Beer – #726 – The Herbalist – Rosemary And Liquorice Ale
Indeed, eye of newt and leg of toad, or in this case Rosemary And Liquorice. No reason not to put Liquorice in beer, and I’ve had beer that had Rosemary in it, actually thyme, but it was a herb associated with lamb, and I like lamb, roasted, by the leg.
A beer of 5.4% ABV, around 150 calories a serve size, and 2.13 standard drink units.
Brewed by The Herbalist and in the style that is a Spice/Herb/Vegetable beer, and they are baed in the fair city of Auckland.
Eye of toad, wing of bat…..
New Zealand Malted Barley, New Zealand Motueka & Cascade Hops, Rosemary and Liquorice herbs & Yeast.
The Herbalist craft beer made with New Zealand malted barley and New Zealand hops and imported herbs.
So, what could possibly go wrong?
Well gosh darn that is some interesting aroma on opening that.
Well I got me some new glasses, for beer, and I’m till on the hunt for more, anyway this is new beer in a new glass, prolly not the ‘right’ glass, but it is Spiegelau and they were on specials, that is buy some beer and get a good deal on the glasses,
In the glass it’s a lovely bronze brown with a lovely head and an aroma that is fruity and medicinal in no way at all and odd and strangely comforting and rewarding. MrsPhil though it smelt like ‘beer’
This has a muddled aroma that is difficult to pick, but it has some brilliance and brightness in the taste, the rosemary is a given, it’s nice, subtle and present but not interfering and I could be so persuaded that there was liquorice root in this, which is not at all like the Bassetts Liquorice all sorts thing, get with it.
What it is: A fruity beer with aromas and test of herbs that is really nice drinking, refreshing and entertaining, delightful and, to use my new favourite word to describe things., bright on the palate.
What it isn’t: A beer of substance and body.
A lovely beer to refresh and liven up the old taste buds, a beer that has different taste and experience and keeps you engaged, for me would be a great beer to have between things that might wear you out.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. This is a bit good. A Bit very good. Odd, quirky and out of step with other beers, but there is place for that, and this is brilliant at being something that it says it is, if there is a justice this will win some awards prompt smart as being a bit clever, and very enjoyable.
The arbitrary nature of the pdubyah-o-meter means that this is a beer that if you are serious about trying “all the things possible” and “getting all the new experiences possible” would mean that you should give this a serious consideration. Trust me, it’s odd but if you really are into the new and untried then this will make you smile.
As an aside : I got called out on LinkedIn as a ‘Beer Critic’ which annoyed me because I tried so hard to keep the LinkedIn ‘professional’ aspect away from my ‘Enthusiastic Amateur’ hobby. I like to think that I call it as I see it, which means of course I don’t often, if ever, get asked an opinion, or even beer for free from a brewer. If I think a beer is doesn’t work for me I’d say, on the other hand I’m enthusiastic about beers that enjoy. This might be why I don’t get more free beer, and why I should of course keep my hobby and my professional lives at arms length 🙂
The double dip review
- Where did I get it? Those really nice chaps at Liquorland in Forrest Hill. They have 550 Craft beers in stock!
- Am I enjoying it? It really is a full entertainment.
- Would I have another? I really might, they have another offering that I am now tempted towards. but Manuka might have already been done. I’m in-between.
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? This would a cracker of a beer to have after dinner and before the desert, or even the port and the Stilton in the billiards room, it really is good beering, and I bet a good conversation on liquorice and why it isn’t stronger in the taste etc.
Music for this : ” Snow Patrol ” ” Fallen Empires ” on Spotify Fallen Empires is the sixth studio album by Northern Irish rock band Snow Patrol.
SPICE/HERB/VEGETABLE
Any ale or lager made with herbs, spices or vegetables. The additive should be distinctive in the aroma. See beer description for flavor. Body, color, hop character and strength vary depending on the type of spice, herb or vegetable used
A life just as ordinary 
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