Inhopsicating

I’ve always maintained that when I’ve got a beer itch my preferred lollyshop is FreshChoice Nelson and it now appears I’m not alone with this hoppinion as now confirmed by SOBA that the best off license in the Nelson region is FreshChoice Nelson! (SOBA awards 2013).

 

I’m often in aforementioned shop perving at their multitude of refreshing choices deciding which one to cure my hopaholic itch. What is it about hops that makes beer, beer? Could it be that because this herbaceous climbing plant is a close relative to the cannabis plant, and I’ve actually got some deeper underlying craving than previously thought? Nah, not me, I don’t have a drinking problem,,, unless of course the beers run out!

 

The best craft beers for big hops are arguably the yanks who developed the citrus and piney hop varieties and then pushed the limits of IBU’s. IBU’s are code for international bittering units and sometimes listed on the label. The higher the number, the more your tongue curls and the more that hairs will grow on your chest, on the inside!

 

One flamboyant example of massive IBU beer is ‘Hop Juice’ from Left Coast Brewing on the left coast of America. This beer has a massive 82 IBU’s, close to the theoretical 100 limit of bitterness. It tastes like freshly squeezed hop flowers with the classical American piney citrus hop aromas and taste sensations, and a catahopic bitterness that will shrivel your tongue faster than a cold shower.

 

Now here’s the thing with IBU’s, ‘Trestles’ also a Left Coaster, has 92 IBU’s but doesn’t taste as bitter as ‘Hop Juice’ but instead is soothed with a counterbalanced lingering caramellow malt yet still retains shiploads of piney citrusy hop flavors.

 

Then again, ‘Asylum’, their Belgium Style Tripel Ale, comes in at a paltry 27 IBU’s, gets its flavor not from hops but from yeast where they impart notes of any fruit colored orange including pumpkin and when the 11.8abv evaporates off your tongue tastes rambunctiously refreshing. 

 

Hopfully the reader is now an IBUer, (Informed Beer User)

 

Denis ‘hoppy daze’ Cooper

 

Sessionators

Scheez, we’re seriously spoiled with spectator sport choices at the mo, what with rugby, soccer, cricket, and the soon to start Comm games. This is session season time, and a session beer is all about enjoying a coupla-three flavourful beers, whilst watching a whole game without losing the noodles. These days it only takes me just one beer before I’m shipfaced and that’s usually my 9th.  On victory you deserve beer, in defeat you need it (the English will know what I’m on about!).
An impressive Brewster of session beers is Schipper’s who craft a small smorgasbord of schmooze boozes most suitable for a beer binge.

The first of Schipper’s selection is ‘Herr X Vienna Lager’ 4.8%abv.  Us oldies will know Herr X is the B-Side of Ultravox's Vienna. It’s refreshing, easy drinking, with slight cherry and sour notes. Looks and body more of an ale but has a huge lager crispness. 

The next amuse booze is ‘Scallywag Rich Amber Ale’ 5%abv.  Smooth on the tongue, medium bodied with earthy hops and toffee malts that finish in a bitter peak that keeps your tongue wagging.

The ‘Golden Gezzer Classic Ale’ 4.6%abv has a sturdy foamy white head with gulp laces over a darkish amber coloured liquid. Freshly clipped lawn aromas and fruity hop flavours, finishing with caramel malts. How can this old feller have so much flavour with so little alcohol?

‘Mistress Pilsner’ 5%abv. This baby has got peppery hops that make for one big sharp tongue tingler.  Sharper than the coattails on a cunning wannabe politician! Pays to keep drinking to cool the taste-buds.  The mistress is also excellent for a quickie after work!

The high flyer of the Schipper’s school is the Chinook IPA but at 7.3% is no all-day IPA.  Smoooth, almost chewable full body, piny, dried mango taste. A thick bolus of bitterness, perfect as an end of session sipper.

So, be a ‘Scallywag’ and take a ride on the ‘Golden Geezer’ with the ‘Mistress’ to Vienna but be back in time before ‘Herr X’ gives you a ‘Chinook’.

Denis ‘big head, thin bodied’ Cooper

NPA

Here’s a mouth opener. Whilst absentmindedly wandering through the Nelson Art Festival on a wet dreary Saturday afternoon biding time before the Nelson light show, I stumbled upon a bar selling the beer of the award winning beer label for the Nelson Freshchoice’s own brew. Be rude not to try the specially made American pale ale by the delicate hands of Tracy, the head brewer from The Sprig and Fern Breweries.

 What an unexpectedly delightful drop it was too, and as a pale ale it was hugely hopped like an Indian pale ale.  Full of those citrusy American hops which I’m very partial too. Only had one cause the light and rain were fading outside and announcements of the non-cancelled light show blaring was over the arty-farty murmurings. Oh well, have get down to Nelson Freshchoice for a rigger of this stuff for a swig and learn and do a proper tasting. Dunno if the Grocer had any input into the flavours of this APA but they’re as big as he is. Should be called a NPA, Nelson Pale Ale, it’s a beautiful thing.

Cheers guys.