Beer – #858 – Harrington’s – Galactic Empire

Harrington’s have been unusual kind to me, and occasionally I get sent some new beer, recently I tried and enjoyed the Traveller, this one is their GABS beer – Galactic Empire.

shot into hyperspace by nutty pilsner

A standard 500ml bottle of a beer, with 6.5% ABV, making it around 195 calories a serve size, this is about 2.56 standard drink units of beer.

Brewed by Harringtons Breweries this on in the style that is of an Imperial Pils/Strong Pale Lager and they do that in Christchurch, New Zealand

Galactial

Australian grown Galaxy hops are paired here with New Zealand’s Nelson Sauvin hops.

The resulting flavours are pineapple, stonefruit and gooseberries, shot into hyperspace by nutty pilsner malts.

Brewed for GABS 2016

Galactic Empire Sauvin Strong Pilsner – Gold

So, what could possibly go wrong?

Sugary malty mostly on opening, some grassiness, which would be about right.

It is a really bright orange yellow golden colour in the glass with a stark white head that seems to want to be persistent.

Aroma is kind of sweet and fruity with a faint nose of grass. Mostly though fruity.

Quite bitter, and alarmingly dry to finish, which it does quickly, which then lets the middle catch up, the middle being the softness and sweetness part, it’s a bit backwards.

It settles down a bit but there is a real bitterness up-front that is really loud and dominant, crashing over the rest of the flavours in this.

Then again as it settles and warms I really thought that the alcohol tang was present and persistent. The fruity aroma is quite strong in this too.

I really don’t know about this. It seems peaky and a bit unbalanced. On the other hand I’ve drunk a fair amount of it and without any effort or real frowning.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. I think it’s a bit challenging a style. I don’t know they pulled it off. I didn’t not like it, I just don’t think I liked it enough.

The double dip review

Where did I get it? This was a gift from the Brewers! But it’ll be in the good places.
Am I enjoying it? In places this is a fine bit of beer.
Would I have another? I don’t know, I think I’m challenged by this as a style in this way.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I don’t know, it’s a bit harsh in places, and then settles to be really quite nice, then wavers to being a bit alcohol tang and sharp. I don’t know that this is share an tell beer

Music for this: ” Two Door Cinema Club ” and ” GameShow” on the Spotify player.

Two Door Cinema Club are an Irish indie rock band from Bangor and Donaghadee in County Down.

Strong Pale Lager/Imperial Pils

Most commonly found in Poland, but also in other European countries as well, especially the East. These are essentially stronger versions of pilsners, though the increased malt and alcohol will noticeably reduce the hop accent. Because these are usually all-malt, and comfortably hopped, they are easily distinguishable from malt liquors. Without the malt character of bocks, these are worthy of a style all their own. In the US, a similar idea has been derived and is usually called Imperial Pilsner.