Beer – #854 – Weezledog – Hoppiness
Another Beer Club exclusive, this one from Weezledog Hoppiness XPA, although I have seen this available elsewhere as also exclusive, who knows.
“.. for lovers of great tasting pale ales.”
Bottle of 500ml and 5.9% ABV, making in about 177 calories a serve, this is 2.3 standard drinks of beer.
For Weezledog Brewing Company this one brewed at Black Sands Brewing Company in the style that is American Pale Ale, all happening in Auckland, New Zealand
Beer makes your hair grow!
A pale ale with so much more.
Extra pale due to the use of pilsner and wheat malts in the grist, and a low pH from the use of acid malt allows the Southern Cross and Wai iti hops to really shine through.
Full of flavour but still seriously sessionable
So, what could possibly go wrong?
Certainly hoppy on the aroma on opening, but also with some bread like yeast I think, unusual.
Cloudy orange beer with a really white head that looked promising but then faded. Cloudy beer seems to be new black.
Aroma in the glass is not as strong as initially. but it has a slight small sour edge.
Taste is somewhat a shock to the palate. This is sour over hoppy, and has softness in the drinking, with a spike of bitterness at the finish. It is unusual and a bit of a challenge.
This isn’t a full mouthfeel beer either, it’s very light drinking, and it really is all the action at the front and back that keep you in it. The gap between the sip and the swallow is that quiet period where you think nothing is happening.
At this ABV though quaffing isn’t a good plan, because for me it really just isn’t worth it. I think it’s very clever to use a sour malt to do the thing, and this will appeal to some, but I was left without rhyme or reason and a flatness of experience where I didn’t get a proper lead flavour and that really is disappointing.
Weezledog makes some wicked good beer, and I’ve had a few, this though not in the league, I get the plan, but the delivery in this one, for me, a swing and a miss.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. It’s different and it’s unusual, it’s nice to look at, and is easy drinking, but is sour over hoppy, and lacks a lead-out flavour and driver that would make you raise an eyebrow. Found myself quaffing to get through it, and that will always end badly.
The double dip review
- Where did I get it? BeerClub Beer! You might see it in kegs elsewhere.
- Am I enjoying it? Not really.
- Would I have another? No I wouldn’t seek it out.
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? It’s a beer with not much competition, unusual and different, but I’m not a fan of sour beers and might not be able to look you in the eye i I turned up with this and kept a straight face. Sorry.
Music for this: ” Alcest ” and ” Kodama ” on Spotify
Alcest is a French shoegazing, post-metal band from Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
“Kodama” the fifth album from Blackgaze pioneers, Alcest, marks the French duo’s ferocious return to the stylistic maximalism.
Slightly heavier than others this though has wonderful breaks and rifts and melodies.
AMERICAN PALE ALE
American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads
A life just as ordinary 