Emmanuales - eh?

Orw waaaaarh. 

You may be thinking. 

              I know I was - I thought that Emmanuales had closed down? Do you not remember that number of slightly grim bottles without the leter K that they produced a few years ago? I did!  So it was with a certain amount of surprise that I saw 2 or 3 of their brews advertised at Beer Central back in August. And, purely on a research basis, I went for two - their Black IPA which was about 6.9% if memory serves (and it doesn't) along with their 10000 Saisons, described at the front of the can as a "Rustic saison". What would it be like? And who and where are they these days? 

Well, perhaps to my surprise - both were excellent. I tried their black IPA first, which had a name and everything, and it was fab! Quite an old time flavour if am honest - but not in a bad way. It was actually the perfect blend of bitter hopiness, fruit/citra and dark smokey malt. I loved it.

And what of their Saison? Well, to start with, it was a marvelous 7.8%. One of the things I very much appreciated about the Emmanuales bottles back in the day was that they were always strong - and in this case, not afraid to breach the 7.4% barrier that many brewers currently and understandably stay away from. So I was very pleased - and admittedly not surprised - to find that this saison was simultaneously strong as well as very refreshing!

There was also thankfully a lot of yeast left in the can - one thing that disappoints me a little about...um....modern cans...is the lack, irrespective of the cloudiness, of yeast in any substance, or possibly other adjuncts(?) left in the bottom of a can? Not least because I like to ensure that I get a good drop of each brew so am usually willing to wash out the bottom of the can or bottle in order to add more murk or depth to each taste, and of course' slightly prolong it's consumption. This ticked every box.

So - where are they based these days I hear me ask? Because I distinctly recall the brewer/founder being interviewed on Look Norfff about 5  years or so ago showing him selling, and presumably brewing, his bears at a Sheffield Brewery tap - am thinking perhaps at Sheffield Brew Company? Or I may have misremembered one of those facts....

I know that Neepsend had to move last year or  similar, and there's nothing preventing Sheffield Brew Company doing the same. But I wasn't actually sure whether firstly that would see him leave, or whether the issues with the brewing or bottling previously caused him to at best postpone production.

Now the can says they are based on Cromwell Street in S6. As a can it rather unsurprisingly doesn't name the brewer, but I have no reason to presume it has changed hands or indeed brewers. Either way both of the beers tried were more well balanced and perhaps more accomplished than the brewery's previous offerings. Alas, having as yet not carried out any internet searches - where everything is true - on the same, am unsure of whom it is brews there, and what happened to their previous undertaking or location.

I am however sure that they are now producing fabulous and very quaffable brews here in fine, sunny, Sheffield - go give them a try!

Cheers

Wee Beefy

QIPA, I have heard........

                Evening readings - soz for the lack of recent posts. Since my thus far unreported meet up with chums in Shakespeare's fabulous beer and cider house the day before my birthday, have probably only been out four times, and even then, not to anywhere new. Not that they have been uninteresting.......so, tonight am here to describe a recent haul reflected move towards a reference, to what I imagine may have started in Belgium - to the suggestion of a quadruple IPA.

At the point I type this I can hear the mutterings - surely its just a triple IPA, surely there is no history of QIPA's, surely its just a fad - or, more ridiculous - "ar lass drunk keg back in 1969 n v nivver done sor since" - a scarcely reasonable quote from 2012, which I still hear from CAMRA remembers far too frequently. And which am not yet over.

So I bought a can of Fresh from the North, a 12.2% QIPA from Northern Monk, in can from the future, at the beginning of the month. Tonight I found it's best before was the 8th July, but if I had been more careful reading the label I assure you I would have supped it last week. That said it is 12.2%. I think, and now know, it doesn't disappoint.

I saw my chum, and possibly yours, Robert J Ward, supping and revealing this delight once arriving, or perhaps the night before going to, Seahouses in the marvelous North East. I may have already secured one - if not I did straight away, or ASAP. Tonight I finally opened it - and as hoped, it successfully blends a slab of hops with the natural and seemingly unavoidable "joy" of alcoholic sweetness. I also have to admit that I have found about a 5th of a pint of soup in the can bottom, and heinous as it may sound, I have very much enjoyed adding it to the glass!

So is it a QIPA? Well, sadly, after my all too regular search of the first page of google for info, details of QIPA are at best thin on the ground. The review that came up was for Polly's Spectrum, featuring possibly Spectrum hops, but definitely Mosaic and Citra. Am sure it was ace - sadly that is now sold out. Otherwise it's just Pomona Island and Northern Monk, that have brewed this style, although am sure that others exist. A following search to include "Belgian" at the start brought no other info. Whilst admittedly an at least poor search, I have to say that to start with at least, QIPA has not existed for very long at all. Please feel free to correct me if am wrong.

For me I can see that the issue stems perhaps from the idea of using 4 times the amount of hops and perhaps malt in any brew - already modern brews contain an oft increased and simultaneously amazing amount of hops, so arguably that would not be required. Except - in this case - the strength of the alcohol means that a large slab of hops in fact benefits the taste throughout.

Am still very slowly and I admit enjoyably, drinking the brew now. It is in fact a very admirable undertaking. I know that I like Northern Monk but am happy to say that not only does this creation not disappoint, the lack of specific detail of the type of brew style available,  means that this is in fact a successful undertaking.

I hope that you also get chance to try a taste of this brew!

With kindest regards

Wee Beefy

Citra everything

 Evening!

          Last month I bought two cans off Sean from Other Half Brewing. I had become a fan of their stuff, along with Veil Brewing, and other's whom I have temporarily forgotten the names of, for a while now. Despite the height of their prices (remember kids - I do still perhaps pointlessly strive to pay no more than a pound a percent), I managed to order 2 x 6.5% DDH IPA's. Citra everything is the second.

I realise that people - like myself - could suggest that Citra everything should simply be a can filled with green Citra hops - and it wasn't. Luckily I had brought this to enjoy a tasty hoppy cloudy beer. It did not disappoint.

It's actually called small CITRA EVERYTHING and is in a can with a lovely pinky red label. Taking the lid off  I straight away smelled the lovely Citra flavours as they wafted over my nose.I realise that numerous unsavoury undertakings could have taken place at Other Half Brewing, but their lack of more than the most basic information about the brew simply meant that I loved the flavour even more. The only frustration, and even then minimal, was a lack of explanation of the use of the word small....

Aroma wise it was almost all Citra - but despite my poor memory of the specifics of Citra am confident enough to suggest there was a mild, none hoppy, sweetness in there. In the end it mattered not. The overall taste is clean and suppable - so much so that I have had to ignore this half a can that I have left whilst I set up the P.C. After an unusally long 50 minutes in the glass am now convinced that the Citra is even more noticable - but am equally aware that this could be a trick of the mind.

I may have mentioned previously that I have had a mixed series of encounters with American, and recently also Canadian brews - but this ticked almost all of my boxes. Probably but not entirely based  on my not having been to my second home for 7 months, I do remember that the fab staff at Shakespeares supplied a large number of frankly wonderful USA breweries whose products I love - although the only one I can remember is Founders Brewing Co and their Kentucky Breakfast Stout - and I know I have not had that for years.

Finishing the murky soup was a very pleasant and equally long awaited achievement. I know its a tad pricey, but on this basis it's worth every penny.

Next time you spot a few cans I would suggest you grab some!

Your very best of health.

Wee Beefy

Pub

 Afternoon!      

        on Thursday I visited a public house, as you used to describe them in the 1930's. It was the first time that I had seen a beer menu for such an operation, since back in October 2020. I walked into town, principally to see the sun setting since I wasn't booked in until 20:00, and having allowed quite a while to arrive I was there by 19.55 and waited to find out if my table was ready. I was quite warm after the walk, but as Charlie advised, that wouldn't be an issue once I was sat outside in the cold...... 

I started on a pint of Abbeydale Heathen APA on cask from the past - goodness - it's like it's.......2020 all over again! Luckily the Heathen was on good form and only lasted me about 10  or 15 minutes so I quickly ordered and more slowly supped another pint. I had a quick chat with Mr Cullen  and found that one of his chums was supping a fabulous can of the St Mars of the Desert Barley wine at 9%. I assured him that he would like it - I know I certainly did.

I was supposed to be meeting up with a chum but after a few texts , and having now moved onto a 6% Full Circle IPA on Keg from the future, I discovered that they were sadly unable to join me. By this time, having moved under one of the heaters and added two further layers, I was finished with the IPA and thought about getting a canned beer from their excellent selection. Luckily they had a can of DEYA Saturated in Citra available so I decided to grab a can of that, and as I was starting that, now aware of the quality of the heated lights above me a bit more, I was joined under the cover by a group of chaps from fine, sunny, Sheffield.

One of them was called Alan, or indeed, one of thousands of other human male names. Likewise, the latter applies to the others, who all sported  pronounceable noises with which to identify them. They had been sat out in the cold when I had arrived and one of them was wearing shorts like some kind of madman. They were at the same time attempting to find one of their group whom it transpired had left a near full pint having said he was going to the loo. A number of texts confirmed he had in fact gone home! What a terrible waste of lovely beer...

I chatted to this group for a good while but finding out it was nearly 22:50 I decided to head home myself, and I got to Waingate a couple of minutes before the 52A none Stenchcrotch peasant waggon arrived - weirdly carrying no bottom deck passengers but 4 members of staff.... 

I have to say that despite gaining a minor blister on my left foot (I took the extra insoles out of my boots when my feet swelled up earlier in the year and had forgotten to replace them - and the current insoles are a trifle damaged...), I have to say that I really enjoyed my visit - and once I finish my current batch of antibiotics I am returning to join Mr RJW and chums sat hopefully right at the back of the covers surrounded by warm humans!

Cheers!

Wee Beefy

Whiplash Drone Logic Simcoe DIPA

 Hello folks,

              now am well aware that some recent posts may worry the less open minded of you that all I drink is marmite and blood orange land bier, and equally, that you may, all you caring bunch, worry that all I  drink is beers above 6% - my usual starting strength. Well in truth as I worry I may have said about 50 times, whilst at home at least less so, but I always like to start on a pint of "cask from the past". Its like the 1860s , when we hde yet to learn that diseases such as cholera were transmitted by mucky water. And therefore we should all the same only drink clear cask ale.....

So to undermine that outlook I wanted to describe a beer from Whiplash brewery, whom I understand are based in Dublin. The chaps at Bar Stewards have been getting Whiplash beers in quite a lot this year and thus far have tried about 6 of their brews. I have enjoyed every one. Unsurprisingly this brew contains oats . When I was a youngster, about  7 years ago, the very suggestion of the inclusion of "modern muck" like oats and wheat malt in the mash, would have instantly made me suspicious and dismissive. But I now realise that in its right place most adjuncts have the potential and in this case the ability, to help dispense tasty beers. Am certain that Arpus from .....um...somewhere Eastern European, (Latvia?)  contain the same. And I love their beers. This one is once again extremely easy drinking.

I have always loved Simcoe hops - am not 100% sure how long they have been around, nor indeed where they might be produced in, but have always loved them along with US cascade and Citra and Columbus and similar. And as you know, I do like an easy drinking beer.

The aroma of Drone Logic is in this case quite yeasty - but that is likely down to my always washing out cans to get the chunks of non dissolved yeast elements and other physical additions mixed into my cloudy beer. The taste is actually quite honest in terms of the yeast - and the Simcoe still provides a delicious background, probably less hoppy in terms of bite due to the collaboration of both oats and wheat.

So far have more or less finished the beer in an hour - but that is related to the amount of time it takes to log onto here!

 I realise that the addition of wheat and oats no doubt is repsonsible for its easy drinkingness but its still incredibly quaffable. I also realise that I have said before that ideally I should want beers to taste of cement or unset concrete, and sadly in the last 30 years a few probably have, but this collage of features is extremely enjoyable. Who wouldn't crave the mix of suppability and hoppy delights? Well, in the absence of any actual answer, the short answer of course is myself. Cracking brew!

Last info is to confirm that tomorrow, which is a day, I will be supping in the niddering cold of the outside of Bar Stewards in the evening! I was very lucky to get a table full stop if am honest. I admit that I probably told a lot of regular drinkers that I wanted initially to avoid my favourite pubs but this is the fourth consecutive day (tomorrow) that many will have been available to us folks.

In the meantime, I may see some of you there , and if so or if not, I wish you the very best of health.

Cheers!

Wee Beefy