Vic Xmas Case Swap 2011: Tasting Thread

[Wolfy]

For this swap, my reviews will be in the form of short short pseudo-haiku.
17 syllables as an approximation of the 17 Japanese on , in three phrases of 5, 7 and 5 respectively.

10. Husky - APA
Sweet smell, looks cloudy
Expected more from 'C' type Hops
A nice session beer

 

[husky]

Husky's APA.
Looking at the recipe it looks a lot like SN pale ale. It had most things that SN has but it's a bit underwhelming, I did enjoy it but would have liked a touch more bitterness and floral aroma and flavour.I also think there is some ester in the final flavour which may be the fermentation temp, I generally use that yeast at 15-16 and it stays very clean. Carbonation was good with a persistent head.
A couple of good beers to start off the xmas season for me.

Thanks for the comments mate, it is a SNPA attempt, i expected that as a NC it would have a bit more bitterness. Im not much of a dry hop fan so I had a crack at dumping alot of cascade in right at the end, might try a chilled version next time and see if theres much difference in aroma. Fermented at 18 from memory, will try 15 next time.


16. Manticle - English IPA
Very nice beer mate, im no expert reviewer but if I had a batch of this sitting in the garage I dont think it would last long. I found it nice and balanced and great aroma.

 

[manticle]

Cheers Husky.

I'm AFD tonight and probably tomorrow night and heading away for a couple of weeks at the end of the week so I may not be writing reviews (or sampling) much till I get back.

I'll try and review everyone's beer though.

 

[Wolfy]

4 - Fourstar - Pale Ale
Big hoppyness! Chinook.
Mouth puckering bitterness.
The Amarillo.

 

[Wolfman]

I'm no expert when tasting beer, but this selection of beers is awesome!

 

[chunckious]

Have you tried Charst's BIPA yet?
The recipe look noice!!!

 

[manticle]

#10: Husky: APA

Pours fairly clear golden from a 650mL bottle*. Head reasonably moussy, some large bubbles, fades slowly.

Aroma low, some citrus and pine and a touch of sweet malt.

Mouthfeel moderate/full, low carb.

Flavour is mildly fruity, some malty biscuit, light bitterness but some kind of harmony/balance.

I'm drinking it straight out of the shed so any bad faults should stand out like dog's balls. I get none. It's not a huge in your face apa (although sometimes people expect IPA from their apa) - there's no lingering bitterness or massive hop punch but what there is is a very easy drinking, flavourful session ale that's been well made and I think that is massively underrated among craft beer drinkers/beer snobs. I'd sit in the back yard and sink pints and watch someone else mow the lawn. I'd also be happy if I brewed it.

Cheers


*You're sacked. I want my 100 mL.

PS: 2nd AFD went by the wayside. Got sick of saxby sarsparilla.

 

[Wolfman]

PS: 2nd AFD went by the wayside. Got sick of saxby sarsparilla.

Hahahahahahaha thought you were going out on a limb!

 

[Wolfy]

8. siborg - Galaxy Pale Ale
Galaxy, fruity.
All Passionfruit and flowers.
Bouquet in my glass.

 

[husky]

*You're sacked. I want my 100 mL.

Sorry mate, I just used all the bottles I got at the last case swap as they were all random bottles, didn't even check their volumes. Next swap ill bring you a 1.5L
Thanks for the feedback,

 

[Steve@PMF82]

10. Husky - APA

Pours golden orange, pretty clear, a bit of haze.
Moderate head that dissipates after a while.

I get low to moderate hop aroma that does not persist,floral and citrus with some malt sweetness.

No overwhelming hop flavour, but its definitely there, along with clean bready
malt flavours, subtle supporting bitterness. Very clean beer, well brewed.

On the lower side of medium body, lowish level of carbonation, a very well
balanced beer for me, not as polished, but easy drinking just like the real SNPA.

Cheers

 

[Charst]

Husky APA- Pint Glass,

Only chilled for about 45 mins and spat at me when i opened it. I think if id chilled it longer the carbonation wouldn't have rushed out so much though. nice amber colour, rocky head and lacing on glass. Nice subtle hop smell not overpowering. Nice Hop flavour with malt balance. More Sierra Nevada than LCPA in hop to malt flavour ratio. Thought i got a touch of alcohol in the finish (but far more subtle than my own share beer!) Very sessionable. could drink many pints of.

cheers

 

[Charst]

Razz Bo Bils: Plastic Cup, back of car driving over west gate. Sunset, Romantic
First beer of my swaps and thought it was great. nice malty/malty sweet flavour. lacked a little hop aroma for me and a bit richer than other bo pils I've had commercially but overall I thought it was a delicious beer. That amount of richness would mean a 2-3 pint max for me. Cheers

 

[razz]

Geez Charst, I usually wait until I get home, lol. Thanks for the comments, if your ever down this way I've got plenty more. The original batch weighed in at 6% ABV.

 

[Charst]

Geez Charst, I usually wait until I get home, lol. Thanks for the comments, if your ever down this way I've got plenty more. The original batch weighed in at 6% ABV.

have family in bittern so watch out!

 

[Siborg]

Fents - English Pale Ale
Looked nice, smelt nice, tasted nice, went down a treat!

Got lovely sweet biscuity aromas from the malt. A decent hop bitterness that lingered long enough to keep the malt from being too sickly, but not too long that it was IPA-like. I'd say slightly balanced towards the bitter-side, but that up-front malt character.... mmmm. I want another!

 

[Charst]

Wolfman Smurto Golden Ale.

Top Recipe on the forum so was keen a to try and didn't disappoint. Haven't had JS Golden ale in a while so i took the beer straight to my Mate who loves the stuff and he was impressed by how close it was, Gave me the "Stop brewing weird sh*t like Black IPA's and make some of this" eyes.
Bit fuller and richer than the golden ale I've had but thats what made it good. Nice subtle balanced. Good session beer. Cheers

 

[Wolfy]

15 - Fents - English APA
An APA from the UK?
Whatever, it is, tastes good.
Nice smooth malty.

 

[Steve@PMF82]

4. Fourstar - Pale Ale

Pours golden amber, quite clear with a touch of haze.
Thick mousse like head that hangs around for most of the glass.

Big aroma, grapefruit, stone fruit and a bit of pine.

Pine / grapefruit flavour upfront followed quickly by an assertive and pine bitterness that lingers for a while.
Leaves me with stone fruit and sweet biscuit flavours, after all this it finishes quite clean and leaves me wanting a bit more.
Interesting and complex pale ale , but everything seems to flow very easily.

A touch above medium body and low carbonation.

Very tasty beer :icon_drool2: , i think i will give this a crack next PA i make, il have to sub the Riwaka for something else though.

Thanks

 

[Charst]

Siborg APA. Freshly Bicarbed Pint glass.

Nice hop aroma, but the malt sweet nose comes though after a few sniffs,
low carb, not a bad thing at all, but i had to pour a little more angle to get a head. just not was i used too.
Slight haze. Nice lacing on my glass.
Initially Hop flavour, the galaxy passionfruit but without too much of resony character that can come with galaxy.
the more i drink the more the malt flavours come through.
Nice to have an APA thats not all Hop punch and no backbone.
A touch more carb or bitterness could be nice but not much its pretty bloody good.
cheers