Beer – #659 – Epic – Armageddon
This is beer that I’ve had out and about but never at home, so tonight is about rectifying that. Old new beers, old old music, same old numbers and same old same old.
Inspired by west Coast IPA’s on a trip to San Diego for the World Beer Cup and a part of an IPA showdown with Hallertau Brewery
I have then a 1 Litre of beer that is 6.66% ABV, 66 IBUs and 200 calories a serve size, this bottle being 5.21 standard drink units.
Brewed for/by Epic Brewing Company (NZ) at the Steam Brewing Company this is in the style that is India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are Auckland, New Zealand
In the beginning, there was nothing.
Then an impish brewer piled a ludicrous amount of hops inot a batch of beer.
A lot of sixes with this
This zymurgical big bang is Epic Armageddon, an apocalyptic assault on your preconceptions and taste buds.
Huge grapefruit, tropical fruit and pine resin hop flavours over the sweet biscuit and caramel malt profile.
It may be too huge for this fragile planet so enjoy this beer like it was the last one on Earth
So, what could possibly go wrong? Well not much except that I’m now wishing that I’d saved this for perhaps beer #666. Hey ho though.
Aroma bursts on the opening, tropical mostly, not a lot of that resin/grass thing going on
Taste is Bitter, malty, sweet, floral, dry finish – pause – repeat
There is an abundance of sweetness in this, enough to give it some real substance in the mouthful. and the bitterness is really in-control.
There is a lingering grassiness, which is apparent and not intrusive, and there is a sweetness on the lips that requires you to lick them, it’s like the drink is sticky in some way, it is an interesting thing.
Grapefruit, now that is something that I can’t tell you about, but there are lovely tropical highs in this that bang for attention briefly and then just join in the whole again. I’m really liking it.
I even got out my good old tall pint glass as I thought that a strong beer might enjoy being had from a strong glass.
The only down side to such a hop forward beer is that you do need to think about a balance thing to keep your palate in the game and the experience fresh, or you could just go for it and enjoy and early night.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. I did pick this today over another beer of some merit the Panhead Vandal that I rate highly too. But I’d never sat and thought about this and so it won, and I think I made a great choice for a early spring evening.
The double dip review
- Am I enjoying it? Yes, I’ve always liked it.
- Would I have another? I would indeed, and have a second glass to look forward to.
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Of course, this is a cracking beer that could arguably be pointed to as the starter for the hop heavy beers that came in waves and occasionally put their heads up again. It is remarkable and tastes as good as I fondly remember.
Music for this : “Yo La Tengo ” with ” Stuff like that there” on the Spotify They are an American indie rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1984. This is essentially a covers album, check this;
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 
Hi Phil, I liked the music video too.
Beervana in Welly was a bit of a fizzer as you predicted, sampled more bad beer than good – even flat beer !!
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With that much beer and so little time it’s swill and hope. I’m sure there’s a bell curve that fits the experience.
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