the night. Bitters aren't really my thing but this a decent example and I know a few friends who would love it. Second we had Lagonda IPA - this one upped the hops, american stylee. Tasty but drinkable with a nice resinous finish. Third was Ginger 5.1 - a proper ginger beer, with a shitload of real ginger and a touch of chilli. Not my thing but you could see it was well made.
Fourth was Dobber - the biggest marble in the pack indeed (despite some discussion here as to reasons for its naming - though the story told on the night went the recipe from Ginger was "borrowed" from the famous Brendan Dobbin!), lots of NZ hops lend this a real kick and more of the oily, resinous finish. As good an IPA as I've got my hands on from England. Fifth we had Chocolate Marble - there good discussion as to the style of this beer, for me it does touch more on an old ale than anything else, decent chocolate bitterness, and a figgy fruit note. Sixth was Earl Grey - brewed in collaboration Emelisse, this had actual Earl Grey tea in it, which helped bring out the fresh hop citrus. My second favourite beer of the night after the Dobber! Finally the guys let us finish on surprise - an unnamed beer brewed for the 125 anniversary of the bar where it all started for Marble. This was a big number (13 odd percent someone said), lots of barrel in the flavour, but a big chuck of dark fruit too. There was something reminiscence of Bourbon County Stout - but not as complex or as much booze. Nice way to finish.
It was a great night, you could really sense the passion and pride of the folks from Marble, and this translates into their beer. The fact they sent so many people over tells a story in itself. They are hoping to have more of a presence in NI and I wish them well - keep an eye out for their beers soon!
Final tip - Beer club and brewbot are planning a proper beer dinner and a trip round some of he best breweries in Ireland, see here for more details. Don't think I can make it but it looks good!
Right I'm off out to the dirty duck for the pub quiz and a pint of cask! Cheers
No messing about today, just straight into four more beers ticked off from the list...
211. Oskar Blues Dales Pale Ale
Style: Pale Ale. ABV: 6.5%. From: Drinkstore.ie
Description: Light amber with an off-white head. God, I hate trying to read my notes... Citrus but caramel malt backbone on the aroma. Taste is fruit, citrus, and caramel malt and a bit of bready/biscuity follow through. Light to mid bodied, slightly sticky, creamy/foamy.
Thoughts: Second craft in a can! This was lovely, nothing over played just a well balanced American Pale Ale. Worth getting your hands on.
Score: 8
212. Grottenbier Bruin
Style: Bruin. ABV: %. From: Light House Wines
Description: Poured brown and murky with an off-white head. Candied sugar and belgian yeast on the nose. Flavour provides more brown sugar, caramel, spice and some clove. Quite light bodied for the style.
Thoughts: I rather enjoyed this, though I seem to enjoy most beers that come from Belgium - reasonably priced and certainly worth trying.
Score: 7.5
213. Rogue Juniper Pale Ale
Style: Pale Ale . ABV: %. From: Drinkstore.ie
Description: Poured golden yellow with a small off-white head. Aroma is like a grainy lager, but there's something more in there, something sweet and fruity but it doesn't shout juniper. Grain and malt on the taste, again there a hint of crisp lager here, but with a touch more floral hops and fruit. Though the Juniper really doesn't push through. Lots of small tight bubble, makes it smooth and creamy.
Thoughts: I had high expectations of this beer, but it really didn't deliver. It's fine, drinkable, but not a huge flavour. There was a lager type cleanness too, but a muted flavour. Wouldn't buy again.
Score: 5.5
214. Oakham JHB
Style: Golden Ale/Bitter. ABV: 3.8%. From: Drinkstore.ie
Description: Very pale golden, hazy, decent white head. There's a definite herbal hop aroma (my wife even got a whiff of mint!), there's also a jaffa citrus here too. It's the tangerine/orange citrus that comes through on the taste too, giving it a decent bitterness, and more of those herbal hops. Light bodied.
Thoughts: This was enjoyable, lots of flavour despite the 3.8% ABV. Nice beer for supping on a sunny evening. Would buy again but I wouldn't go out of my way to find it.
Score: 6.5
Right, see you at Beer Club on Thursday!
Cheers
Another order from Drinkstore.ie has made a real dent in my wallet, but will also help me make a further dent into drinking my way through "1001 Beers". Photo of some things to come below just to tease!
So, I've been saving the next beer for a wee while, and thought it would be a good way to mark reaching 210 beers!
210. Mikkeller Black
Style: Imperial Stout. ABV: 18.1%. From: Drinkstore.ie
Description: This thing is so dark I had to turn lights on in each room I moved into... Good brown head that lasted well considering the ABV. Wow, big aroma - burnt malt, booze, wood, something slightly lactic and sour, sugar, smoke. Taste hits in a big way too, more of that burnt malt, there's a sugary sweetness to along with (very) bitter chocolate and coffee. Wood, smoke, and may be a hint of vanilla, and lots (and lots) of booze. Very rich, oily, and lasting.
Thoughts: This is not an easily drunk beer. There's a lot going on and the booze level is through the roof. I did enjoy it but I'd guess it need more ageing - a good couple of years at that - to mellow it out and take the edges off. Worth trying but I preferred the Bourbon County Stout.
Score: 8.5
Now to some outsiders - I've been buying some local Irish/Norn Irish beers recently so a quick summary of these...
174. Kinnegar Rustbucket
Style: Rye Beer. ABV: 5.1%. From: Grange Wines
Description: Dark amber going on light brown, white head. On the aroma I got some caramel and a hint of grapefruit. Flavour starts biscuity, then some caramel malt sweetness, and finally some bittering hops kick in. May be a little spice in there too. Quite light, coated my mouth a little but not what I'd call "sticky"
Thoughts: Not a bad drop this, might be slightly better for a autumn night but was a decent rye ale.
Score: 6.5
175. O'Hara's DIPA
Style: Imperial IPA. ABV: 7.5%. From: Grange Wines
Description: Golden in colour with a small off-white head. Lots of floral hops and sugar on the nose, a little piney aroma in there too. This came through very sweet, some floral notes and some citrus but its not really getting through strongly. Sticky mouth feel.
Thoughts: I was looking forward to this, and the beer nut (who's blog is excellent by the way) seemed to enjoy it , which is nearly always a good sign. For me, however, it just didn't work - way too sweet, a sickly kinda special brew sweetness at that, with nothing else getting through. I nearly didn't finish it at all. It may well have been a bad bottle, but it's not something I'll be buying again... ever...
Score: 3
176. Pokertree Seven Sister Treacle Stout
Style: Stout. ABV: 5.9%. From: Grange Wines
Description: Poured a decent thick dark brown (almost black), with a beige head. Some roasted malt on the aroma, but also some light coffee and chocolate, and a definite brown sugar sweetness. The treacle remains in the flavour giving it some richness, the roasted malt and coffee make a come back too, I also got some dark fruit. Quite light bodied.
Thoughts: I waited for a second tasting to give this a review. The flavour holds up well for me, a solid oatmeal stout with a nice hint of brown sugary moreishness. Its not huge flavour wise but very drinkable. I think it could take a bit more fullness in body to really round it out.
Score: 6.5
Right I'm off to line up more of the beers in the picture, but I'll leave you with a final reminder for Beerclubbelfast next Thursday (29th @ 7pm) with the guys from marble coming over it should be a great event... I'm even planning to make it down - hopefully see you there.
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
First up, the ever brilliant Lighthouse Wines is hosting their first beer tasting event at Bureau by the Lough on Tuesday 6 May. Apparently it's £10 in with 8 beers to sample (none have been announced yet that I'm aware of but give them a follow for more info). Should be worth checking out!
Anyway, took it relatively easy at the weekend (despite the temptation to crack open a bottle of something huge following the bloody football on Sunday) but did mange to tick another beer off the list...
 |
| Oatmeal Stout Battle |
208. Rogue Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout
Style: Stout. ABV: 6%. From: Drinkstore.ie
Description: Poured a very dark brown with a small tan head. Light coffee aroma, roasted malt, some cocoa, and a touch of dark fruit. On taste I got some smoke and wood to start, coffee and chocolate in the middle, and a toasted malt (and a hint of fruit) on the finish. Creamy and smooth, mid-to-full bodied but a little dryness.
Thoughts: Another little cracker from Rogue. Nicely balanced, nothing to fancy, but very drinkable.
Score: 7.5
Then I thought I'd be ticking another beer off the list, but I wasn't! I mistook the Achel Bruin with the Achel Extra Bruin... Ah well, buying a trappist beer is never that big a mistake.
169. Achel Bruin
Style: Dubble. ABV: 8%. From: Drinkstore.ie
Description: Dark brown, hazy, with a small beige head. Not much going on with the smell to start (it needed to warm up a bit) eventually there were hints of plum, marzipan and brown sugar. Starts with a whack of Belgian yeast, followed by dark fruit, marzipan, brown sugar, honey, nutty, and cherries. Quite full bodied, creamy, tight carbonisation.
Thoughts: There's a lot going on here, but it needed a bit of heat to get going. Actually there may have been slightly too much going on but overall excellent beer. Now I really want to try the Extra - anyone seen it available?
Score: 7.5
170. Kinnegar Scraggybay IPA
Style: IPA. ABV: 5.3%. From: Grange Wines
Description: Light amber, decent white head. Wow lots of peach in the aroma with some floral notes too. Taste starts off peach and nectarine, but doesn't really follow through with much punch - a little watery and no real bitterness. Light, low(ish) carbonisation, with a slight syrupy mouthfeel.
Thoughts: This is my third beer from Kinnegar Brewing, and the first that hasn't done much for me. It's not bad, just a little watery with no real depth - drinkable but not sure I would return to it.
Score: 5.5
Right - I'm off to to restock the beer supply.
Cheers
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