Kicks ‘Warp’ West Coast IPA

Rating:

“Putting the spotlight on Freestyle Hops’ Riwaka in all its glory. Expect exotic citrus, papaya and candy flavours to jump out of the glass. Backed up with a more modest dose of our house favourite, Nelson Sauvin, with its dank passion fruit and guava flavour profile.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Pours a somewhat bold amber with a soft hop haze. A finger of white head forms on top and as it gradually reduces it leaves some wavy lace on the glass.

Aroma: Freestyle hops would have to be one of the most popular hop farms in the world at the moment. It’s not surprising when they can produce aromas of this quality. One of the characteristics we love the most about NZ hops is the juicy lime (which this has in spades). Candied lemon, fresh herbs like basil and thyme, white grapes, unripened tropical fruit and lush rainforest in support.

Flavour: Again, an impressive display of NZ hops upfront. The palate is basking in all of that fresh green character i.e lime/lemon, fresh savoury herbs, white grape, some dank pine and resinous qualities. Just the mildest touch of malt sweetness before the hop bitterness rolls over and shifts it all into an archetypal West Coast finish of dry dank bitterness and herbals.

Mouthfeel: Smooth initially then a little dry and bitter in the swallow. Medium body, good Co2 and a well behaved 7.2% ABV.

Overall: Crisp, well balanced and dangerously crushable. It’s just a really well structured West Coast IPA. Two from two now!

Kicks ‘Cognitive Dissonance’ BA Imperial Stout

Rating:

“Our first foray into barrel ageing, this decadent imperial stout aged in whisky barrels is rich and full bodied with jammy fruit and spice, and a lingering creamy sweetness.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pours an impenetrable black and sports a frothy two finger head which gradually peels off. Excellent lacing in its wake.

Aroma: We’ve been hearing some good things about these new kids on the Marrickville block and judging by the first whiff we can understand why. The base Stout is superb…uber roasty (almost charred), heady espresso and dark chocolate, molasses, licorice, leather. The usual suspects really. The whiskey/barrels are subtle but well integrated – a little smoky, a little spicy and sweet. We’d love to know which distillers’ barrels were used.

Flavour: Good follow through. It’s rich, warming, very roasty but still well moderated. The front palate is all whiskey…it comes on with Apera-style notes then it entertains some spice and vanilla sweetness. The base Stout creeps in very methodically…first the charred malt then the espresso, dark chocolate and molasses. This gradual shift to sweetness makes the finish even more enjoyable as it balances out perfectly.

Mouthfeel: Well weighted but still sitting around that medium-full mark. Nicely carbed and the 11.5% ABV, although noticeable, is well within the realms of the style.

Overall: Our first crack at Kicks and apparently their first crack at barrel aging. We’re jumping on the bandwagon. We reckon these guys have what it takes. Let’s go!

Walkerville Co-op Brewery ‘Wild Dog’ Pale Ale

Rating:

NO COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Bold amber hue with a short and very loosely held head. It quickly breaks apart and almost vanishes completely. Quietly hoping there’s no Co2 issues here.

Aroma: Smells incredible. If we didn’t know any better we’d think we had a glass of one of England’s finest IPA’s in front of us. It displays orange citrus overtones and then it’s filled out with a fairly rich caramel and bready malt profile. Has that marmalade on toast character that’s synonymous with all the top shelf English IPA’s. Flutters of honey, orchard fruits and florals also come through. Brilliant.

Flavour: We had our fingers and toes crossed that it was going to taste exactly like it smelt but it’s not to be. That’s in no way saying it’s bad, it just isn’t as magnificent as the aroma. It’s still largely British in its delivery with this delicious fusion of caramel, toasty malt, tangy orange and spicy/herbal hops. Finishes just as a world class English IPA would – well balanced and with good duration.

Mouthfeel: Smooth with a good chewy consistency. Medium body, low-ish Co2 and a nicely positioned 5% ABV.

Overall: Probably the closest thing to a traditional English IPA or ESB that you’ll get from an Australian brewery. Another cool fact is one of the Breheny Bro’s was the head brewer for this co-op brewery from 1901 until around 1920. This family truly is one of the early pioneers of brewing in Australia.

Sunday Road Mexican Lager

Rating:

“A classic Mexican style cerveza brew in collaboration with Mexican born designer Lorena Gaxiola. Lorena possesses the remarkable ability to turn elements of life into extraordinary works of art. The depiction of an Owl, reminiscent of a Mexican Alebrije, beautifully captures this essence. In her artwork designed for this Mexican Lager from SR, Lorena skilfully captures the Mayans’ deep reliance on intuition as a valuable source of guidance. In working with Lorena, we at SRB wanted to create a truly authentic Mexican brew, paying homage to Lorena’s heritage. A beer you can enjoy just as much here under the Australian Sun, as you can in Lorena’s beloved homeland.”

Glassware: American pint.

Appearance: 100% translucent pale golden pour with a light and fizzy two finger head. Good retention and some thick blotchy lacing as it ebbs.

Aroma: We can’t believe we’re saying it but we’re digging this new Cerveza craze. Well, one of us is anyway. The other is dishing out some well deserved sledging. We carry on regardless. Super crisp and refreshing notes of lime, agave, sweet corn, coriander and a hint of peppery spice. Sounds like we’re listing the ingredients that go inside a taco!

Flavour: Man this is seriously crushable, really well balanced and just wonderfully put together. One of the things we hate about Corona is the sweet cloying malt profile and the lack of hop presence to balance it out. This, however, is extremely crisp with a line of citrusy hops to give it that extra zing. Just the right amount of bitterness develops late and assists in the perfectly rounded finish.

Mouthfeel: Ultra light and crisp. Unbelievably refreshing. Mild-moderate body, Co2 is spot on. The 4.5% ABV is right on the money too.

Overall: Trust the craft industry to take a truly horrible style of beer and make it delicious. As stated earlier, one of us is digging this new craze but beforehand we both hated it. Big ups to SR here, this is an absolute corker.

Breheny Bro’s ‘Superior’ Stout

Rating:

“A smooth dry stout based on the Breheny Brothers Breweries recipe from 100 years ago This stout was originally produced at Breheny Brothers Breweries in Sale, Warrenheip, Bendigo and Toowoomba by Brothers John James, Thomas, Peter Martin, James Patrick, Edward Thomas and Michael Breheny.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Matte black pour with a dense and creamy two finger brown head perched on top. Good retention and healthy lacing on the glass.

Aroma: The first few whiffs offer super traditional vibes. Dry, foreign stout-like in character. Quite rich as well, espresso coffee, dark chocolate, hints of licorice and herbal/grassy hops. Much more subtle touches of peat, burnt toffee and raw vanilla bean. Really old-school Stout which matches the branding. Diggin’ it thus far.

Flavour: Good transition from the nose. Reminds us of the old Southwark Stout with its earthy and lightly peated roasted notes. The hop profile comes through as well – definitely earthy but some herbals and pine pair up with the bitterness midway. A flutter of dark fruit then a dry and toasty finish which goes the distance on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and kinda silky then turns dry in the swallow. Medium body. Slightly lifted Co2 and the 6.2% ABV slots in nicely.

Overall: Our first crack at this ancient (for Australia’s standards) brewery which was first established in 1891. Which makes it Australia’s 2nd oldest independent brewery…2nd only to Cooper’s of course. Solid drop.

Boatrocker X 8 Wired ‘iJet’ BA Imperial Stout

Rating:

“With extensive barrel programs, a love of stouts, hoppy beers and sours, you could say Boatrocker and 8 Wired are kindred spirits… We wanted to collaborate on a beer that would sum both of us up, and yet give the beer a unique take on what we both love. Enter iJet… A recipe that takes the best of 8 Wired’s iStout and our very own Ramjet. We gave the beer a little love in some Starward barrels, and the end result is like the beautiful lovechild of these two beers.”

Glassware: Tulip.

Appearance: Solid black pour with a thumb of brown foam resting on top. Good retention and some wet spotty lace is dragged down the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Interesting idea this. We’re ardent fans of 8 Wired and have been for over a decade but the one style of theirs we always seemed to find a bit lacklustre were their Stouts so we’re keen to see how this unfolds. First whiffs yield a rich and deep molasses-laden number with dark chocolate, licorice and gamey notes of biltong on the flank. A fruity/vinous accent here too…surely from the Starward barrels.

Flavour: The progression is next level. We actually go from being impartial all the way to digging it in the finish. This mostly because the front palate is a little tart and vinous and it all starts coming together midway. The descending vinous/fruity notes meet the ascending charred malts and as it progresses the big, roasty flavours take over and finish with espresso, ash, burnt vanilla, dark chocolate and licorice.

Mouthfeel: Pretty silky, some warmth from the 11.1% ABV but it’s nicely integrated. Medium-full body. Low-ish Co2.

Overall: It’s not a BA Stout you’ll ever find in our cellar but it does have some well polished traits to it. After all, it is half Ramjet…which in our opinion, is one of Australia’s best Imperial Stout recipes.

Hawkers ’23 Apple Brandy BA Barleywine

Rating:

“Emerging from the depths of the unknown, this Brandy Barrel-Aged Barleywine embodies the characters of the brandy barrels while retaining the rich complexity of the base beer. A delicious monster! Enjoy now or cellar it for a rainy day. Even better, treat yourself to this one and grab a second for future you. Future you will be stoked.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Somewhat muddy, rustic brown complexion with a short khaki head which slowly recedes and settles at the rim. Little to no lacing as we go.

Aroma: The Apple Brandy barrels really pop. Even to the point where we’re literally getting apple juice wafting out. It’s actually quite a nice little fusion…the sweet yet tart apple mingling with the rich caramelised sweetness and spice of the base Barleywine is a nice touch. Just a hint of musty oak peeking through as well. Getting the conventional toffee, dark fruits, spice and honeysuckle too. Pretty damn good.

Flavour: Pleasantly surprised. It’s rich, complex, but well balanced and exudes that typical Barleywine indulgence – toffee apple, treacle, dark fruits like plum, dates and raisin, oriental spice, apple-infused honey and a certain earthiness to boot. Our only gripe is that the apple character takes on a bit of a cloying and artificial nature at times but that’s it.

Mouthfeel: Slick, gelatinous, chewy. Medium-full body with good Co2. The 11.2% ABV although noticeable is on point.

Overall: A couple of minor setbacks throughout the experience but ultimately it was pretty enjoyable and far better than anything from their BA Imperial Stout range. Decent.

Yulli’s ‘Seabass’ Mediterranean Lager

Rating:

“Seabass Mediterranean Lager is a light, dry and clean unfiltered lager. Pouring a pale straw colour, the beer presents subtle spicy & floral flavours from NZ Motueka hops, supported by all Australian barley & wheat. Seabass is the ultimate refresher for any occasion, and is best served with most foods but supports light citrus flavours, salty cheeses and fried foods particularly well.”

Glassware: American pint.

Appearance: 100% transparent pale golden hue with good Co2 activity. It constructs a near two finger head which retains nicely. Blotchy lace as we go.

Aroma: We’re certainly getting a new world vibe from it. Bold citrus overtones with a distinct evergreen and lush rainforest character. Also displaying notable scents of white pepper, unripened pineapple, candied lime and cereal grains. Maybe just the slightest hint of rice crackers and honey in the background.

Flavour: Super crushable. It takes on more of the traditional Lager qualities here i.e less fruit and green herbal notes and more earthiness, wheat grains, vegetals (corn, cauliflower, DMS etc) and pepper. In saying that, we can still detect a discernible citrusy undertone which lingers from start to finish.

Mouthfeel: Light on, mild-moderate body. A bit flatter than we’d anticipated though. The 4.2% ABV is bang on where we wanted it to be.

Overall: We’ve known about this beer for like 10 years. Don’t know what it is about the Yulli’s brand but we’ve never liked it. This is coming purely from an aesthetic angle mind you. The contents are good but nothing to write home about. And what’s with naming it a “Mediterranean Lager”??…there’s nothing Mediterranean about it 🤷

Blackman’s ‘Arthur’ Smoked Porter

Rating:

“A GOLD MEDAL WINNING PORTER, ARTHUR IS SMOKEY, DARK AND RICH BUT SMOOTH AND BALANCED. WE’VE TAKEN ON AN ENGLISH CLASSIC STYLE WITH THE ADDED AWESOMENESS OF USING SMOKED MALT FROM BAMBERG IN GERMANY.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Dark brown, almost black with a flicker of light cutting through at the foot of the glass. It holds a nice and creamy two finger head which laces well. Looks the goods.

Aroma: We were astonished to find out that this go-to Porter (for one of us) still hadn’t been reviewed. We were too busy throwing them down to notice! It’s a favourite for a reason…the perfectly tempered smoky notes weave through the beer better than any other smoked beer we’ve ever had. We get strong but balanced smoke/peat, silky vanilla sweetness, floral hops, milk chocolate, coffee and spice.

Flavour: It delivers such a perfectly balanced ratio of smoke to sweetness. Then a subtle addition of umami gives it the depth that we love so much. It evolves so effortlessly too. Kinda sweet and roasty upfront then the smokiness takes the baton and runs. The chocolate and coffee flavours develop late and helps set up the all-encompassing finish which lingers magnificently.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, silky and perfectly weighted. Just the right amount of Co2 and booze (6%).

Overall: Well, there you go, now we’ve reviewed it we’re going back to pounding them like they’re going out of fashion! 😆

Timmermans ’23 Oude Kriek

Rating:

“Our Oude Kriek is a blend of old and young barrel-aged lambic in which 400g/l of cherries have matured. Bottle refermented, its cherry aroma is intense, the acidity sharp yet balanced by the roundness of the fruit.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: What a thing of beauty. Pours halfway between mahogany and deep cherry with a short fizzy head which rapidly disappears. No head = no lace!

Aroma: Exactly what you’d expect from a high quality Belgian Oude Kriek; bursting with sweet yet tart cherry, dark fruits like blood plum and dates and a nice musty oak that’s integrated so harmoniously. Big funky and sweaty notes, yoghurt-like sourness with a flutter of red wine vinegar and citric acidity. Subtle red wine tannin running through it as well. Really high quality stuff.

Flavour: Pow! That’s close to eye-watering sourness…and we love it! It hangs on too, and doesn’t subside until well past the mid-palate. Alongside the intense sourness are heady notes of sour cherry, red wine vinegar and musty oak with some mild support from a somewhat Noble hop herbaceousness, manky/sweaty funk and eventually a sharp acetic finish which draws out nicely.

Mouthfeel: Sharp and acidic with a hint of minerality. Pucker rating is off the charts. Quite firmly bodied, sparkling Co2 and the 6.7% ABV is well buried.

Overall: Damn fine stuff. And one of the more affordable Belgian Lambics on the market too. Solid offering.

Bottle Logic ‘Quantum Matter ’23’ BA Imperial Stout

Rating:

“Our team of innovators has created a liquid so remarkable that it can really only be described by quantum mechanics: Quantum Matter stems from a series of probabilities and interactions at the microscopic level between our Vietnamese coffee-inspired #CondensedMatter stout base, an elite selection of bourbon barrels, and two choice finishing ingredients. The molecular diffusion from barrel to beer layers compounds of vanillin, caramel, and spirit into the stout while a finishing spin through fresh flaked coconut and Vietnamese cinnamon sends waves of silky soft sweetness and just a hint of spice across the palate.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Standard BL Stasis Project pour – as black as the ace of spades with a short dark brown head which quickly evaporates. It forms a very fine collar with zero lacing as we go.

Aroma: Hits the nostrils with a gorgeous array of raw and toasted coconut, cinnamon powder, molasses, sweet espresso, Bourbon oak and milk chocolate. We picked up on the chicory midway through and thought that it needed its own endorsement. It’s a really clever addition with its woody and nutty notes which reinforces the coffee and toasty Bourbon/oak. Spectacular, once again.

Flavour: Incredibly sweet initially. Dominated by coconut, sweet coffee, cinnamon and what must be the condensed milk aspect. Our only gripe thus far is the shy Bourbon/barrel components as they’re pretty hard to find. Tasting a nutty, toasty and woody mid-palate which sets up for the sweet, spicy and sugary finish which draws out nicely.

Mouthfeel: Good viscosity to it. Well rounded and chewy. Low-ish Co2 and the 11.5% ABV was dangerously well concealed.

Overall: Absolutely delicious but it certainly isn’t one of their best. We thought the sweetness was too overdone but on the upside the ABV was remarkably well buried. Still, a solid offering.

Red Hill ‘Big Smoke’ Rauchbock

Rating:

“A big and smoky Rauchbock created with lager yeast a long cool fermentation.”

Glassware: Dimpled mug.

Appearance: Light brown with a candy red tint. It forms a light and puffy two finger head which slowly recedes. Not a great deal of lace to speak of though.

Aroma: We testify, Rauchbier is without a doubt in our bottom two or three most disliked styles. But, and a very big but, we have warmed to a few of the Aussie interpretations, mostly due to the fact that they’re a lot milder and far less smoky than their Bamberg counterparts. This is the prime example – it’s got a considerable smoked ham hock note but it’s tempered by a nice malt sweetness which balances it out.

Flavour: Nicely balanced ratio of big smoky and gamey notes to the sweet and semi rich malts. We get a bit of the smoky bacon, ash, burnt wood and then the kinda rich and sticky toffee and caramel ooze through. Just the right amount of bitterness helps shift it all into the rather dry, malty and smoky finish. Good length too.

Mouthfeel: Chewy, a little sticky but nicely shook up by the bitterness. Medium body, mild-moderate Co2. The 7.5% ABV is well buried.

Overall: Yep, these are the sorts of Rauchbiers we can get on board with…sizeable smokiness yet still refined and palatable. Solid drop.

Good Land ‘L-Joy’ Kriek Style Sour

Rating:

“Our Kriek beer is a refreshing blend of tart and sweet. We conditioned it for 6 months on 2 seasons worth or morello cherries that we grew right here in Traralgon, allowing the beer absorb the fruits rich complex flavours.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Pours a deep and bold ruby red with a fizzy one finger head which quickly fades. It settles to a fine collar but hardly any lace clings to the glass.

Aroma: It’s fascinating how different the make up of the same fruit can be depending on where it’s grown. We’re almost certain Cantillon (and a raft of other Belgian Sour breweries) use Morello cherries but the difference here is the Morello cherries were grown in Australia, under our climate conditions. The characteristics are much sweeter and milder and display more of a sarsaparilla-like quality. Also getting pink lemonade, strawberry and herbs.

Flavour: Hhmm a bit too medicinal for our liking. Not a whole lot of sourness to it either. There’s certainly fresh cherry notes along with sarsaparilla, dry wheat grains, red grapes and blood plum. It doesn’t really go anywhere from here unfortunately, it all gradually peeters out and finishes a tad dry with the faintest hint of cherry in the tail.

Mouthfeel: Fairly light on, mineraly texture. Vibrant Co2 and the 7 % ABV is well concealed.

Overall: We won’t be rushing out to get more any time soon. We think stating that it’s a “Kriek Style” Sour was a good move as it’s far from a traditional Kriek. We get they’re difficult beers to perfect but we were expecting more from this.

Hargreaves Hill ’22 Vintage R.I.S’ Russian Imperial Stout

Rating:

“A black, velvety Russian imperial stout with characters of liquorice, coffee and molasses. Roasted malts and a rich alcohol presence drive the palate, with a lingering bitter finish.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black with a short tan head which holds together well. We’re always a little skeptical of Russian Imperial’s that don’t have a dark brown head but we’re not going to write it off this early. Excellent cascading lace as it ebbs.

Aroma: Big, deep and roasty. The aromas aren’t jumping out of the glass by any means but dig the nose in far enough and you’ll get a plethora of dark, malty essence that should warm the bones. The booze burn is there but it isn’t prominent which is a plus. Rich dark chocolate, molasses, ash, sweet espresso, coffee, Galliano/licorice, woody spice, burnt vanilla and sponge finger make up the bulk of it.

Flavour: Sooo rich and indulgent. Again, like the nose, the booze burn is noticeable but not overcooked. If anything it adds more heat and bottom end to the base flavours of dark chocolate, molasses, espresso and licorice. Hits a bit of an astringent note midway but it’s short lived and the quartet of richness surges into the lavish and warming finish.

Mouthfeel: Velvety and full bodied but we can’t ignore that slightly sharp booze burn (11.2% ABV). Low Co2.

Overall: We haven’t reviewed one of these since their ’19 vintage. Re-reading that review and then reflecting on this one, it appears nothing much has changed. It’s still a decent R.I.S.

King River ‘Schweizenbock’ Dark Weizenbock

Rating:

“Black weizenbock brewed for carwyn cellars black box 2023.”

Glassware: Dimpled mug.

Appearance: Watch your pour on this one folks. It was hardly an aggressive pour and it literally came out 95% foam. Quite a dark number though…cola-like complexion. Unfortunately no lace on which is a shame considering the whole glass was filled with head at one stage.

Aroma: We’re being forced to take whiffs from the can as the glass still holds 40% head. We are picking up a pleasant smokiness which rolls nicely into fairly heavy roasted malt, molasses and coffee notes. It offers a good amount of yeast ester – heady clove and or nutmeg, choc-coated banana and orchard fruits. Diggin it.

Flavour: Our initial concern was the overcarbonation and it turns out our concerns are valid. Besides that the flavour profile is quite good, we get big roasted malts upfront, light smoke and coffee in support. The spice and fruit from the yeast integrates nicely and softens the big roasty notes as it finishes charred, spicy and a little funky.

Mouthfeel: As previously stated it’s way too overcarbonated. The 9% ABV was surprisingly well concealed though.

Overall: We’re wondering, as this was a beer for Carwyn’s black box subscription, was it rushed into can and continued to ferment? Unsure. It’s a shame coz behind the Co2 issue is a decent dark Weizenbock.

Mikkeller ‘Ich Bin Blueberry’ Berliner Weiss

Rating:

“Mikkeller’s favourite berliner weisse – now with a ton of blueberries added!”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Striking colour. Kind of a light cherry red with dark pink highlights. It forms two fingers of creamy pink-tinged head which slowly reduces. Tonnes of lace left in its wake.

Aroma: Subtle variations of blueberry leading out…fresh, macerated and some candied blueberry as well. It has a really deep vinous accent which is really impressive considering it’s only 3.7%. Hints of Ribena juice, blueberry yoghurt, wheat grains, zesty lemon rind and a flutter of honeysuckle. Actually the latter becomes more floral the longer it sits in the glass. Lovely stuff.

Flavour: Unexpectedly dry and bereft of the typical sweet and tart juiciness that is so synonymous with blueberry-flavoured sours. There’s a tiny amount of sourness upfront then a faint touch of tart blueberry comes through early in the mid. Wheat grains and blueberry-flavoured soda water is the best way to describe it as it carries into a dry finish and a whole lot of nothingness.

Mouthfeel: Bone dry, lightly sparkling Co2. Mild-medium body and the 3.7% ABV is on par for the style.

Overall: This is the first time we’ve ever been nonplussed with a Mikkeller beer. It’s not only the lack of blueberry flavour it’s the complete lack of any flavour at all. Bizarre.

Belching Beaver ‘Viva La Beaver’ Mexican Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout

Rating:

“Viva La Beaver is loaded with notes of creamy peanut butter, cinnamon, and coffee. This decadent milk stout is the perfect dessert beer to finish off your meal, and is our highest rated beer, receiving numerous Gold and Silver medals. Sink your teeth into this liquid chocolate treat.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pitch black with a fizzy two finger brown head which slowly reduces to a bubbling island. It drags a wet lace down the glass as we go.

Aroma: We thought the OG peanut butter Milk Stout was epic but we think this is gonna give it a run for its money. The aromas are pulling us in every direction…it’s super sweet, nutty and savoury, then it’s a tad roasty, chocolatey, getting sweet spicy notes coming through as well. Milky coffee down deep. It literally covers the whole spectrum yet it all comes together so harmoniously.

Flavour: Brilliant transfer on to the palate. All those complex, spectrum-covering qualities on the nose are here as well – peanut butter, cinnamon sugar, milk chocolate, toasty malts and even a hint of cola. The coffee is pretty distant but it does add a smidge more roasty and nutty flavours to the mix. Nice smooth finish with pretty much everything putting their own stamp on it.

Mouthfeel: Silky smooth and unbelievably crushable for 7.5% ABV. Medium-full body. Low-ish Co2.

Overall: Wow this is extremely impressive. The prime example of an intensely flavoured, well balanced Pastry Stout at a decent price ($13 a can for 440ml). We’re off to load up big on this one. Superb.

The Orkney Brewery ‘Cliff Edge’ IPA

Rating:

“Cliff Edge IPA is a brilliant bronze beer with a tantalising trio of American hops. Pushing you to the edge of your senses, with an intense impact of piney and spicy fruit flavours, before dropping to a crash of bitter zestiness. The Cliffs of Yesnaby, one of Orkney’s many landmarks, are just a few miles south of our brewery, and the coastal walks are memorable, much like this beer.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Slightly hazy straw golden complexion with a lick of orange through the centre. It only manages a thumb of off-white head which gradually peels off. Healthy lacing on the glass as we go.

Aroma: We really dig English IPA’s (yes, we’re aware this is a Scottish brewery) and nine times out of ten they get it right and it’s magnificent. This might be the one they get wrong. In saying that, we’re detecting a fair bit of diacetyl (butterscotch) so there could be some faults. We’ve checked some other reviews and no one mentions anything about caramelised and or buttery sweetness.

Flavour: Hhhmmm maybe not?! The American hops shine bright with their bold orange citrus overtones, pine needle, unripened melon and white pepper. That buttery diacetyl-ridden sweetness is nowhere to be seen. Getting a weird lemon Strepsil note from it but it isn’t a fault…it’s just not the most pleasant flavour imaginable. Finishes dry, earthy, spicy. Good length on it.

Mouthfeel: Well rounded, crisp and fairly clean. Mild-medium body. The 4.7% ABV makes no impact as expected.

Overall: Weird, weird IPA. It doesn’t really fit into the English IPA category so we’re unsure where it sits. Scottish American session IPA?? Don’t know. Alls we know is we’re not digging this one.

Mont St.Jean ‘Waterloo’ Belgian Tripel

Rating:

“The triple blond is both simple and complex. Its initial simplicity, with an easy approach that releases a sweet zest is quickly complemented by a bitterness that runs to the back of the mouth. Complex, with its raw ingredients clashing a little like cannon shots, but each tastier than the last, with alternating bitter hops and the flexibility of its malt, gives this Waterloo beer the taste of victory.”

Glassware: Trappist tulip.

Appearance: Deep golden amber pour with two fingers of fluffy white head perched on top. It eventually forms a thick collar with sudsy lace work left in its wake.

Aroma: Man this has got some good uplift out of the glass. With one or two light swirls it releases an abundance of semi sweet, spicy and fruity yeast esters along with orange peel/zest, fresh herbs like sage and coriander, ripe nectarine, boiled candy and red flowers like roses, hibiscus etc. It has a sweet honey malt structure to it. Wouldn’t go as far as saying caramel but it’s definitely chewy.

Flavour: Similar to the Dubbel in that its dryness is somewhat unexpected. The high Co2 also adds to that as well. The hallmark Tripel flavours of crisp and fresh herbs, orange peel and spice dominate upfront and shift nicely through the slightly phenolic mid palate. It finishes strong – fruity, yeasty, spicy, some malt sweetness to balance it out.

Mouthfeel: Champagne-esque texture, medium-high Co2, moderately bodied. The 8% ABV is well behaved for its size.

Overall: Not the best interpretation we’ve had but it’s still clearly a Belgian-brewed Tripel and that is certainly distinguishable. Good but not great.

Left Handed Giant ‘The Holy Trinity’ Imperial Chilli Chocolate Stout

Rating:

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: As black as the ace of spades with a short brown head which quickly retreats to the rim. Next to no lace as we go.

Aroma: Right now, one of us hopheads is going through a chilli phase (for about the 3rd time in his life) so anything with chilli in it is practically a sure thing at the moment. The ultimate is when you can pair it in food and beer but in this case we’ll settle for it in beer form only. Straight up smells like a chilli and dark chocolate block straight out of the wrapper. Other notes of ash, raw cacao, cherry, goji berry, mulled wine, vanilla and herbal tea. Wow. Very unique.

Flavour: It mirrors the aroma quite well. Tastes like a boozy chilli and chocolate block with added flavours of smoke/ash, goji berry and vanilla. We must admit the first couple of sips were lacking intensity but each sip afterwards seems to build and build…much like a fiery chilli dish. Nice chilli flavours too come to think of it… chocolatey, fruity, smoky and earthy, conveying their natural flavours and heat in the finish and then well past it.

Mouthfeel: A tad too thin and oily for our liking but the warmth from the chillies, the Co2 and the well hidden 9% ABV makes up for it.

Overall: Our first entry for this English craft brewery. We’re kinda fence-sitting on it. It’s good but nothing spectacular. The chilli components were integrated well but the lack of body really holds it back.