2018 Most Memorable Beer List-----by Liam(Hong Kong)

This is a list by Liam---a geek friend i know at a bar in Bangkok few years ago---quite fitting to Liam's list which touched on friendships among friends--including strangers who became beer friends / real life friends

here's the list in his own words( in Chinese)--while i do a little bit English interpretations:-

多謝朋友 Ct再次邀請, 這是我第三年的 “精釀啤酒年度難忘事件”, 跟以往一樣, 難忘的很多時候都是與人有關, 而不在於酒, 更重要的是, “喝酒靠朋友” 這一 “格言” 愈顯重要!!! LOL

1. Mikkeller Bangkok 4th Anniversary Party

 主理人Mikkel看似十分重視曼谷 Mikkeller bar 4周年派對, 親自前來慶祝, 酒單當然不容忽視, Hill Farmstead, The Veil, Superstition, Mikkeller 各種罕有酒款......最高興莫過於遇到新舊朋友, 一起喝酒, 一起到 Upstairs Mikkeller 用膳, 絕對是2018年關於精釀啤酒最難忘的事件..

mikkeller Bangkok just celebrated their 5th anniversary yiesterday----Liam went early last year for the 4th anniversary with a few friends and thoroughly enjoyed the beers(some specially flown in Hillfarmstead-The Veil/Mikkeller collab-Superstition mead and of course meeting old and new friends and a wonderful dining & beer pairing session at  Upstairs.

2. De Struise Brouwers "Black Damination XIII to XXV" tasting

跟beer geek 朋友都愛垂直或平行品飲, 比利時的 De Struise 旗艦系列 “Black Damnation” 將他們著名的 imperial stout “Black Albert” 作不同酒桶陳釀或加入特別材料, 今次分享的 XIII 到 XXV 就是用不同威士忌, 冧酒或蘋果白蘭地酒桶陳釀, 一次試盡13枝 750 ml imperial stout 當然不是易事, 邀請了10多位beer geeks, 吃得飽飽的, 才能將它們細味又不致於喝醉! 老實說, 不是對威士忌認識很深, 但泥煤味重的在是次品飲中較特出!

Vertical tasting is a thing to some geeks---this time Liam and a group of guys gathered to do a range of 13 different Black Dmanation series---BA with whisky/rum/apple brandy--you name it----of all tasted the one with significant peated influence won Liam over.

3. Tired Hands Brewing Company "Control Voltage"

4 月到美國公幹時第一次親身排隊買啤酒, "Control Voltage" 是加了4倍啤酒花, 12% abv QIPA! 強勁的啤酒花, 像芒果般的果汁感滿載, 最厲害是感受不到 12%的酒精, 絕對是喝過最佳的imperial NE IPA!

Had that while on work trip to the states----with loads and loads of hops---at 12% abv it was tasting very mango juice like--no hints of alcohol---definitely the best NEIPA tasted so far.

4. Stanley Tam's farewell party

Beer geek 好友 Stanley 移民加拿大前的品飲派對, 當晚的啤酒陣容不容置疑, 最重要是大家通過精釀啤酒建立友誼, 比各稀有酒款更難能可貴!

A farewell party for geek friend Stanley who was migrating to Canada---the bottles were good but most importantly friendships were built through craft beer--and that's quite something

5. Carbon Brews "Crazy Rich Lupulins"

在早前的文章也說過, 它是我 2018年買過最多次的酒款, 很高興香港酒廠能釀造這高水準的 NE IPA. 曾嘗試在入罐後不同時間品嚐, 相差兩個月, 質素有所下降是理所當然, 但依然是可接受的水平!!!! 期待下批用上更新鮮的啤酒花!

As mentioned earlier in Liam's post---this is one beer he had the most in 2018--glad that HK locally brewed NEIPA is of such high standards---hoping for even better ones next batches......

6. Omnipollo x 3 Sons Brewing Company "Gideon's Pancake Stack"

Omnipollo 愛釀製液態甜品般的 "Pastry Stout" 人所皆知, 今次夥拍剛奪 Ratebeer 最佳新酒廠的 3 Sons 合釀 "Gideon's Pancake Stack", 波本酒桶和最愛的楓葉糖漿味道特出, 酒體一貫的厚重幼滑, 跟他們提意一樣, 配以太太做的pancake作配搭作早午餐, 感覺幸福!

A dessert like black magic brew from Omnipollo---a collab with 3sons---this one is packed full of bourbon and maple syrup goodness---paired it with pancake made by wife---it's a bliss.

7. Sharing with US beer geeks

精釀啤酒能拉近geeks的距離又一例證, 多得beer geek Kenneth 的介紹, 與回港度假的 Ben來個 "港美交流", Ben 酷愛stout, 帶來的 Bottle Logic, Bruery, Perennial Artisan Ales 等等的質素當然不用多說! 都是那句老生常談 "酒好不好喝其次, 重要的是跟朋友的交流"

One good examples that craft beer do get people closer---with intro by Kenneth--Liam got to know Ben who is very fond of stouts---big stouts---though regardless if the beers tasting real awesome or otherwise--- important thing is communications among friends.

8. Other Half Brewing “Mylar Daydream”

對 NE IPA 樂此不疲的我, 很慶幸認識老家在美國紐約州的 beer geek 朋友 Paul, 常常帶來新鮮的 Other Half IPA, “Mylar Daydream” 有IPA常用的 Citra, Galaxy 和 Mosaic 啤酒花, 果汁感十足, 質感幼滑, 甜度較其他酒廠略高也是我喜愛他們的原因, Other Half 依然是我NE IPA 酒廠三甲之選

Through another geek friend Paul--Liam has the chance to taste fresh NEIPA  from NYC such as Other Half----this one was so juicy/smooth/sweet---Liam does love Other Half's NEIPA and regarded them one of top 3 personal favourites

9. Goose Island Brewing Company "Vanilla Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout" 

從群組 "香港精釀啤酒俱樂部" 認識了美國beer geek Gary, 在分享會中帶來一向深得炒家喜愛的 "Vanilla Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout" 和其他 Bourbon County 的 stout, 名不虛傳, 加入大量雲尼拿籽和黑麥威士忌酒桶陳釀的 "VR", 在平衡度和複雜性也是無懈可擊, 總之一枝頂級imperial stout 要有的它都有了.

Liam got to know a geek from the US--Gary via the craft community group--HK BeerGeeks--this bottle was brought by Gary during a sharing session in HK---very balance and complex--showing all the goodness of a great imperial stout.

10. Garage Project “Yuzukoshō”

他們的啤酒一向是話題性, 創新和質素兼備, 今年的新作“Yuzukoshō” 用了日本的調味料柚子胡椒作概念, 這酸pilsner完全感受到此感覺, 卻不突兀, 有趣又好喝, 當沉悶時來一口, 立時讓你精神一振, 是讓人感到快樂的一瓶.

Always full of innovation and talking points---this brew from Garage Project utilized Japanese Yuzu/pepper among others---a fun and tasty Pilsner--one which happily wake up the senses.