Beer- #787 – Harrington’s – Riot Act
Just when I stupidly thought the Fresh hop beers had all been tapped out up popped another, and I’m told there are a couple more that are in the queue. How wrong could you be. Harrington’s are an unusual brewer, they make a lot of beers in styles, and sometimes they make a lot of beer of one style, and they change the names of them, and they, but they’re mostly ok beers, with a couple at each end of really good and at the other meh. So to this, a collaboration beer with Fiasco Brewing, using Fresh Hops.
Fresh Hops, IPA what a mix
From the fill station then, the usual 1 litre of a beer that is 5.6% ABV, making it about 168 calories a serve size, and some 4.42 standard drink units.
Brewed by Harringtons Breweries in the style of an India Pale Ale (IPA) and they do that in Christchurch, New Zealand
Brewing terminology for an accountant’s vociferous diatribe at a pair of brewers who ignore instructions and put whatever hops they wanted in their fresh hop beer at whatever cost.
Serious business is beer drinking.
This collaboration between Fiasco and Harrington’s has seen both brewers put in the naughty corner, although they’re not in the least sorry.
The brewers used more fresh NZ Cascade and Brooklyn hops than they had budgeted for, giving aromas of stonefruit, lychee and pine. They argued that touches of waxiness, spicy bitterness and malt sweetness more than made up for it but ah well; shit, sorry Phil*.We hope you enjoy this beer as much as they enjoyed being told off for it.
(*When they say ‘phil’ that’s not me, I thought I clarify that)
So, what could possibly go wrong?
Lovely beer coloured beer, lightly brown. Aroma on opening is confusing, sweetness but also something a little dank perhaps, not the hop burst I was expecting.
The head is tinged orange and there is plenty of it. I had listen, it’s not noisy beer. Somewhat more hop grass aroma in the glass, but it seems aroma isn’t the big deal here, I’ll take in that it’s lychee that I can smell. I’ve never really smelt a lychee before.
Wow, that is chock full of a lot of things,, I’ll go backwards, there is a bucket of malt sweetness, a delicious tart dry finish, and brilliance dancing on the top of the tongue. That really was unexpected.
Whist the aroma really doesn’t kick on this IPA is quite a bit different in a a couple of way to others I had recently. The citrus, bit the limes if you will, are really pronounced, not shouty pronounced but really noticeable, and I’m down with that.
The bitterness level is brilliant, enough to enjoy and not too much to hesitate by, and I like that finish which is, again, just right.
That large sweet puff I had at the start, I don’t get that as much now, that of course might be to o with familiar.
But. Of course there is a but, that middle bit is needed, what I think of as the carry, the mouthfeel, the journey of the beer.
I finished up the first bur and got straight in to the second, that head really looks amazing and the colour is lovely.
This is one of those nice beers that a both times spices up the tongue with that citrus bit and gives you a dryness from the hops at the finish, a sweet and sour if you will.
A beer that fits most of the tick boxes for session beer, a phrase I haven’t heard of (read about) in what seems ages. A beer to have a few of when out on the town, or if you had the forethought to buy enough, at home of course.
Top marks for drinkability. Top marks for that citrus thing that I get and good marks for bitterness and finish.
Which translates on the pdubyah-o-meter as a 8 of its things from the thing. ‘Very Good’ it’s fairly black and white since there is only “Great” and “Awesome” that are better, and “Good” that is worse. It is fairly arbitrary, and of course I do have to remind myself what I decided all those years ago. I think If I told you that this was “very good” you’d get it.
Then there is another ‘But’, and the second but is, I’m not totally convinced of the ‘Fresh Hop’ bit of this. The other beers I’ve had this new beer season, display or have a certain rawness, or greenness, resinousness, and bite, which this doesn’t have. I don’t know if that’s clever or not, perhaps it really is a bit clever to make something that is toned down and still based on fresh hops to make it appeal, but then in my mind and for me, the adventure is in that raw, fresh element and not the safe and comfortable. But that might just be me. I didn’t change the score it is still very good beer.
The double dip review
- Where did I get it? The fill station at Liquorland in Forrest Hill, the go to for the good stuff.
- Am I enjoying it? I am it’s very good, really.
- Would I have another? I would, and would consider another trip tomorrow to get another hit, it might not be the best beer I’ve had but it’s the business end of enjoyment and drinkability.
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would, this is really quite the accessible beer, and although really you’d not pick it was fresh hops you’d really enjoy it. Probably.
Music for this: ” Astronauts” and ” End Codes” on Spotify
Astronauts is the solo musical project of the UK songwriter, Dan Carney.
I googled Astronauts and End Codes. That’s a black hole of weirdnesss there.
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 