Sake disguise in RED....

新加坡回来之后，没有喝过什么酒，带回来的三支就等“吉时”开瓶。

那是个炎热的星期六下午，和朋友约了尝味。

一开始不是正主儿，朋友选了VICTORY BREWING, ROUGE, 还有来自比利时的几支爽口易喝的瓶子“开开胃”。

到选择先开哪一支当天主角瓶子时，朋友选了RED HORIZON 2,这是挪威酿酒师采用日本清酒酵母酿制的SAKE 啤酒。其实开瓶之前我以为会是浅黄色或甚至有点像清酒那样的浅白色。结果不是，颜色是深棕，有点像比利时高酒精或修道院啤酒（STRONG ALE/ABBEY ALE)那样。口感，一点都不是想像中那样清酒的淡香或纯顺，这支SAKE啤酒的口感是复杂的，带点烘烤过的谷类香，有让人立即注意，放慢喝的魅力。

因为有点惊喜，接下来选了来自同门的RED HORIZON 3，不过，可能是同类啤酒直接比较的关系，系列3明显要比系列2来得甜，口感也比较平顺。虽然还是很不错的酒，不过直接比较之下就会觉得有点无奇。

无三不成礼，接下来的就是另一支当天的主角，来自美国STONE酿酒师的DOUBLE IPA---RUINATION。这算是有盛名在外的瓶子，所以会期待。开瓶第一口就觉得，果然名不虚传，除了期待中的苦味，还有更复杂的爽口，完全能盖过之前刚喝完，残留口中的SAKE甜味谷类味道。。。简直像只是开始单一的在喝RUINATION。好厉害。好好喝。

It was a Saturday afternoon, it's been few weeks after S'pore trip and it felt like it's time to taste the few bottles brought back across the causeway. 

and so the tasting session started off with some refreshing/ hop infused/light bottles from Victory brewing, Rouge,as well as a Belgium saison.

and then came the moment for the "real deal" of the day, the two sake beers brewed by Nogne using Japanese sake yeast, and a double IPA from Stone. 

Back track a few weeks ago, when the idea of bringing back a few bottles from SG floated, out of no where the thought of "sake beer" just pop out and instead of getting one sake beer + an IPA & maybe a stout or something, ended up with 2 sake beer & one IPA. How i totally forgot to ask for DARK HORIZON from Nogne...remain a complete "mystery".

we started with Red Horizon edition 2, it was hazy brownish in color---nothing like the white of sake one would expect, it actually look more like a Belgium strong ale color wise than anything close to sake.

I would say, it is one hell of an interesting beer, one that literally made me leave my seat and noticed---i mean, yes, I stood up, take a second look at the bottle, and started to sip slowly( unlike the 3 earlier "warm up" beers where you just sit,drink and chill...). This one is a serious brew that makes you go a bit like "hhmm...oohhh..."
In short, in was really good, and nothing like the usual sake taste that one would come to expect.

The surprisingly tasty Nogne eidtion 2 hurried the next bottle of Edition 3 to be opened, well,as it is in direct comparison taste bud wise, Edition 3 was found to be a bit flat, a bit too sweet for our liking, But, because it was drank right next to each other, maybe if Edition 3 were to be tasted under different circumstances, the outcome could very well be different.

The tasting session went on with another highlight of the day, the ever famous imperial/double IPA from Stone---Ruination. Though the sweet influenced of Edition 3 might have lingers on the mouth feel, there is no doubting whatsoever the hop power and "cleansing effects" of this delicious IPA, it just felt...o so right.

well, probably because of the "cleansing effects" of Ruination, the tasting session kind of went slightly over board( just slightly, no glasses broken, no one fell off the chairs or anything like that...)but that's another story which i would just make a note and say, too much good drinks probably a bit of waste on the taste bud?

we just need a bit more push factor.....

说起来有点奇怪，离吉隆坡不远的城市，自己很少去。

听说了新加坡CRAFT BEER情况比这里活跃好些时候了，也知道隔岸的朋友比我们多瓶子选择。

没有什么计划的，最近下去了一趟。

三天走走看看，算不上对新加坡craft beer 情况有多了解，这之间，去了一家小型酿酒作坊看/帮酿酒师准备了千多加仑的IPA，算是对酒怎么酿有那么一点点看过。当然，最主要的还是逛逛人家卖瓶子卖ON TAPS的地方，喝喝聊聊。

三天以来尝味了不少啤酒，比较期待的是ROUGE的DOUBLE CHOCOLATE，因为一年多之前有幸在上海一家酒吧喝过ON TAPS的，当时口感印象深刻，一听到新加坡有瓶子卖就即刻要了。

这瓶DOUBLE CHOCOLATE 之外，三天在狮城喝过比较有印象的有EVIL TWINS的BISCOTTI BREAK，口感其实比期待的那瓶更浓郁。也喝了按照二十五年前原有方式酿的ROUGE 25 INTERGRITY ALE（口感觉得追不上现代舌头了）。。

也有口福尝了小口别人分享的瓶子， HIGHWAY 78 SCOTCH ALE 和 LAKEWOOD BOURBON BARRE TEMPTRESS。。都是属于有威士忌影响的黑啤。。可口。

IPA方面，个人还是偏向来自美国的两瓶，ALESMITH IPA和STONES IPA。哦，还有在一家专卖日本啤酒BAR喝到的志贺高原SHIGA1 KOGEN IPA。

当然，三天以来，尝味的不止这些提到的瓶子，还有好些来自不同国家的佳酿。可以肯定的是，我们或许可以大声说槟城小吃，吧生肉骨茶，或者NASI LEMAK比较好吃。。不过，现阶段说到CRAFT BEER，在选择方面我们还是落后了一些，要说到对CRAFT BEER有热情有投入的爱好者，从业者的话，新加坡还是多了一些。

还好，我们也不太差，只是需要更多喜欢CRAFT 的人们出现，作为纯粹消费者也好，尝试做点什么推广也好，又或是开店卖craft beer也好，这里，需要的就是更多人的参与，更多的推动力。。。

its only a few hour's drive to Spore from KL.

but somehow i have not been to the Lion city for quite a while despite knowing it's a more happening place as far as craft beer is concern.

and so the day came last month, it was more like a spontaneous trip.
the 3 days were spend largely from place to place, shop to shop, although the first day were more of a learning session where the guys from the pump room were kind enough to let us "participate" in brewing an IPA...(well...more like watch from the sideline, do a bit of hard labour, pour in the Wheat,Hops....its was certainly good fun)

and so the main activities were going around, meeting some people and drink lots of good beers....well, there were quite a bit consumed, of which some don't lingers on the main frame date base, others do still having a clear image in mind.... 

i was looking forward to drinking Rouge Double Chocolate when i heard there's bottle available since i last had it on taps many months ago in Shanghai. On the same night, I had the opportunity to try out Evil twin's Biscotti Break, which i would say is thicker and kind of tastier than the one I was expecting, as well Woodlake bourbon barrel Temptress...ending the night with a Stone IPA was indeed... de..li...cious!

other bottles tasted that still lingers on includes:-
milk porter from TO OL

a few sip shared by someone next table, tasty nice bottle though..

as well something nicely sour from this one:-

well, there's certainly more choices than meets the eyes over the other side of the causeway, and when it comes to people who are into craft beer, i would say there's most likely more over there than what we have here in KL.

while there is no way we would Not say our Penang/Malacca street food, Klang Bahkuteh, or even Nasi lemak is probably way better than what our friends have in S'pore, we have to somehow admit that we still need a lot more people getting involve with craft beer here in KL, be it just purely as drinker/s, or try to do something/ anything to help promote the craft beer culture, or even just open up a store/bar selling craft beers...then we could have a more vibrant than it is craft beer scene in KL....and that would be a nice scenario to have....for now....well....we are not very far behind, but we are....behind....:)

getting "burned" the fun way....

大家基本知道或听说过烈酒喝太快会呛喉，柠檬生吃会酸，不过火辣辣的啤酒，酸味的啤酒（绝对不是因为变坏了）,听起来有趣吗？

我平时吃东西不喜欢太辣（虽然承受得了青色小辣椒）。

最近，朋友有点挣扎的，想要又有点怕的说要喝一瓶很辣的啤酒的时候，我其实不太有感觉，因为不觉得一瓶啤酒可以辣到什么程度去。

当然，我错了。

美国STONES酿造的PUNISHMENT还真不是普通程度的辣，墨西哥+泰国+马来西亚辣酱混合体吧。。喝着这啤酒，心想的是，兴起酿这酒的念头的时候，酿酒师是人在美国？墨西哥？还是亚洲？

这，或许就是CRAFT BEER好玩之处吧，试新瓶子的时候，你不很确定你会喝到什么。

(个人意见，除非你很喜欢火辣火辣的，觉得这瓶还是比较适合三两个朋友尝味）

I guess many new friends who goes into craft beer tasting/drinking kind of all do it because it's much more fun because the brewers can be crazy(or silly at times all the same....)

I don't eat lots of spicy food, max tolerance for "hotness" is chili padi... when this "crazy beer" was mentioned( in a "i want it" but "i'm kind of worried.." way) during recent visit to SG, I have no idea whatsoever what kind of "hotness" i'm going in for...( how hot can a beer be....?)

Well, it was "HOT" especially the first few sip...like burning hot...but after the initial "shock" i somehow found it fun, wondering what or who the hack instilled the idea of brewing such a hot beer,  when the brew master was having that thought, was he in US, MEXICO or ASIA....?

A burning hot beer for sure, and most probably best sharing with a friend or two.....but if you cant take hot at all, then go for something else...there's so many other interesting,tasty beers out there....

Let the Americans be here in numbers....

为了一杯冰冷啤酒，你愿意在寒风冷雨中排队8个小时吗？

最近很多人就在美国的圣地亚哥，洛杉矶拍起了长长的人龙，为的就是上面这杯TRIPLE IPA.

这现象，间接也说明了本地和美国（一个CRAFT BEER文化开始蔓延盛行的国家）之间的差距。

吉隆坡基本有不错的比利时啤酒，以及一些其他欧洲国家如丹麦，挪威，苏格兰的瓶子选择。不过，看看CRAFT BEER 文化很盛行，也有很多佳酿的美国，相较之下，我们在吉隆坡能喝到的美国啤酒还是少得可怜。

所以，张开双手，欢迎美国来袭吧。。。。

some of us would have heard of  the news where lots of people line up in the rain,cold weather in the states for hours and hours, some report says it's 8 hours, just to wait for the new release of Pilny the Younger, a triple IPA associated with the ever famous brewery, Russian River.

Well, lining up 8 hours in the rain, cold condition for a pint/glass of cold nice beer, not sure how many of us here would want to do that, but i guess that's partly the difference in craft beer culture that we are facing here in comparison? ( well,or is it not at all?).

Back to the craft beer scene in KL, as of now, what we have are mostly Belgium beers, as well as the more familiar names like Mikeller, Brewdog, To OL, Nogne from the other side of EU countries....in comparison( again), we are kind of really short on Americans craft brews....

Well, for sure the Americans do not own all the best beers in the world, but for sure they do have lots of nice beers, as well some of the nicest beers( ok...im using my imaginations here having tasted only so so few of the the American brews).

Just for examples, i would say i do not mind at all to have these :-

or say anything from these two:-

 or for that matter, anything from :-

or say maybe this one?

well, i guess most the logos here are at best labelled as " dream on", but it's ok, they say good things does happen to people who hope for it( coz someone will be doing it..as in try to bring in..)

We do not mind at all....so just come in to MALAYSIA, come in to South East Asia in a BIG way, let's play some ball game...dear Americans....

Let's go BANGKOK....“米吧”来了。。。

我们都喜欢曼谷，去的理由也大同小异，虽然现在说去曼谷有点“危险”，不过，这个月29号开始，所有喜欢CRAFT BEER的朋友可以很大声的说，这是全亚洲唯一的MIKKELLER BAR。

是的，来自丹麦魔术师的MIKELLER BAR选在曼谷开。这是全球现有三家“米吧”之外的最新一家。（哥本哈根有2家，三藩市有1家）。

“米吧”会有30个啤酒输送管,除了很多自家别家的佳酿，也将会有更多来自世界各地的啤酒瓶子。

反正，就准备像小孩子进到糖果店那样兴奋吧。。

i know i know, this does not sound very responsible to say this moment in time given what's going on in some parts of Bangkok...

most of us do like travelling to Bkk for all sorts of reasons, mainly to satisfy the occasional cravings for shopping, massage, food, nightlife or to pray to four faced buddha, or simply do nothing..

well, come 29 Jan 2014, add this definitive reason to visit Bkk---the one and only Mikkeller Bar in Asia is opening in Bkk. Yup, that's right, the first and only in the whole of Asia, where another only one out of Copenhagen is in San Francisco.

with 30 taps, where there's not only Mikeller on taps but also other brewer's good work, expect lots of different bottles available for selection as well...

let's invade the candy store...(perhaps fashion with bullet proof vase and a helmet while sipping your beer?)

for more info do visit the FB page :-
https://www.facebook.com/mikkellerbangkok 

we say sawadikap Bkk.



#all photos taken from mikkeller bkk's fb page.

Beer List 13/14---by Kyle( final part)

The beer list 13/14 by all 5 friends is concluding with the final part from Kyle.

While his earlier list showed a lot of stout, this part is showing varieties in terms of bottles he like.

这是Kyle 尝味心得的下半段，包括他在今年希望喝到的瓶子。和上半段不同的，这次的瓶子比较多黑啤之外的类别，同时也只是以清单的方式呈现。

The final part from Kyle will be presented in the form of a list, so here we go:-

Toppling Goliath Zeelander

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/toppling-goliath-zeelander/153769/
美国爱荷华州生产的IPA苦味淡啤瓶子

Cigar City Jai Alai

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/cigar-city-jai-alai-india-pale-ale/95103/
弗里达州的另一支苦味IPA瓶子

Bells Black Note Stout

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/bells-black-note-stout/71826/ 
密芝根产的咖啡。威士忌味黑啤

Bruery Black Tuesday

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/the-bruery-black-tuesday-imperial-stout/106579/ 
加州的特酿黑啤，19.2高酒精度，属于需要慢慢尝的酒

Founders All Day IPA

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/founders-all-day-ipa/141611/ 
另一个密芝根名酿酒师的佳瓶，顾名思义是可以喝一整天的低酒精IPA

As for this year's wish list of bottles, Kyle has mentioned quite a few, of which some bottles are already awaiting tasting...  
以下是KYLE今年想喝的，基本都是些盛名在外的酿酒师的瓶子，其中一些已经等着尝味中。。

Three Floyds Dark Lord

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/three-floyds-dark-lord-russian-imperial-stout/15917/
很出名的黑魔王，浓稠复杂的黑啤

Westvleteren 8 (Havev had the 12 but the 8 I've not)

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/westvleteren-extra-8/4935/
12号瓶子是长期被誉为世界上排名前三的比利时盛名瓶子，这是8号瓶。

Bruery Chocolate Rain (Have one in my friends cellar)

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/the-bruery-chocolate-rain/111208/
加州名师的巧克力黑啤瓶子

Bruery Grey Monday (also have one in my friends cellar)

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/the-bruery-grey-monday/190444/
也是19.2%高酒精度的黑啤。跟之前那瓶是同一系列

Alesmith Speedway Stout (have one waiting for me at another friends)

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/alesmith-speedway-stout/14232/
来自圣地亚哥，非常顺畅圆滑的12%酒精度黑啤

Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/founders-backstage-series-2-cbs-canadian-breakfast-stout/98973/

另一支咖啡巧克力味，威士忌浸泡的黑色佳酿

Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/firestone-walker-velvet-merkin/133660/
燕麦黑啤系列，属于威士忌桶浸泡过的瓶子

With the final part of list from Kyle, we have come to the end of beer list 13/14, as we are nearing the end of January and very close to the lunar new year, here's wishing all beer geeks an even better tasting experience in the months ahead...

KYLE是五位朋友的13/14尝味心得的最后一位呈现者，回看大家各有不同口味选择，喝CRAFT BEER本应是这样的，虽然本地还是属于起步阶段，可以供尝味的啤酒选择还算不够多，不过看来今年的情况会渐渐更多元化些。

祝大家马年可以马上喝到更多的佳酿。。

Beer List 13/14---by Kyle

The final part of beer list 13/14 is by a new friend to KL, Kyle is from US where craft beer is booming. Kyle has been in town for less than a year, hence his list is naturally full of beers from his homeland, which in a way is interesting to note though many are still yet to make it to our local beer scene.

#KYLE来自美国。过去几年来，美国是出现很多摇滚级酿酒师和佳酿的地方。

喜欢到处周游,因为工作关系，去年中来到吉隆坡上任新职。

这是他的2013年CRAFT BEER LIST。免不了的都是在本地暂时没能找到的美国啤酒。

看得到喝不到的啤酒清单，也没什么不好，至少知道地球另一端的人在喝什么，当作参考蛮好的。

KYLE的LIST比较倾向口味比较重的咖啡，巧克力，烤麦，威士忌浸泡酿制类的黑啤酒。以下是他的2013/14 BEER LIST，

Kyle, is a world traveler, finds himself in Asia for work, trying to savor the craft beers he's come to love over the last few years in the US. So much so that he now also brews the hoppy IPAs and the deep dark stouts he enjoys so much.

Kyle has written his list "beer advocate style" with personal tasting notes on some beers, here's the basic guide :-
a:- appearance(卖相）
s:- smell(嗅觉）
t:- taste(初味道）
m:-mouth feel(口感）
0:- overall(整体感）

In his own word, here‘s Kyle's list:-

Lagunitas Sucks 

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/lagunitas-sucks/158433

a: floral orange with white head that fades quickly

s: strong tropical fruit notes (pineapple, papaya, citrus)

t: balanced citrus bitterness with almost no malt character

m: medium bodied with good carbonation

o: an incredible beer that is absolutely perfect for hop heads like me! even better than last year's seasonal release.

#美国加州的苦味金黄色佳酿，非常均衡可口。

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout Proprietors

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/goose-island-bourbon-county-stout--proprietors-2013/235913/

a: dark black with some murky brown notes coming from the bottom. small finger beige head that fades rather quickly and leaves some bubbles on top

s: milk chocolate, small hint of coconut. bournon.  surprisingly few notes of roast.

t: like almond joy's candy - strong chocolate notes with coconut both on the front and back notes. bourbon helps to cut the sweetness and carries the flavors throughout the tasting

m: rich, silky mouthfeel

o: THE standout beer of 2013.  it really does taste like a candy bar with hints of bourbon.  a perfectly balanced stout.

#伊利诺州酿酒师的黑啤佳酿。顺滑口感有时有点像含着威士忌棒棒糖。

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout Coffee

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/goose-island-bourbon-county-stout--coffee/66358/

a: dark black that covers the glass.  no light penetration throughout. light beige head quickly fades into the darkness

s: roasted coffee.  some light bourbon notes.

t: incredibly rich coffee flavor.  pleasant bitterness that comes quickly on the front notes.  bourbon on the back notes as the beer fades from the mouth.  roastiness is played up well paired with the coffee

m: rich, silky mouthfeel

o: like BCBS proprieter's, the coffee is the perfect example for a bourbon-barrel aged beer.  excellent coffee flavor throughout that does not overwhelm.

#来自同品牌的瓶子，这是咖啡味为主的威士忌浸泡黑啤。

Toppling Goliath Morning Delight

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/toppling-goliath-mornin-delight/151817/

a: black dark goodness with a brown head that fades into thick bubbled lacing quickly after pouring

s: roasted coffee.  sweetness from the bourbon and from the maple.

t: where BCBC coffee has the roastiness from the coffee, TG MD has the sweetness from the bourbon come through first - pairing with the coffee in a very flavourful, boozy way.  Maple syrup adds intense sweetness also that carries throughout the tasting experience.

m: very thick body, very little carbonation likely due to the barrel aging

o: depending on what you are in the mood for, TG MD packs a coffee punch that is not really balanced with the sweetness but it makes for an incredibly rich experience.  took me nearly an hour to drink the 12 oz pour!

#美国爱荷华州南部的稍甜浓厚咖啡口感黑啤。

Toppling Goliath Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23222/78820/

a: black dark goodness with a brown head that fades into thick bubbled lacing quickly after pouring

s: bourbon.  very little roast notes.

t: incredible bourbon that pairs nicely with the dark roast notes that come through on the tongue after the first few sips.  very boozy but without an alcohol burn.

m: thick body with little carbonation.  drink this one s-l-o-w!

o: a great beer.  one of my whales of 2013.  well worth standing in line for 3 hours to obtain.  the beer is going to age even better, so i can't wait to taste it in a year or more.  the bourbon will likely become even more sweet over time as the roast notes fade.  truly incredible beer!  

#同样品牌瓶子，这是KYLE排队三小时买到的高人气黑啤瓶子，属于威士忌浸泡黑啤，请慢喝。

to be continued.....