Those bottles help alot!! I know how it feels to be searching for elusive beers, I find it adds to the excitment but there is nothing worse when they dont live up to your excitable expectation and I feel this may be the case.
The current batches have been adversely affected by the heat and loss of temperature control in the brewery. Several are very phenolic, but some very nice beer comes out of Waiheke when "on form". It might pay to wait a while before trying their beer or you might be a little disappointed.
Had a bottle of Herrschnapp's IPA bottled on 11/2/2009 last night while transfering my beers for cold conditioning.
No need for viagra for you oldies, just get a bottle of this as the smell from the freshly opened bottle was enough to cause a slight woody. There was a flavour in there that was a little tart for me (a little too much grapefruit?), other than that very smooth to drink. A little overcarbed, as pouring it slowly into the glass I ended up with a two inch head, and about 200 bubbles a second!
Leaving in sit for 10 minutes took care of the gas, and the flavours definately smoothed out at about 7 - 10C. Excellent drink Herrschnapps thanks again!
Just an Emersons Bookbinder, at last I can purchase it in the 'rapa! Tastes fantastic, exceptionally well balanced beer, and the hops taste so fresh. Such a great beer....ah starting to sound like one of Kempicus's mad props sessions.
Last night at Galbraights:
Mr G's Luncheon Ale (yum!)
Bellringers (tasting different to normal??)
Grafton Porter
Pink Elephant Mammoth (very nice)
Bitter and Twisted
at the Korean Restaurant for drunken nosh - 'Hite' (watery as)
tonight:
Epic Mayhem
Rennaissance Paradox
just heading off to the belgian beer bar 'De Fontein' before going to a movie - will look for a nice big drink to set things right for a 'Rom Com'
If you like the luncheon ale then you will love Kid Chocolate.
It'll be on handpump at Bar Edward for the Newtown festival this weekend. Get in and have some for breakfast as they only have 20L (leftover from the "big wet" - the NZ Beer Festival last week).