Vale IPA

Style:American IPA
Alc %:5.5
Brewery:McLaren Vale Beer Company
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 330ml
Where/When:Home, July 2012
Cost:approx $14 for 4
Rating:7

As the label says, a lovely scent of passionfruit on the nose.
Orange, light copper body with a white head that decreases.
I get a nice passionfruit and mango taste followed by a spicey hit and finishing with a fairly mild bitterness and a reappearance of the passionfruit.
I do like this fruity drop and also appreciate that it's widely available (in bottle stores rather than bars) - I wish my local pub would have it on tap but in many ways that says more about how poor the selection is at my local than how much I like this beer- and I do like it- i'd just prefer it to be my fall back choice rather than the best of a bad bunch at any given pub in Sydney.
If I had this next to a Feral Hop Hog it would lose out but next to a James Squire IPA it would come out on top.
It could be suggested this has more in common with a decent fruity APA rather than a overtly hoppy IPA.

Three Boys IPA

Style:IPA (English)
Alc %:5.2
Brewery:Three Boys Brewery
Country:NZ
Tap/Bottle?:500ml bottle
Where/When:NZ
Cost:approx NZ$10
Rating:6/10

Malty and very english in style to me- that means mild and not too(very) hoppy.

Nice not over rich maltyness.

The Hops barely come to the fore at any stage.

Best before 23/8/12 on bottleneck.

Kiwi Craft Beer Spectapular

The Local Taphouse, Darlinghurst

Sat. May 21st

20 Kiwi Beers on tap!!!!

I got there about 3:30 after work and got a paddle straight away.

First sample: Twisted Hop Sauvin Pils:nice light summery Pils- i gave it 7/10.

2nd sample:Emerson Bird Dog (Pale Ale): malty lookin. Nose- light but intense sweet passionfruit- gorgeous. T- different, sweet with spice.

3rd sample: Cock and Bull Monks Habit (US Red Ale/APA):a little funky for my tastes.

4th sample:Moa Five Hop (ESB/Strong Ale):more honey like than hoppy

5th sample:Croucher Patriot (American Black Ale): nice nose, bit like a red ale.

310ml of Yeastie Boys Rex Attitude (Peat-smoked Strong Golden Ale): wow!! Never had anything like it before- if you don't like the smell then you will struggle to get past it- i thought it was like a smoked ham hock- very unique sipper.

575ml 8 Wired Hopwired (New World Kiwi IPA):Had this before and I love it, great grapefruit flavour and aroma- classy, fruity and morish.

310ml Epic Hop Zombie (2IPA):fantastic sweet fruit nose, well rounded sipper that wasn't as bitter on the hop front as i thought it might be.

Finished off with another 8 Wired Hopwired!!

Some high alcohol brews- very enjoyable.

Little Creatures Special Brew IPA

Freebie. Normally $5 for 300ml
Nice fluffy white head that disappears
Pleasant light citrus head
A little bit of grassyness but fresh, clean and not overpowering- mild and pleasant.
No surprise that it tastes like this- a logical step from their pale ale
A nice addition to the IPA's made by Aussie brewers & something I would happily have in my fridge.

Tasted 23rd March 2010.

Avery IPA

Style:US IPA
Alc %:6.3
Brewery:Avery Brewery
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:New York 09
Cost:approx $2
Rating:8

Dark copper, slight off white head
bit of raisin and citrus on the nose
bit of citrus and tea up front
bit of caramel- little hint of grapefruit
clean, crisp and fresh. bit of malt sweetness toward the end,
Solidly good example of an ipa

Smuttynose IPA

Style:US IPA
Alc %:6.9
Brewery:Smuttynose Brewery
Country:USA
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, approx 750ml
Where/When:New York 09
Cost:$5.40
Rating:9


Super citrus up front- ruby/ blood red grapefruit- a little tart
with a sharp bitterness at the end
This a very nice IPA, highly recommended.

Lagunitas IPA

Style:American IPA
Alc %:5.7
Brewery:Lagunitas Brewery
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:New York 09
Cost:approx $2
Rating:6.5

nice amber pour with a slight off white head that dissapears.

sweet malted citrus on the nose.
a little juicy/fleshy up front (possibly orange zest), then a little malt and mild bitterness that hangs just a little.
a solid but not outstanding ipa. quite drinkable with a acceptable alc % level.
6.5

Blue Point Hoptical Illusion

Style:IPA
Alc %:6.8
Brewery:Bluepoint Brewery
Country:NY, USA
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Nov. 09
Cost:approx $2 US
Rating:6.5

Nice little head that dissapears.
Nice cloudy amber.
Nice fruity and floral nose-pleasant and sweet.
Fruity (citrus) and juicy....moreish with cold tea and a medium bitterness to finish off with.
Carbonation is good and it's an overall solid IPA just not outstanding.
I give it 6.5/10.

Jamieson's The Beast IPA

Style:IPA
Alc %:7
Brewery:Jamieson's Brewery
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:Tap
Where/When:The Local, 3/10/09
Cost:$11 for 575ml
Rating:9/10

Nice foamy white head
Orangey amber colour body
Fruity goodness on the nose
and their it is- that fruity lively taste of summer-
It's a little tart. Sweet and sour in one mouhful- blood orange but with a bitterness on the end that kinda lingers but doesn't distract.
The sweetness up front makes me want to keep on sipping at it.
I really like this tho the bitterness at the end is really surprising me- it's kinda cloying I must say, BUT I keep on going back to it for that initial taste of summer thing it has going on up front.
It's worthy as one of the best IPA in Australia and I'm sorely tempted to get a case for summer....The tart bitterness is really getting full on

Murrays ICON 2IPA

Style:India Pale Ale
Alc %:7.5
Brewery:Murray's Craft Brewing Co.
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:Tap
Where/When:20/9/09
Cost:$8.40 for 330ml
Rating:7.5/10

Nice fluffy white head that dissapates leaving a cloudy lace on the glass. The beer is an orange copper colour.
Smell: citrus, of course!
That summery floral flavour that I love is up front , sweet & a little malty- I can't help thinking of marmalade when I have this type of beer tho not as tart tasting.
A bitterness comes in the end, tho not overwheming. The abv creeps up on you-quite warming for sure. So not really a session beer.
I love the reminder of the citrus hops I got when I burped after having this beer!

Emersons 1812 IPA

Style:English India Pale Ale
Alc %:4.7.
Brewery:Emersons Brewery
Country:New Zealand
Tap?:Bottle, 500ml
Where/When:Home, 2008
Cost:$6-9
Rating:8.5

Pours with an inch thick off white head and a slightly red golden colour body.
The nose is a bit hoppy with a hint of citrus. On tasting you get a malt first then the citrus fruit flavour.
I think this is a good example of an IPA - not too hoppy- the malt and hops make it sweet & bitter without either being overpowering.
A slight pine taste in the hops.

I have to have this again as it my current favourite style although this is more English than American from memory.