Forum: Better Beer Philosophy & The Enlightenment: Latest Pack (Summer 2009/10) - BeerMasons - craft beer club and beer appreciation society

Posts: 80

Subject: Latest Pack (Summer 2009/10)

Woohoo! Got the pack on Thursday, so have already tried a few of the beers. Here we go:
Epic: Pours copper colour with white foam. Nice spicy piney, citrusy aroma. A belt of American hop flavours on tasting. Almost an American IPA. Heaven to a hop-head like me.
USB: Pours brown with off-white head. Not a strong aroma -maybe grassy? Fruity English ale character, but I did notice the alcohol warmth straight away. Well balanced. Fruity, not overly bitter finish.
Zeitgeist: Almost opque black. Head disappeared quickly. Chocolatey roasty aromas and this is how it tastes. Porter-like, but smoother.
Chimay: WOW! I've had the blue many times before, but I think this may be the first time I've tried the red. Definitely won't be the last! This stuff is amazing! Ruddy brown. Head quickly died (maybe it's my glass ware). Smells like Christmas cake. tastes like it too! Slightly bitter finish & warming alcohol. Slightly phenolic, but not in an unpleasant way. Hand me another glass!

Last edited on 14/12/2009 2:04:09 AM GMT

14/12/2009 at 10:57:09 PM GMT

N. Stephan

Posts: 33

Got mine Saturday, and have to say it is a very very good pack, almost as good as the Winter pack which has been my favourite pack so far, a great mixed selection of different styles. Not had a chance to drink any yet, but I am very familiar with Chimay Red and was very excited to see it sitting there, one of the best of the Chimay line up, Flying Dog's beers, I am also very excited about these, have had the Gonzo and it is great, can't wait to try the Barley Wine and Double Dog, had my first Double IPA (Rogue) only a few weeks ago and am keen to see howthe FD stacks up. The Zeitgeist looks interesting, I have recently tried a few of Brewdog's more adventurous beers and have been very impressed, if anyone here finds the Bashah or the Paradox Smokehead, I highly recommend them. Cheers Beermason's for a great pack, will post my thoughts as I progress through the pack.

15/12/2009 at 2:47:57 AM GMT

Posts: 80

Silly Belgian Pils - Nice light straw colour. Good white head. Aromas hit you as soon as you pour: Spicy (Saaz?) hops. Lines of bubbles climbing up the glass. Quite mellow in the mouth, not quite like a Bohemian or a German pilsener, but something in-between. Lightly bitter finish. Very refreshing on a hot evening.

16/12/2009 at 2:06:49 AM GMT

Posts: 80

Holgate White - Pours straw colour with a white rocky head. Slightly sulphorous phenolic note to the nose. Whizzy carbonation on the tongue. Full of fruity esters - banana, bublegum. Just get a hint of the coriander and orange. Finishes with a slight bitterness. Nice for the current Melbourne temperatures.

20/12/2009 at 2:01:03 AM GMT

Posts: 80

Flying Dog Double Dog Double P.A. - Deep copper with white head. Strong citrusy American hops straight away on the nose. Wow! Alcohol n the first taste plus gingery, citrusy tastes. Finishes bitter. Chewy, oily mouthfeel that I like. Bit of astringency which I like less.
Gonzo Imperial Porter - Pours near black with a brown rocky head. Roasty aromas. More roasty than chocolatey taste but with loads of alcohol warmth. Roasty bitter finish.
One to go!

21/12/2009 at 1:39:51 AM GMT

Posts: 80

Flying Dog Kerberos Tripel - Pours golden but not much of a head (again, could be my glasses). Estery aromas - fruit gums. Fizzy Tripel taste: alcohol and bubble-gum, slightly acetic. Mildly bitter finish.
All done.
Favourite was definitely the Chimay, then maybe a tie between the Epic and the Flying Dog pale ale for second, followed by the 3 Ravens in 3rd.
On to the second round!

Anyone else out there drinking this?

22/12/2009 at 11:14:10 AM GMT

T. Gleeson

Posts: 39

I have been drinking them and really enjoy them.

Have tried all bar the two of the flying dogs and the chimay.

Really enjoyed the Epic. My favourite so far!
The hop hit is addictive...didnt think i was a hop head but started to reconsider that!

Also enjoyed the Real Pils and the Holgate. Found both very refreshing.

The 3 Ravens had lots of yummy textures and tastes and the Horn Dog went down a treat but i think Zeitgeit was the most enjoyable after the Epic as i hunger for them both again.

Having the others on Xmas/boxing days and looking forward to them!

Signature:
"There is an ancient Celtic axiom that says 'Good people drink good beer.'
Which is true, then as now.
Just look around you in any public barroom and you will quickly see: Bad people drink bad beer. Think about it."
-- Hunter S. Thompson

11/01/2010 at 12:48:36 AM GMT

R. M

Posts: 129

Subject: RE:

T. Gleeson said:
The hop hit is addictive...didnt think i was a hop head but started to reconsider that!

I completely understand what you mean on the "hop hit" - I've had some beers in the last week that were so incredibly hoppy yet some how - fantastic. I'm all upside down and back the front at the moment - I think it is pretty amazing how your palate can change. But that's the best part of being open minded and trying as many beers styles as you can! (Hey, someone's got to do it and it may as well be us Tom)

Signature:
Greetings fellow BMs - I am one of the Founders of the BeerMasons.... did I mention I love beer.... good beer.... delicious beer? Did I mention that?

11/01/2010 at 4:05:36 AM GMT

T. Rice

Posts: 23

Was nice to have the botle of Chimay Rouge to share at Christmas with the man who introduced me to Belgian Beers, but apart from that I had my first samples from this pack to bring in the New Year and man did I have a nice warming glow by the time the cool change and the rain set in.

Another good offer from the Holgate Team, Really enjoyed the Wit, as has been said, with just a hint of Corriander and citrus at the end there.

Still haven't tried my Flying Dog selection. I'm dissappointed I missed out on a bottle of the Porter (I love the dark) but to be honest I'm not sure what I would have traded for it, I want to try them all!!
Speaking of the dark, I enjoyed the chance to have my second try of a Dark Lager in the ZeitGeist (the first was Alhambra's version of the style) and was glad to have my predisposed aversion to Lagers in general rocked to their foundations again.

Have still got some of each ('Cept the Chimay), might have to have a crack at a couple of the suggested recipes to go with them.

Good Health,
Bear.

12/01/2010 at 9:47:33 AM GMT

P. Woltmann

Posts: 58

Subject: RE:

T. Gleeson said:

Really enjoyed the Epic. My favourite so far!
The hop hit is addictive...didnt think i was a hop head but started to reconsider that!

Tom I agree with you and Kevin, can't get enough hops now. Beer of choice is the Hightail Ale, closely followed by the James Squires Amber Ale.

The Chimay was outstanding. It would have to be in the top 5 in the world I think.

Signature:
I like beer a bit too much sometimes

12/01/2010 at 11:13:24 PM GMT

R. M

Posts: 129

Subject: RE:

P. Woltmann said:

T. Gleeson said:

Really enjoyed the Epic. My favourite so far!
The hop hit is addictive...didnt think i was a hop head but started to reconsider that!

Tom I agree with you and Kevin, can't get enough hops now. Beer of choice is the Hightail Ale, closely followed by the James Squires Amber Ale.

The Chimay was outstanding. It would have to be in the top 5 in the world I think.

The fact that humulus lupulus is a distant cousin of canabis sativa may have something to do with that? The scientists tell us that there are no psycho active chemicals in hops - but they are little miracle workers regardless.

I find it amazing that humans are one of the few animals on earth with the ability to consume/like anything bitter. Some of the beers I have tasted recently were so bitter they almost hurt.... but the hurt was good!

Signature:
Greetings fellow BMs - I am one of the Founders of the BeerMasons.... did I mention I love beer.... good beer.... delicious beer? Did I mention that?

12/01/2010 at 1:45:06 AM GMT

N. Stephan

Posts: 33

I have had everything so far except the Brewdog Zeitgeist, the standout of the pack was the Epic Pale Ale for me, it was a really flavoursome pale ale, with plenty of hops, it is a beer I think I could drink all day in summer and not get sick of, I am now interested in giving their Armageddon, rather humorously containing 6.66% alc, and anything else they offer. The Chimay Red also came at the top of the pile, an old favourite, Chimay Red and Grande Reserve are two beers I come back to time and time and again, as they are always great, and whilst they may not be my favourite Trappists, they are still miles ahead of a lot of other brewers. The Flying Dog "tasters" were a novel idea, I had all three in one night, the DPA was excellent, as was the Imperial Porter, both bursting with flavour, but the Barley Wine I felt was a little lacking, but still nice. The Holgate wit, was like most have said very refreshing, and reserved in its spiciness, compared to some Belgian examples, making it very easy to drink, I hope to try more from Holgate as I have heard good things. The USB, I was really excited about, as I have been really enjoying English style ales lately, and it was very good, nice and malty, a little ceramy, definitely one I would have again, I have alwasy enjoyed Three Ravens' beers.

Well I may need to put a Zeitgeist in the fridge....

1/03/2010 at 11:06:14 PM GMT

T. Rice

Posts: 23