Beer – #467 – Weezledog – Hopster
Wherein I find a beer, pick a finger, Get Interpol onto it, and double dip.
“100% NZ malt base of pale and Munich, showcasing a full 100IBU of NZ hops; Nelson Sauvin, Southern Cross, Motueka, Pacific Jade and Pacifica. Separates the posers from the true hop heads!”
I found a beer in the fridge that I’d forgotten I had, honest, it was hidden behind a big red bottle that I’m saving for an auspicious number. I don’t know how long (not that long) that I’ve had this beer, a Weezledog Hopster, but I had had it out on my travels on tap and it’s pretty good, I must have seen it in the store and wanted to re-live the experience.
Hopster – Brewed for Weezledog Brewing Company at Black Sands Brewing Company and although tthis is described as a NZ IPA, it is best described as India Pale Ale (IPA)
500ml bottle that contains beer that is 100+ IBU things, 6.7% ABV, so around 300 calories in this bottle, and it contains therefore 2.64 standard drink units
This beer should help to seperate the posers from the true hop heads. Despite the full 100
When you’ve found a treasure !
IBU of bitterness, theoretically a fair bit more, on top of a base containing absolutely no crystal or specialty malts the fact that just a shade over 2% of the hops are added during the boil ensures that the bitterness is smooth, then the rest of the hops are added through both a whirlpool and dry hop schedule.
This beer shows just what is possible with our local hops. There is so much going on that you just have to taste it, savour it, and enjoy the flavour evolution as it warms.
NZIPA is a great style, only emerging commercially in recent years. This is a beer to sort the posers from the passionate, this post ultra-modern new world interpretation of the India Pale Ale style has the most simple of malt bases designed to truely showcase the huge character of Kiwi hops. Hugely popular around the world no NZ brewery should really resist the urge to brew a solid NZIPA. It’s all about the hops
Like I sad I’ve had this on tap, and so the at home experience will be fun
Lovely grass hop aroma, lovely and sweet.
Familiar cloudy pour with a small but delicious looking light cream head. Nice carbonation.
Wow, that’s as good a beer as you could wish for, cold , bitter but not that bitter that you pucker up and wince. Finish though tends towards a dryness but in the middle of the tongue not at the back a you might think.
Love the cloudiness of this too, love the aromas that bloom in the glass, great florals.
Nicely sweet too to balance up the upfront bitter and the back end dryness. It is to sum up a really nice drinking beer.
I’m not as sure that this though is better than the on-tap version, and that’d be for many reasons, not only storage, freshness, ambience and atmosphere. But said that this is crackingly good at-home beer that made me smile, lick my lips and bring me happiness.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 a of its things from the thing. This sits well with some of the best IPA’s from New Zealand and should find many fans.
The double dip review
- Am I enjoying it? Yee, but not as much as the on-tap version
- Would I have another? Yes, anytime I see this I’d grab one if I could.
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes
I’m listening to El Pintorm which is the fifth studio album by American rock band Interpol – this is a track “All the rage back home”
INDIA PALE ALE & IPA
India Pale Ale gets its name and unique style from British brewers who were making beer for export to India. This style has an intense hop flavor which was used to preserve the beer for the long voyage. India Pale Ale has a golden to copper color with a medium maltiness and body. The aroma is moderate to very strong. IPAs work especially well at cutting the heat of chili, vindaloo or Sichuan cuisine.
A life just as ordinary 