26. Founders All Day IPA

Beer number 26 - All Day IPA

Brand: Founders
Consumption date: 1/04/16
Description: Session Ale
Nationality: American
ABV: 4.7%
Source: R.U.B BBQ Pub, Detroit
Price: ~$6 USD

While roaming the streets of downtown Detroit looking for somewhere that showed Premier League football at 11 am, I stumbled upon the gem that is Rub BBQ Pub. Proudly boasting the most beer taps in all of Michigan, they boast an incredible 50 taps of draught beer, with a wide variety of styles to suit all palates. 

I decided to kick things off with a Founders All day IPA, a session ale packing  4.7% abv. This was a good choice. A lovely smooth hoppalicious tasting ale, one can see where it gets its "all day" moniker. I hope to see Founders make its way across the pond - I believe it is available at a small number of outlets here in the UK.


Obligatory picture of the beer taps:

I give this beer 3.5 beers out of 5

25. Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale

Beer number 25 - Alexander Keith's IPA

Brand: Alexander Keith's


Consumption date: 30/03/16
Description: English style IPA
Nationality: Canadian
ABV: 5.0%
Source: Jack Astor's Bar and Grill, Toronto
Price: ~ $10 (CAD)

Having just arrived in Toronto, I wandered aimlessly on the streets looking for somewhere to enjoy some food and a nice cold beer, and stumbled upon Jack Astor's Bar and Grill. They had a fairly comprehensive beer list including many I'd not hear of before, and I plumped for the Alexander Keith's. In Canada the beers are sized by ounces rather than pints - there was an option to get a slightly larger beer for an extra $2 so I went for that. It came in a large glass that seemed like a pint glass but might have been a bit bigger, with the slogan "Size Matters" displayed ominously on the side.

Although it was refreshing to have a beer after the long-ish flight, I was rather disappointed with the taste. It was more like a regular below average lager to me - I didn't taste any English style IPA-ness at all, and wondered if I'd even been brought the correct drink. 

On a side note, it was good to subsequently learn that craft beer has caught on in a big way in both Canada and America, but this was one to forget.

I give this 1 beer out of 5.

24. Premium Beer, Sapporo

Beer number 24 - Sapporo Premium Beer

Brand: Sapporo


Consumption date: 29/03/16
Description:
Nationality: Japanese
ABV: 4.7%
Source: New Loon Fung Chinese Supermarket, London
Price: £1.90 for one bottle


This is a drinkable premium lager - it's not too fizzy and it doesn't carry the oh-so-often watered down disappointment of an experience that much of the regularly available lager does. This could contribute to the long lasting nature that allows Sapporo to boast of being Japan's oldest brand. If you're someone who enjoys lager when other alternatives are available, or someone who just drinks whatever is available I see no reason why you would dislike the Sapporo premium beer. I'm afraid, however, that for me lager fails to provide delight and as such that this may be one of my last without being a few sheets to the wind or out of other options. Putting all that doom and gloom to one side for a moment let me reiterate that this is a drinkable lager. It isn't an unpleasant experience. The experience is just somewhat flat, and not because of the carbonation.

My rating for this beer:

2 beers out of 5.

23. Albino Squid Assassin, Brewdog

Beer number 23 - Albino Squid Assassin

Brand: Brewdog

Consumption date: 26/03/16
Description: Red Rye IPA
Nationality: Scottish
ABV: 7.4%
Source: We Brought Beer
Price: £3.90

It's Saturday night. It's England versus Germany. It's a night for a beer. Having not thought this through carefully enough yesterday there are only two beers in the fridge, and so the choice is limited (but neither seem disappointing prospects). The Brewdog Albino Squid Assassin, perching less than steadily atop a bottle of tomato ketchup gets the nod ahead of the more familiar squad members. After-all it is a friendly. It's all about experimenting. Although like Hodgson I have also opted against Drink(ing)water. Enough of this. On to the beer.

Let's start with the headline. This is a good beer. It reminds me of the Wild Card Jack of Clubs somewhat. Having said this any regular reader might note I wasn't much of a fan of that beer however. Well yes. The overall picture is a little similar, yet this drink seems to have a lot more depth and further dimensions to it than the aforementioned beer. The colour is deep red, the flavour is smokey and savoury. The packaging is pretty wonderful too. This is a good beer. Don't expect to find this on tap anywhere. You may have to go out looking for this beer if you want to try it, but it's certainly worth it. Drink it in with your eyes, drink it in over your taste buds. It provides pleasure to both senses.

The score:

4 out of 5 beers

22. West Coast IPA

Beer 22 - Treason West Coast IPA

Brand: Uprising

Consumption date: 18/3/15
Description: American Style India Pale Ale
Nationality: English
ABV: 6.0%
Source: Waitrose
Price: £1.99

Once again while popping into Waitrose for mundane items such as milk and bread, I found myself wandering over to the ever growing ale/beer section to see if there was anything interesting, and came across the Treason IPA from Uprising, a brewer I was not familiar with. Based in Windsor in Berkshire (West of London), Treason is an "American Style" IPA containing various American Hops.

At 6%, it packs a little punch while remaining a smooth and well balanced beer with a pleasant hoppy aroma without much bitterness. Does it rank among the top IPA offerings? Probably not for me but I'd certainly be willing to give it another go and see if that flavour starts to grow on me. Good value at £1.99 but in my opinion there are better choices out there.

2.5 beers out of 5

21. Brooklyn 1/2 Ale

Beer 21 - 1/2 Ale

Brand: Brooklyn Brewery

Consumption date: 8/3/15
Description: Hoppy Session Saison
Nationality: American
ABV: 3.4%
Source: We Brought Beer
Price: £1.67 (part of 6 for £10 offer)

Brooklyn is a brand that evokes fond Friday night memories for me - indeed as I've mentioned in a previous blog post, Brooklyn Lager is an old favourite that paved the way to explore new tastes in beer, so I looked forward to the 1/2 Ale with (blind) optimism. It might be the first "Saison" style beer I've experienced, and I was not put off by the low alcohol content (indeed, Brewdog Dead Pony at 3.8% is one of my frequently enjoyed beers at the moment).

I'm afraid that the 1/2 ale was not to my tastes. It was weak (flavour wise) and lacked all of the things one wants in order to embark on a session of drinking. By the end of the bottle I was finding it a chore to drink - even in the bath I could not reach the levels of refreshment I have become accustomed to. 

1.5 out of 5 beers.

20. Gipsy Hill Southpaw

Beer 20 - Southpaw

Brand: Gipsy Hill

Consumption date: 7/3/15
Description: Amber Ale
Nationality: English
ABV: 4.2%
Source: We Brought Beer
Price: £1.67 (part of 6 for £10 offer)

Gipsy Hill are fast becoming one of my go-to beer choices. After a splendid experience drinking the Hepcat, I was curious to sample another of Gipsy Hill's staple beers. Although it was not quite as to my tastes as the Hepcat, this is a very drinkable amber ale with plenty of flavour - a nice not too bitter "sessiony" taste leaves a pleasant aroma in your mouth.

I'm informed that Hagen and Hyde in Balham have Southpaw as well as other Gipsy Hill beers on draft. This is a prospect that excites me a lot - watch this space.

I give this beer 3.5 beers out of 5