Herevana – Small Gods / 8 Wired Three on a Match
Here we have: Small Gods / 8 Wired Three on a Match – the latest from the Small Gods brewers, another collaboration.
There was no shortage of cigarettes in the muddy trenches of Flanders during WW1 but matches were limited. Behind the barbed wire there was a superstition that it was death to be the third man on the match. When the first soldier lit his cigarette, the enemy would see the light; when the second soldier lit his, the enemy would hone their aim; and when the third soldier lit his cigarette from the match, the enemy would fire.
Small Gods brew the Small Gods / 8 Wired Three on a Match right here in Auckland, 🇳🇿 New Zealand as a Belgian Ale – Dark / Amber with an ABV of 7.0% (actually it was made in Warkworth which is North of Auckland)
The can is again a work of art in itself, brown with a simple burnt match on the front.
A faintly malty aroma on opening.
I’m always amazed about how lovely beer looks it seems. This is no exception, a lovely chestnut brown polished pour with just enough of a head that is off colour. it looks peaceful in the glass.
There’s much more sweetness and sugars in the aroma in the glass than in the can. I’m good with that.
It’s a fancy that I got the taste of charcoal burnt wood in this of course, but I swears on that.
There is the right amount of malt sweetness and body in this, and the mouthfeel is that of a heavier beer that it seems to be, if that makes sense.
I really am enjoying this, this might not be the biggest boldest take on the style, but what there is is delivered up in careful pieces and unfolds at an even pace. The flavours develop evenly too and the beer really gets into itself and thickens up.
It’s a fine fine beer.
The Pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 on the arbitrary number scale. The can art is melancholy. I imagined a taste that wasn’t there, I’m good with that, and then it really delivered up flavours that unfolded and laid out a path that was such a journey to enjoy. This is a fabulous beer.
Music: The most excellent ‘The Mountain Goats’ and Tallahassee – with the magnificent “No Children’ as the track to listen to.
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.
This Belgian Amber ale was inspired by Belgian battlefields. Brewed with our good friends at 8 Wired it’s a modern take on a classic style. With dates and palm sugar added for extra complexity and depth of flavour.
Brewers Notes
Belgian Ale – Dark / Amber
The Belgian Dark Ale – or Belgian Amber Ale for amber-to-copper colored examples – is a dark, complex, Belgian ale with a delicious blend of malt richness, dark fruit flavors, and spicy elements. The malt character tends to be a bit biscuity with light toasty, honey-like, or caramelly components; the fruit character is noticeable and complementary to the malt. The Belgian Amber Ale is not as bitter or hoppy as a Belgian Pale Ale.
A life just as ordinary 