Beer – #1012 – Zeelandt – End of Empire
Saturday, Home alone for various reasons of the seasonal party and enjoyment of the season of goodwill. So I did my chores and prepared by ribs for the BBQ, and then I sat down for a solid and nostalgic beer, remembering of course that it’s winter where I used to be, and summer where I am now.
everything British that left Britain became something other than what it intended to be
This is a 500ml bottle of a beer that is 6.3% ABV and 47 IBU things, that around that 189 calories a serve size and in NZ this is 2.5 standard drinks
Zeelandt End of Empire is brewed in the style that is of an IPA an the was done by the lovely people at Zeelandt Brewery who are in Napier, New Zealand.
“Things fall apart”. It’s some sort of law that everyone forgets about until they need to shift the blame for failure on to something
God Save us
intangible. So it’s no surprise that the British Empire is not what it was. It’s also no surprise that everything British that left Britain became something other than what it intended to be at the time.
Somethings become worse, like Australia but somethings become infinitely better like the new style English IPA’s.
End of Empire is one of these. A melancholic and nostalgic journey back to the glory days of Pax Britannica with strong undertones of “Glad I don’t live there anymore.”
All English grown ingredients, this is of a modern take on an English IPA compared to our more traditional Finders Keepers.
So, What could possibly go wrong?
Outstanding pour of an intense orange beer with a brilliant fluff of white head, and a delicious aroma, man could get emotional about beer this pretty.
Gosh that is pretty
Oath, that is outstanding. Rich, fruity sweet but with an understated bitterness carrying it. This is remarkable.
Then the Fuggles take a turn and they bring that familiar earthy dusty thing along with it, dulling up the edges and bringing you back to the centre.
Which is shame. The grapefruit aroma though takes you away again on another journey and there’s pretty of that to keep you in the game through the sup, and then that thudding end with that properly english thudding end.
I love it. The problem I have is that I just brought the one, and I really could go another.
This, for me, is a beer that really sits in the sweet spot I enjoy in a style, delivering bitterness that is tamed by, in this case, a decent citrus presence, and it looks absolutely stunning in the glass. The only thing it doesn’t have when you drink is a lacing on the glass.
But then it’s hard work finding the perfect beer.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. This really was a lovely and brilliant surprise, and it won’t be to everyone’s taste or expectation but I don’t care, because this really is that good, and you’re wrong.
The double dip review
- Where did I get it? a new store, The Bottle Stop in Auckland City
- Am I enjoying it? I really really am.
- Would I have another? Cheers, get me two because one more might not last
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes, many of them, this is pretty, aromatic, tasty and has much going on that is so enjoyable.
Music for this: I couldn’t help myself and trotted out the “Never Mind The Bollocks, here’s the Sex Pistols” album on Spotify
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 