WEEK 208---Becoming A Geek

 

Beer drinking is a very common thing to do--though it's not necessarily as common when it comes to craft beer especially here in Asia.

喝啤酒是不少人会做的事，不过喝craft 这件事亚洲来说基本还是属于小圈子，并不是那么多人知道或会选择的事。

选择喝craft的人大概可分为几个不同类型，其一是好奇偶尔喝一下，其二是喝後有兴趣再找但也不排斥继续喝大厂商业啤酒，其三是就此头也不回成为不断在不同类别啤酒风味中探寻美味层次的啤迷。

 至于是怎样从一开始懵懵懂懂初嚐味而后就此踏上探寻啤酒美味之路的话，每位啤迷或许起始和经历不尽相同，不过一些共同点是很相似的：-

Those who choose to drink craft beer are probably 1 of these 3 :-

-had a beer or two either by chance or out of curiosity but won't look out for it.

-interested to find out a bit more but at the same time still enjoy drinking Macro BEER.

-so pipued with curiosity & interests to explore more tastiness in a beer there is absolutely no going back to the Macro world.

How a "normal" beer drinker would become a beer geek is not quite the same path for everyone--but some similarities are quite the same for many:-

1) Because of 1 or 2 beer in particular

it is quite safe to say that most of us beer geek started from zero many years ago--meaning we mostly if not all--started with drinking Macro BEER like everyone else--but what triggered the paradigm shift (some called it the struck by lightning moment) was when somehow you tasted a beer so different/delicious/mind blowing (or even strange) that a major shift in opinion about beer just hits you--the door to being a beer geek opened up & the rest is just history.... 

Obviously there were many examples of  first time craft beer drinker being "scared off" and quickly shunned away from craft beer---the point is not about how newly one started trying out craft beer but it's about finding/meeting that 1 or 2 beer that truly hits your palate & appreciation level so hard it severely changed your perception about how beer can be.

1）因为某支酒从此入坑

可以说所有现在无论自认还是公认是啤迷的都是多年前从一般喝啤酒人转变而来的，换句话说一开始都是跟普罗大众一样从喝大厂商业啤酒开始，对啤酒认知也只是不清不楚的刻板印象，然后在某一天或某种机缘下接触到craft beer，当然第一次接触并不意味着即刻从此爱上（相反也有可能被吓到从此远离），最关键转折点其实在于是不是有喝到一款让味蕾震荡到可以改变对啤酒既有刻板观念或美味或有特点作品，简单说就是喝到很对味觉得很好喝或感觉特别的啤酒。

2) Driven by Curiosity

Beer drinking reasons can be many--some out of thirst--some because of mood--for beer geek  curiosity is the main driving force to badly want a particular beer( and usually more)--because the only way one can get to understand a beer profile better or how it smell & taste like is by tasting personally--no words or descriptions by others can satisfy a geek's curiosity--in fact it would make it even worse if the words/descriptions were positive feedback.

2）好奇心是驱动力

或许每个人情况不一，但好奇心肯定会是驱使啤迷一直探寻啤酒中能找到不同美味层次的动力，可能有人会觉得啤酒风味不就那几样吗？比如黑啤风味范畴一般来说大概离不开咖啡巧克力烤麦芽之类的？情况当然不是那么简单几句就概括完全的，因为就算是用同样酿酒原料，不同酿酒师的方式手法也可以让酒呈现不同风味层次表现，所以啤迷会对不断涌现的某酿坊某款作品感觉好奇是正常的，毕竟酒只能是自己喝了才能有比较清晰的概念或结论。

3) Pull of the trendy ones

craft beer can be "fashionable" at times--meaning there will be new beer style/s and new in trend/hype breweries( either doing new styles or simply being much better at existing or older styles of beer)--in simple words--beer geek do chase after some newer trendy ones or simply curious about a hype brewery or a particular beer.

At the same time--there are also breweries which are deemed past it's best--old school--no longer in vogue or have lost it's pull power either due to deteriorating beer quality or simply being left behind by other breweries offering much better quality same style of beer.

Though chasing after hype/in trend styles/ breweries is what some if not most beer geeks would do--there's no denying that some breweries or particular beer which are deemed old school or classics are still being held highly by some geeks--examples if you are a Lambic lover then it's obvious no one would say no to a grand old Cantillon beer.

3）追当红的但也念旧

craft beer世界是有所谓流行或潮流的，也会有酿坊品牌是不是当红或过气这件事，虽然严格来说这里并没有像各种流行音乐排行榜那样泾渭分明的列出现在流行什么，但craft beer 界还是有一些啤迷们明了的游戏规则，除了一些评酒网站或应用程序会提供参考资料外，啤迷间社交网络上的口口相传会让身在不同国度和城市啤迷们知道什么是被追捧的当红酿坊，什么是已失去或逐渐失去昔日光芒的品牌，虽然追逐当红酿坊或难寻作品是许多啤迷会做的事，但可以肯定的是一些不再那么红或甚至被认为过气的先驱高手酿坊中，还是有被啤迷一直喜爱或心中排位很高的。简单来说，不管当红炸子鸡还是已被视为老牌，啤迷最看重的还是酿品水平质素。

4) Only want better beer

Wanting to only seek out for a better than good beer is qiute normal beer geek behaviour--in another word beer geek can be rather picky or even annoying when it comes to picking what to drink for the day( hence the "same level" bottles unspoken rules for a bottle share)--it's true at times geeks would seek out for a particular beer because of vanity reasons but after all the single most inportant thing is still about how a beer taste--no amount of hype can cover for any lack of quality--a better beer(or mead) is the only way which will make a geek happy. 

4）想喝上好的是自然法则

从一开始觉得啤酒就只是那样到发现原来啤酒有那么多不同类别风味可以选择，啤迷到了某阶段会自然的以找寻啤酒中的美味层次为最终目标，虽然有时会因为好奇甚至虚荣奔着当红酿坊或特定盛名难寻作品而去，但一定程度来说都是为了找到好酒而动，因为一旦味蕾鉴赏力提升後酒质表现一般好的作品再也满足不了啤迷的要求，只有风味表现上好顶好的啤酒才是啤迷真正想喝的。

2022 Most Memorable Beer List---by Liam ( Hong Kong)

 

It's probably a little late timing wise--but then it's never late to talk about good beers anyway--here's the list of some memorable ones from my Hong Kong beer buddy Liam Lee--- as usual Chinese original writing by Liam & Enlish transcript by me.

进入三月聊去年酒单或许有点迟，不过分享好酒单不怕迟，这是来自香港啤迷朋友LIAM的去年个人清单。（中文来自LIAM-英文大概意思来自我）

here's the list by Liam:-

原來已經是第6年得到好友 Ct Tai的邀請, 總結一下2022年最深印象的幾款精釀啤酒, 上年疫情逐漸好轉, 分享會也多了不少, 回望一下, 名單中竟有不少stout, 更有pastry stout 的份兒, 有點不可思議! 可能是酒廠開始掌握此重口味酒款的技巧, 相比之前一些胡亂加糖, 朱古力和古靈精怪的材料終究讓人卻步的作品已大有改善......

this is the 6th year im invited to write my list of most memorable beer for this blog--as the pandemic situation was easing last year--so was the increase frequency of meeting up fellow geeks for bottle sharing sessions--it's quite amazing to find that my list included some stouts--espeacially pastry stouts since initially the senseless adding on of sugar-chocolate and/or anything goes kind of adjunts kept me off pastry--but this time around seems the brewer/s has got hold of how to make a pastry tasty and nice.....

1) 3Fonteinen "Armand's 4"

每年大家都會來至少一次的極罕分享會, 2022年則是 3 Fonteinen 的"四季", 當年作為3F 新酒廠籌錢之用, 這4枝說到底就是 2011年特別包裝的 A&G (Armand & Gaston), 11年後可能不是最佳的保存狀態, 質素有點差強人意, 但喝的就是歷史, 打卡, 成就解鎖才是重點...........

every year there would be atleast one session where we will get together for a "rare bottles share"--lat year was about these 4 seasons bottles--originally created for the funding of 3F brewery--these are in fact special packaged edition of 2011 Armand & Gaston---after 11 years they are not drinking in the best of condition---but it's history in the palate-- a big tick was done.

2) Side Project Brewing "BBT(Beer Barrel Time)"

上年有幸試了2021, 2022 和 2022 Rye裸麥版本, 這款可說是當今頭5位之一的imperial stout, 厲害之處在於沒有添加甚麼朱古力, 雲尼拿額外材料, 只是傳統的波本桶陳釀imperial stout, 用了是著名的 Weller, Pappy Van Winkle, Willet 等等波本桶, 得出來就是各種氣息, 甜度, 苦澀的平衡都達天花板級, 2022 裸麥版還帶點辛辣感, 多點複雜度, 是這3枝中的最愛!

Had the pleasure of tasting 2021, 2022 & 2022 Rye variants last year--BBT is undoubtedly the top 5 imperial stouts out there--it's non-adjunted imperial stouts meaning no additionof things like chocolate or vanilla but basically just about stouts and the various barrels( such as Wellet, Pappy Van Winkle, Willet)--from nose-aroma to sweetness bitterness--everything is in such ceiling high level of harmonious balance--the Rye version came with bit more spiciness & added complexity--most loved of the 3.

3) Troon Brewing's NE IPA

當Other Half, Trillium, Treehouse 等等被捧上神枱後, 規模日漸擴大, 但品質控制卻未能追上的時候, 又回到找尋新晉納米酒廠, 特別一提的是美國 @troon brewing, 酒或杯子都是炒賣對象, 幸好有友人是這廠的VIP, 上年喝了數次, 感覺就像在6,7年前剛嚐到Other Half一般, 強勁的hoppiness, 甜度, 口感和苦澀度都是精細地平衡了

When the likes of Other Half, Trillium, TreeHouse was elevated to a height befitted their initial hype--the expanded operation proved quality control was not an easy thing to keep things as best they usued to be--so it's time to seek out for newer nano brewery--and in came Troon (the newest hype where beer and glasses are all being "fried" in secndary market)--thanks to a geek friend who is VIP guest of the brewery--had the chance to drink a few times last year--remainds me of 6-7 years ago when first had Other Half---everything from hops aroma to sweetness/bitterness to overall mouth feel is such a pleasantly delicately balance.

4)New Glarus R&D "Vintage 2020" & 'Fruit Melange"

美式自然發酵酸啤酒 (AmLam) 的水準一向參差, 大多是太酸或酵母風味不足, 2022年終於試到我最喜愛酒廠 New Glarus Brewing Co. 的實驗系列 "R&D", 首先 "Vintage 2020" 不得了, 剛說的AmLam 缺點一掃而空, 單靠酵母和橡木桶陳釀, 出來的杏脯味道更不下於加了杏脯的lambic, 太神奇吧?! 而brown ale "Fruit Melange" 也是震憾, 喝過加入桃駁李(nectarine)的啤酒, 但從沒有像此酒那超強勁的氣息, 以後再有這2款一定要"掃蕩", haha

The one thing geeks dislike about American natural fermented sours(AmLam or american lambic) is that the balancing can be way off -- so when R&D vintage 2020 came with none of the above issues it was a big pleasure--the apricot flavours coming through was even comparable to an actual apricot lambic which was quite amazing---and then the brown ale of  'fruit melange' was rather mind blowing --it was the strongest nectarine beer ever had---next time if these 2 is on sight again it's grab at first sight --no questions on that.

5) H.K.Lovecraft Cold IPA "The Deep Ones" & LagerWine "The Enduring"

之前看到本地的 H.K. LoveCraft 甚麼酒變酸, 爆罐等消息, 老實說對他們失望了, 幸好2022年來過大逆轉, 讓更多geek 重新認識 lager. 新酒款 Cold IPA "The Deep Ones" 易喝, 平衡, 啤酒花強度在第二批次已明顯加強, 正好表現Cold IPA應有啤酒花氣息, 相當苦澀度, 乾淨和極高可喝度; 而甚少推出的 lagerwine "The Enduring", 相比典型barleywine輕身得多的酒體, 低甜度和接近零的酒精感, 讓其出奇地易喝, 最欣賞是他們勇於嚐試冷門酒款!

There were some not so good news coming out much ealier about this brewery concerning quality control(beer gone sour, burst cans..)--However things took a good turn last year with reintroduction of this brewery's works---The Deep Ones was clean hoppy and very drinkable---The Enduring was a lmuch ighter version of usual barleywine in terms of body abv and drinkability--making it very approachable--nice to see them trying out lesser hyped beer styles.

6) Pulpiy Rock Brewing "Seven Years in Heaven"

一向也對現在流行, 甜得掉牙甜品般的 pastry stout 不感興趣, 極其量也是小酌一小杯便放棄, 但這枝不得了, 將37和26個月酒桶陳釀的stout混和, 得出來是一杯無酒精感, 甜度適中的"朱...古..力..奶", 再配以椰子氣息, 近乎完美, 竟然還會添飲, 有點不可思議! (那紅色小禮物包裝是用作抽獎之用, 有趣有趣)

Personally not a fan of pastry stouts--dislike it's cloying sweetness--usually just a tiny pour would do--but this one was different--a blend of 37 months & 26 months barrel aged stouts--the result was a "no alcohol taste Chocolate milk" surrounded with coconut aroma--almost a perfect one which made Liam willingly pour more...,(the red pack came with bottle as some sort of lucky draw--interesting)

7) Bofkont "Honeymoon" & " Raspoetin"

近幾年越來越多新晉比利時lambic酒廠, Bokke 當然一早被捧為神廠, 但 Bofkont 也絕不容小覷, 他們的酒主要是以抽韱形式發售, 也因而二手市場炒價厲害, 最近幾次有幸都買得到, 上年試了用上不同品種的接骨木花 "Honeymoon" 或大黃 (Rhubarb) "Raspoetin", 雖然lambic的酵毋氣息沒有傳統酒廠的強勁, 但確實地感受到各種加入的材料味道, 今年絕對要再喝多些款式!

Though Bokke has been the most sought after new Lambic blenders around in recent years--but Bofkont is one which is not to be taken lightly--had the chance to buy some of their bottles last year--tasted the elderflower centric 'honeymoon" & rhubarb focus "raspoetin"--though the lambic yeast funk is lesser but added materials were clear to palate--should sample more this year.

8) Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. "Assassin Vanilla Bean 2019"

再次嚐到這傳奇imperial stout, 基酒質素是世界頂尖, 強勁朱古力, 麥芽氣息, 甜度, 苦澀度均恰到好處, 雲尼拿籽版本相信加入的份量相當驚人, 大家嘩聲四起; 相反龍舌蘭酒桶版本, 跟我喝過其他同酒桶陳釀的imperial stout一樣, 感受不到此烈酒獨有氣息, 就算是強如 "Assassin" 也是失望而回...........

A pleasure to taste this legendary top notch stouts from TG--strong nose and taste of chocolate- malt-the sweet & bitter part was very well balance--and then the vanilla bean influence was so great it made everyone at the tasting session go "hooo..haaa..".

sadly the same cannot be said for the Tequila barrel version--even "Assassin" failed to benefit from the barrel.

9) Carbon Brews "Little Rich Lupulins v.11"

"Little Rich Lupulins v.11", 應是2022年我最喜愛的本地 NE IPA, 以草青作主導的氣息也跟典型著重水果味道的不同, 各方面的高平衡度和略低的甜度也讓可喝性大增, 最驚喜的是推出3個月後, 跟v.12 來個v垂直品飲竟然水準, 新鮮度仍然保持, 實在神奇!

Probably Liam's most favourite locally brewed NE IPA from last year--instead of tropical fruits its green grass aroma which was leading the beer--less sweet and well balance makes it even easier drinking---and a pleasant surprise to find that it was tasting real nice when did a vertical with v.12 three months later....

10) Russian River Brewing " Pliny the Elder(PtE)" & "Double Dry-Hopped PtE"

PtE 相信各geek 都有喝過, 或一年總會喝一兩次, 它和其 double dry-hopped 版本能成為2022年最有印象之一, 是因為剛剛能把這兩款入瓶/罐日期差不多的批次來作個平行品飲, 雖然很多人也喜愛重口味, 但原版依然略勝一籌, 始終多年來的配方還是讓其平衡度無懈可擊, 反之 DDH版的苦澀度和酒精感還是差了點

Most geeks would have tasted Pliny many times over or maybe annually--had the chance to sample both of these 2 side by side with very similar bottling dates---though there would be those who prefer heavier hopped beers---personally Liam still prefer Pliny the original way with it's perfectly balance overall performance--while DDH version was lacking in terms of balance and probably too hoppy to disturb that balance.