Blog Tracker
13-12-2023, 07:11
Visit The Beer Nut site (https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2023/12/oldies-but-goodie.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUlAWyZVvQCDb_oW_7o8mDI_0hoLjuK7UX-1jx1krQxduf0UnekT7bT1PMeS5V5XIYfEudKNFnmSHuaIFh2et Gp9V1u52Vq0p5HJPRoZOQMxxa3-QEqy6w4_rrxG-2lw43aqtujVSgOLuBwFU12du0Tl_COR7tqyuum5cPvTK0fSHBh savBiHPA/w163-h200/stu_mostow_american_uncle_double_black_ipa.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUlAWyZVvQCDb_oW_7o8mDI_0hoLjuK7UX-1jx1krQxduf0UnekT7bT1PMeS5V5XIYfEudKNFnmSHuaIFh2et Gp9V1u52Vq0p5HJPRoZOQMxxa3-QEqy6w4_rrxG-2lw43aqtujVSgOLuBwFU12du0Tl_COR7tqyuum5cPvTK0fSHBh savBiHPA/s2756/stu_mostow_american_uncle_double_black_ipa.jpg)I often go rummaging in the virtual bargain bin (https://craftcentral.ie/collections/wheeler-dealer) at Craft Central. There's a lot of freshness-required beers in there, which I avoid, but when something is strong and dark and looks good value I'll throw it into the basket.
Today's first beer comes from Polish brewer Stu Mostów, and is a black double IPA called American Uncle. It's certainly black, with an uneven ivory-white head on top. The aroma sparks with fresh lemon and grapefruit, very much like an old west coaster, even including a toffee sweetness. It's a weighty fellow, needing to be drawn past the teeth, with a texture of syrup and custard. The density makes it lose its sharp aspect, and instead it's creamy, with warm dark chocolate notes ahead of the candied citrus middle and dank finish. For 8% ABV it's very approachable: soft and smooth, with no pointy edges. I think I prefer a black IPA with more of an invigorating hop sharpness, but I found little to dislike in this cuddly soft number.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfgKw0AcZsoUy6Vn08E68nosXLSlfFqgoOq_xRyR4lF Cm_r_sC7PjrUw2WUro84UF6ukesjBvk3eXDXtPY3Oe0v7nlaPE HTJDSR0dOiUQOkGDbRjJswTsutt03IADADJDUVRE-BqKda5SEKDDPYEICdJao74UsNvL3hRXnI_AZ4fAYUXT_6l19w/w173-h200/siren_fierce_destination_unknown_scotch_ale.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfgKw0AcZsoUy6Vn08E68nosXLSlfFqgoOq_xRyR4lF Cm_r_sC7PjrUw2WUro84UF6ukesjBvk3eXDXtPY3Oe0v7nlaPE HTJDSR0dOiUQOkGDbRjJswTsutt03IADADJDUVRE-BqKda5SEKDDPYEICdJao74UsNvL3hRXnI_AZ4fAYUXT_6l19w/s2595/siren_fierce_destination_unknown_scotch_ale.jpg)So the extended ageing didn't do that one any harm. I expected something similar from Destination Unknown, a scotch ale from Siren, in collaboration with Fierce, at 9% ABV. The label tells us it's a hybrid of Shattered Dream with Cranach Killer, neither of which I've had. It's a murky red colour, and smells both sweet and sour, a lot like the Chinese sauce of the same name: vinegar, syrup, tomato and chilli peppers. The flavour is very sour and rather funky up front, like the bolder sort of Flanders red. There's none of the Highland toffee or red liquorice candy that one might expect from a beer like this. Instead I get balsamic vinegar, lime juice and redcurrant jelly. It's all a bit severe, and hasn't mellowed in the two months since the can passed its best-before. And I don't think it's my own fault for leaving it so long: I find if difficult to believe there was ever a rich and smooth beer in here.
Black IPA wins again.
More... (https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2023/12/oldies-but-goodie.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUlAWyZVvQCDb_oW_7o8mDI_0hoLjuK7UX-1jx1krQxduf0UnekT7bT1PMeS5V5XIYfEudKNFnmSHuaIFh2et Gp9V1u52Vq0p5HJPRoZOQMxxa3-QEqy6w4_rrxG-2lw43aqtujVSgOLuBwFU12du0Tl_COR7tqyuum5cPvTK0fSHBh savBiHPA/w163-h200/stu_mostow_american_uncle_double_black_ipa.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUlAWyZVvQCDb_oW_7o8mDI_0hoLjuK7UX-1jx1krQxduf0UnekT7bT1PMeS5V5XIYfEudKNFnmSHuaIFh2et Gp9V1u52Vq0p5HJPRoZOQMxxa3-QEqy6w4_rrxG-2lw43aqtujVSgOLuBwFU12du0Tl_COR7tqyuum5cPvTK0fSHBh savBiHPA/s2756/stu_mostow_american_uncle_double_black_ipa.jpg)I often go rummaging in the virtual bargain bin (https://craftcentral.ie/collections/wheeler-dealer) at Craft Central. There's a lot of freshness-required beers in there, which I avoid, but when something is strong and dark and looks good value I'll throw it into the basket.
Today's first beer comes from Polish brewer Stu Mostów, and is a black double IPA called American Uncle. It's certainly black, with an uneven ivory-white head on top. The aroma sparks with fresh lemon and grapefruit, very much like an old west coaster, even including a toffee sweetness. It's a weighty fellow, needing to be drawn past the teeth, with a texture of syrup and custard. The density makes it lose its sharp aspect, and instead it's creamy, with warm dark chocolate notes ahead of the candied citrus middle and dank finish. For 8% ABV it's very approachable: soft and smooth, with no pointy edges. I think I prefer a black IPA with more of an invigorating hop sharpness, but I found little to dislike in this cuddly soft number.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfgKw0AcZsoUy6Vn08E68nosXLSlfFqgoOq_xRyR4lF Cm_r_sC7PjrUw2WUro84UF6ukesjBvk3eXDXtPY3Oe0v7nlaPE HTJDSR0dOiUQOkGDbRjJswTsutt03IADADJDUVRE-BqKda5SEKDDPYEICdJao74UsNvL3hRXnI_AZ4fAYUXT_6l19w/w173-h200/siren_fierce_destination_unknown_scotch_ale.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfgKw0AcZsoUy6Vn08E68nosXLSlfFqgoOq_xRyR4lF Cm_r_sC7PjrUw2WUro84UF6ukesjBvk3eXDXtPY3Oe0v7nlaPE HTJDSR0dOiUQOkGDbRjJswTsutt03IADADJDUVRE-BqKda5SEKDDPYEICdJao74UsNvL3hRXnI_AZ4fAYUXT_6l19w/s2595/siren_fierce_destination_unknown_scotch_ale.jpg)So the extended ageing didn't do that one any harm. I expected something similar from Destination Unknown, a scotch ale from Siren, in collaboration with Fierce, at 9% ABV. The label tells us it's a hybrid of Shattered Dream with Cranach Killer, neither of which I've had. It's a murky red colour, and smells both sweet and sour, a lot like the Chinese sauce of the same name: vinegar, syrup, tomato and chilli peppers. The flavour is very sour and rather funky up front, like the bolder sort of Flanders red. There's none of the Highland toffee or red liquorice candy that one might expect from a beer like this. Instead I get balsamic vinegar, lime juice and redcurrant jelly. It's all a bit severe, and hasn't mellowed in the two months since the can passed its best-before. And I don't think it's my own fault for leaving it so long: I find if difficult to believe there was ever a rich and smooth beer in here.
Black IPA wins again.
More... (https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2023/12/oldies-but-goodie.html)