Thirsty Bloke, finally got there. I was only planning on getting a Oyster stout, but they're all out... :(
But now I'm really looking forward to the Bock... :D
Renaissance Marlborough Pale Ale (8% Double Kiwi PA, single hopped with Rakau). A load of potential, a shade too much caramel first up I think... and could do with another hop or two to mix things up. Bordering in strawberry. But get out there and get amongst it yourself... a lovely beer, loads of fun, that needs more analysis. 10g/L in the hopping department. I've heard there is a beer coming soon that will have even more (and is 100% NZ hopped).
I'm not taken by the Oyster Stout at all this year. Everyone else is though. Recommend trying it on tap at Bar Edward, if you get a chance.
They've also got Stanley Green and Pitch Black on handpull (and PKB on tap). Stanley tasted great last night. Such a great hop flavour... the best NZ hop flavour I've tasted in a long time. Never does it much for me in the bottle or on tap but this is totally cracking through the beer engine.
Great tasting at Regionals last night- The Marlbrough Brewers Shoot out. A few things I got out of the night;
- firstly the quality of the beers was consistantly high, as was the abv%. Great to have all these amazing breweries nearby.
- Roger Pink's dry wit
- 666 beers were the standout for me, and all brewed from 25L batches and all nz hops. I really hope we will be able to buy this beer sooner rather then later.
- Steph's encyclopedic knowledge of her notes from previous tastings, such dedication has to be admired.
Well, I shot an 82 today and it was my 1st game for 6 months... I cant really complain about that. It was blowing 30 - 40 knotts up there, and I had 2 Drives over 280 Meters. One was down wind with a 3 wood, the other was right to left (wind) on a par 4. It was hard work.
I came home and had my Porter to help warm up. It's a subtle drink, with nice hop and milk chocolate flavours coming through. It's not as roasty as it looks - but that's the idea I suppose. It's the perfect drink to lubricate my creaky bones.
Had an excellent night out with my wife, caught up with Mike at the hop (cheers for the regulator!). Wigram's Mustang Pale was great as per usual, and the Thirsty bloke helped out with Emerson's Bookbinder, London Porter and Greenman's Pilsner.
Emerson's were both an excellent drop, and the guy at the Thirsty Bloke had excellent customer service. Unfortunately I found Greenman's Pils was full of molasses or treacle flavours which I'm not used to, maybe I've been hiding behind Tuatara and Emerson's for too long.
The Drunken Pope provided my night cap, absolute magic in a bottle guys you have the cracked that recipe!
Sounds like a good night, glad you liked the Rangatira Pale Ale, alas I can't claim any credit for it, Mick & Will concocted it. I just choose the yeast :) Not a bad drop for the first go on that recipe aye. Pity there's a little bit of oxidisation coming through, no thanks to that blonde "lets aerate it" moment. Oh well, it's probably going to be one of the house styles from now on...
Had the Green Man Celt last night, now I want to do a Whisky porter or something... it was damn good and, hell, pretty sessionable for 8.5%. Nice dark colour, almost no head. Light chocolaty flavour, malty, with a good whisky profile coming through at the end. Yum. Well balanced, hardly noticed the alcohol too...
I'll have to get that recipe off you Mick or Wills then as it was good. I didn't notice the oxidation, just a slight tang in the after taste, but nothing offence at all!
Yeah, I think the malt profile is pretty similar to the Amarillo Stimulus Package. Message Will, he'll give you the recipe. It's got quite a bit of Munich in it, I'm really liking the maltyness it provides 'cause I think the NZ pale lacks that.