WEEK 249--Craft Beer Entry Level--The Contradictory Ideas

 

What is craft beer? this simple question can be rather different things to newbies--to some it can be a whole new world of many choices of beer styles never knew before--but it can also be a confusing strange world of beer with many terms/ideas never heard before.

To a certain extent--it could be confusing to some especially when face with these:- 

不少刚接触新朋友对craft beer是什么会有不同感受，可能觉得是多样化风味选择的啤酒新世界，也可能是让人眼花缭乱不知道什么是什么的各种陌生啤酒名词。 更何况一些一些入门简易概念听起来就像是自相矛盾的正反话，比如以下几点：-

craft beer = high quality/delicious beer

If we consider why craft beer movement started in the first place--this is very much the case--because the BEER market was occupied by MACRO BEER with rather boring offerings with limited styels--someone started to think why can't beer be much more interesting with many more different styles and taste better/delicious. So on that score--craft beer is supposedly high quality/ delicious beer.

craft beer一定优质好喝

从最初出发点意义来说，这是为什么酿酒师想在市场长期被大厂啤酒笼罩风味类型选择非常有限情况下另辟途径酿造自己想喝而且更多不同风味选择的优质啤酒，在这层面上craft beer代表的就是为了提供更多样化更优质好喝的啤酒选择而动。

craft beer ≠ quality beer/delicious beer

Just like when you go to restaurants--there are top ones/ very good ones--but there are also many mediocre/ rather bad ones--it's the same for craft beer--unfortunately there are brewer/s who probably just want to make quick money/ not ready or skillful enough to make high quality/delicious beer but still dare to sell their brews--which in some cases might caused health issues such as diarhea/ vommiting due to bad hygiene or infections issues.

As for whether a beer is delicious or otherwise--this can be a rather subjective matter as it relates to a drinker's taste preferences as well very importantly palate appreciation level.

craft beer不一定优质或好喝
跟上面说的完全相反，然而这是实际情况，并不是所有自称craft beer的就一定优质，就像市面上餐厅那样，世界各个城市乡镇那么多大小醸坊/作坊中，确实会有学艺不精/酿酒功力不到家/投机取巧/混水摸鱼的，也意味着craft beer不同风味作品会有明确的优劣之分。优质好喝的作品可以让味蕾上天堂，劣质难喝的啤酒不仅会让让味蕾不愉快，少数情况严重的甚至可能把人喝到上吐下泻（啤酒是液体食物。有感染变坏造成食物中毒的可能）。
关于是不是好喝则需看个人口味选择/倾向，而且个人味蕾鉴赏力也有决定性影响。

TIME is enemy of beer

First and foremost--there are many different styles of beer--some would need to be enjoyed fresh/ fresher to fully appreciate it's taste profile--for examples IPA or Hazy IPA which is about showcasing different flavours of various hops--this is a rather sensitive style with limited "best flavours period"(very different from "best before" which can be up to a year or longer)--Also beer with adjuncts such as coffee/tea/vanilla/fruits(just to name a few) even if in a stout or porter or pastry stout which some would tend to keep--brewers would advise to drink fresh rather than keep because time would bring oxidization which is the taste profile enemy of these beer styles.

时间能让craft beer风味退化
craft beer有很多不同风格啤酒类型，其中有些类型风格作品是需要在比较短时间“最佳赏味期”内喝才能领略酿酒师想呈现风味层次表现，比如非常需要在全程冷链运输情况下保持新鲜度的IPA（印度淡啤）或HAZY IPA（类果汁印度淡啤）就明显会因为时间拉长而逐步出现鲜度退减/氧化进而影响风味表现的啤酒类型，另外，一些加入特定食材比如咖啡豆茶叶香草或新鲜水果的作品，就算被认为酒体比较厚实的黑啤（stout）或波特黑啤（porter）醸坊会建议不收藏/尽早喝掉才能体会整体风味表现。如果是甜点黑啤（pastry stout）更是建议早喝早享受。

TIME is friend of beer

Sound contracdicting? but it's true for some beer styles for examples Lambic--though some sour beer geek would prefer to drink fresh when it comes to fruited ones--some would keep. As for non-fruited ones--many would keep for 3-5-10 years before drinking--in fact the bottle label would mentioned how long a Lambic can be kept--10 years to 20 years is the norm. There are other beer styles too that some would prefer to keep for examples non-adjuncted stout / barleywine--for lighter beer Hillfarmstead has got a saison/farmhouse ale which is about keeping to get even more complex flavours.

时间能让craft beer风味更丰富
听起来又是自相矛盾的话，实际情况是因为不同类型风格啤酒确实有保存条件良好情况下时间可以让收藏好的作品在若干年岁後呈现更丰富的层次风味，比利时天然发酵酸啤（Lambic）是例子，一些酸啤迷会把加入特定水果如李子莓果桃子等作品趁早开喝掉以享受更清新明显的果酸香风味，当然也有喜欢收一段时间後再喝的。而没有加入水果的酸啤作品则不少啤迷会收个三五年甚至十年以上才开喝（作品会标明可收藏10年或20年或以上）以感受时间带来的层次风味变化。

craft beer can be straight forward BUT also has criteria

To some--drinking a beer is simple and straight forward--it's just a beer--regardless when drinking a craft beer--still only a beer.

But to some beer geeks--craft beer is not so simple--there are certain unspoken "rules"/"ethics" to fully enjoy/appreciate a beer--1 of the things geeks would do even when drinking a seemingly easy gulper such as Lager or Pilners--the beer is always allowed certain amount of time to "warm up"--never gulp it in one go--giving time for beer to warm up would allow fuller flavour profile to be enjoyed.

craft beer可以简单直接但也有一些讲究
再怎么说，craft beer也是啤酒，喝啤酒不就是杯子拿起直接喝就对了？喝酒本就是个人喜好，就算喝craft beer时快喝干掉也只是个人选择，不过必须说的是，绝大多数不同类型风格craft beer都是需要给时间让酒在杯中回温才能领会作品层次风味，才入杯没回温就干掉的话是品嚐不到该有风味变化表现。一般况来说，拉格（LAGER）或浅啤（PILSNER）类型作品普遍被视为解渴易喝可以快喝干掉的啤酒，不过放在craft beer世界，这些听起来简单易喝类型作品其实建议放慢来喝以让啤酒稍微回温可以体会到慢喝带来的味蕾享受。

craft beer can be beer but also NOT beer

This may sound like playing with words--but it's rather more about the shape and form of a certain beer--the common perception of beer is that of yellow/golden color light beer such as Lager/Pilsner or say a Pale Ale.

BUT there are beer which is "not normal" in color or body or taste--obvious examples is the very much fruit punch/smoothie look alike Pastry Sour/Fruited Sour--it is actually beer but can look and taste like thick fruit juices or smoothie. 

Also there are non-beer items but closely associated with craft beer community--styles such as Hard Seltzer(alcoholic soda water) is being made by craft beer breweries--Hop Water too is being produced by craft breweries--as well Mead which is more towards honey-wine than beer( though there is a style where mead & beer is harmonized together) but very close to craft beer community and enjoyed by beer geeks.

craft beer是啤酒但也可以不是啤酒
听起来像是在玩文字游戏，但只是就事论事，在许多不同类型风格啤酒中有大众认知中浅黄或金黄色酒体轻盈易喝型啤酒比如Lager比如Pilsner比如Pale Ale等等。
这之外，也有无论外观颜色酒体浓郁程度都不像一般认知啤酒模样的类型，其中最具象的是果酸/果泥啤酒(fruited sour/smoothie sour)，基本概念是看起来闻起来喝起来像现打果汁或浓郁奶昔的“啤酒”，因为实在不像啤酒很多时候喝到都觉得这不是啤酒。此外，craft beer衍生出来副线作品比如酒精气泡水（Hard Seltzer）以及近年应对无酒精潮流而做的酒花水（Hop Water）都不是啤酒但都从craft beer演变而成。还有就是跟craft beer社群走得很近的蜜酒（Mead）技术上不是啤酒，但也融合在社区中。

WEEK 248--Beer Ratings--to follow or not to follow

 

We live in a world where everything would get judged/commented/rated--though craft beer from consumer market point of view is relatively niche/small(market size wise)--but just as there's travel or food related(and many others) public comment/ratings /recommendation APPs or website/blogs--there are quite a few craft beer focus APPs/website too.

craft beer世界里不同酿坊数量众多，相同或不同类型风格啤酒作品更多如繁星，虽说从市场规模或消费者认知角度来看craft beer只是小众，不过一如美食旅游都有大众点评应用程序/网站那样，craft beer 也有啤迷/喝酒人可使用的点评应用程序/网站，从2000年的Rate Beer(2016年秘密卖股权给大厂啤酒公司後开始被啤迷弃用） 到至今仍活跃的老牌评酒网站Beer Advocate到近些年最广受啤迷使用的Untappd都是专门为点评或记录个人喝过啤酒（也包括蜜酒）作品而设。

From earlier years RateBeer(started year 2000-sold to MACRO BEER owned company in 2016 and quickly got ditched by beer geeks) to still active Beer Advocate, or Brewver(started right after the sale of RB), to Untappd (which is likely the most commonly use in recent years)--there has always been ratings/top charts of beer(mead) for those who needed some opinions.

Untappd的出现对不同人有不同功能，有用户把它当作记录本那样为的是把喝过的啤酒都记录/打卡一下，有的则把它当作选优汰劣指南书，通过一款酒评分高低来决定喝不喝。也有人通过参考别人品酒记录/风味叙述来大致了解一款酒的风味表现再决定下一步。此外，Untappd的评分制度被不少瓶子店/专卖吧当成一款酒的宣传工具，只要评分达到4以上的（满分5分但至今最高是4.78）就会被店家标注。当然，在社交媒体无处不在的如今，Untappd也有交友功能，通过它可以和现实中认识或完全没见过的啤迷/喝酒人网上联系。

Untappd is being widely use in quite a few different ways--basically anyone can be a user--beer geeks or otherise--some users use it as some form of beer journal just to keep track of what was drank--some use it as drinking guide basing on rating's high low--some would look for tasting notes/ flavour descriptions before deciding on the next move--there are quite some bars/bottle shops which uses Untappd Ratings particularly those with above 4( max 5 points but so far the highest is 4.78) to showcase the "higher status" of a particular beer/mead--and lastly in the age of social media this can also be a tool to make friends with other users.

有人问说，刚接触craft beer的话是不是只靠Untappd评分高低选酒喝就对了？毕竟这样好过自己摸索可以少走弯路。这话听起来好像有一定道理，不过个人并不赞成这样单线做法，因为换个角度看这是在抄捷径，有可能会迷路的。只选喝高评分作品虽然表面上看是“保险”的，但如果自己还不完全清楚什么类型风格啤酒应该有什么风味表现，什么才对味什么不对味或者说自身味蕾鉴赏力还没达到一定高度的话，很可能会出现“不是酒好不好喝而是你会不会欣赏”或是“酒其实走味了但你喝不出甚至觉得好喝”的情况。

Someone new to craft beer asked if "just follow Untappd ratings high low to pick what to drink" is the right way to go about rather than explore on his/her own--while in theory this seems like a good path to follow--personally would not encourage it since this is like taking a short cut and one might wandered off along the way--by choosing to drink ONLY highly rated beer( or mead) seems like a good idea since in theory these should be high quality brew--however there's a few issues to consider here--i.e. if newbie who pick only highly rated brew really understand beer styels and what flavour profile he or she is getting, as well if his/her palate level is up to a certain level to best appreciate what's in the glass--otherwise there might be scenario where a highly rated brew is poured but "can't really appreciate not because brew no good but palate appreciation level is yet to reach the level required" or "beer flavour already gone off but one still can't differentiate or even think it's so nice".

Untappd当然可以对新朋友有所助益，关键是要知道所有大众点评类型应用程序/网站都只是别人意见，当中会有啤迷中肯意见，但也难免会有喝酒人各种水平参差不齐评论，如何使用得当而不是完全被评分拖着鼻子走是重点。

So following Untappd ratings is a bad thing? Of course NOT--the important thing is to first understand that these ratings/ tasting note are other drinkers opinions--also the fact that anyone can comment/rate(beer geeks as well newbies/casual drinkers)--there's bound to be mixed opinions from some who can truly appreciate as well some who don't.

举个例子，试试搜寻Untappd 排行榜的话（以个别啤酒/蜜酒作品最高评分往下排列），会发现排名前30作品中只有3个不同类别，其中黑啤（Stout）就占了24个位，蜜酒（Mead）有2，大麦酒（Barley Wine）有4。（缩小到前10名的话则是黑啤有8，大麦酒1，蜜酒1。）。虽说实际上可以搜寻个别不同类型风格作品排行榜，但如果单只看“最佳”排行榜的话会错以为其他类型风格作品不入流不值得关注。

So what might go wrong if a newbie just follow Highly Rated ones? take for examples the current TOP 30 rated beer/mead on Untappd--there are 24 Stout- 2 Mead & 4 Barley Wine( if narrow down to TOP10 then there's 8 stout-1 mead & 1 barley wine)--these are only 3 styles--there are many more interesting/delicious beer styles which are not represented in the TOP30 list but in no way meaning those other styles are in anyway less worthy.

情况当然不是那样的，个人口味选择来说，有幸喝过的“最佳”排行榜中前30一些作品实际上不会是个人想主动寻求或是喝过後想要有机会再喝的（ 比如占据好几个不同排名的美国老牌酿坊Goose Island的Bourbon County系列黑啤/大麦酒作品），相反的有不少喝过但在排行榜上看不到踪迹的其他类型风格作品才是个人感觉对味好喝有机会绝对想再喝的。

Personally some of those TOP 30 brew which i have had the pleasure of sampling--in fact there are quite a few which i would not seek for(for example Bourbon County series) not because they are not nice but simply due to personal taste preference--would actually prefer many others which i have tasted but not listed as TOP 30 be it stout/barley wine or some other styles. 

说白了，喝craft beer很大程度上是个人口味选择，一款作品就算评分再高/被众人追捧，如果喝起来闻起来感觉不对味或现阶段味蕾能力欣赏不来，那大概只能说是既浪费钱也浪费了酒。

Simple conclusion--beer is still about one's personal preference and palate appreciation level--no matter how highly a brew is rated--if it's a style you don't prefer or in some cases can't fully appreciate due to appreciation ability then in all honesty it would be a waste of money and the brewer's effort.

WEEK 247--What is Craft Beer--a few basics

 

Went to a speciality coffee event recently with a geek friend and chatted on some basics regarding how to appreciate coffee particularly for someone new like myself--in that sense--the same can be said of craft beer--how do a newbie get closer to craft beer & appreciate what's in the glass better? Understanding some basics on where craft beer flavours comes from probably is a good starting point.

不久前和啤迷朋友去了国际知名咖啡师来马亲自手冲的精品咖啡半天限定品尝会，期间和朋友聊起精品咖啡在喝什么的话题，实际上无论是喝咖啡或craft beer，对重点基本概念有所了解是重要的。

The first question here might be--there are so many different beer styles within the craft beer world--so what should we look for in a certain beer? The most simple answer to this is probably similar to enjoying food--all things aside--tasty/delicious shall be the most common thing we look for--same goes for craft beer drinking--overall flavours performance of a beer is what we shall look for.

craft beer世界有好多个不同类型风格（beer style)/名称啤酒，那么多不同类型啤酒到底是在喝什么？答案跟吃东西一样，不管吃什么重要的应该是味道如何？好不好吃？说直接点就是看啤酒的整体风味表现。

So where do all these different styles of beer get their flavours from? 

啤酒风味是从哪来的呢？以下是几个基本概念：-

4 Basic Ingredients 四大原材料:-

Malt

There are many different types of malt/grain which can be used in beer brewing--depending on the choice of malt/grain used--each can bring different influence on the flavour profile of a beer--including the color of a beer.

麦芽

麦芽有不同选择，比如烘烤过或原味的，有小麦大麦裸麦等等都能为啤酒带来不同酒体颜色观感和风味表现。

Water

Sounds very simple but for beer brewing it's not as straight forward as it seems--different level of sof/hard water would have influence on the beer quality--same goes for alkaline level( pH)--perhaps a very good example of why geeks are fond of "well water" from Hillfarmstead brewery says it all about the importance of water quality in a beer(besides brewing skills)

水

听起来很简单，然而酿酒对水质是有要求的，不同软硬程度的水，水的碱度，水中矿物质含量等等都会对啤酒带来不同影响。

美国顶级酿坊Hill Famstead使用自家农场井水是公认的作品特色之一，带有当地风土（Terroir）特质的水质和酵母结合让懂的啤迷一喝就会有熟悉感。

Yeast

A beer goes through a certain process and yeast is another essential part of this--and there are many different types of yeast--apart from cultivated yeast which a brewer can pitch--there's also natural/wild fermentation method where yeast is literally "fall from sky" which is how Belgium Lambic is made.

酵母

啤酒是需要发酵而成的，使用什么类型酵母会带来不同风味表现啤酒，除了人手加持的酵母，也有开放式利用空气中野生菌发酵的做法（Natural Fermentaion）,酸啤迷们推崇备至的比利时天然发酵酸啤(Lambic)就是最有特色代表。

Hops

Probably what most newbies would have come into contact with--be it due to popularity of IPA or somehow the bar/bottle shop has a name with the word Hops.

Indeed Hops has always been associated with IPA( or Hazies/NEIPA) since this beer style is where it show it's strength to the fullest by providing different hops flavour profile depending on which hops were choosen. In fact hops is being used in all beer styles as balancing agent during beer making process.--even Lambic which is known for funky/tartness uses "old/used hops".

啤酒花

可能是新人们刚接触craft beer时会先看到的字眼，一是无所不在的印度淡啤或类果汁印度淡啤 (IPA/Hazy IPA)影响，再来可能是店家名称精彩出现这个单词。

啤酒花是印度淡啤不可或缺的主角，但并不是只出现在IPA，啤酒花是酿造啤酒中必须原材料，以酸味和霉香为啤迷推崇的Lambic也需要啤酒花但不是新鲜而是已使用过，原有特质不张扬的旧啤酒花（old hops)以起到杀菌和中和作用。

 

Adjuncts

This is very straight forward--if a brewer add anything OTHER THAN the above mentioned 4 basic ingredients to a beer during/after the brewing process---that's adding Adjunct/s to a beer--it can be anything edible--from fruits to vegetables/plants/ to spices to coffee tea to chocolate/vanilla so on so forth--list could be endless really.

Of course--to add or not to add is a choice--there are beer styles which are usually not asscociated with adjuncts(such as pilsner/lager/pale ale...) and obviously there are styles which would be heavily associated with adjuncts( such as pastry sour/ fruited sour/ pastry stouts).

Speaking of Stout--there are non-adjunct stouts--though there are also many adjuncted ones.

添加物

意思非常直接了当，就是酿造过程中加入一种或好几种食材（比如水果/蔬菜/草本根茎），香料（比如肉桂/香草）或咖啡/茶/巧克力等等以提升原酒风味层次表现。

当然，添加物只是选项，可加也可以完全不加，取决于啤酒类型风格规范以及酿酒师想法而定，比如传统风格拉格(Lager)，浅啤（Pilsner)  或淡啤（Pale Ale) 就原酒原味表现为特点，一般不玩添加物概念。

再比如黑啤就明确分为添加 (Adjunted)和不添加（Non-Adjunted) 系列，近些年流行的甜点黑啤(Pastry Stout)就是添加物黑啤代表作。

Barrel-Aged(BA)

Also rather straight forward--it means putting beer in a barrel--usually a used barrel which perviously contain other types of alcoholic beverages--it can be whisky/bourbon/brandy/port/cognac/red or white wine--the list goes on---as for why? answer is plain to see--soaking beer in that particular barrel to enhance flavour profile/layering of the beer.

How a brewer do BA process can be quite different--there are a single barrel way, or putting same( or different) beer into different barrel and then blend them into final beer--or a brewer might decide just putting beer into barrel is not enough hence some Adjuncts shall be added.

Of course--to go BA or otherwise is a choice--for examples Stouts do have many BA or even double/triple barrel-aged variants--also many non-BA stouts out there--having said that there are actually many other beer styles which do go through BA process--including the seemingly "lighter" beer such as Saison or a Lambic.

桶陈方式

一如字面意思，指的是把啤酒放置桶内提味，选用的桶可以是烈酒类（比如美国波本，苏格兰威士忌，墨西哥龙舌兰，法国白兰地等等），或红白葡萄酒，或葡萄牙波特酒等等众多之前装过上述酒类的旧桶，用意是想让啤酒吸收旧桶内其他酒类/木桶气息让作品变得更有不同风味层次，用什么桶视乎酿酒师想让作品呈现什么风味而定。

啤酒桶陈方式可以是单一桶也可以是几个不同旧桶陈放/勾兑混酒而成，也可加入添加物如水果/香料等等再静置而成。

桶陈或不桶陈也是选项，比如常见的黑啤就有BA（桶陈）和原酒（不桶陈）之分，当然桶陈也不只是用于黑啤，很多其他类型风格啤酒也通过桶陈方式提味而成。

WEEK 246--2025 Memorable Beer & Mead--Additional List(by ct)

As mentioned in previous post--there is some more beer/mead to add on for 2025 list--partly because there is limitation of space for the newspaper column--the other is purely out of personal record since the below mentioned bottles are worth a note.

2025最有印象酒单之前上下篇选了13款不同风味啤酒/蜜酒作品，重看去年不同场合分享/喝过的还有些表现出色作品没有纳入之前酒单，以下是好些遗珠中补充选出的年度酒单。

Pips--BA Amalgamation

Had this during last Xmas share here in KL--with 5 different types of fruits/berries thrown in to merge with orange blossom honey in used bourbon barrel--it's very much berries flavours intense with hints of barrels as well suitable tartness to make this a pleasant slow sip fruited mead.

芝加哥顶尖蜜酒醸坊波本旧桶陈放提味莓果作品，使用蓝莓，黑加仑子，红醋果，黑莓和樱桃五款不同水果为作品添加果酸香风味，闻香入口都有莓果气息。酒体倾向浓郁但不厚重，喝起来口感丝滑多过浓稠，果酸香蜂蜜中自带波本旧桶影响，整体风味表现均衡出色，一起喝的啤迷朋友之前说过这款是他个人最喜欢蜜酒作品前三，确实是款风味层次表现出色的莓果作品。

Antidoot--Gorsern/Framboos 2020

Not the first time having this variety from Antidoot--though different years batches might show some sort of differences in terms of overall flavours performance--1 thing is rather constant--that this rapsberry variant always been a pleasure to sip--this one with tart cherries added was a nicelu enjoyable one.

比利时小醸坊覆盆子酸啤作品，虽然开喝时间距离装瓶日期有接近五年之久所以可能没有了装瓶後短期内开喝时覆盆子还散发水果鲜香的“鲜活感“，不过可以确定的是入杯後喝起来还是充满覆盆子风味，酸啤和水果结合带出的微酸香气息喝起来很舒服。实际上已喝过不同年份覆盆子作品，不同季节/年份覆盆子风味和酿造过程都可能带来风味呈现差异，至今醸坊覆盆子作品每次喝到都不会让人失望。

Side Project--Rye BBT 2024

With no adjuncts this BBT is all about bourbon( willet) barrels as well Rye influence--dark choc-vanilla-caramel with hints of spiciness & oak/wood from the barrel & rye influence--always a pleasure with any BBT really--rye or otherwise.

美国密苏里黑啤高手醸坊BBT是盛名在外年度系列作品之一，这是裸麦版，以不同年份WILLET波本旧桶陈放过的自家黑啤混酒而成，是纯桶陈没有加入任何其他食材添增风味黑啤作品，波本旧桶和裸麦带出特有辛辣和橡木桶气息，整体风味表现厚实酒体中充满黑巧克力，焦糖和香草风味，入杯初期有点酒精感但回温后口感顺滑多层次风味来袭，是味蕾享受。

Cantillon--Blabaer 2021

Did not expect to come across this one in a Tokyo share--brought back some distant memories of me lining up at Himmeriget almost 11am local time during MBCC week back in 2018  when most guys been lining up the night before---got a small bottle of the same same year release and actually shared in Tokyo--though this blueberry Cantillon lambic might not be as hyped when it was first brewed for OlBUTIKKEN bottle shop--and then Himmeriget--it is still very much a bottle i would not say no to whenever/whereever.

比利时天然发酵酸啤大师级醸坊20年前为丹麦一家瓶子店开张特别酿造限量蓝莓作品，也是多年来一到首卖会就引来各地啤迷齐聚哥本哈根通宵排队只为买到一瓶的著名果酸啤。 虽说那么多年过去后，这款蓝莓天然发酵酸啤不再那么奇货可居。但对喜欢这家醸坊作品酸啤迷来说，任何时候能喝到无论什么年份的Blabaer 都是开心时刻。承蒙住东京美国啤迷朋友分享，去年底在分享会上时隔多年再次喝到这款多年前自己从哥本哈根买到後在东京分享的同款不同年份作品确是乐事。

Standard--Kink

Apple mead with Pisang( Banana in Malay) from Thailand added--from nose to palate enjoyment there is some sort of South East Asia feel to this one--a familiar and enjoyable one.

美国蜜酒醸坊的苹果蜜酒。加入产自泰国的香蕉，一定程度上可以说是相对熟悉的东南亚水果风味蜜酒作品，两种水果和蜂蜜非常和谐的融合，喝起来是三种食材相互呼应的香甜可口。

Manic--Breakfast with Elliot

A rather American style breakfast--enhancing own brew of Elliot with vanilla bean+cinnamon&maple syrup into it's blueberry based mead--sweet & tart at the same time with all the adjuncts coming into play to make this one nice and thick.

美国印第安纳醸坊的“早餐”作品，是自家原版作品Elliot的加强版，将香草荚和肉桂再添入一些枫糖让原版作品变成风味更突出的美式“早餐”蜜酒，感谢住东京啤迷朋友分享，闻香是带有蓝莓香气的蜂蜜味，入口能感受到肉桂风味中夹带的香草味，让这款蓝莓蜜酒风味表现更具层次感。

 

Second City--BA None of Them Open

Sadly this meadery has ceased to operate though they have some very nice varieties of styles & flavour profile of mead--this one was aged in a 3rd used barrel previusly conditioning Revolution's stout " DETH'S TAR"--A rather heavily fruited mead with black currant & blueberry as well other adjuncts added--smooth one to sip despite the additions.

已宣布结业不玩的美国蜜酒醸坊作品，和另一款作品BA Fake Doors一样，都是将蜜酒放置之前陈放过另一家醸坊出名黑啤DETH’S TAR的旧木桶而成，意思是这两款蜜酒作品并不是通过直接放置其他酒类旧桶而是已被黑啤使用过的“第三手”旧桶。以黑加仑子和蓝莓为基调并加入香蕉果汁肉桂香草让整体风味表现更具差异感，可惜的是醸坊已自行消失让蜜酒界少了一家高手醸坊。

WEEK 245--2025 Most Memorable Beer & Mead List(by ct)--Part2/2

Part 2 is supposed to be the final part but after revisiting the beer & mead either shared or had in a bar--decided to add 1 final list for up coming newspaper column so this is effectively 2 of 3 list.

这原本是去年酒单下篇-不过重看回去年分享/喝过的啤酒/蜜酒发现还有好些值得一提作品-加了一篇“再选”下期专栏新春佳节期间见报-也意味着这从下篇变成中篇。

刚过去的2025，以作品类型风格来说，来自欧美不同醸坊蜜酒（Mead）是近年来喝较多一次，算了算大概有接近20款不同风格瓶子，要在这些高质蜜酒中取舍其实有点难度，不过既然是印象记就不需要纠结于所谓评酒网站分数高低或是不是备受热捧，个人年度酒单基本就是凭味蕾印象选出，无关排名只是记忆。

Nebuleus--The Winning Ticket

Had this twice within a few months time here in KL which is really something hardly ever happened--thanks to geek friend who brought this back from Seoul Korea and shared with some of us here--first tasted this sometime in Oct 25 and again during Xmas session--in fact first few sips on the first occasion i was already saying this bottle definitely is 1 of the most meorable ones for 2025--having it again during Xmas share only reaffirmed the first impression further--which is harder to achieve in the sense that there is no more first time tasting surprises--i already knew how it taste like--so to be impress again second time running says a lot about the taste profile of this one.

美国波特兰小醸坊的农场风格啤酒，去年通过分享会成员同款作品有幸数月内喝到两次，实际上第一次喝到时已肯定这是年度最有印象作品之一，craft beer有趣之处是有时候同一款之前觉得很出色的作品再喝时可能因为没有了第一次喝到的惊艳感所以味蕾会更客观的审视风味表现，虽那样，第二次入杯喝下的即时结论是依然非常出色，从易喝性，层次感，风味从入杯较冷到回温变化都是味蕾享受。

Pips--Cellar Reserve 001

Thanks to the generosity of my Tokyo geek friend who shared this(and more) rather hard to find bottle--this is a "rougher" version of Pips very famous Blue Suede Shews--with enhanced toasted cashews & intensity of cashew milk--if the original version of BSS is that of cashew "nose bomb" with very silky mouth feel--this reserve version is one with "rougher" mouth feel with very finely grind nuts--chashew on the nose is not as strong relatively speaking but overall nothing to complaint really.

东京啤迷朋友大方分享的限量难寻瓶子，是醸坊盛名作品Blue Suede Shews的“粗犷版”，如果说原版喝起来是丝滑充满腰豆香气的蓝莓蜜酒，这款喝起来有让味蕾感受到类似磨到非常细微的颗粒感，加强的烤腰豆和提高腰果奶密度比例调整让整体风味表现也跟原版不一样，个人是更喜欢原版的细腻感和腰果爆炸性香气表现但这款仍是不折不扣的上佳之作。

Cantillon--Ashanti 2020

A surprise bottle found in a Tokyo restaurant-bar which totally made my day--actually been curious about how pepper/mushroom/toasted coconut would perform in a Lambic for rather long--so to finally have the chance to taste this even though it's pricier (if compare to finding 1 in a bottle shop) is still a no brainer.

Taste was different from what i envisage in that there's more prominent ginger nose than peppery note--sourness was soothing--enoyed it though not so much as imagined how the taste profile would be.

比利时天然发酵酸啤大师醸坊胡椒风味作品，是在东京一家餐酒吧找到的惊喜瓶子，说惊喜是因为虽然这款已从最初Zwanze Day实验性特酿变成“常态款”但在亚洲并不容易找到，也因为个人很早之前就对胡椒风味能在天然发酵酸啤中有什么样的风味表现感到好奇，终于得以一嚐後的味蕾嗅觉感受是预料之外的生姜气息稍显盖过了胡椒风味，虽然并非是想象中那样以胡椒风味表现为主但仍是能喝到就开心的一款。

Schramm's--Pacific Brumble

There is no doubt when it comes to using fruits in a mead that Schramm's always been getting them right--the blend of fruits & honey is more often than not having such compatible harmonious effects on the palate--and this raspberry mead is no different--light sweet-sour with nice fruits aroma.

美国老大哥醸坊的覆盆子蜜酒作品，做为一家擅长并且对入酒水果有高品质/特质要求的醸坊，这款蜜酒使用的是来自太平洋西北地区的覆盆子，在此基础上将自家作品Brumble微调成Pacific Brumble，入口是微甜中带果酸果香气息，要说水果入酒这家一直是心目中绝对高手醸坊，水果和蜂蜜之间的融合感可说每一次都很到味。

Side Project--With Knox

A big stout blended from 3 different bourbon barrels--with coconut flakes-vanilla beans-cocao nibs added which obviously enhanced the flavour profile of this slow sipper--dark chocolate-coconut with obvious notes of bourbon barrel influence--smoother & nicer after warmer.

大黑啤是醸坊拿手好戏，这款是展现三款不同波本旧桶陈放黑啤混酒而成後的风味之作，可可碎香草荚椰丝的加入带来调适风味效应，让作品在波本旧桶气息包裹中带出添加食材带来的不同层次表现，作品保持了醸坊大黑啤一贯厚实酒体，黑巧克力黑糖香草椰香交织一起，是入杯後需要放慢品饮节奏给多些时间让酒回温展现更丰富面貌的作品。

Uchu--Emerald Tablet

Brought 4 cans of ipa from Tokyo directly from the spanking new Toranomon taproom--of the 4 varaints found this to be the more likeable one--hops flavours still very much alive in a smooth way rather than hop attack--very drinkable for a double ipa with no hints of alcohol whatsoever--juicy & nice.

从东京带了醸坊4款不同类果汁印度淡啤（Hazy IPA）回来和啤迷朋友分享，其中双倍IPA的这款以充满啤酒花香口感相对温和的表现让人留下印象，一起分享的啤迷朋友表示这款无论是鲜香度或是平衡点表现都比在本地酒吧喝到的几款欧美醸坊空运作品出色，一定程度来说自己直接从东京品饮室购入带回来有助保持新鲜度，另外也侧面反映出为什么这家山梨县醸坊在海外以高水准类果汁IPA和果泥啤酒为人知。

Marlobobo--Stvensberry

Had this in Tokyo courtesy of a geek friend--my first taste of this Scandinavia meadery's fruited mead--a cherry mead with rather obvious almond aroma plus notes of cinnamon & vanilla--rather than sweet this one is more of a sweet-sour with cherry influence. Probably not the most impressive fruited mead i had in 2025--but for a first taste of what's to come from this brewery in the future--it's worth a note.

近年名声在外的挪威蜜酒醸坊作品，感谢东京啤迷朋友的分享得以喝到个人第一支这家醸坊作品，以北欧特产樱桃Stevnsber入酒，入口蜜酒甜味中有樱桃酸香，间中有杏仁肉桂气息但不会强烈到喧宾夺主，整体风味气息表现来说仍以樱桃和蜂蜜的酸香融和为主轴，换个角度来说这款不是去年喝过最出色的水果蜜酒，不过作为个人喝到的第一支这家北欧醸坊作品印象还是相当不错的。

WEEK 244--2025 Most Memorable Beer & Mead List (by ct)--Part 1/2

2025 went past rather quickly--looking back it was a solid year in terms of beer & mead tasted--met with the KL tasting group guys for either very small or fuller scale share slightly more frequently than past few years--did went to Tokyo to see most of my geek friends there as well did bottle share--so can't complaint much though would have love to do 1 or 2 more Asia cities trips but with very limited travelling budget--just have to be contented with at least being able to do Tokyo.

进入新一年，回看过去十二个月分享会次数可说是近年比较数得上的，2025年新春以及年底圣诞都有跟特定几位本地啤迷朋友聚会，东京分享会也延续了，此外也有几次本地小聚分享，加上为数不多的酒吧探访喝到作品，2025是相当不错的一年。

一如前几年，鉴于在吉隆坡要喝到海外顶尖高手醸坊充满啤酒花鲜香IPA或HAZY IPA作品类型有一定难度，要是没有从海外自行找酒进来的话基本会从缺，所以每年酒单还是以黑啤，天然发酵酸啤，农场风格啤酒，蜜酒等类型风格居多，以下是第一部分酒单

The 2025 list is divided into 2 parts due to limited space with newspaper column--this is first part with a slightly more balance pick of different styles while part 2 would be more mead heavy--in fact last year tasted close to or slightly more than 20 different mead bottles from a few meaderies which was quite a surprise personally speaking.

Here's the list

Antidoot--A North American Raga

Had quite a few different variants of Antidoot last year ranging from fruited sour to barrel-aged cider to blend of beer + wine to wild fermented base beer blended ala lambic style to collab brew like this one--brewed with pomace of apples and then added with fresh apple juice--it's a rather simple sounding beer--light sour--easy drinking--sometimes beer can be simple and nice.

去年喝到这家比利时小醸坊作品有好几个不同款，其中这款以苹果皮及新鲜苹果汁入酒发酵而成的易喝性作品虽然听起来平平无奇不过是易喝中见层次的一款，微酸带些微水果酸香气息，在炎热天喝很适得其所。

 

Cantillon--Magic Lambic 2020

No doubt 1 Cantillon variants which i have been curious for quite some years--finally had it during last Xmas share--saw some comments saying other batch 1 the following batches was sort of hit & miss or down right not nice--personally strongly believe that no matter what are the comments--you need to drink to know how it taste--whatever rated on Untappd or comments by whoever is just other people's opinions--the best way to know how a beer taste like is by drinking it and let your own palate make any judgement if necessary--first 2 sips upon cracking this one instantly affirm that it's a deliciously one--in fact 1 of the group guys just had the same beer on tap during an event in Hong Kong not long ago and said this was different from the one he had from tap in HK--he did not think highly of Magic Lambic until this bottle.

Conclusion--1 of 2 best bottles during Xmas share and personally happy to have tasted this long wanting to try Lambic.

去年圣诞分享会上终于喝到这款加了香草蓝莓的覆盆子天然发酵果酸啤酒，是个人比较好奇风味表现会如何的Cantilllon作品之一，实际上之前看到一些网上评酒留言说第一批次後再出来的Magic Lambic表现不尽如人意，虽那样一点也不影响个人对这款作品的好奇，终于喝到的的结论是分享会当天最佳作品之一，个人信念是酒一定要自己喝过才心里有数，别人意见可以看看但自己味蕾真实感受後才是决定性的。

TDM 1874--Shimokita Carrot Cake

This was a rather unexpected one--was cracking this can during small share in a Tokyo residential public park--this beer was meant to be sort of palate cleanser so we could do the next "big" one--but hang on a minute--this was surprisingly nice--carrot cake in a beer form--easy drinking with light sour + cinnamon spices influence--a pleasant one to drink.日本横滨小醸坊的作品，以胡萝卜，肉桂，豆蔻，香草入酒造出具有萝卜蛋糕风味的啤酒，是在东京和朋友小聚分享时喝到的“过场酒”，意思是在喝下一款““大酒”之前换一下啤酒类型风格同时也“更新“一下味蕾，不过‘喝下第一口後朋友们异口同声说这款酒有意思，香甜带微酸清爽易喝中带出肉桂风味，确实留下了印象。

Side Project--BBT 2023 Pappy Van Winkle

Thanks to group member who is a LaCoterie member--have had the chance to sampled some different years/different variants of BBT( as well other big stouts)--this one was cracked as a celebratory bottle for an occasion--first sip the nose was very bourbon which is to be expected knowing the barrel strength--but as it slowly warm up and open up--the Van Winkle influence still definitely there but the stout was not overwhelmed--what you would expect from a big stout from SP is firmly there with--if anything would say the barrel influence sort of emplified the stouts characteristics rather than anything else.

对美国波本有所了解的都知道Pappy Van Winkle是什么，这次醸坊找来这款波本旧桶作为大黑啤作品BBT的静置提味载体，这是醸坊十周年特别作品之一。本地分享会中有人是这家密苏里高手醸坊会员制一份子，因为那样之前可望不可及的一些Side Project作品都能通过醸坊首卖原价取得，也有幸喝了好几年不同批次的BBT（实际上去年也喝了2024裸麦版的BBT），这次Pappy Van Winkle十年旧桶的桶陈版BBT确实有更强的风味层次表现，波本气息不在话下但不至于抢戏，BBT的浓郁黑啤特质并没有被掩盖，某种程度上甚至可说被放大了。

Standard--BA Side Street

Had this early last year--and then aother variant during Xmas share(BA Back Street)--both are basically bourbon barrel-aged apple mead with difference being Side Street added vanilla+ cinnamonm while Back Street was about walnut+cinnamon--like both and did not there was huge different in taste profile/performance--only thing is of the different adjunct used--personally thought vanilla presence was more obvious than walnut.

去年初本地分享会上喝到，然后年底圣诞分享会喝到同款分支BA Back Street，分别在于Side Street使用了香草和肉桂，而“后街“版本用了核桃和肉桂，两者基酒都是苹果酒加蜂蜜，也都是美国波本旧桶陈放提味，风味表现方面没有巨大差异，基调是美味的煮熟苹果派和肉桂气息，两者比对的话，个人感觉香草的使用比核桃更有显现感。

Uchu--Atom Mango

Went to their taproom at Toranomon Hills twice during last Nov trip to Tokyo mainly because there was no Fruited Sours to be found at almost all of the other places i went--brought back 4 different variants and have to say this Mango juice bomb was really tasty--had it on tap while there as well in can--both version were really nice--in fact would think if pour in a glass and hand it to anyone as a glass of Mango Smoothie--think probably 9 out of 10 would just drink it as thick fruit juice and never think of it as a fruited sour beer.

日本山梨县新贵醸坊”宇宙“的果泥啤酒作品，从罐子设计用色到入杯酒体浓稠度到颜色都非常切题，就是被装在啤酒罐的香浓带酸甜味优质浓郁芒果汁，喝起来完全不像啤酒，也没有任何酒精感，虽然确实是啤酒但真要装在果汁杯子拿给不知就里的人喝的话，大概率是十之八九会觉得就是杯美味果汁。