Beer – #772 – Tuatara – Conehead
In a bottle this time, there might be times where they’re different. Shouldn’t be of course, we all know that, and these are fresh beers so not really an issue about transport or storage to consider.
So here we go with the Air Hopped Conehead of 2016, the bottle, it follows on from my keg version
… scramble a single engine prop plane…
45IBU’s of beer with 6% ABV and in the 500ml litre bottle. With this there are 180 calories a serve size, the bottle being 2.38 standard drink units.
Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company concocted in the style: India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are in Paraparaumu, New Zealand
It’s like I never had this recently
The hops are always greener on the other side, in this case the other side of Cook Strait. There’s only one way to get those cones to the North Island in prime condition and that’s to scramble the jets.
OK, it’s to scramble a single engine prop plane with the seats taken out, but be assured that the 1200kg of green hops that went into Conehead 2016 were flown direct from Motueka to Paraparaumu in an actual plane, touching down right next door to the Tuatara Brewery.
One short hop for a brewer, one giant green-hopping for mankind.
So, what could possibly go wrong?
Do like the aroma this has on opening, it’s pleasant mellow resinous hoppy grassy.
Bright orange brown with a fully fluffy head of whiteness, which looks just a picture, of which I took one.
Lovely bitterness on the initial taste, just the right level of just enough, and the aroma is wonderful too.
There just isn’t enough zing in this to make it sing, the aroma and bitterness burst do their best to hold it up but there isn’t enough backbone to get it to the line. Which needs to be clarified a bit.
This is a really nice beer with lovely aroma, and bitterness and it really is a nice drink that I’d be happy to have many times out and about. But compared to the memory of last years version which really was a masterclass and much more memorable than this is going to be it’s slightly disappointing.
A beer without edges, and a polite mostly neutral finish then, one that is easy drinking and quite mild mannered. Some of me wouldn’t mind a couple more to nudge me along tonight as this is going along a treat. Some of me though wishes I had a time machine.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. It isn’t anything like I remember, but memories are fickle things, as an IPA then it sits well in the pack without being a leader, it holds its own though, and with this profile would, I image, be very very popular with a range of drinkers looking to something different. An easy beer to move to and move from in a cycle.
The double dip review
- Where did I get it? from Liquorland in Forrest Hill, but it should be all good places.
- Am I enjoying it? As an IPA yes, as a flagship Fresh Hop beer, not so much.
- Would I have another? I can wait, patience is a virtue.
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I’d be ok with taking this along, it really is a beer that lends itself to being drunk and isn’t a distraction.
Music for this: ” Weezer” have a grandly named “White Album” on Spotify
Weezer is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1992, this is apparently inspired by Southern California beach life. It’s fairly soft going.
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 