2016 Most Memorable Beer List--a list from Wayne( Taiwan)

As the year coming nearer to an end--here's another Taiwan beer friend's list --this time from Wayne--a geek who post quite regularly in the FB group of Taiwan Craft Beer Club--about beers he had with tasting notes--which he published onto a blog too- if you read Mandarin---here's the blog link if you google search:-

Hoppiness → Happiness

年度最有印象啤酒清单继续有台湾朋友的选择，Wayne在台湾精酿啤酒俱乐部FB蛮活跃，常有品酒心得POST，也放上部落客（网址如上），这次选的啤酒绝大多数都是台湾本土能较常喝到啤酒，某些层面上，也是这个年度清单的意义所在，“别的城市啤迷朋友都在喝什么--无论是在地进口商正式供应/又或者是自己想方设法国外弄进来的选择，反映出的不只是个人选酒方向/喜好--某些程度上也可以窥看一个城市的啤酒供应/选择状态”

here's the list written in Mandarin by Wayne( with a little English thrown in by me):-

前言：

以一個非業界人士來說，能夠收到C.T.的邀請其實蠻讓我意外的，畢竟我一直覺得我跟其他消費者沒啥不同。不過單純選幾支2016年讓我印象比較深的酒應該不是什麼太難的事。

雖然說每年都會喝到不少自己或朋友帶回的怪酒，但這篇酒單東西大多是台灣地區有正式代理的貨。我是覺得台灣目前可得的品項與品質不會比國外差，也希望看到這篇文章的朋友也會喜歡這些佳釀，Cheers！

Wayne was kinda surprised to get invited to write his list as he felt he is no different from any other beer drinkers( maybe --but not many would write and post regularly sharing tasting notes and such about a beer:)   

Majority of the beers listed are available at bars/bottle shop in Taiwan via proper importing/distribution channels--which indeed shows the vibrant side of craft market in Taiwan.

Elysian Omen Belgian Raspberry Stout

Style : 29A. Fruit Beer

IBU : 45

Best Before : 2016/04/15

拜代理商多年的努力，西雅圖的Elysian Brewing在台灣精釀圈中算是耕耘非常久的品牌。但在賣給百威集團後，相較於過去，台灣這邊可得的品項少了很多很多，他們招牌的萬聖節南瓜啤酒系列今年甚至缺席實在是可惜。這款添加的Raspberry的Belgian Stout是非常優秀的作品。

This is a brewery which the distributor in Taiwan worked hard with for quite a long time--though it's sad selection became much less after it was bought over by ABinBev --this is still a really nice one.

To Øl Nelson Survin

Style : 22A. Double IPA

既然帶這麼繽紛的果香，稍帶些酸度又有何不可?

今年台灣上了不少To Øl的Sour IPA，使用Nelson Sauvin的這款是我最喜歡的一支。再來才是鋁罐裝的Sur Citra

Of qiute a few sour IPA by TO OL made available in Taiwan this year--Wayne like this the most, fruity with light sourness--as well Sour Citra

Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA

Style : 21A. American IPA

IBU : 60

Bottled on : 2016/01/13

單就酒花風味的表現，這批Fresh Squeezed的新鮮度與酒花風味絕對是我喝過最狂野的。可惜的是風味衰退得也快，隔個兩周後再喝風味侵略性就明顯下降，香氣也開始轉向紅心芭樂似的調性

註：2016年底進台灣的KEG也沒有那種狂野的酒花精油感，真的是非常非常可惜

The freshness and hops flavours is the "wildest" Wayne ever had in Taiwan--but the same beer after 2 weeks don't taste the same( which really is an issue most drinkers would find when drinking hops forward beers in Asia as most would need to travel from US or Europe to Asia--not to mention some might not be cold chained imported)

Mikkeller Nelson Sauvignon

Style : 33B. Specialty Wood-Aged Beer

Mikkeller在亞洲地區有著高度的人氣，但喝過這麼多的Mikkeller，嚴格來說真的能讓我念念不忘的就只有這支。平衡感精妙、Nelson Sauvin與Chardonnay桶帶來的風味極度美妙！傑作

Mikkeller is really popular in Asia--to Wayne--the only bottle that he would keep remembering would be this--really well done beer.

Against the Grain Bo & Luke

Style : 33B. Specialty Wood-Aged Beer

IBU：86

這款酒最近似乎才在香港上市？我也是看到香港朋友們的補充資料才知道這款酒用的波本桶要價不斐。整體風味非常堅實、龐大、易飲性亦佳，沒記錯的話當天在啜飲室我是還沒吃飯就直接開喝的樣子？

可惜代理商在台灣並沒有很廣泛的推廣這牌子，老實說我蠻欣賞這東西的。

This is a beer Wayne found out from HK Beer Geeks group--and had it in Taipei--and quite impressed with it.

Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)

Style : 33B. Specialty Wood-Aged Beer

IBU : 70

有些朋友似乎覺得這款酒的評價有些過度吹捧？但以台灣一支不到300NTD (<10 USD)的售價來說，我真的覺得這款酒難以挑剔。我甚至認為這款酒會造成台灣許多高濃度的過桶Stout變得更難賣

some people think it's an overly hyped beer--to Wayne--when this is available for less than USD10 in Taiwan--he is of the opinion that this beer might affects some BA stouts to sell well in Taiwan.

Westvleteren 12
Style : 26D. Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Best Before : 2019/02/24
如果可以找到新鮮的樣品，Westvleteren全系列我都很推薦，但2016年我只有重溫W12就是了。極度妖豔得果酯香氣實在是迷人，Belgian Dark Strong Ale還是趁新鮮喝吧，不要再陳酒了

Wayne would recommend all variants from this brewery provided if fresh bottles can be found--he is suggesting drink it fresh-Don't aged.

AleSmith Speedway Stout (TAP)

Style : 30A. Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer

IBU：70

Alesmith絕對是我最欣賞的美國酒廠之一。在第一次造訪Mikkeller Bangkok能夠嘗到這款My Favorite Stout of All Time實在是幸運.

Wayne felt lucky to have had this during first ever visit to Mikkeller Bangkok--on tap--the rest yo can read his mandarin version expression in English :)

Rodenbach Caractère Rouge

Style : 28C. Wild Specialty Beer

Bottled on : 2016/04/25

在過去，我總認為Lambic / Fruit的酒款不是很合我的胃口。但這款酒是少數我敢大聲表示自己非常非常喜歡的酒款，水果風味豐富、平衡感精妙！傑作

For a guy who thought lambic/fruit beer not to his liking--this is one beer Wayne would shout out loud--fruity/balance--well made.

Alpine Duet

Style : 21A. American IPA

IBU : 45

Bottled on : 2016/08/18

喝了這麼多年的Craft Beer，APA/IPA之類的酒喝過的品項多如過江之鯽。但Alpine的這款作品，Simcoe搭配Amarillo得出的新鮮金棗(Kumquat)香氣真的是很妙

Of the numerous APA/IPA Wayne had over the years--this one is really "the one" with good effects coming from Simcoe+Amarillo hops.

吉姆老爹 x 咖啡老頑童 x 小廢墟 2016 咖啡啤酒

Style : 30A. Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer

Bottled on : 2016.10.24

認識我的人應該都知道我對兩岸三地的酒廠有某種程度的偏見，但Jim & Dad’s的這款咖啡啤酒真的是非常有趣的一款。不同於其他廠商「啤酒為主、咖啡為輔」的做法，吉姆老爹的這款酒其實比較類似以發酵麥汁冷泡而成的淺焙咖啡。

people who knows Wayne would know that he has got some form of prejudice about Asia breweries from Taiwan/HK/China---but this is a well made coffee beer--or rather a fermented malty cold brew.