WEEK 136----2018 Most Memorable Beer & Mead---by ct (Malaysia) Part 1 of 2

It's that time of the year----looking back at some most memorable ones drank since beginning of the year---this is part 1 of 2.

2018年已到尾声，至今喝过一些酿坊作品来说，是很不错的一年，长期身在craft beer沙漠偶尔有机会通过外出或朋友分享喝到好些精彩酿品是啤迷乐事。

 今年最有印象酒单如下：-

Living here in craft desert KL with limited choices--it is inevitable all of the chosen ones were found outside of  KL or brought back from overseas with geeks friends help---some might think this is going too far fetch for "beer"---but is only natural for geeks who are seeking to explore a deeper depth/wider width/new horizon of craft beer/mead world out there

here's the list:-

1) 3 Fonteinen Zen Y Frontera

Undoubtedly the one which hit the palate real hard with first sip( in an incredible nice way)---the width and depth of this one is just mind blowing--influence of sherry wine barrel/only adds to the beauty of this one--nothing overpowering---with first two sips it's already gone straight up to personal TOP 3 list of Lambic ever tasted (amid a limited number of lambic/ sours so far but this one is just awesome tasty).

毫无疑问是至今喝过这家酿坊作品中个人最喜欢的，通过两款不同风味陈年雪莉酒桶（一较干，一较甜）熟陈而成，这款天然发酵果酸啤酒的美味层次是至今喝过所有酸啤三甲之一，美好层次是超乎想象的深沉宽阔。

2) 3 Sons BA Scoop

Hands down the best stouts for me during MBCC 2018---this is one which does not show the at times very overpowering influence of bourbon barrels---it's rich and smooth---chocolaty/light sweet---easy drinking & pleasing( if only the pour is much BIGGER:) ---who says BA imperial stouts would mostly be in your face overpowering?

波本桶陈版本黑啤，醇香甜美得很，完全没有一些桶陈黑啤会出现被烈酒气息沾染掩盖问题，就算刚倒入杯比较冷酒体风味还未回温所以没能完全发挥展现所有风味还是能让人喝前面一两口就感觉惊艳，完全是高手出招就知有没有。

3) Bokkereyder Mutana Gueuze

If you like dark coffee---and you love lambic---this one is a perfect one----with neither covering another up but nicely blending yet showing each characteristics---sipping this during MBCC 2018 ---perhaps the only thing missing is to drink it with a freshly baked croissant and some salted butter.

喜欢手冲咖啡又爱比利时天然发酵果酸啤酒啤迷绝对不会拒绝的实验性酿品，喝起来咖啡果酸啤酒相互融和，谁也没有掩盖谁的特色，如果说配个热腾腾刚出炉面包当早餐，会是美味有趣的一次配餐经验。

4) The Veil Sleeping Forever BA Frederiksdal Cherrywine

Totally surprised by how delicious this one was---had a small sip from a shared glass and was very pleasantly called to attention---it's basically sipping on liquid cherry chocolate--it's rich/ it's thick but not to the extent of few sips and you want to stop---in fact it was so delicious that for once in a long long while i ordered a full glass to slowly enjoy it all by myself.

美国新贵酿坊The Veil利用丹麦樱桃酒木桶陈放熟成的黑啤，喝第一口就能感受到香浓甜美黑巧克力和樱桃酒桶气息，风味口感接近让人觉得是在享受低糖甜点，完全不像喝着高酒精度黑啤，因为很对味，少有的要多一杯慢慢细味。

5) Side Project Pulling Nials (batch 7)

The easier way of saying this is --it's a sour beer which is very chardonnay---since it's a blend of different beers aged in chardonnay barrel and soaked with Missouri Chardonnay grapes---but in truth this is not just a beer resembling or trying to be a Chardonnay wine like beer---it's a beer with it's own character and elegantly easy drinking well balanced "not so sour" beer.

美国密苏里州酿坊Side Project名作（之一），本质上是美国酸啤，通过混合自家不同桶陈酸啤，再倒入白葡萄酒(Chardonnay)橡木桶加入美国本土白葡萄浸泡桶陈，让时间把酒变得更圆润更富有层次，是易喝性高的优雅作品。

6) Tired Hands Communication is The Key Lime Pie

This is a Double IPA which tasted more like a key lime pie---it's unlike the hard hitting ---hops in your face types of ipa most people would imagine---with interesting food items added including vanilla beans and graham crackers---this one is a pleasant surprise knowing it's an ipa but not knowing how it has been playfully  twisted.

喝起来完全不像刻板印象中的双份印度淡陴（double ipa)，就像啤酒名称说的，这比较像是个柠檬派啤酒，在使用啤酒花酿出ipa啤酒基础上加入柠檬皮，柠檬汁，马达加斯香草豆以及全麦饼干浸泡添加不同风味，是会让人觉得有意外惊喜的一款另类印度淡陴。

7) Jester King Spon Peach & Apricot (2016)

The ode to lambic series from Jester King---this one is obvious from the name---the influences of the fruits is evident---yes the 'lambic" part is unlike the Belgium ones( which of course is expected and understandable)---but this is a sour beer which is quite different from the usual American sours for sure--smooth and easy with width and depth---a nice one to enjoy.  

Spon系列是这家以低度易喝美式酸啤/SAISON/TABLE BEER为人知的美国德州酿坊向比利时天然发酵果酸啤酒（LAMBIC）致意的作品，这系列的啤酒效仿比利时做法通过天然发酵方式并加入大量水果让啤酒在橡木桶浸泡熟成。因为区域地理环境的不同，美国天然发酵啤酒缺乏比利时酸啤那种明显的发酵带来特有风味，以美国式酸啤来说这是支均衡美味作品，雅致酒味中散发桃子杏子果香。

Some more tasty ones to come in Part 2 of 2 --including some mead too-cheers