Nsw Special Case Swap Tasting Thread

[syd_03]

Ok since I have been slack on other swap tasting note threads I will start this one off.

34. Muggus - Black Warrior Imperial Stout 7.1%, 22nd Oct, Drink now or Med/Long term cellaring

Date 22/03/2010
Part 1 (I was fortunate enough to receive two bottles, so one will be long term tasting)

Poured into a brandy balloon sort of glass.

Pours well with a deep, dark, tan, thick creamy head.
Colour is best described as black (hence the name), almost opaque, very dark garnet highlights just show through when held to good light.
Aroma is dominated by burnt roast, coffee, and dark cocoa. Hints of burnt toffee and fruity, citrusy and spicey flavours to follow show through.

Thick creamy mouthfeel; carbonation is perfect. Slightly slick on the tongue. Hardly notice the alcohol. What did you say it started at/finished at again Mike; I had way too many beers that day.

Dry roast finish with a lingering bitterness. Slightly sweet caramel flavours to balance with the obvious dark grain flavours. Definite citrus rind note to the hop flavour. The hops combine really well with the roast and alcohol on the finish.

Loved it cheers Muggus.
Really looking forward to the second bottle on a cold winters night later this year.

Photos taken with the new phone, turned out suprisingly well.


Edit, deleted duplicate photos.

 

[nifty]

I had a stubby of - 19. Retsamhsam - Doppelbock 10.5%, Bottled August 2009. Lots of Munich Malt Goodness

Bloody hell that was a nice beer.

 

[Cortez The Killer]

Here be the list for reference purposes

IPA List

1. Fatgodzilla - An english IPA though things got a little out of control and there are a lot more bitterness than expected. But hope it'll be good. OG 1.065 FG 1.012 Bottled 1 Mar 2010
2. Grantw - An English IPA at 4.7%, bittered with EKG and Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin for aroma Bottled 19.3 give it a few weeks
3. DiscoStu - Imperial IPA 8.5% - 100IBU - US05 - Bottled 14/02/10
4. Stuster - Rye IPA - 6.8% - Wyeast 1450, Amarillo & Centennial - Drink in a couple of weeks
5. Retsamhsam - AIIPA 8.2% Likely around 65-70IBU Lots of Late Hops. Bottled 11th March
6. Gulpa - American IPA - 7% - 65IBU - Wy1272 - Ready to drink - bottled 18 Feb.
7. Monkeybusiness - English IPA OG1053 FG1013 (5.1%) 52 IBU - Bottled 20-03-10
8. Gruntus - Where has all my EKG gone - English IPA - ~ 7.5% - Bottled 6th March.
9. Cortez The Killer - Hop Rod Rye Clone - Rye IPA - ~7% - Ready - http://hyperfox.info/allgrain01.htm#72
10. Josh - Imperial IPA - RTD - can't be there on the 20th till about 4pm
11. Bizier - if it has a 'B' (majority) it is the Belgian IIPA ~>9% A week in the fridge. If it has an 'A' it is Bulls-eye IPA (4 of them) ~8% A week in the fridge
12. floppinab IIPA - ~7.5% - Ready now has 2/10 IP on cap
13. nifty - Some sort of IPA - 7.1%. Bottled 14th March 2010.
14. Muggus - What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted (Jakes Return) NZ Imp. Brown Ale - 7.9% Bottled 19th Feb 2010 - Probably carbed by swap date, but bloody brutal!

BELGIAN List

15. Fatgodzilla - A kind of belgian strong ale with golden sryup instead of the candy not to style but tasting fine.-
16. Grantw Belgian tripel may be ready to drink around June, 10.08% (attenuation got away from me)
17. DiscoStu - Belgian Dubbel - WLP500 - 7.3% bottled 13Mar10 - give it a few weeks
18. Stuster - Belgian Blond - 8% - Wyeast 1762 - Bottled 13 Mar so give it a month or two
19. Retsamhsam - Doppelbock 10.5%, Bottled August 2009. Lots of Munich Malt Goodness
20. Gulpa - Belgian Strong Dark Ale - 10% - wy1388 - Ready to drink - bottled Oct 09
21. Monkeybusiness - Belgian strong 9.5% - Bottled 20-03-10 tasting pretty harsh so really hoping it is just the alcohol and that it will smooth out.
22. Gruntus - Trip to Brugge - Belgian Trippel - ~9% - Bottled 19th Feb
23. Cortez The Killer - Devil's Ink - Belgian Imperial Stout - ~7.7% - Ready - http://hyperfox.info/allgrain01.htm#75
24. Josh - Belgian Golden Strong Ale - RTD
25. Bizier - Belgian Blonde Ale ~6% A week in the fridge
26. floppinab - Belgian Strong Dark - ~9% - Cap has "1209" on it WLP830
27. nifty - Some Sort of Belgian Golden Ale 8.1% Bottled 07/02/2010 Wy1388
28. Muggus - Belgian Chocolate Ale '09 - 8.4%. 4th Jan 2010 - Drink now or Medium term cellaring

STOUT / OLD ALE List

29. Monkeybusiness - RIS - 9.6% bottled Feb 2010
30. Grantw - Anzus Wheatwine 2 X bottles - this is a vicious and unpleasant beer at the moment, 10.38% leave it for months maybe late July, years if possible
31. Cortez The Killer - Father's Falling Over Fluid - American Barley Wine - ~7.7% - Ready - http://hyperfox.info/allgrain01.htm#70
32. VACANT
33. VACANT
34. Muggus - Black Warrior Imperial Stout 7.1%, 22nd Oct, Drink now or Med/Long term cellaring
35. VACANT
36. VACANT
37. Josh - Foreign Extra Stout - ready, but could do with a few weeks in the fridge
38. Gulpa - Old Ale - US05 - 7.8% - needs a few weeks - Bottled 24 Feb
39. Thommo - Old Ale - Needs a good 6 weeks +. I will re-post when carbed
40. Syd_03
41. VACANT
42. Retsamhsam - English Barley Wine 11.1%, Bottled on the 11th March.

 

[Stuster]

Just changing mine in a very minor way. Drank one last night and my IPA is ready to drink.

IPA List

1. Fatgodzilla - An english IPA though things got a little out of control and there are a lot more bitterness than expected. But hope it'll be good. OG 1.065 FG 1.012 Bottled 1 Mar 2010
2. Grantw - An English IPA at 4.7%, bittered with EKG and Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin for aroma Bottled 19.3 give it a few weeks
3. DiscoStu - Imperial IPA 8.5% - 100IBU - US05 - Bottled 14/02/10
4. Stuster - Rye IPA - 6.8% - Wyeast 1450, Amarillo & Centennial - Ready to drink.
5. Retsamhsam - AIIPA 8.2% Likely around 65-70IBU Lots of Late Hops. Bottled 11th March
6. Gulpa - American IPA - 7% - 65IBU - Wy1272 - Ready to drink - bottled 18 Feb.
7. Monkeybusiness - English IPA OG1053 FG1013 (5.1%) 52 IBU - Bottled 20-03-10
8. Gruntus - Where has all my EKG gone - English IPA - ~ 7.5% - Bottled 6th March.
9. Cortez The Killer - Hop Rod Rye Clone - Rye IPA - ~7% - Ready - http://hyperfox.info/allgrain01.htm#72
10. Josh - Imperial IPA - RTD - can't be there on the 20th till about 4pm
11. Bizier - if it has a 'B' (majority) it is the Belgian IIPA ~>9% A week in the fridge. If it has an 'A' it is Bulls-eye IPA (4 of them) ~8% A week in the fridge
12. floppinab IIPA - ~7.5% - Ready now has 2/10 IP on cap
13. nifty - Some sort of IPA - 7.1%. Bottled 14th March 2010.
14. Muggus - What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted (Jakes Return) NZ Imp. Brown Ale - 7.9% Bottled 19th Feb 2010 - Probably carbed by swap date, but bloody brutal!

BELGIAN List

15. Fatgodzilla - A kind of belgian strong ale with golden sryup instead of the candy not to style but tasting fine.-
16. Grantw Belgian tripel may be ready to drink around June, 10.08% (attenuation got away from me)
17. DiscoStu - Belgian Dubbel - WLP500 - 7.3% bottled 13Mar10 - give it a few weeks
18. Stuster - Belgian Blond - 8% - Wyeast 1762 - Bottled 13 Mar so give it a month or two
19. Retsamhsam - Doppelbock 10.5%, Bottled August 2009. Lots of Munich Malt Goodness
20. Gulpa - Belgian Strong Dark Ale - 10% - wy1388 - Ready to drink - bottled Oct 09
21. Monkeybusiness - Belgian strong 9.5% - Bottled 20-03-10 tasting pretty harsh so really hoping it is just the alcohol and that it will smooth out.
22. Gruntus - Trip to Brugge - Belgian Trippel - ~9% - Bottled 19th Feb
23. Cortez The Killer - Devil's Ink - Belgian Imperial Stout - ~7.7% - Ready - http://hyperfox.info/allgrain01.htm#75
24. Josh - Belgian Golden Strong Ale - RTD
25. Bizier - Belgian Blonde Ale ~6% A week in the fridge
26. floppinab - Belgian Strong Dark - ~9% - Cap has "1209" on it WLP830
27. nifty - Some Sort of Belgian Golden Ale 8.1% Bottled 07/02/2010 Wy1388
28. Muggus - Belgian Chocolate Ale '09 - 8.4%. 4th Jan 2010 - Drink now or Medium term cellaring

STOUT / OLD ALE List

29. Monkeybusiness - RIS - 9.6% bottled Feb 2010
30. Grantw - Anzus Wheatwine 2 X bottles - this is a vicious and unpleasant beer at the moment, 10.38% leave it for months maybe late July, years if possible
31. Cortez The Killer - Father's Falling Over Fluid - American Barley Wine - ~7.7% - Ready - http://hyperfox.info/allgrain01.htm#70
32. VACANT
33. VACANT
34. Muggus - Black Warrior Imperial Stout 7.1%, 22nd Oct, Drink now or Med/Long term cellaring
35. VACANT
36. VACANT
37. Josh - Foreign Extra Stout - ready, but could do with a few weeks in the fridge
38. Gulpa - Old Ale - US05 - 7.8% - needs a few weeks - Bottled 24 Feb
39. Thommo - Old Ale - Needs a good 6 weeks +. I will re-post when carbed
40. Syd_03
41. VACANT
42. Retsamhsam - English Barley Wine 11.1%, Bottled on the 11th March.

 

[Cortez The Killer]

6. Gulpa - American IPA

Pours with a massive head, high carbonation. Off white head. Got a massive hop hit while pouring. Hazy, deep amber with orange hue. Lots of hops on the nose. Citrus, pine.

Finishes a touch dry. Bitterness in balance. Nice malty backbone. Some great C hop flavours.

This is a very approachable delicious big beer, with a lot of hop action in aroma and flavour departments. This is just what I needed tonight. A great beer.

Cheers

 

[Bizier]

I have to say that sadly, one of the beers did not make it through the night...

Stuster, I am forwarding you the cleaning bill.

While it did spontaneously explode, it looked like it may have been a flaw in the old CUB bottle, because it was a clean break at the bottom, with literally no other shards. That said, be careful people.

Stu, here is your public shaming. You owe me a game on Gav's fussball table at the least.

If I am not going to be the Case Swap Nazi... let's face it, the shoes and other apparel are significant to fill, I can still be the Bottle Bomb Nazi.

 

[Cortez The Killer]

Belgian or IPA?

 

[Stuster]

Ok, sounds like my IPA should go in the fridge straight away. Oops. Sorry about that all.

On the positive side, hoppy beers are best drunk fresh. :icon_cheers: h34r:

 

[Muggus]

Ok since I have been slack on other swap tasting note threads I will start this one off.

34. Muggus - Black Warrior Imperial Stout 7.1%, 22nd Oct, Drink now or Med/Long term cellaring

Date 22/03/2010
Part 1 (I was fortunate enough to receive two bottles, so one will be long term tasting)

Poured into a brandy balloon sort of glass.

Pours well with a deep, dark, tan, thick creamy head.
Colour is best described as black (hence the name), almost opaque, very dark garnet highlights just show through when held to good light.
Aroma is dominated by burnt roast, coffee, and dark cocoa. Hints of burnt toffee and fruity, citrusy and spicey flavours to follow show through.

Thick creamy mouthfeel; carbonation is perfect. Slightly slick on the tongue. Hardly notice the alcohol. What did you say it started at/finished at again Mike; I had way too many beers that day.

Dry roast finish with a lingering bitterness. Slightly sweet caramel flavours to balance with the obvious dark grain flavours. Definite citrus rind note to the hop flavour. The hops combine really well with the roast and alcohol on the finish.

Loved it cheers Muggus.
Really looking forward to the second bottle on a cold winters night later this year.

Trust you to be the one to start this thread Jas!
Glad you enjoyed the beer though; she's definately ready to go but you may be suprised/rewarded a year down the track.
As far as technical information on this beer goes....she started at 1.072, finished at 1.018 a good 2 months later when I came back from overseas, and that was a champagne yeast, for all of those playing at home.
Cheers nonetheless, love the pics!

 

[Gulpa]

6. Gulpa - American IPA

Pours with a massive head, high carbonation. Off white head. Got a massive hop hit while pouring. Hazy, deep amber with orange hue. Lots of hops on the nose. Citrus, pine.

Finishes a touch dry. Bitterness in balance. Nice malty backbone. Some great C hop flavours.

This is a very approachable delicious big beer, with a lot of hop action in aroma and flavour departments. This is just what I needed tonight. A great beer.

Cheers

Thanks Gino. Glad you liked it. Not too sure what happened with the carb. I tried one last Friday and I was hoping it was just that bottle.

Cheers
Andrew.

 

[RetsamHsam]

I had a stubby of - 19. Retsamhsam - Doppelbock 10.5%, Bottled August 2009. Lots of Munich Malt Goodness

Bloody hell that was a nice beer.

Glad you enjoyed it mate..

 

[Fatgodzilla]

Don't drink either of my brews for at least two months - they need to settle.

NSW Special Case Swap 2011 already in Articles. Who's keen?

Thanks Gavin for a top day. I left a bottle there - the one Josh gave me - the Tony Archer Is A Cheat bottle. Nothing worse than a bad loser - I should know, I am one too. Thanks Josh and I'm sure you'll be happy if I re-gift this to Gav for being a great host. Brilliant day!

Monkeybusiness - your beers with mine at Wollongong. We'll organise collection at RAF Day in Easter or after.

 

[syd_03]

Trust you to be the one to start this thread Jas!

And what exactly do you mean by this comment Mike?

It was a ripper, cant wait to sample it again in july/august.

Mine will be a beast compared to yours, started at 1.104 down to 1.025 after 6 days finished at 1.021 so roughly 10.9%.

Bottled the morning of the swap so give it at least until 17/04/2010 untill you open the first stubbie. I'll crack one next weekend to see how it is going, it may take a while to carb up as only primed to about 1.5 volumes to allow for the long slow fermentation of the long chained sugars as it ages.
Cheers
Jason.

 

[white.grant]

Thought I'd kick off the weekend with a IIPA

No. 3 Discostu's Imperial India Pale Ale

26.3.10

Opens with a psst and glugs into my nonic, darkish amber/copper, producing a proud offwhite foam stand and resinous haze (mmm resiny!), Subtle hop aroma (c hops?) plus sweet malt greets the nose and then you sip, Oh yeah, bitter, very definite bitterness here and then it kind of smooths out as the sweet malt balances against the hops, then comes some relaxing alcohol warmth, smooth not harsh, on the back of a nice soft mouthfeel before the hops reassert themselves for a mouth puckering finish.

I'll just have me another sip of this.....

Warming in the glass (and it be hot hereabouts this evening) the hop aroma increases adding to the enjoyment.

Stu, this is a great beer, well done.

cheers

grant

 

[Gulpa]

4. Stuster - Rye IPA - 6.8% - Wyeast 1450, Amarillo & Centennial

Ive been looking forward to Friday so I could start the case off. Thought I would go with Stuart's beer to avert a holocaust in the bottle room.

Pours a hazy light copper. Nice offwhite head. Carb is right. Not explosive in any way. Aroma is a blend hops and candy/caramel, a touch of resin. Resiny/floral hops come through on tasting, caramel malts, hints of citrus in the finish that come forward as it warms. The floral/citrus/caramel bits combine into something weirdly candyish, I cant really describe it. Medium/full body. Bitterness is assertive that pushes the long finish. Really well balanced. A most excellent beer. Great way to start off the IPA case. Thanks Stu.

No real worries about a bottle bomb from my bottle.


Cheers
Andrew.

 

[Gulpa]

NSW Special Case Swap 2011 already in Articles. Who's keen?

Why not.

Perhaps loosen the Imperial Stout to Big Dark Beer. Im keen to do an Imperial US Porter (Gonzo kind of thing).

Cheers
Andrew.

 

[white.grant]

Ok, sounds like my IPA should go in the fridge straight away. Oops. Sorry about that all.

On the positive side, hoppy beers are best drunk fresh. :icon_cheers: h34r:

Obviously a bottle flaw -- this beer rocks

No. 4 Stuster's Rye IPA

(weird green bottle- what is that a cider bottle?)

Pours light copper, slight haze considering what comes next, fluffy white head which laces the glass. Aroma of loverly hop perfume plus a nice sweet malt character. flavour is great, malty sweet, fragrant hops and then there's the rye for added malt interest. Follows - the bittering and the hidden alcohol which is really inhibiting my typing at present. Smooth mouthfeel, carb is perfect so the bottle break is a structural non brewing related issue, but if like my you fridged it - go to town - the hop aromas and flavours are just great right this very minute. Loverly beer. Thanks Stu

cheers

grant

 

[Gulpa]

24. Josh - Belgian Golden Strong Ale

Pours with a big dense head. Darkish gold. Aroma is distinctly Belgian, a good balance between spicy phenyls and fruity esters. Vanilla in there as well. Carb suits. Flavour is sweet malt with the balance more towards the clove/spice end. Quite intersting flavour profile. Medium sweetish body. Bitterness taking a back seat. Nice beer, Josh.

Id probably say this is heading in to Triple territory, body is a bit full and not quite dry enough for a BGSA. But then again Ive only tried a few BGSA so what the fcku do I know. Nice warm happy glow happening now.


cheers
Andrew.

 

[Josh]

24. Josh - Belgian Golden Strong Ale

Pours with a big dense head. Darkish gold. Aroma is distinctly Belgian, a good balance between spicy phenyls and fruity esters. Vanilla in there as well. Carb suits. Flavour is sweet malt with the balance more towards the clove/spice end. Quite intersting flavour profile. Medium sweetish body. Bitterness taking a back seat. Nice beer, Josh.

Id probably say this is heading in to Triple territory, body is a bit full and not quite dry enough for a BGSA. But then again Ive only tried a few BGSA so what the fcku do I know. Nice warm happy glow happening now.


cheers
Andrew.

Thanks for the review. I don't drink enough Belgian beer to know how to categorise it. I do like it and am glad I put it in instead of my under attenuated Dark which is in the keg fridge.

Cheers,

Josh

 

[nifty]

I had the pleasure of drinking -

9. Cortez The Killer - Hop Rod Rye Clone - Rye IPA - ~7% last night.

Very nice, thanks.

cheers

nifty