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

[goomboogo]

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.

Are you suggesting you'd like it in the can?

 

[Alex T]

Hi Guys,

At the brewery we have been discussing this and are thinking this could be a combination of things - either beer residue not being rinsed adequately around the crown seal, or some sort of complex oxidation reaction with the hops. We don't see this in the product when we release to the market, but obviously from the comments above this is something that various people pick up from time to time (and yep, unsure of product age, how it was handled, stored, etc, before it finally ended up in your fridge at home).

If a complex oxidation reaction with hops, then man - not sure who knows the answer.

But for the other potential issue - at the packaging line we are getting the guys to have a look at the bottle shower ex the crowner - maybe we aren't hitting the bottle in the right spots (or perhaps the rinse water is not drying well enough before it is packed?). This is one thing we are potentially battling with as we do not pasteurise - normally in a tunnel pasteuriser the bottles are in a hot shower for about 30mins so by the time the beer is packed the outside of the bottle is beer free, and the bottles normally dried nicely before labelling and packing. (where-as our bottles aren't pasteurised, and are a bit harder to dry from the beer still being cold). Basically the draught product and the bottle product is the same except for the conditioning (only the CO2 and yeast count spec on draught is slightly different).

Anyhow, just letting you know that these comments are actually acted upon behind the scenes. And for the hop interested - just to clarify - yes, there is variation from year to year with all hops, and every year we have to tweak. The blend for the past couple of years has been pretty similar with a dose of EKG for a portion of the kettle hop (along with Cascade), and Cascade and Galaxy for the hopback (we haven't used Chinook for a couple of years now).

Cheers!

Alex

 

[Bribie G]

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).

Depends on the style. With my new American 8.5% Malt Liquors I have a couple of rather nice little 330ml German Longneck bottles (Originally from Dans, Furstenhooferdorper Pils or something) and I fill them from the keg tap and can walk around swigging them. Also handy to conceal under jacket on train, and under blanket while begging in Adelaide Street. :icon_drunk: :icon_cheers:

 

[manticle]

My swigging on trains is entirely limited to lab grade ethanol and orange juice.

Beer is reserved for dinner parties and the ballet.

And cheers alex - a business of any kind actually making an effort to respond to consumers' feedback is appreciated.

 

[Bribie G]

Nothing wrong with lab grade ethanol, wish I could get my hands on some

And now back on topic - Alex I live about 200m from our Liquorland and I'm going to walk up there now and grab a sixer and post shortly. So far I have had a couple of American style cream ales around 18 IBU so tastebuds are fresh as, and ready to rock B)

 

[Bribie G]

Liquorland on Bribie Island no longer stock LC

Good to get me off my bum for the walk anyway despite the gale outside.

 

[Sydneybrewer]

I have noticed the pales i have had recently have seemed to have more of a linguring bitterness and less stone fruit. But still my favourite beer. :chug: :chug:

 

[Acasta]

I have noticed the pales i have had recently have seemed to have more of a linguring bitterness and less stone fruit. But still my favourite beer. :chug: :chug:

Yeah i also noticed this. I thought it was due to my cold...

 

[pbrosnan]

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

The brewery claimed yesterday that the hops are cascade and chinook. I think part of the problem is that taste is highly subjective and greatly influenced by other factors. What tastes like Gallaxy may just be a perception exclusive to you at that time.
Just saw the comment from Alex T re: Chinook. Better get someone to correct the board over the booths on the left then as it says Cascade and Chinook.

 

[Alex T]

Hi Patrick,

I will be there this week (I am now based in VIC) - I will check out the boards and get them to correct - I think we have been through the hops about 50 times, but then the boards get redone and someone puts the old stuff back up.... something about the left hand and the right hand.....

Cheers,

Alex

 

[np1962]

I have noticed the pales i have had recently have seemed to have more of a linguring bitterness and less stone fruit. But still my favourite beer. :chug: :chug:

Yeah i also noticed this. I thought it was due to my cold...

Hence my resurrection of this topic.
Sinus problems may be exagerating the bitterness??
I will give it another go as soon as I am cleared up.
Chers
Nige

 

[pbrosnan]

Hi Patrick,

I will be there this week (I am now based in VIC) - I will check out the boards and get them to correct - I think we have been through the hops about 50 times, but then the boards get redone and someone puts the old stuff back up.... something about the left hand and the right hand.....

Cheers,

Alex

The beer tasted great BTW.

 

[Bribie G]

I work opposite the Elephant and Wheelbarrow in Fortitude Valley so I grabbed two pint bottles on the way to the train and drinking them now (edit I'm not on the train -_- ). Very noice and no twang at all, although I far prefer Browndog's APA. :chug:

 

[levin_ae92]

Its yummy

 

[Tony]

I love this thread...... it just keeps coming back!

Says something i think!

LCPA.......... Id love to try it on tap at the brewery! i keep going back every 6 to 12 months thinking......... na... i must be wrong, but every time im disapointed.

I dont think its the travel it makes to the east coast either....... their other beers are always fine.

Its just the LCPA........ ive had bottles that were almost amber coloured, some that were pale and so thin they seemed like they were mashed at about 61 and bittered to 80 IBU....... just way way out of ballance. Nothing really wrong with the beer........ just thin, harsh bitter and hoppy.

I always had a real hatred of APA due to this beer, but now that ive learnt to make them myself (but im no expert yet) i will leave the LCPA to the lucky locals at the brewery where it seems is one of the few places where you can get it good!

 

[Sydneybrewer]

i must admit as much as i love this beer it is definitely not a session-able beer for me, great for a six pack over dinner (goes with almost any food), but if you want to buy a carton for a party try the bright ale.

 

[mika]

Sounds like you need to harden up, totally sessionable

 

[Lecterfan]

I must admit, I am no taste guru, and i have only been drinking LCPA for the last 2 or 3 years, but when I read this thread it reminds me of having a shit-hot fishing session where you are totally happy with your haul and then someone tells you "ya shoulda been here last week".

I buy it semi-regularly in pint bottles and I haven't had one that I would class as being anything less than very drinkable. I also prefer the LCBA but my LCPA experiences have been most satisfactory.

Just my 2c worth.

Cheers.

 

[enuun]

I am visiting Melbourne in dec. Hope to get to taste it on tap at the LC hall. I only have the bottled ones here. Then can do a comparison