WEEK 199---2021Most Memorable Beer List--by CT (KL)--Part 3

 

The last part of last year's memorable beer list is about session beer, neipa, and a few 'other styles"--here's some which left quite an impression on my palate memories last year:-

上两期分别聊了去年喝过最有印象的黑啤/农场风格啤酒/比利时天然发酵酸啤，这期聊聊一些易喝性高类型啤酒，以及近几年风行到让很多新朋友都不知道IPA（传统印度淡啤）是什么的NEIPA（类果汁印度淡啤），最後还有几款必须提及的其他类型酒。

Session beer

meaning easy drinking, lower abv beer, but by no means straight forward or only thirst quenching yellow alcoholic drinks.

while the list includes a Wheat Blanc from  Hillfarmstead(oak barrel influences was obvious, light malts, stone fruits, passion fruits, it's more saison boundary than a simple wheat beer)---there were also totally unexpected pleasant surprises  from a fairly new UK brewery--both Kiss from a Rose(pilsner brewed with rose bud -rose petal-lemongrass-hemp) & Leave town with an Orange(wheat beer brewed with orange blossom + orange blossom honey) from Fallen Acorn were easy drinking with subtle gentle nuances--certainly a pleasure to have met both.

Also had the opportunity to sample both Mary(pilsner with hints of malts-clove-honey undertone--light sourish dry finishing) & Marie(lager with nose of honey as well a gentle back end spiky stink) from Hills--both were obviusly easy drinking but never dull.

Session Beer指的是易喝性很高啤酒类型，比如皮尔浅啤pilsner，拉格lager，小麦啤酒wheat beer等酒精度较低浅白易喝酿品。或许“浅白易喝”字面上意思会让人觉得就是直截了当没什么层次的啤酒，要那么想就大错特错了，酿得好的虽说易喝但一点也不会单调，反之可以非常美味有层次。

去年喝到作品中，很有惊喜的是英国新酿坊Fallen Acorn的两款，Kiss from a Rose是加入玫瑰花苞玫瑰果酿造的浅啤，Leave Town with an Orange则是以橙花和橙花蜂蜜提味的小麦啤酒，浅白易喝但都很有层次余韵。

再来是美国Hill Farmstead酿坊的白葡萄旧桶陈放小麦啤酒Wheat Blanc，味道层次基本已超乎单纯小麦啤酒更接近Saison范畴，简单好喝有层次。

另外两款摆明车马浅啤作品Marie和Mary都走德式风格，前者拉格后者皮尔浅啤，很忠实的反映出浅白易喝特色但也不流于单向无趣。

NEIPA

for the uninitiated---before NEIPA--there were only IPA---if NEIPA made things juicy---then what IPA used to be were in very simplistic form about bitterness level---hence the west coast-east coast divide. Personally i would prefer to stand in the middle of the NEIPA-IPA dividing line as i dislike bitter attacking IPA or thick sweet cloying NE.

Of course the NO.1 rule of ipa drinking be it traditional style or NE style ipa is about how fresh the brew can be when it hits your palate---thanks to guys in the tasting group who made efforts to source/fly in directly from the States & UK--was able to sample some fresh ones(2-6 weeks can date) here in KL.

some of the memorable ones:-

Cloud Water x The Veil -Chubbles( almost like a crush sweet mango pie-slight hints of alcohol when warmer) + Chubbles Enhanced(guava & pineapples--green yet sweet but balance out by hops bitterness when warmer--a nicer one)

Monkish---The 405 Exit 38B(dangerously drinkable with no hints of alcohol at all--lots of fresh hops coming through upon opening--like weed juice) & Bomb Atomically(tropical fruits all over--not the sweet type--hops bitterness was evident--in a nice way--enjoyed this one)

Tree House---Droppleganger( not the first time drinking this--though on the same session there was a bigger name/more hyped KingJuliusss--still much prefer the balance smoothness of this one) & Juice Poject- Citra & Galaxy(hops galare-pineapple-light sweet with bitterness coming through--slight hop burn but all good)

类果汁印度淡啤近几年可说是市场大潮，把原本强调啤酒花苦韵的IPA（传统印度淡啤）市场搅得七零八落，因为太流行让一些较近期才开始喝的新朋友根本不知道什么是IPA原有面貌。当然，市场流行不意味着传统IPA就此没落，喜欢原本苦哈哈口味传统印度淡啤的还是大有人在，个人来说比较选择站在两类IPA中间点，既不喜欢太强调啤酒花苦味攻击的传统IPA，也不喜欢过于强调果汁浓稠感或甜度类果汁IPA。

虽然风味上有迥然不同感受，但无论是传统还是类果汁，IPA都有一个关键词叫新鲜，基于啤酒类型风味主轴是强调啤酒花的鲜香甘苦韵味，所以需要在酿坊设定最佳赏味期限内喝才能真正领会什么是IPA最佳状态下的真实味蕾感受（当然还有一个很重要前提是从酿坊装瓶/装罐，或上到你所在城市酒吧啤酒泵到被喝入口中是不是都有被好好冷藏照顾好）， 因为这样，能在本地喝到一些新鲜（多得啤迷朋友自发找酒空运直送/装罐时间介于2到6星期之内）美国顶级酿坊作品是难得的事。

去年喝过一些鲜香类果汁作品有来自美国Electric,  Green Cheek, Monkish, Other Half, Tree House以及英国Cloud Water, Deya, 等酿坊，最有印象的几款：-

Cloud Water x The Veil的两款英美合酿Chubbles以及Chubbles Enhanced。

Monkish 的The 405 Exit 38B及Bomb Atomically。

Tree House的Doppelganger(虽然同场喝到的还有更被追捧的Kingjjuliusss)及Juice Project Citra & Galaxy。

Other Styles:-

Antidoot---Vernal Wood-- beer brewed with currant shrubs then added quina bark & juniper berries--very pleasant--like a light sourish & bitter saison.

比利时酿坊Antidoot的 Vernal Wood。使用奎宁树皮杜松子入酒的酸涩草本水果啤酒，喝起来像是带些甘苦韵味的农场风格啤酒，非常舒适。

Starvecrow Cider--BA Bourbon---this one will change your perception that cider is just sweet sour apple juice--bourbon barrel influence changed all that yet not ovrpowering what a cider should be.

英国Starvecrow Cider的波本桶陈版本苹果酒Starvecrow Bourbon Barrel，喝起来能明显感受到旧酒桶风味影响但不抢不呛，如果觉得苹果酒只是酸甜果汁水，这款会让人改观。

Schramm's --Medaline---once again showing their skills of making really tasty and balance melomel--blending boysenberry & honey in harmony.

美国大师级蜜酒酿坊Schramm’s的波森莓蜜酒作品Madeline，均衡融和果酸香和蜜糖甜，喝起来完全不会感觉甜腻。

WEEK 198---2021 Most Memorable Beer List---by CT(KL)--Part 2

 

Having discussed some all dark brew collections in PART 1---here's onto something relatively more easy drinking as well as funky---Saison & Lambic---before closing the list with session beer, neipa & other styles such as herbs farmhouse ale/ barrel aged cyder/ mead / in Part 3 (later date).

去年喝过的酒中，上期说的好些大黑啤之外，自然也有其他类型风格啤酒，当中少不了个人偏好的农场风格啤酒（Saison）和比利时天然发酵酸啤（Lambic），虽说本地基本很难看到新鲜顶级酿坊印度淡陴IPA（其实近年市场潮流趋势来看应该说是类果汁印度淡啤NEIPA了），去年多得啤迷朋友分享也能嚐到好些美国空运直送的新鲜啤酒花酿品，然后也有好几款易喝性很高但有层次的欧美浅啤作品等等，这期先来看看Saison和Lambic的情况：-

SAISON

the list might look quite narrow with mainly bottles from 1 particular brewery from Vermont--the reason for this is simple--since getting beer mail into KL can be a relatively expensive/time consuming/ as well "worrying"(of getting stuck at custom) exercise at times-- and when you can get some saison from Hill Farmstead--why would i not want to get a box full of some variants available?

BA Dorothy(batch 4)was the one which stood out---the blend of various other brew selected for this one---plus barrel influence--just so easy drinking yet upon first sip you know it's so full of layers/nuances--the immeidate reaction was to go even slower sips in between since it's a share of 5 so you only get so much a pour to appreciate.

Other very much note worthy Hills includes:-

Arthur( both Puncheon version & regular)

Leaves of Grass variants

Florence Foudre

Brother Soigne ( revisited after years)

或许酒单看起来很单调因为主要是一家美国酿坊的几款不同作品，个人偏好加上从国外找酒进来是件“劳神伤财”的事，加上农场风格啤酒绝对是这家美国Vermont偏远农场酿坊拿手绝活因素，Hill Farmstead毫不意外成了首选。

去年喝过好几款不同作品中，最让人惊艳的是BA Dorothy (batch 4)，经过桶陈处理的酒加上勾兑酿坊几款其他啤酒而成的最终酿品是那么简易却韵味十足，美味程度愉悦程度都是绝顶的，一款啤酒可以做到这种层次是让人味蕾享受之余也感恩的。其他不能不提的还有桶陈版和常态款Arthur，Leaves of Grass不同小款，还有以副品牌Grassroots出品，很多年前喝过然后去年再重喝的Brother Soigne等等。

此外，去年最亮眼的一款农村风格啤酒是另一家美国高手酿坊Side Project的 白葡萄酒旧桶陈放版本Coeur de Cuvee(batch 6) ，没期待情况下好喝度是大惊喜。

Hills aside---there was this pleasant surprise from Side Porject with Coeur de Cuvee ( batch 6 ) --full of ripen peaches goodness--very balance & tasty.

LAMBIC

International travelling was not really viable last year for us here in Malaysia---so the trip to Brussels never happen---with Lambic generally very hard to come by this part of the world---and the belief that some Lambic do need longer time of keeping--last year not many lambic were had though still managed to cracked some good ones:-

比利时天然发酵酸啤或许是令人爱恨分明又或让一些喝啤酒人难以跨越的坎，天然野生菌发酵带来的独特霉香（不少人觉得是难以适应的臭）是特色，加上酸味主导，难怪有啤迷说提升个人味蕾鉴赏力关键考验之一就是会不会欣赏Lambic的美。

去年喝到的Lambic不多，疫情影响出不去，分享会次数少，加上好Lambic来之不易所以最好陈放一定时间後喝才不至于浪费好酒的信念，喝得少是有点无奈的正常情况。

因为2020的意外大惊喜圣诞包裹，去年非常罕有的在本地分享会开喝几款不同水果提味BOKKE作品，最有印象是2018年装瓶的Steengaard，均衡酸香中充满桃和杏的气息，让之前喝过几款其他BOKKE作品但没能完全明白为什么这家比利时小作坊那么备受推崇的啤迷朋友终于臣服的一款。

Bokke

thanks to the surprise Xmas pack from 2020---shared a few Bokke over a few sessions---we had 4 last year namely :-

Oude Ghost 2016( which was from 2018 MBCT)

funky--woody--dry--more oak barrel influence after warmer---balance sourness & funk---pleasing one.

Abrikoos Gewurztraminer(2019)

added 3 varieties of fresh apricots into 1-2-3 years old lambic--apricots goodness--sour--a littlerough on the edges--though some intentional "oxidization" did made it  tasting more ripen apricots with salt.

Framboos Nayaux(2019)

fresh raspberry, madagascar & tahitian vanilla beans & apricot pits added to 2 year old lambic--tasting berries with sour notes--though not rough but still not rounded--another which can do with longer keeping.

Steengaard (2018)

simply full of apricots & peach goodness--balance--sour but in a pleasant way.

BOKKE Abrikoos Gerwurztraminer & Framboos Nayaux,   都是2019年装瓶，前者加入三款不同品种杏子，后者加入覆盆子香草荚桃核入味，两者都有再陈放久些会更好的情况，喝起来皆有不够圆润情况。年初啤迷朋友第一聚时也把2018年东京啤酒庆典买到的Oude Ghost（2016）开了分享，初期味道霉香中带干口感和木桶影响带出的香酸甜，回温後木桶气息更显现，酸和霉香更均衡。

out of these---the 2 most memorable ones were Oude Ghost & Steengaard---in fact one of the guys was so impressed with Steengaard he said--"finally understand why Bokke is so highly regarded".

Bokke aside---there were also some other Lambics very much worthy of mentioning:-

3F Aardbei Kriek Bio(18/19)

very strawberry forward--after warmer the jammy feel is even stronger--memorable one.

3F Zen Y Frontera ( blend 92)

obviously we had it earlier than should---the lack of sherry barrels influence as well think body made us wonder how much better/rounded this one could be say another 2 years down the road....?

去年喝过值得提起的还有：-

3Fonteinen Aardbei Kriek Bio(18/19)满是草莓果香的一款，特别是酒回温後果酱感觉更明显，虽不至于浓稠但从气息口感都能感受到草莓的影响，是有趣的味蕾体会。

Zen Y Frontera(blend 92) 很可惜的明显喝早了，无论酒体厚实度还是霉香或雪梨酒旧木桶的影响力，在在都让人感觉到其实应该再陈放久一些等让风味更丰富圆润後才喝。

Tilquin Groseille A Marquerean Verte

forzen gooseberry in young lambic---tasting almost like salt & pepper sour beer---quite interesting.

Tilquin Groseille A Marquereau Verte 。以青醋栗入酒桶陈而成，喝起来闻起来都像是有些盐和胡椒的霉香果酸啤酒，相对新颖的味蕾感受。

Cantillon Nath (2020)

a  rather fresh rhubarb lambic from the master brewery---tasting green guava-ish to this Asian palate( rather than Rhubarb since it's not something Asians very familiar with)--hints of salt--mellow & really drinkable.

Cantillon Nath 2020，大黄（rhubarb）并不是亚洲人更熟悉的食材，喝起来风味有点类似青涩的番石榴，去年没什么喝到Cantillon其他作品情况下是不错的一款。

*Also--though not mentioned in newspaper column--can't ignore the simply delicious Gueuze Girandin black label (which came together with the Bokke surprise pack)--woody--funk--very pleasing.

WEEK 197---2021 Most Memorable Beer List--by CT (KL)--Part 1

 

2021 was a year of mixed feelings in terms of craft journey--obviously in many ways due to the on going Covid caused situation---was wishing for a trip out to Tokyo to meet up with guys there & of course for a share or two--that did not happen---while getting "stuck" in KL--with lesser chances to meet up with guys from KLTastingGroup hence not many bottle sharing sessions over the past 12 months---but the pandemic also presented something quite different in terms of beer collections from the guys---with no travelling and better chances to hunt for some never before seen here US breweries bottles( plus a little bit of Belgium bottles too)---the level of beer shared here in KL was a new landmark for the group---especially in terms of Big Stouts---this one is about stouts( plus 1 or 2 Barley Wine) shared here last year:-

2021是感觉参半的一年----希望可以去東京见一下啤迷朋友分享瓶子的期待因为疫情反复没能成行，延期3次後终於举行的哥本哈根啤酒庆典（MBCC21）当然也没去，不过，在一整年都“困”在吉隆坡情况下，去年却可以说是我们几位分享会成员的一个新里程，疫情让啤迷朋友加强了海外找酒力度，过去一年在本地开喝的啤酒水平特别是美国酿坊黑啤（包括一两款大麦酒）可说是前所未见，因为报纸专栏篇幅所限--就把去年的啤酒清单以酒类型分开来--这是黑啤篇。。。。

*没排名-不分先后  Numbering is just numbering.

1） Angry Chair----BA Cake Pop

if i were to pick a most pleasing one from the stouts i had last year---this is the one---though there are a few others with bigger name/hype or reputation in the list---this one is just very pleasing right from first sip---very balance nothing cloying just smooth & tasty--guys were a bit surprised to see me auto-fill 2-3 times---something i hardly ever do( well except for lambic & saison ...)

个人口味来说，如果要从去年好些出色黑啤中选一款喝了让人从味蕾到心灵都感觉愉悦非常的肯定非这款莫属，从第一口开始，无论美味层次还是整体均衡度都让人觉得惊艳而且重要的是不会觉得腻口，相反的让我很少有的一再少量添加，也希望以后有机会碰上的话能再喝。

2) Side Project--Anabasis, Continuance, Generational

3 different dark brew from SP---Anabasis is the most attention grabbing with it's very immediate presence of leather-tobacco-dark fruits-raisins & smokiness---can't help but sitting more staright while enjoying..

As for the other 2---Continuance is a blend of stouts & barley wine---while Genrational is a more traditional non-adjunct stouts collab with Half Acre--both were good but not hitting my palate' sweet spots so to speak...

密苏里州顶级美国酿坊三款不同风格黑色酿品，除了黑啤也有大麦酒（Barley Wine)，以及混合黑啤大麦酒的混酒作品，三款风味表现迥异，大麦酒的Anabasis最让人有印象，另外两款黑啤和混酒作品虽则都不错但没达到个人期待值。

3) Toppling Goliath---KBBS & Assasin (tequila BA & Vanilla Bean)

Thanks to the guys--KL finally got to see these big name/super hyped big stouts after years of seeiing these on craft social media---for me KBBS was very much in a category of it's own---almost like in between the now trendy pasty & the more old school traditional---it's neither here nor there--but in a super good way.

The Assasin series are much more dominating--can be overpowering at times to say the least but not annoying---these are big big stouts no doubt.

KBBS毋庸置疑是芸芸黑啤中“天花板级”的一款，多年来在二手炒卖市场一直被追捧，多得啤迷朋友分享终能一嚐究竟，纯粹以整体表现来说名不虚传，近年甜点黑啤（PASTRY STOUTS）风行潮流中是款自成一格的顶级美味黑啤，相比“杀手”系列较霸道表现，更显均衡富层次。

4) Weldwerks---Starry Noche & Starriest Night

it was in March when Starriest Night became the first Weldwerks brew cracked here in KL--was quite attention seeking with it's some what raw but very Yam +KAYA +Coconut combination taste profile---then came Starry Nouche later in the year( where KBBS was along side that session)---it was huge yummy Yam+ Hazelnuts +Chocolate & Coconut---very hard hitting on the palate but in a very delicious way--sticky yet crazy drinkable. 

近年当红美国新贵酿坊，盛名在外当然有好喝啤酒作品铺垫，去年先喝到的是Stariest，出乎意料有熟悉的芋头和KAYA香味，后来喝到Starry时感觉是爆发的芋头加榛子/巧克力/咖啡等食材碰撞出来的强烈美味，是直接击打味蕾那种但很让人享受，是去年最喜欢三款黑啤之一。

*Worth Mentioning--不能不提 ：-

1) Anchorge The Sacrifice

Not the biggest/most hyped brew from this Alaska brewery but the familiar Gula Melaka -ish profile easily captured attention.

这家阿拉斯加酿坊有很出名的大麦酒和黑啤系列作品，这款不是最被追捧的但充满类似马六甲椰糖的风味喝起来美味之余也有熟悉感的意外惊喜。

2) Bottle Logic Hypermash Hydra

One with the almost sure win combo of Coffee +Coconut---with hints of cinnamon & chocolate--can't go wrong with those.

加州盛名黑啤酿坊，一款Fundemental Observation 让众多啤迷认识，这款以椰子咖啡为主轴的作品喝起来满满椰子咖啡巧克力香味中带点肉桂，是错不了的黑啤风味组合。

3) Other Half--BA Bananaversary

if you like a banana cake with true banana added--then with flavours of chocolate-bourbon-vanilla-caramelized banana all coming into one--this is the one.

NOT in newspaper column---worth mentioning:-

报纸专栏没提起---但应该要的：-

1) Cigar City ---Apple Brandy Hunapuh's 

Hunapuh's  is one with some sort of nostalgic/enlighthening meaning to some of us in the group--cinnamon-toasted coconut--with dark chocolate---barrel influence is there but not too obvious.

对分享会成员来说有点怀旧意义的早期开眼界黑啤（之一）--这是苹果白兰地桶陈版本---入口是肉桂烤椰香加黑巧克力，还是不错的一款。

2) Boiler Maker Bliss

Carzmelized brown sugar--sweet with undertone of roasted malts--some chocolate & coffee--smooth drinking.

焦化黑糖--甜中带烤麦芽香--巧克力和咖啡--易喝。

3） Horus---Double Dose, Coconut Crown, Planifolla Purr

Had all 3 during the same seesion as Starry Noche and KBBS---though 2 were before while 1 after---DD was like a burned wafer/biscuit with nuts-vanilla-with hints of some alcohol- good for sharing.

CC was straght up Gula Melaka--like a toasted coconut candy bar with some savoury notes--rather thin for my liking.

PP came with hints oof barrel--bourbon-vanilla-chocolate--sweet think pastry.

第一次在本地出现的美国新贵黑啤酿坊--三款是同一场先后开喝（KBBS-STARRY NOCHE那次）--各有不同风味但不是当天最强最让人赞叹的黑啤。

4） Homes Doozie Noche & Doozie Hawk

Both were collab brew---one with Weldwerks( Noche)--while another with Horus(Hawk)---with same base beer--but different treatment with different choices of barrels---in simple words---Noche was like a think body banana choco---while Hawk was more of a liquid milk choco.

分别跟两家新贵酿坊WELDWERKS和HORUS合作的黑啤----用同样基酒但各自选用不同旧酒桶--简单来说，NOCHE喝起来像是薄身香蕉巧克力，而HAWK比较像是液体牛奶巧克力。