Virtual Happy Hour (Brews & Spirits, Pics & Reviews)

[Cadence]

I'm gradually trying some sours to see if there is a flavor I like besides key lime. Pumpkin and jalapeno weren't great in a sour for me before,, adding orange to the list. (All three were drinkable, but they aren't ones I'd reach for).

Edmund's Oast Brewing Sun Kissed - "[W]e have dumped far, far too much citrus puree into a golden ale, and for an added kiss of flavor, blended in a touch of our sour base beer. Refreshing on hot days and when you are recovering from flying too close to the sun, Sun Kissed – a citrus experience in a can."



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Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant's pumpkin ale was one of my all time faves last year, both draft (made there) and can (made elsewhere). This year the first batch of the draft one they made has a lot more pumpkin, as opposed to pumpkin spice, It was really disappointing. Will ask for a taste when they do the next batch, and I guess I can get some cans to see if the change was just at this one batch/location or if it was for the whole chain.

 

[Zardnaar]

Tui Strong

Tui is one of the main macro beers here in NZ.

It has a bad reputation. I had some in 2018 and it was drinkable. Best of the worst.

That was 7 years ago. Tui Strong is 7.2. Golden Lager. Initial taste was surprisingly pleasant somewhat sweet. Got mildly worse more you drunk it. Towards the end didn't care.

Reminded me a bit of some of the nastier eastern European beers. Better than Baltika 9 though. Its roughly on par with Steinlager
which is like a kiwi Heineken. Prefer Baltika 7, Baltika 5 is probably a rough equivalent or one of the average Obolons.

Drinkable almost enjoyed it. Heineken a 6/10 beer for me so this one's getting a 6.5. Better than expected so that's a win. WI can drink Budweiser. Weak flavor but not unpleasant so would probably give that a 6.5 as well.

Tui. Best of the crap Macro lagers so far eg Speights, DB Export, Lion Red, Double Brown etc. Hot summers day getting plonked 7.2% would get a thumbs up. Better than NZ Strong lager as well. Not a good beer but drinkable and better than expected.

High class NZ marco beer review. With an Aussie. Pure class. More or less agree with them. These are our crap beers.


Few F bombs don't think they use the C word. Hence classy.

 

[Zardnaar]

I'm gradually trying some sours to see if there is a flavor I like besides key lime. Pumpkin and jalapeno weren't great in a sour for me before,, adding orange to the list. (All three were drinkable, but they aren't ones I'd reach for).

Edmund's Oast Brewing Sun Kissed - "[W]e have dumped far, far too much citrus puree into a golden ale, and for an added kiss of flavor, blended in a touch of our sour base beer. Refreshing on hot days and when you are recovering from flying too close to the sun, Sun Kissed – a citrus experience in a can."

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Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant's pumpkin ale was one of my all time faves last year, both draft (made there) and can (made elsewhere). This year the first batch of the draft one they made has a lot more pumpkin, as opposed to pumpkin spice, It was really disappointing. Will ask for a taste when they do the next batch, and I guess I can get some cans to see if the change was just at this one batch/location or if it was for the whole chain.

Pumpkin in beers there acre like Oysters in beer here.

Mate gave me a 750ml of home brew mead. Used 5kg (11 pounds approx) of honey.