A Night of Renaissance
It’s been a while since we did any reviews; however tonight we have a selection of beers from Renaissance Brewing Company of Malborough, and it’s high time we wrote them up.
Renaissance are the producers of one of our all time favourites, the Craftsman Chocolate Oatmeal Stout. But first up we have the Perfection Pale Ale.
Perfection Pale Ale – abv 5.0% – 500ml glass bottle – English style Ale – $7.29 from New World Birkenhead
Pale amber in colour, with a hint of white foamy head which clings to the glass. Aromatic hops with a hint of toffee on the nose; light and well balanced palate with just a hint of bitter hops on the finish. Wet and cool on the tongue.
Verdict: Well balanced and very sessionable. This would be a great beer to go with a summer afternoon BBQ. Chris says “it’s pretty choice”.
M.P.A. (Marlborough Pale Ale) Imperial Pale Ale – abv 8.5% – 500ml glass bottle – Imperial Pale Ale – $11.99 from NW Birkenhead
According to the bottle this beer was “built to showcase Rakau, a new Hop variety developed in New Zealand” and it is certainly pure and single-minded in this respect. Hoppy Hoppy Hoppy… Joy Joy Joy! Gorgeous rusty hue in the glass and massive fresh hop character on the nose, which follows through to the strong and slightly bitter palate. The flavour is consistent through to the finish and boy does it linger. This is not a beer for the faint of heart or a casual afternoon session – at eight and half percent, after just a few sips all of us were feeling its effects.
Verdict: A proper show-pony IPA. If you’re a hop fiend too, this one is not to be missed! As Chris so eloquently puts it; “Fucking Awesome!”
Stonecutter Scotch Ale – abv 7.0% – 500ml glass bottle – Scotch Ale – $7.29 from NW Birkenhead
Almost ruby red in colour. Roasty malts pervade on the nose. Thick molasses and golden syrup notes dominate the palate and leave behind a smoky finish faintly reminiscent of tobacco. It seems the further down the glass, the more smoky the finish. Sadly, by this point our palates are not at their best; and we all swear we’re getting something more but can’t put our finger on it…
Verdict: A very promising malty ale – let’s try this one again, but next time before we get into a hop monster…
And it must be that time of the evening.. for the Chocolate Oatmeal Stout… I think we’d do it a disservice trying to review it now, so we’ll leave it for another time. But I’m glad we explored the Renaissance range some more, and suggest you do the same, if you’re not already a convert! Chris says “Bye for now! I love beer!”
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