Herevana – Epic – Player 2
Player 1 VS Player 2 in a head to head, a first for me, or perhaps the most obvious, and I’m not sure why I haven’t seen this before or even if it’s been done before. I just finished Player 1, and I don’t know that it can be topped, equalled maybe but I don’t think it can be topped.
Both beers have similar combinations of malts and hops to create the backbone of the recipe. We have used New Zealand grown Pale Ale Malt, plus some of our favourite hop varieties Mosaic Columbus and Centennial. Similar ingredients, very different beer styles. Which Player will you choose?
Epic Brewing Company (NZ) make the Epic Player 2 in 🇳🇿 Auckland, New Zealand, this one is an IPA – Hazy / New England (NEIPA) at 6.7% – and 2.3 standard drinks in NZ
What could possibly go wrong?
Of course a much more muted hop aroma but much more one of juicyness and stronger greener hop note.
A similarly brilliant put thought, a very hazy beer that is on the duller side, I mean it’s not bright orange and glowing, the head looks like it is better than it is, it’s quite airy and without much body. The aroma is that struggle between that tropic fruit and grassy hop.
Why I doubted this I have no idea, it’s a proper explosion of taste and flavours, not just a surprise amount but a mountainous amount that caught me off guard and a bit unprepared.
Once again I find myself smiling and frowning at the same time. Smiling because this is right where the taste should be, but frowning because someone (mostly me) has supped a goodly amount without even thinking about it.
No I’m not out of control I’m jsut enjoying what’s in front of me, and this is type between supps stuff.
So Player 2. A Hazy IPA, there are many and this is somewhat new, and so the measures seem to be (for me) brightness of haze – is it glowing or is it dull, and the amount of juiciness that is packed in. I wish I could define ‘juicy’ it seems to be that elusive sweetness that you get in fruits. Anyway this has got a lot of that going on.
The Pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 on the arbitrary number scale. I wish I had thought that through as it’s a big 9. For me Player 1 is better, it’s more grounded and more IPA, old school, or if you like Old’s Cool. This is really nice, not as pretty and the amount of flavour crammed into such a small window is brilliant.
I am listing to the album Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D’Arby by Terence Trent D’Arby which I have on Vinyl, and you can on Spotify if you feel the need.
Insert Coin. Press Start and Get Ready for the battle royale of modern brewing styles. You’ve selected Epic Player 1 West Coast IPA to be your defender against the legion of wannabee, has-beens and johnny-come-latelys of the beer universe. your secret weapon? An unstoppable triple key combo of boss-level hops. Bonus stage if you unlock all achievements and respawn as Epic Player 2 East Coast Hazy?
Player 1 – Red with the W on the chest shield. A classic West Coast IPA ,which we have become pretty good at making over the last decade. It is crystal clear, dry, with a firm lingering bitterness. The hops are big, bold, piney and resinous. Familiar and timeless.
Player 2 – Blue with the E on the chest shield. Your classic East Coast Hazy IPA which has a remarkably low bitterness, to let the malt sweetness and juicy fruitiness take over. New world, but an instant classic.
Herevana beers are those I drink at home, I’m not at some beer festival, like, for instance, Beervana, but am just in my kitchen, usually, dining room table, sometimes, or outside, occasionally, where I can take an average picture and write in real time about the beer that I’ve invested in, both in a monetary and emotional way.
Philip himself.
A life just as ordinary 