Lagunitas IPA

Lagunitas IPA
Style: India Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 6%

From: Petaluma, California, USA

Purchased From: Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney

http://lagunitas.com/

Over the past few weeks, my liver has taken one hell of a pounding. Two beer festivals and one craft beer night later, I am constantly finding myself reaching for a daily Paracetamol. Whilst I enjoy drinking the beer at the time,  I'm also starting to feel the effects more the day after. I guess my metabolism is not the same as it once was or perhaps it’s the fact that I'm drinking stronger beers more often. After looking through my beer cupboard, I noticed the average ABV was 8%.  Lordy, I can remember a time when the highest beer I ever drank was a 5 percent Carlsberg Export. That being said, the pain is worth it. After two years of blogging  my curiosity and enthusiasm to discover new beer styles has yet to waiver. No Pain, No Gain as they say.

Founded in 1993 by Tony Magee in Lagunitas, California, the brewery quickly outgrew its original home and a year later moved to Petaluma, California.  Maintain that rapid momentum, Lagunitas has almost quadrupled its output between 2004 to 2010, rising from 27,000 barrel per annum to 106,000 per annum during this period. In 2012, Lagunitas announced plans for a new Chicago based brewery with a barrel capacity of 600,000 per annum whilst also investing 9.5 million dollars in order to  increase production at their Petaluma site to a similar level. The Chicago brewery finally opened its doors in April 2014, complete with an onsite tap-room. Great news considering I will be heading over to the States for my 30^th birthday. Cheers all!

Colour: Pours a warm orange/copper, complete with a bubbly white head. This head lingers for the duration, lacing the glass perfectly on every sip.

Aroma: Hints of perfectly blended kiwi, mango and lime present themselves instantly. It's almost like an exotic fruit salad that has been drizzled in sweet honey. The citrus notes slowly mellow to give way to delicate hints of earthy resinous hops. The perfect perfume for an IPA.

Body: Lordy, this drink is oh so smooth it's almost like you are drinking a pint of pure velvet. The carbonation is perfectly balanced against the sweetness of the hop oils to ensure a refreshingly pleasurable drinking experience.

Taste: Hints of beautifully fresh mangos are promptly followed by notes of a dry, hobnob biscuit. Hints of smooth honey and warming alcohol will become more prominent as the drink warms. These flavours add to the refined smoothness of this beer and the mildly bitter aftertaste helps to round out the flavour perfectly. In my opinion, this is one of the most polished IPAs on the market. Perfectly balanced in all areas, ensuring that both novices and beer connoisseurs go home happy. Great stuff!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/the-celt-brewing-experience-seven.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/alken-maes-judas.html

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

Sharp's Quadrupel

Sharp's Quadrupel

Style: Quadrupel

Alcohol Content: 10%

From: Rock, Wadebridge, Cornwall, UK

Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney 

http://www.sharpsbrewery.co.uk/

Last Tuesday, I attended the UK Beer Academy’s one day foundation course in the Draft House near Tower bridge. My prime aim for my visit was to expand my insight into the UK brewing industry and gain my first qualification in subject. I won't lie to you, I was rather nervous. This sensation left me very quickly once I met my fellow students and our remarkable lecturer Ian Swanson. With over 30 years of experience and knowledge behind him, Ian schooled us in a variety of subjects ranging from the brewing process to good pub management. Obviously, a beer course would not be complete without any social lubricant and the Beer Academy were more than happy to oblige. In total we sampled thirteen beers ranging from a rather bland Carling to the excellent Fuller’s Golden Pride.  

Then came the moment of truth, the test. Feeling rather tipsy, I surprisingly rattled though the questions with great ease and handed in my paper after only fifteen minutes. We then all retired to the main bar for yet another drink and more banter. So in summary, if you are thinking of purchasing the foundation course, then please do. You will never see beer in the same way again and it’s a great way to meet some new beer chums. I will be definitely attending the advanced course later in the year.  

But the big question is did I pass? Well I’m still waiting to find out  but have no fear you will be the first to know when/ if I do. Onto the review.

Sharp’s Brewery first opened its doors back in 1994 as a small microbrewery. Back then, Sharp’s owner Bill Sharp, could not of imagined how his company would grow to be one of the UK’s largest independent breweries. After years of posting healthy profits, Moors Coulson acted quickly and snapped up the brewery for a princely sum of £20 million back in 2011. The merger appears to be a match made in heaven as Sharp’s flagship bitter, Doombar has now become the largest cask ale brand in Molson Coors' portfolio and indeed the UK.  However, the subject of this review is not their famous Doombar, it’s actually their Quadrupel Ale which forms part of their Connoisseurs Choice range.

Colour: Pours a dark ruby red with an amazing two finger deep bubbly white head. Rather unfortunately, this dissipates extremely quickly leaving no trace of its existence after a couple of minutes.

Aroma: Beautiful notes of sweet caramel or molasses dominate the nose. Eventually this gives way to hints of chocolate orange and very faint hints of the 10% alcohol. The use of four hops help to create a beautifully perfumed beer. The Centennial, Simcoe and Aurora hops help to produce the citrus notes whilst the Hallertauer and chocolate dark malts fuse perfect to give the sweetness. Truly remarkable.

Body: The mouthfeel of this beer is very full and extremely sticky. It's almost like chewing on a creamy toffee. The warming alcohol will then cut through to wash over your palate leaving you with a clogging sensation on the back of your throat. A drink not to be rushed that's for sure.

Taste: Big bold flavours of spiced rum dark fruits like currants and sultanas. The taste really reminds me of my Nan's fruit cake that she makes every Christmas. Very faint hints of chocolate and molasses lingers in the background like the big bad wolf. Extremely sweet and sticky at first but as the drink warms, the slowly receding fruit notes will then give way to the warming alcohol and a mild bitter finish. Excellent stuff and well worth all the accolades that it has received over the past couple of years. I had heard a vicious rumour that Sharp's were planning on ceasing production of the Quadruple later this year. Let's hope for all it's fans this is not true.

A simple label hides a complex beer

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/moor-beer-company-old-freddy-walker.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/petrus-aged-pale-ale.html

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