Explorations in beer
However, the newer installment acquits itself better – it boasts a definite sour undertone to the juiciness. It doesn’t reach the lofty heights of Päivi or Konnichiwa Kitsune (which, to be fair, do benefit from the heftier ABV, Holy Moose is a tweener-beer).
A solid 3.5, a beer I wouldn’t mind having again (in optimal conditions: the Moose, he doesn’t like getting warm), but no hurry to repeat the experience.
FI: Hapokasta mehua. Ei tajunnanräjäyttävä, mutta sangen jees kuitenkin.
Patient Zero is Left Hand Brewing Company‘s Twin Sisters Double IPA.
Bought a bottle in Stockholm back in July and figured it’s time to sample the taste before the hops start expiring.
Visually the beer is coppery clear, with a nice thickish head. Despite the strong head, the carbonation is low, Twin Sisters is not a fizzy beer by any means.
The taste is less of an IPA than I expected, the hops (rated high at 77 IBU) are not overwhelming at all, but stealthily subdued. The taste is complex and has pine, malts and some caramelized sugar in it. None of the elements treads on the others, and the overall taste is balanced and pleasant. The close-to-ten ABV is not an issue, the taste of alcohol never reaches out.
This was my first Left Hand beer, picked up a Smoke Jumper alongside this one, and am definitely looking forward to trying it out as well.
I’ve never gotten used to the multi-variable ratings, a single number’s been good enough thus far. So, without any further ado, the rating: 4.5 stars, a hearty recommendation and a promise to buy a second bottle given the chance.
FI: Kaksossiskoissa oli vähemmän humalaa kuin etiketti lupaili, mutta syyskuun oluiden kiistatonta kärkeä tämä on.
This obviously means that a selection of seasonally appropriate beers lands in the shelves for a month or two.
The selection is pretty much the same, year on year. After all, there’s only so much variety that can be packed into the beer whose main attraction is quaffability from a heavy maß. This year’s crop packs two new arrivals: Hacker-Pschorr’s Märzen and Svaneke’s Oktoberfest.
I’ve never been to the festival. For some reason during the Nokia Siemens Networks days the joint sessions hosted in Bavaria were always packed full. Even if there’s not that much beer-wise but volume, the massive festival grounds and crowds would have been interesting to see.
FI: Oktoberfest ei yllätä. Valikoimaltaankaan.
Foreign: Despite the sudden surge of a bottom-fermented beer in the local category, Põhjala’s Virmalised kept up the topside alternative. Virmalised was my first encounter with the brewery, and if their output remains at this high level, I have high expectations for later rounds. Virmalised is a fresh and fruity beer (is there an echo here), which was just the thing to soothe the tongue in the warmest days early in the month.
FI: Samanlaiset keskenään, raikkaat ja hedelmäiset.
brewnardo 