A Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout (2003) – UK

A Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout (2003) - 5/5

This was another amazing birthday beer from Jeff and Virginia. I don’t really know where to start with this one as there was so much going on.

I was intrigued to find a wine style cork in the top and for the first time I had to use a wine bottle opener to unleash the malty goodness from within. It poured out thick and dark with little to no head or bubbles. This made me nervous that it might have spoiled due to poor handling or storage but after the first sip I was reassured that it was handled with care.
It was rather bitter and had a sharp, dark chocolate flavor. The mouth feel was almost like that of a red wine or port and I definitely got the sense that there was a high alcohol content.
With that in mind, A Le Coq is NOT a consumption beer. I would recommend sipping at it or saving it as a night cap.

I get the sense that this is a volatile beer and if improperly stored could easily disappoint. Overall, I was stoked with what I drank and was lucky enough to get a 2003 vintage in good condition. Keep in mind that a younger or poorly stored vintage could lead to an undesirable experience.

Thanks J&V, you’ve led me down the path to greatness once again.

Beer for thought

If beer = car

Then Hefeweizen = VW Karmann Ghia

Both are light, great for a summer day and known to be fruity.

Beer for thought

If beer = car

Then IPA = muscle car

Therefore American IPA = Camaro and English IPA = Aston Martin

Pint of Aston please.......

Men in slow motion

Most EPIC beer commercial EVER

Hopus – Brasserie Lefèbvre SA, Belgium

Hopus – Belgium - 4/5

Once again, good friends Jeff and Virginia (aka The Sizzlies) hooked me up with a fine selection of beers for my birthday. Amongst those chosen was Hopus from Belgium.

It came in a classic style pop-top bottle and poured a golden amber color. It was cloudy and full of sediment, but to me that equates to flavor.

It had a faint honey smell to it which was made more evident after a taste. Up front it had a classic Belgian flavor, then came the smooth hops, which was followed by the subtle honey note. As this was not a combination I had encountered before I was pleasantly surprised.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable drop and I’m quite sure I will be drinking it again. Jeff and Virginia have once again introduced me to a keeper. Thanks guys!!

Zatec - Žatecký Pivovar, Czech Republic

Zatec - Czech Republic - 2.5/5

Another interesting selection from Jeff and Virginia, this brew was very easy drinking. I try my hardest to remain impartial when trying a beer for the first time but this beer was exactly how I imagined it would be.

I wouldn't go as far as to say it was watery. It was light, fizzy and had a slight hoppyness which is typically Czech. It would make a great summer session beer and a nice change from the usual Mexican varieties.

I might grab one of these for the next BBQ beach session.

Julian Hard Cider – Julian, CA

Julian Hard Cider – 3/5

I was first exposed to cider in the summer of 2006 while living in London. Up until this time I thought cider was a direct threat to my manhood and stayed clear. Having said this, there was little to no variety in Australia at the time.

The UK however had a huge selection of local microbrewed and European ciders. At the time I became very fond of Magners, Bulmers and Gaymers from Ireland, all of which are a slightly dry cider.

I recently discovered Julian Hard Cider from the little town of Julian, East of San Diego. Having recently taken a drive out there with my wife Sarah and dog Charlie to sample famous apple pies, I had high expectations of this cider.

As most of the ciders I have sampled over the years were either sweet or what I considered dry, I must say it really took me by surprise. Julian Hard Cider is incredibly dry and bubbly, similar to sparkling white wine. It’s dryer than I ever knew a cider could be. Personally I prefer a mildly dry cider but I can definitely appreciate it for what it is.

I can imagine drinking this at Christmas time. I think it would pair really well with roast pork or pork chops.