Hopful Thinking

Format: 500ml clear glass bottle  Type: Ale  Origin: Scotland  Strength 6.5% abv  Cost: $8.40  Purchased from: boozee.co.nz  Selected by: Matt

The back of the bottle boasts that the Belhaven Wee Heave has “a rich deep flavour that derives from the greater proportion of malted barley to hops which charecterised Scottish ales of the 19th century.”

I think that I write on behalf of all Hopful Thinkers when I say: “Warm up the time machine, baby!” If this is what the Scots were drinking in the 19th century, they were doing alright.

This was decidedly one of our favourites so far.  This is a smooth, warm ale full of complex flavours that leave you wanting more. A dark, clear ale that pours beautifully with a warm amber colour. It is very smooth with a clean mouthfeel; almost in spite of it’s dark colour and initial strong malted barley nose.

Jibber-jabber

Matt: I think I have a new favourite beer! It has a full dark flavour, but isn’t bitter. Truly delightful!

Chris: That is very nice! Fantastic!

Marc: That is really, really good. I was expecting something much stronger from a beer of that colour, that is really good! Something to be enjoyed in a cold day. It is so smooth.

Matt: There is a definite strong malt flavour, but it is no way overpowering.

Chris ( in Scottish accent – read from back of bottle): A beer to be sipped, savoured and fully respected… or i’ll f*&king smack you in the head!

Steve: “I’m dead sexy”

Chris: Back to the beer… The smell put me off at first to be honest was a bit off putting, it made me think it was going to be very heavy. However the first sip was a pleasant surprise.

Todd: It isn’t the beer you could drink three or four bottles of. It needs to be enjoyed and appreciated.

Final words
Marc:  It is a good beer. Definitely one to be savoured, not just drunk on hot summers day.
Steve (in Scottish Accent): Perfect Burger Murder (?)
Bob: (Shakes head at Steve & giggles)
Matt: Take your time and you’ll enjoy it all the more.
Todd: Barley!
Chris: Och aye the noo!

Format: 500ml glass bottle  Type: Ale  Origin: England  Strength: 4.7% abv.  Cost: $6.99 (special)  Purchased from: Countdown, Glenfield  Selected by: Steve  Apologies for lack of Photo: Dan (Sorry!)

According to the bottle, “whatever you do, take Pride”.  We’d say – pretty good advice.  All in all, this is not a bad drop, although for the money you could get something a bit more special.

Smooth, malty nose with a hint of caramel.  Buttery mouthfeel, strong malt on the palate, hearty, almost oily on the finish.

Selected Banter:

Chris: Love that smell ay, very malty
Josh: Sharp caramel nose with .. yeah it’s malt isn’t it.. brewer’s yeast
Steve: I like it.
Dan: It’s almost oily.. not as in oily in the morning.  You know what happens when you sleep under a Jag, you wake up oily in the morning…
Philip: What did the car say to the boy racer.  You’re exhausting me!
All: Riiiiight….

Format: box of 4 x 330ml glass bottles  Cost: $16  Purchased from: Countdown Glenfield Type: Lager  Origin: From a Shed in Reikorangi on the Akatarara Road : 5% abv.  Selected by: Steve  Tasted with: Steve’s Awesome Guinness Chocolate Cake (Not a good match!)

Great packaging, pours a very light golden colour, but a fairly off-putting nose, and we found the taste to be nothing special, a bit “watery”.  In our opinion, don’t bother with this one.

Chit-chat:

Philip: Strange Smell
Dan: What the? What is that?? Hmm.. it does have an INTERESTING smell…
Rob: It’s defintiely yellow
Dan: Yeah, somewhat of a golden color…
Josh: I think you’ll find it’s straw yellow
Dan: Kinda like healthy urine…
Chris: Smells like public toilets…Smells like hay
Steve: Piece of cake, spaniel?
Dan: Smells like Lion Red or something.   The box looks awesome. She’s a bit watery really.  Dude, that is very good cake.  Well done man.

Micah: Final thoughts are .. if I was at a pub and I was shitfaced, this would not be a bad beer to be drinking, because I could probably put away a lot of these fairly quickly and still relatively enjoy myself.

I think we are going to have to make this for one of our meets!  Looks delicious…

Homemade Homebrew (Beer) Ice Cream.

When I was 17 my Father was a sales rep for Coopers Home Brew kits. It was then that I asked for my first kit. Dad (somewhat responsibly) said no. He said I couldn’t do it because:

1. I was only 17 (fair enough)
2. It isn’t as easy as it sounds! I would actually have to do some work!
3. I’d have to keep it clean!

It was number three that was the clincher for me at the time. As far as I was concerned, washing anything couldn’t possibly be worth the effort.

It was in 2009 when a good friend of mine started home brew and invited me down one afternoon to try his “Continental Lager”. With a bit of apprehension and somewhat expecting the worst, I tentatively sipped at his beer. I was more than pleasantly surprised; it was fantastic! After getting through a few bottles of this liquid gold that was created in his spare bedroom, I stumbled up the road with visions of creating my own BEER nudging my mildly compulsive conscience.

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