Beer – #823 – Epic – Eric the Red

Epic – Eric the Red. A beer i’ve had on draught out on my travels, and far to good not to try again. A beer that I had on my travels in Wellington, on tap, and loved it. Now for the bottle.

“Oh, Scary, Scary”

500ml bottle of 6.5% ABV and 195 calories a serve size beer, with 47 IBU things, and 2.6 drinks worth therein.

Brewed by Epic Brewing Company (NZ) in the style that is of an India Pale Ale (IPA) and that happens in Auckland, New Zealand

Finally Epic adds a Red IPA to the family of hoppy IPA’s.

Not Eric, Not in Red.

Potentially, yet unintentionally inspired by the Stone Hammer Series we are releasing in 2016.

There is an obvious Viking connection, but not directly to Thor. We have put a comedic twist on this beer with several references coming from the comedy movie “Erik The Viking”.

Such as the tag line “Oh, Scary, Scary” where Erik thinks he is invisible.

So, what could possibly go wrong?

Malty aroma on opening, not surprisingly.

Pour is a deep brown mahogany almost, but more deep ruby red, with an enormous head of the tinged foam, that couldn’t last and settled a little into a more manageable finger or so.

You get a lot more of the hop greenness in the glass, but there is that sweet background as well. Despite all that foam it isn’t a noisy beer.

That is a full rich mouthful of beer that is surprisingly bitter on the tongue and dry at the finish, but with a bursting amount of sugary malt middle. I was licking my lips at the end of that first sip. Sip who am I kidding, I meant sup.

47 IBU, I would have picked more.

Because of all that malt this is a heavier tasting beer, it really works on the taste buds and gives them a going over.

In some respects then this is a bit brash and loud, and over the top, but it is polished and well rounded and it is just in the nature of the style.

Not a beer for the faint of heart this is rather bold and might not work out well as a starter but would be wonderful after some straight up IPA beers (As it was when I had it last) because it would be a tune up.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. It is a nice change to have a feisty beer, and a nice change to have a red IPA, this one doesn’t hold back on the all the things and is both rewarding and challenging to drink. I liked it on tap, I like it in the bottle. Badge unlocked.

The double dip review

Where did I get it?Liquorland in Forrest Hill, but it will be where they have the good stuff.
Am I enjoying it? yes, it’s really nice drinking a beer that gives something back.
Would I have another? I would, easily, although at the end rather than the start of a couple of beers probably.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes but as a tune-up after a few other beers because this would re-set and restore balance I recon, possibly, or finish you off. What a way to go though.

Music for this: ” M. Craft” and “Blood Moon” on Spotify. Little brother Stewart recommended this to me, and so I’m prepared to listen to all and everything, and he’s usually not wrong.

Martin Craft is a songwriter, producer, and composer who lives and works in Joshua Tree, London, and Berlin

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.