Beer – #694 – Behemoth – Hops on Rye

This even by the standard of limits production is rather scarce. So happy that I brought some, coupled with some new music from a great singer, I’m in for a Saturday treat.

So much fruity hoppy goodness

From the FYO station this is a 1 litre bottle of a beer of 6.7% ABV, 70 IBU and 200 calories a serve size, this would be 5.29 standard drink units in NZ.

Brewed by Behemoth Brewing Company in the style of an India Pale Ale (IPA) and that happened in Auckland, New Zealand – although on twitter the brewer says this was a small batch made in Christchurch.

Hop to it man

Pale malt with a hint of rye with loads of motueka, Amarillo and Citra hops

A fragrant and sweet hop aroma is followed by the fruit-spice flavours of rye and a clean and lingering bitterness.

So, what could possibly go wrong?

Grassy grass aroma and the underlying tropical thing, go on, lets say passion fruit.

Bright orange hazy pour with a small head of not much substance. The aroma seems less in the glass than the initial burst from the bottle, slightly more earthy.

It is all of its IBU. Very bitter across the whole spectrum with a sharp and dry finish and grassy linger.

Lashings of tropical in this when you get over the initial burst of the bitterness, adding a lovely sweet layer that isn’t cloying or too far one way or the other, in other words well balanced.

The downside to such a beer though is that it becomes quaffing beer, and it is as much as I can do to stop myself chugging away. It is a beer that I’d rather linger and take my time over than gulp and mope that I’d finished too early. Hard to see though how I’m going to eke this out.

Second pour and I got a decent head this time, it’s all in the wrist action. Still greeted with an initial bitterness and grassy grass mouthfeel and linger, and then second sup brings the tropical things forward.

It is a thing of joy. A beer that is just good to drink, and one that you can just enjoy for the bitterness and then the softer sweetness, or you can drink and ponder and explore the layers.

As to the Rye part, well that might have eluded me and I have no idea what it might taste like on its own, or apart, and I might need it pointing out, but I bet it’s doing it’s thing and making this just a real treat.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. It is really good, or more precisely a beer that for me is just about on point. The question of course is what would I add to make it a 10, I mean you made it a 9 which is ‘great’ but not “Awesome” is it such a big gap. Than I went back to the list version and reviewed the 10’s and I don’t think that I could put this in amongst some of them, as much as it pains me.

But this is spectacular beer, and if you brought it and hated it I’d really be miffed, surprised and startled.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? This is brilliance and is a real gem.
Would I have another? Yes, I now have to persuade entertainment and finance (MrsPdubyah) that I deserve some, and hope it’s still available.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? You could almost have the party around just this, it’s just nice beer that offers much entrainment, and given a couple I bet much entertaining.

Music for this : ” Guy Garvey ” ” Courting the Squall” on Spotify Guy Edward John Patrick Garvey is the singer and principal songwriter of a band I enjoy very much – Elbow.

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.