Beer – #201 – The Twisted Hop – Enigma
The Twisted Hop Enigma, a Barley Wine, Brewed by The Twisted Hop in the style of a Barley Wine in good old Christchurch, New Zealand. Where I shall be next week, and not having thought this through with not enough time to take a side visit.
Looking old, worn out and a bit fuzzy here I am brandishing the beer, like a shield.
Deep copper in colour and a soft floral aroma with hints of cherries. Its sweet maltiness is balanced by the flavours of stone fruits and a robust hop bitterness. A period of maturation in American Oak contributes hints of vanilla and a tannic dryness. Flavours of dried fruits develop and Epiphany finishes long, dry and bitter. A great accompanyment to strong blue cheese.
330ml bottle of a 9%ABV beer, 2.25 standard drinks give or take and 85 IBU things, Barley Wine being 70-100 making it fair to middling.
I’m trying to listen to the Vinyl version of “The National” . “High Violet” and I’m confused by the “fuzzy” sounds reproduction. I may have to try the iTunes Version. I mention this as I paid some cash today to go see them live in NZ in, wait, 5 months time, be prepared said the boy scout!
Anyway, I best open this… Lovely fruity raisin aroma, rich ruby red colour, decent head, such a nice muted sweet aroma in the glass too.
Cor!, thats a bit noice, This is really in your face, there is a real upfront BOSH of sweet caramel fruit really heavy and sweet, but it’s all bluster as it gives to a decent length of taste.
It’s not subtle at all . It’s crammed full of things without a direction, and nothing that suggest that there is a way forward.
The pdubyah-o-meter is a bit very confused, with a love of the sweet way that the fruits carry a big front note, and that the alcohol is is not a feature. But it runs out of legs in a hurry. Which leave you with a big glass of of a lot of beer to drink without a clear sense of enjoyment or more importantly anticipation. So and for that this is muchly a let down. Lets agree a 7 – as good – and be done.
Or not because I’m righty royally miffed that this wasn’t more defined, better, richer, longer in taste, or just more in line with anticipation over delivery. Raisin Richness is nice, heavy sweetness is great, but that can’t be all. Truth is this might be waving towards bitterness as a note. very muddled.
Look, ok, you had an earthquake, I have no idea how traumatic that is day to day, but it’s not a baseline for anything other than progress. This seems like a thing that you are leaning on as as a call-to that event, Don’t. I wish I could like this more, I can’t. 😦
A life just as ordinary 
That is one happy beer drinker in the picture.
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I was euphoric for no reason at all 🙂 the beer was a bit of a downer though. Still a good night was had by me, which is always a thing
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Unexplained euphoria? Not a bad feeling to have.
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Reblogged this on Proper_Pour.
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