Hedgehoged

 

What’s a craft brewer’s biggest problem that’s usually out of their control? Their carefully crafted concoction being lightstruck or colloquially known in America as being skunked. This is a term used when the hops in beer is exposed to light causing a reaction that produces a pungent off-flavour resembling that of the defence spray deployed by an angry skunk.

However in the absence of any skunks in NZ, I’ve consequently not had the pleasure to partake, so would compare this awful off-flavour to a hedgehog that has been run over several times then mashed with rotten potatoes.

I’m a beer can fan, they’re light weight, easier to cool, no breakage and more stable in your car’s cup holder. Probably best reason of all, there is no chance of those flavourful bittering hops getting hedgehoged.

Here’s four guaranteed no hedgehoged beer cans from Garage Project

Hāpi Daze 4.8% Pacific Pale Ale: Hāpi is Maori for hops and this brew reeks of it, with big citrusy perfumes. This is one of those brews where the huge aroma follows through with huge taste. Persuasive notes of bananary grapefruit, apricots and toffee malts and all this for 4.8%!  A sensational flavourful sessionable.

Garagista 5.8% IPA: Crack the can and instantly get smacked with wafts of hops. Another big aroma arousal here.  Good ‘ol’ kiwi hops dominate with notes of grape skins and piney hop vines, all with a controlled bitterness. An easy going IPA, session suitable or for those who just want to chillax.

Texas Tea 6.2%: Anything from Texas will look like oil and this brew is no exception. Labelled as brown ale, it ain’t.  It’s black and it’s got the swag.  Yep, this brew is hot, so hot you’ll need a cooling beer chaser.

Tournesol 6.5% Spice Saison: A summer seasonal, but spring is just as good. This sunflower is one spritzy brew. Fulla flavour, hints of cloves, nutmegs and lemons which seems a bit ‘green party’ but they work to give a very refreshing imbibe. 

So, go get your guaranteed fresh beer choices at FreshChoice.

 Denis ‘beer with me’ Cooper

Fuller Flavour

 

Back in the craftless day when I was a hairy lager lout happily humming along to the dial-up tune, when pursuing the beer buzz, I blindingly assumed that beer was, well, beer, cold fizzy stuff that only deserved respect the next morning. Back then, quality NZ beer was an oxymoron.  The only choices were barely bittered lagers and ales with flavour as rare as a quiet builder. Meanwhile, the Poms were quietly sipping away on ‘tongue tingling hop’ or ‘malt in the mouth’ inspired beers, with flavour that would make their cheeks flush and talk with a stiff upper lip.

Nek minnit, Muldoon got dethroned, tariffs came off imports and Fuller’s became one of the first English beers to tempt the lager league. I cut my teeth on Fuller’s ESB all those beers ago, which awoke some dormant monsters inside my mouth called taste-buds.

Here’s four sippulant Fuller’s to try:

Fuller’s ESB 5.9%.  Many craft brewers have been inspired by Fuller’s extra special bitter and as such has become a recognised beer style. This liquid legend is the pinnacle of the fuller’s range, winning many awards. Its “marmalade on buttered toast flavour” is Fuller’s signature taste and flows through all the Fuller’s range with varying authority.

Fuller’s London Pride 4.7% is UK’s most popular beer hence malty award winning. Here the marmalade on toast is more orangey, and bitter hops in harmony with malts. Its complexity allows it to be an all season session beer that has refreshing warmth.

Fuller’s Golden Pride 8.5%, an uber strong ale with a fruit mince aroma. Tastes of bitter peppery marmalades and belly-warming toffee ports. It’s a liquid Christmas cake for any occasion.

Fuller’s 1845 6.3%, another strong ale first brewed in 1995 for Fuller’s 150^th anniversary. It’s rich, malty, and spicy with hints of nutmegs and a dry fruity finish that is exceptionally satisfying. It tastes boozier than 6% so it’s safe to have a naughty nother.

If Fuller’s have been brewing fuller flavoured beers for 350 years, maybe NZs’ beer barons could step it up?

Denis ‘outa hair’ Cooper