Rob's Bits and Blogs on Tumblr!

Wordpress is annoying, so I've moved here... I may never post, rarely post or post a lot. Who knows?

[mcrdotcom]

Checking in with @crimsonlotustea 2016 Beneath an Emerald Sea sheng puerh! I’ve had a tong of this in my pumidor since summer 2017… this is the only cake I have cracked into, and this has had improper storage outside the pumidor for 1.5 years when I lived in Germany, so I wasn’t overly hopeful for it… but it is actually drinking really well (which excites me about the cakes stored well). Clearly has lost its young aroma, but by steep 3 it was deeply flavoured and thick bodied, youthful vegetal flavours still present, but a very prominent sweetness with very little astringency. Has a briney quality, and a little bitter cocoa nib vibe that I always loved… this combines with the sweetness to give something slightly reminiscent of salted caramel, which is actually great! Irish storage conditions are 15 - 22 C, 65 - 70 RH in my pumidor without added humidity. It is clearly developing a little, but I wouldn’t use the word “ageing” 😂 Excited for my second ever tong to arrive from @white2tea! #puerh #puer #sheng #raw #tea #china #chinese #pumidor #ageing (at Swords, Dublin) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnHvTHUtNlc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mcrdotcom]

Manotsuru Karakuchi - Tokebetsu Honjozo - 15% - big bites of chocolate and a touch of coffee? It’s very rich and umami for days #sake #japanese #japan #germany (at Göttingen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWzQXlBoGaw/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mcrdotcom]

Alpha 3 Kaze No Mori - Junmai Daiginjo - 14% - Nose dominated by iso-amyl acetate (lots of banana and pear drops), bubblegum, a touch of green apple and pineapple with undertones of rich rice pudding. Beautifully delicate fizz on the palate, light pear and banana notes, perhaps a touch of cherry, medium bodied with nice umami. Delicious and refined sake, with an unpasteurised fizz! #sake #japan #japanese #germany @sake36_berlin @gorrslight (at Göttingen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWyyWJEI2je/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mcrdotcom]

Brutal cider - 9% from To Øl (Denmark) - A delicious dry cider with lambic beer funk on the nose, apple notes and lots of winey grape vibes from time over Kerner / Riesling grapes. A great substitute for wine, great in the sun! #cider #beer #craft #craftcider #craftbeer #toøl @toolbeer (at Göttingen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQlrBVsj29F/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mcrdotcom]

Obscene, TIPA, Garage (Spain) 10% - It’s been so long since I’ve reviewed anything! I had this in November 2020 and today. What a beer! I usually am not a fan of TIPA. But this is fruity, creamy and delicious. Lots of tropical notes, some dank vibes and a lovely creamy base with hints of coconut. Probably the best TIPA I’ve ever had! (at Göttingen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKsXUFbgg9b/?igshid=7qn8v6g0fl73

[mcrdotcom]

#02 DIPA, To ØL (Denmark) 9.0% - sweet tropical nose with mango, passion fruit, stone fruit, orange, lemon rind, pine, some earthy notes. Wonderful full taste with that’s earthy, dank and vegetal, offset with plenty of aforementioned tropical fruits, and a savoury, almost light-chocolate (weird) finish which has a touch of bitterness. This is really good! Really murky pale yellow with a slight white head. 4.25/5.0 on untapped. . . #beer #craft #craftbeer #ToØL #ToOL #tasty @toolbeer (at Göttingen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCg8BYcA5Pi/?igshid=2r3gpm61y03

[mcrdotcom]

Garnet, Cognac Barrel-Aged Imperial Brown Ale, Rye River (Ireland) 9.5%, Bottled Oct 2019. . . Aroma: The aroma doesn’t jump out of the glass but it’s there. Quite a sweet aroma with lots of dark fruits: dried dates and figs, bruised red apples, fresh black cherry and blueberry, and maybe more in between. Beneath the fruit there is a fragrant almond/marzipan note with a touch of nutmeg and cinnamon. There is a lovely sweet caramel base aroma, toffee and fudge, with vanilla and milk chocolate as well. I think there is a slight touch of smoke in the background. Finally, a lovely and well integrated cognac aroma. I could smell this beer all day, beautiful! . . Taste: The first thing that hits me is this is silky smooth in texture, probably lower end of full bodied, but still luscious and inviting. Flavour builds nicely without being massively intense. Somewhat sweet with bruised red apples, some cherry and almond, giving way to dried dates and figs, lots of caramel and milk chocolate. Towards the finish the cognac comes in with a little alcohol heat, as well as a slight hint of coffee. Everything is well balanced, and this is very drinkable! . . Beautiful dark brown appearing black, luscious off-white head. 4.25/5.0. . . #craft #beer #craftbeer #brown #ale #brownale #barrelaged #ryeriverbrewingcompany @ryeriverbrewingco (at Dublin, Ireland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CA3Xhdzggc_/?igshid=g4os5dwrsjql

[mcrdotcom]

Hazy AF, Alcohol-Free NEIPA, Brewdog (UK) 0.5% - hoppy tropical nose with mango, pineapple, stone fruit and grapefruit. The nose does have hoppy onion notes too. Taste is hoppy with notes of pineapple and citrus, grapefruit pith and a blonde biscuity backbone. Lots of that hoppy onion taste as well sadly. A medium body and a zingy carbonation. Leans a little too far into the onion taste. Hazy and very pale yellow, no real head other than a fizzy white top like a soft drink. 3.25/5.0. . . Punk AF, Alcohol-Free IPA, Brewdog (UK) 0.5% - creamy and tropical nose reminiscent of mango and passion fruit yoghurt and some light malty character. Taste is similar to the aroma but stronger on the malt character than the yoghurt, giving some bready and biscuity notes. Decent amount of grapefruit pith bitterness comes through in the finish. A bit thin and not absolutely popping with flavour, but very refreshing and enjoyable! The better of the two in my opinion. Very clear pale yellow with the same fizzy white head. 3.5/5.0. . . #Craft #Beer #AF #AlcoholFree #NonAlcoholic #IPA #Hops #Review (at Swords, Dublin) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAqHjz3Ail9/?igshid=8f2ep5nf90g5

[mcrdotcom]

Enjoying some Liu An tea acquired 3 years ago from @globalteahut. Beautiful soft tea, medium-thick body, sweet notes of dried fruit, caramel, toasted bread, it’s nutty and just very enjoyable. A very pleasant and relaxing tea! Glad I have a whole basket! #tea #cha #heicha #liuan #anhui #china #chinese #globalteahut #gth (at Swords, Dublin) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAiMwlmgZxz/?igshid=cmwpl5a3tqzf

[mcrdotcom]

The Dark Druid, Salted Caramel Pastry Stout, The White Hag (Ireland) 5.5% - sweet aroma of caramel, nougat, milk chocolate, fudge, toffee, cream, a little toasty note. Lower end of full bodied to medium bodied, definitely hits the mark with salted caramel, reminiscent of a caramel chocolate bar, obviously milk chocolate note, vanilla, toffee and fudge... Not a big complex stout, but it does what it says on the tin! Delicious dessert beer! Kinda looks like Coca Cola, a deep amber beer appearing black, off-white head. 3.5/5.0 on untapped. . . The Space Between Us, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, Third Barrel (Ireland) 9.5% - on the nose oaky vanilla comes through with traces of bourbon, lots of coffee and toasted malt, coconut, caramel, toffee etc... Super smooth flavour with massive amounts of espresso, oak, vanilla, nice and sweet up front but deep and dark in the back end with bitter dark chocolate, toasted coconut, charcoal, leather, smoke... Full bodied with such a potent and coating flavour with such a sustained long finish... The bourbon comes through but not in a harsh way at all, and really the barrel is very well integrated here. Deep deep amber/brown appearing as black with a white coffee head. 4.5/5.0. . . #craftbeer #craft #beer #ale #stout #barrelaged #aged #barrel #thewhitehag #thirdbarrelbrewing @thewhitehag @thirdbarrelbrewing (at Swords, Dublin) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAELEzoAlvh/?igshid=18xgm8lujv4cx

[mcrdotcom]

Doomsday Disco, IPA, Northern Monk (UK) 6.0% - very fruity aroma, tutti frutti up front, tropical, lemon sherbet and a hint of raspberry, very inviting! Wow for a lactose IPA this has a slight zesty sourness, lots of citrus and lemon sherbet up front, leading into more tropical notes, sweet orange and tutti frutti candy vibes that sustain in a bitter finish. Nice thick mouthfeel that is balanced by some zingy carbonation, this feels like a more refined lactose IPA, not the usual sweet milkshake vibe! Hazy deep orange with a red tint, white to off-white head! Love it! 4.5/5.0. . . . Setting sun, DIPA, Whiplash (Ireland) 8.0% - lovely juicy nose of lychee, watermelon, tangerine, citrus, passion fruit, mango, florals, creamy yoghurt, quite a sweet nose! Taste is very very sweet upfront, quite a refreshing juicy start with lychee and watermelon, hints of citrus and orange wash over with some pineapple and some decent carbonation, backend we have a slow crescendo down into a savoury lingering finish that is a little dank and vegetal. I think this is an outstanding DIPA! Pale and turbid with a white head. 4.5/5.0. . . #craft #beer #craftbeer #IPA #review #beerreview #whiplashbrewing #northernmonkbrewco @whiplashbeer @northernmonk (at Swords, Dublin) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAA6tE-gAgs/?igshid=81e7ctt2y60v

[mcrdotcom]

2016 Beneath an Emerald Sea Sheng Puerh from @crimsonlotustea. The only tong I own, stored by me since 2017! Haven’t had this is a good while. I think it has definitely changed, it has a much more pronounced honey sweetness than I ever remember, that pairs with the bitter cocoa nib note really well! Nice sustained huigan in the finish that is really good. I’ve always felt it had a brine-seaweed-savoury base, and that still stands! I’m getting more stone fruit as well. Still a bit floral and bitter in the backend, before the huigan comes in. So, 4 years of age with almost 3 in my storage and it has developed a little, it hasn’t lost its high notes and it is still brewing nice and thick! Happy with this! #crimsonlotustea #beneathanemeraldsea #shengpuerh #shengpuer #rawpuerh #rawpuer #yunnan #china #chinese #tea #cha (at Swords, Dublin) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_u1nBegrfS/?igshid=7kqg7sdtd3qn

[mcrdotcom]

Midnight diner, New York Cheese Cake Stout, Four Pure (USA) 7.4% - Wow getting the cheesecake vibes! It has massive tonka bean vibes, licorice and spicy nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, a hint of chocolate with massive creamy notes, a lactic sourness gives it the cheesecake vibe! Nice full body, more tonka bean in the taste than smell, very aromatic and floral, licorice and fragrant spices, followed by dried fruits, a creaminess with lactic sourness and a bitter finish. Really enjoyed this stout, super interesting! Deep amber while pouring, but black in the glass, tint ivory head but disappears fast! 4.25/5.0 on untapped. . . . The Nightcrawler, Milk Stout, O Brother (Ireland) (4.5%) - mostly toasty malt and coffee on the nose. Not much sweetness or creaminess on the nose. Taste is certainly creamier than the smell, going from black coffee to a strong white coffee, toasted bread, little dark bitter chocolate, some sort of dark biscuit sort of flavour, maybe pretzel. Bitter finish! Sweetness and creaminess aren’t strong enough for me, feels a bit too dry? Medium to full bodied. Deep brown/amber beer appearing black with a white coffee head. I think this is a decent milk stout but lacks creaminess and sweetness, probably much better as a nitro stout on draft! 3.5/5.0 on untapped. . . #craft #beer #craftbeer #stout #milkstout #darkbeer (at Swords, Dublin) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_dzQK0gHOc/?igshid=11wtvrl09xua1

[mcrdotcom]

Life of Pie, Chocolate and Pecan Porter, Stone Barrel (Ireland) 6% - A bit of an alcohol smell up front, fruit esters, aromatic, almond, liuorice and all spice notes, malty toast notes, kind of dry stout/porter in the back, no chocolate for me on the nose. Medium body, little watery really, maybe some chocolate flavour, that toasty malty flavour comes through mostly, a bit of the almond, not really getting pecan? As it warmed it got better, getting coffee in the finish which I think should be chocolate, but I’m getting toasty notes... no roasted barley in the ingredients though. A bit lacklustre to me really overall. Deep amber/dark brown colour with a tanned head (basically no head at all during pour to be honest). 3.0/4.0 on untapped. . . #CraftBeer #Craft #Beer #Porter #Review #stonebarrelbrewing @stonebarrelbrewing (at Swords, Dublin) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_TdJRGA5rD/?igshid=1wyd75ybqc0yn

[mcrdotcom]

Hunter, Helles Lager, Gypsy Hill (UK) 4.8% - Nice bright nose with banana, citrus, a little spice, bready. Taste is fresh and light up front, hints of sweet banana and citrus on a light fruitiness, with that spicey note over the top, leading into something a bit richer as the bread comes through the middle and through the finish. Nothing really complex. It has a crisp carbonation up front, leading into a richer texture in the finish. Quite sweet, quite clean, quite crisp and very drinkable, but nothing amazing really! Nice clear golden-yellow with a white head. 3.25/4 on untapped. . . Hop, Skip & Juice, Pale Ale, Vocation x Manchester Marble Brewery (UK) 5.7% - Hoppy nose with citrus and pineapple predominantly, mango and spice, super tropical. It delivers a nice pineapple, tropical, orange and sour citrus fruit flavoured pale ale with lightly bitter finish. Very drinkable with some nice juiciness. Hazy pale orange with a white head. 3.75 on untapped. . . #Beer #Craft #CraftBeer #PaleAle #Pale #Ale #Hops #Hoppy #Review #vocationbrewery #vocationbrewing #marblebeers @vocationbrewery (at Swords, Dublin) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ONXSBAzEo/?igshid=8wkafafd6e76

[mcrdotcom]

Reducer, Pigs pigs pigs pigs pigs pigs pigs patron project, DDH NZ Pilsner, Northern Monk x Donzoko (UK) 5.5% - malt aroma, dark bread, with hoppy high notes of lime and stone fruit. Zippy and crisp taste, lovely full mouth feel, very hoppy, quite like a pale ale. Malty backbone with sour lemon and lime, nice stone fruits, some spice, and a bitter finish. If I blind tasted this I would say it’s a pale ale! Clear golden colour, foamy white head. Lovely crisp beer, hybrid pilsner-pale ale! 4.0/5 on untapped. . . Breakfast club, Waffle and Blueberry Stout, Vocation x Yeastie Boys (UK) 6.9% - Sweet aroma of blueberry, forest fruits, vanilla, baked goods etc... A bit thin, but makes up for it in lovely flavour, sweet vanilla ice cream, with blueberries first, a forest fruit yoghurt vibe, definitely get waffles and pancakes, creamy, milky, with a slight sour blueberry syrup finish. Really delightful stout! Black/brown beer with a massive purple hue, light brown head with a purple hue as well. 3.75/5.0 on untapped. . . #craft #beer #craftbeer #pilsner #lager #hops #ale #stout #review #vocation #vocationbeer #northernmonkbrewco #yeastieboys #donzokobrewingcompany (at Swords, Dublin) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ANbgZgRLJ/?igshid=kiqssy6s1jor

[mcrdotcom]

3 Brean Stout, Imperial Stout, Lervig (Norway) 12% - Massive aromatic nose with loads of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, licorice, vanilla, dark chocolate.... I guess that’s a lot of tonka bean! This continues with the taste, super aromatic and spiced. Not completely full bodied, maybe medium-full or lower end of full. It has a coca-cola vibe, with all of the spiced components I mentioned for the aroma, black licorice sticks, coffee and dark chocolate for sure, quite sweet upfront but leads into a bitter finish, which is very long and a little sip of this goes a long way!! This is super expressive, really interesting and unique (I have little experience with tonka bean stout and no experience with tonka beans) so maybe it just tastes like them 😂 Quite with very small brown head, reminds me of a glass of coke! 4.5/5.0 on untapped. . . #Craft #Beer #craftbeer #stout #tonkabean #tonkastout #review #lervig @lervigbeer (at Dublin, Ireland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-8GPKQAlVg/?igshid=165udomactcfp