Weird Beard Brewing Company Chinook

Weird Beard Brewing Company Chinook
Style: Barrel Aged Brown Ale

Alcohol Content: 7.4%

From: Hanwell, London, UK

Purchased From: Real Ale Shop, Richmond upon Thames, London, England

http://weirdbeardbrewco.com/

After another busy week at work I was really looking forward to attending Craft 100 this weekend. But alas, just like my attempt to visit craft beer rising, my hopes were dashed by illness yet again. This time it was myself who caught the dreaded bug, it was my long time drinking buddy Jon. After sulking for a couple of hours i decided to pick myself up and write a number blogs over the weekend. Here is one of them, Weird Beard Brewing Company Chinook. 

Weird Beard Brewing company is based in Hanwell, West London. Like most brewers, the company’s founders, Gregg and Bryan, first began brewing beers in their kitchen’s. After winning numerous home brewing awards, the dynamic duo decided to up the ante and turn their hobby into a business. And before you ask, yes, Gregg and Bryan do sport some very impressive facial hair (Daniel Bryan would be proud!). Now as my best friend is moving into this area later this year, no doubt I will be popping in to check the beard’s and beers out for myself.

Colour: Pours a thick, dark brown with minimal head. This head will lace your glass perfectly thought the duration of your drinking experience. The also opaque liquid helps to create a sense of mystery that will intoxicate you like young mistress in a summer dress. 

Aroma: Not the most perfumed beer in the world as it only uses the Chinook hop. This hop adds a slight pine and citrus note to the aroma profile. If you get your nose right in there you will be able to pick out notes of rich molasses mixed with smoky bourbon. Slight hints of warming, dry alcohol will also rise from the glass to sting your nostrils. Very subtle aromas that are perfectly blended to draw you further into this drink.

Body: On your first sip you could be forgiven in thinking that you are indeed drinking a bourbon. The beer feels very sticky and will clog the back of your throat on every single sip. The warming alcohol will burn slightly on the way down like a good whisky should. This is definitely not a beer to rush, so sit back and relax while drinking it.

Taste: As I eluded to before, this beer has been aged in bourbon barrels. The barrels have imparted notes of sweet, smoky bourbon combined with slight hints of oak. These flavours are beautifully juxtaposed by the use of the Chinook hop. The hop provides a citrus note which helps cut through the smokiness slight to refresh your palate.  The finish is beautifully sweet to start but is followed by an intensely bitter and warming alcohol finish. This is the second bourbon aged ale I have reviewed, (the first being Founders Backwoods Bastard). Between the two, I preferred the Founders as it was slightly sweeter than Weird Beards attempt but that’s down to personal taste as this is an excellent effort.   

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/founders-backwoods-bastard.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/arbor-ale-monsoon-saison.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Petrus Aged Pale Ale

Petrus Aged Pale Ale

Style: Aged Pale Ale (Sour)

Alcohol Content: 7.3%

From: Bavikhove, Belgium

Purchased from: Beer Shop near Calais
http://www.brouwerijdebrabandere.be/home-en

A few months ago, a friend of mine visited Northern France. Whilst he was there I asked him if he could bring back any interesting beers that he may stumble across. This is one of the results of that search, Petrus aged pale. Originally I thought this would be a pale ale but I was quite shocked to find out that this was actually a sour beer. My track record with this style is not great. My first and only experience of this style was at the great British beer festival back in 2012. I was so unprepared for the tart sourness that it really put me off the style. Being a man that always gives things a second chance, I popped the drink in the fridge waiting for the right moment to review the beer. So let's see if it's second time a charm...

The Bavik brewery was founded in 1894 founded by Adolphe De Brabandere a farmer at the "Hof ter Koutere" in Bavikhove. Four generations later, the brewery is still a family business and one of the largest independent breweries in Belgium. Petrus Aged Pale Ale was first brewed in 2001 after a visit from beer expert Michael Jackson (not the Michael Jackson with the plastic face, this Michael Jackson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson_(writer) ). So onto the review.

Colour: Pours a clear golden colour complete with a fast building, bubbly white head. This dissipates down quickly but laces the glass perfectly on the way down.

Aroma: Full of cherries and white wine vinegar. This can be extremely overpowering to start with but it will eventually mellow as you get use to it.

Body: A perfect, light pilsner type body complete with a mild carbonation. The mouthful is a game of two halves. Tart sourness will dry your mouth at first, then the sweet juicy malt will refresh your vitals. Definitely not a beer you can session.

Taste: Pucker up, this is one hell of a sour beer! It will take you a few minutes to adjust to the acidic sourness of this beer. It really reminds me of a scrumpy cider from the westcountry. Once adjusted, there are hints of fruits, specifically cherries and a slight vinous character. The flavour is rounded off by hints of earthiness which are provided by the oak barrels that this beer is laid in during the ageing process. The after taste is full of tart cherries with not a hint of bitterness to speak of. Best enjoyed slowly with a tangy cheese. A lot tastier than my first encounter with the sour style and I certainly will be trying other soon.

What's up with you Sour Pus?

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/thornbridge-wild-swan.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/bath-ales-gem.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery