The Peoples' Pint 2012: Double Hoptendre

Few quick notes on this one tried at the launch at Temple in Melbourne.

Got to say first, this is a great competition and it's good to see Ron and co at Temple working both on this, and the upcoming beer scholarship with Sierra Nevada etc too. They're great initiatives that help to strengthen the craft beer community & I think they themselves will gain a lot of benefit from their hard work too. All power to Temple!

Beer wise - this was a rye red IPA that has been double dry hopped in line with the mission statement. The result is a relatively spicy effort, certainly spicier than I've come to usually expect with a rye beer. The two different hop profiles are evident here also giving it an interesting 'bounce' of bitterness not once but twice during the mouthful. Despite this I did find it a bit trying toward the bottom of the glass however.

So.. an interesting drop, but not quite to my personal tastes. What will next year bring? 6.0

Mash Brewing Rye The Hop Not

Had tried this previously at a tasting and enjoyed .. but that was before becoming an utter beer nob.

At the time this seemed a shining and exciting example of what rye could do in a beer (this was novel to my inexperienced past self), and what Mash in general could do (as it seemed pretty drinkable and characterful).

Now it seems pretty damn insipid insofar as what rye can do .. and I have to say, a pretty good representation of Mash themselves who have a rather disappointing portfolio of beers and ciders across the board (and as a sidenote, a pretty terrible restaurant to back them up).

It's all just ok, so my new, insufferably arrogant, unfeeling self gives this but 5.0 out of a possible 10.

Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye

Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, replete with quite splendid livery.

This is big dark and heavy brown, low head dissipates quite quickly, heavy in the glass and in the mouth at 7.5% ABV.

The big rye malt backbone is the dominating characteristic of this beer. It's a beer for winter I think like a better version of Coopers Vintage Ale with the nice rye characteristic to boot.

There's not a lot wrong with this drop but it doesn't really blow my socks off either. For the dosh and the percent etc I'd choose something with a bit more balls. 7.5

Kaimai Porter's Rye Ale

Brace yourselves, for this is a momentous day.

A momentous day, I say, and it's NZ that have finally done it.

When I rate beers, I generally consider a score of 1.0 to represent widely available macro lager (insert VB or whatever your local rubbish may be here). This is far and away worse. This makes me pine for a Tooheys Extra Dry like a gently frying prisoner pines for the sweet release of death.

I'm not sure which of 'Porter' 'Rye' or indeed 'Ale' this beer even is but it's a horrid sour metallic effort with no redeeming benefit. It's hard to imagine how this even came into being? But it's clearly not a dud / skunked bottle either .. what were they thinking?

The only value I can see for this beer is taking it to parties, to either a) drink a sip and fire yourself up to take advantage (?) of freely available crap lagers, or b) share with others to "demonstrate that weird beer you always drink" and in so doing make sure no bastard ever touches your weird beers in the esky.

As such it receives the very first 0.0. Congratulations.

Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA

I must admit I've been a bit suspicious of Sierra Nevada since being disappointed by their Pale Ale first up.

Then again, this is both Rye and an IPA, things I like individually and - when encountered - as a pair.

Pours a lovely snowy head on a dark body with a great strong hop laden nose. Attractive. It's quite bitter throughout, a bold uncompromised IPA with no real caramel, putting me in mind of Ruination at times. Lovely lacing all the way down the glass.

This is a top beer and recommended. Well played Sierra Nevada. 8.5

HeBrew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A.

Garrgh I hate the name. And the bottle, both its design and the way it's upside down.

Still, this came with a recommendation and it was filled high in the bottle.

Rye and malt dominate the start but it ramps up nicely into a fair whack of hop presence here too. There's a bit of alcohol there as would be expected from the 10% ABV but it's not badly hidden by any stretch, the bitterness and development of the beer mean it's a companion, not a foe.

I quite enjoyed the stroll through this beer, given the strength of it. A much better option than the Spartacus. 7.5 .. nearly 8.0 ..

Mountain Goat Rare Breed Rye IPA

Goat rare breed = pretty much automatic 'buy' recommendation so far.. but this is the pick of the crop by a distance.

Quite light and transparent in the glass, lovely colour and a creamy blanket of head. Hops come through with hints of citrus, earthy grass, an agricultural production a little like hop hog but less rampantly intense.

Rye hits first then developing hops, slight bitter herbal notes, lovely stuff. It's a very light almost watery sort of a mouthfeel but this is oddly suited to provide the round rye experience but still leave it quenching and delicious. Nice long aftertaste.

Very impressed. Very happy we had a second bottle of this chilling also. And depressed they were sold out of additional supplies when we went back to the bottle-o the next day.

8.5

HopDog Horns Up

HopDog! And filled up nearly to the cap in a bizarre display of bottling prowess.

It's a pine herbal nose, darkish pour and powdery head. Rye ipa hops from nz and the US apparently. Light for an IPA at 5.6%.

First sip: Wow. Nothing then bang hello, something.. hops hops hops -bitter- end. 70ibu seems an understatement.
Second sip: .. is this nectarine? Or peach?
Subsequent sips: NECTARINE! NECTARINE!! NEC - TAR - RINE!!!

It's all a bit overwhelming really. 6.0