Little Creatures Pale Ale - What Has Happened To It!?

[bum]

each bottle i tasted had a slight metallic twang about 3 secs after you swalloed.

It has been present in every bottle of LCPA I've ever had. I'd also suggest this flavour is more than 'slight' - it makes the beer absolutely undrinkable for me. Every time someone whose opinion I usually regard highly says anything positive about this beer I start to question everything else they say. It is that bad.

 

[Pete2501]

I find it easier to drink it in freo from the tap.









After they pour it in a glass.

 

[benno1973]

It has been present in every bottle of LCPA I've ever had. I'd also suggest this flavour is more than 'slight' - it makes the beer absolutely undrinkable for me. Every time someone whose opinion I usually regard highly says anything positive about this beer I start to question everything else they say. It is that bad.

I found this a while ago, but since they moved the brewery (they moved next door, didn't they?) this has gone away. It was pretty evident though, even on tap.

 

[Ester Trub]

Maybe the guys at Little Creatures got in on the Chinese hop bulk buy?

 

[schooey]

I've noticed the same as well. Being a beer I drink a bit, it was disappointing... I sent them an email about one particular slab I bought that I ended up throwing half away. A guy from the brewery rang me the next day to confirm the use by date, but I haven't heard anything since...

I do find that if it's only a slight metallicy flavour and the beer is really cold, drinking it a little warmer from a glass will make it disappear

 

[Nick JD]

my brother and i brought a six pack of LCPA and LCBA last night. is still a great beer aroma and flavour wise but each bottle i tasted had a slight metallic twang about 3 secs after you swalloed. its hard to describe but its there in both types of beer.

I find the same thing and for that reason don't buy LCPA in bottles - tastes like chewing a 50c coin. In a schooner poured from a keg it's a wonderful beer.

 

[Snowdog]

I must be getting good stocks here in Brisbane then as I haven't run across this since that 6-pack I got in Tamworth in '07. Those had that aluminum foil-on-silver-fillings taste so bad... I gave 4 bottles a chance & finally tossed the last couple bottles in the recycle bin un-opened.

 

[O'Henry]

Since moving across the walkway to the new brewery they have installed a different filter. I think this has something to do with the flavour change.

 

[np1962]

Found LCPA on tap in the Barossa Valley last night, OK so I have hayfever bad at the moment and missed some of the aroma and flavour, although it was there but the lingering harsh bitterness had me switching to Coopers Sparkling. Mate (pro brewer) commented on how big the beer was but had the same impression that it was out of balance.
Will give it another go when I get the hf under control.
Locals looking for it can find it on tap at The Tanunda Club.(no affiliation)
Cheers
Nige

 

[Dazza_devil]

The last 6 pack I had was definitely different to me. They must have changed something. I didn't get metallic but it seemed to have a bit more bite in the bitterness department and a different hop flavour than what I've previously sampled. I wouldn't say it was bad just very different, not sure if it's an improvement though. I liked it just how it was.

 

[pbrosnan]

Had it yesterday at the brewery and it was fine. I don't think there's been much change. It is a very hoppy beer and that's not to everyone's taste however it is meant to taste that way. That's what you get when you use a lot of Chinook and Cascade.

 

[proudscum]

As the hops they use age the flavour changes.was talking to my mate the headbrewer the other night over a few pale ales(which tasted mighty fine)and he said that he always likes the beers that they produce about 6 months after harvest as the oils and acids settled down and flavours are a little more rounded.looks like the the next limited release could be something from the midlands tasting with low bitterness but big dryhop and nice english malt.....but it looks like we will have to wait and see.

 

[peted27]

Had this on tap at the Grosvenor in Perth a few weeks back, couldnt believe how good it tasted, seems its very hit and miss depending where you get it and how its served

 

[enuun]

I think it was mentioned in a beer and brewer issue they changed the yeast and they are now using a single strain? The old stuff they cartered off to Japan or something. Might be the reason why. Anyway the supply of cascade I get from my lhbs changes every few months in terms of aroma and flavour so much so that when I get a good batch, I buy in bulk and store them. Old hops better than bad hops

 

[jyo]

I think it was mentioned in a beer and brewer issue they changed the yeast and they are now using a single strain? The old stuff they cartered off to Japan or something. Might be the reason why. Anyway the supply of cascade I get from my lhbs changes every few months in terms of aroma and flavour so much so that when I get a good batch, I buy in bulk and store them. Old hops better than bad hops

I can taste Galaxy in LCPA now.
Cheers, John.

 

[manticle]

I had two pint bottles of pale yesterday - no noticeable metal. However I had a young's special london ale the day before (one of my favourite UK commercials) which tasted like licking a rusty barbecue and would really like to know what it is that causes it as it ruins some otherwise very tasty beers. Zyviec baltic porter from my local is often metallic too.

Any other changes I would put down to the fact that they change the hop combos occasionally (as far as I'm aware) and differences in hop seasons seeing as they use fresh hops. For totally consistent beer try CUB and Lion Nathan products. Anything that's made unpreserved with fresh ingredients (notwithstanding hops being a preservative) is bound to experience some changes from time to time.

 

[Nick JD]

I had two pint bottles of pale yesterday - no noticeable metal. However I had a young's special london ale the day before (one of my favourite UK commercials) which tasted like licking a rusty barbecue and would really like to know what it is that causes it as it ruins some otherwise very tasty beers. Zyviec baltic porter from my local is often metallic too.

Is it the cap getting a bit rusty? Do metallic tastes come through in the pour?

Are they using Nine Inch Nails in secondary?

 

[reVoxAHB]

IMO, the seasonal comments have probably covered it on this one. '09 hops superior over '10 (this thread was started in '08 anyway) etc. etc.

In regard to metallic flavour (in commercially bottled and distributed beer) try (it in) a glass. Are you necking it? Does the metallic dissipate in glass? If so, probably cap taint (affecting neck and point of contact with lips).

Is the metallic quality noticeable in flavour, aroma or both? Often, metallic flavour will remain on the palate, so If you've just necked it, give the beer a rest.. switch to another beer (or food) and revisit a few hours later, in glass only (or, at least glass, first). Often, cap taint and possibly fill level (or handling where the product is stored incorrectly on side and beer has come in contact with the cap for an extended period of time) can impart cap taint, or metallic flavour.

Persons stating draught superior over bottle may also be onto something in regard to filtration. Perhaps LCPA is filtered 5 micron (Lenticular) for draught and sterile filtered for bottle.

Point is, threads like these incl. has Hargreaves Pale changed, Hightail has changed whatever are better directed to the brewers (in person or via phone, email) who can directly address. Having said that, there's nothing wrong with public scrutiny either but I often wish persons stating this or that would include point of purchase, bottled on date (if available), expiry date, best before date, etc. which is the first thing the brewers (or breweries) will ask you if you ring to complain. It's all about chasing the batch which puts a place and time to standard operating procedure, the method of distribution, the distributor on down the line.

No affil btw and cheers

reVox

 

[manticle]

In regard to metallic flavour (in commercially bottled and distributed beer) try (it in) a glass. Are you necking it?

Jesus no. Me drinking beer out of bottles is limited to being at parties where plastic cups are the only thing on offer (or the beer is rubbish or both).

 

[Nick JD]

I've got that metallic taste drinking from the bottle - so the next time I bought it I poured it ... same thing.

On tap - no metallic taste. If they canned it we'd be able to tell.