The BeerCast

We like to run a democratic ship here on the BeerCast, so when panellist Grooben requested a chance to go foraging for beers, we gave him full reign and unlocked his cage. He managed to pull together four ales – all varying styles – so we cobbled together a podcast in his honour. We begin with a gluten-free beer, Green’s Herald (4.0%), to see how these special ales for people with intolerances actually taste. Next we head to the US to sample Juju Ginger Ale (6.0%) from Left Hand Brewing. Our third beer is the first of a BrewDog double-header. The Fraserburgh duo have been much in the news of late, so we try their 1.1% protest beer Nanny State, before we finish on a stronger one brewed in collaboration with San Diego’s Stone Brewery – Bashah Imperial Stout (8.6%). On the panel this time are Richard, Shovels, and of course Grooben.

1. Green’s Herald (4.0%abv)
Green’s Gluten-Free Beers, Shipley, West Yorkshire.
500ml glass bottle

Coelic disease is a very serious disorder of the small intestine whereby sufferers are intolerant to a gluten protein found in wheat. Of course, as a result of this beer is something off-limits to most. However, these days there are a number of producers who create beers specifically for people who can’t drink beer made the traditional way. Green’s of Shipley are one such company, using ‘pseudo-cereals’ such as sorghum, millet and buckwheat instead. They have a range of ales and lagers, including a Belgian-style dubbel and an amber ale. Herald is their English-style bitter, although there’s little information as to exactly what it contains.

What They Say – “Inspired by strong European beers and developed to a closely guarded secret recipe, the specialist beers are brewed with a strong body, crisp taste and a refreshing flavour, losing none of the taste but all of the allergens.” [Official Website]

What We Say…
Grooben – There’s a reason why barley was chosen to go in beer 5
Richard – Not particularly nice, tastes as if something’s missing 4½
Shovels – It smells like apple strudel and tastes like cheap cider 3

2. Juju Ginger Ale (4.0%abv)
Left Hand Brewing Co, Longmont, Colorado.
330ml glass bottle

On Christmas Day 1990 Dick Doore was given a homebrew kit as a present by his brother, which began a passion for brewing. Three years later he moved to Colorado and met an old school friend called Eric Wallace. The two of them founded a brewery in November 1993 in a former meat packing factory in Longmont. Naming themselves the Indian Peaks Brewery after some local mountains, they were undone by copyright issues and renamed themselves after local historical Indian chief Niwot – ‘Left Hand’. We sampled their Imperial Stout in BeerCast #34, and this time take on their subtler ginger ale, Juju.

What They Say – “Juju is a pale ale brewed from a relative low gravity, with some of the hops which would normally be used in the beer replaced by freshly ground ginger root. The beer is light in body, lower in alcohol, has a distinct ginger aroma, and has a very crisp finish. It was initially brewed as a refreshing alternative to the plethora of wheat beers which are popular in the summertime. Popular demand turned it into a year round beer.” [Official Website]

What We Say…
Shovels – Sweet, sticky ginger taste, it’s quite smooth 7
Grooben – Toned down a lot, I was expecting sharpness 6½
Richard – Ginger can overpower anything but at least it’s subtle 5

3. Nanny State (1.1%abv)
BrewDog, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.
330ml glass bottle

There can’t be a more newsworthy brewer in Scotland (or maybe the UK) at the moment than Fraserburgh’s BrewDog. James Watt and Martin Dickie started the operation to counter the establishment, and with regular wacky press releases and PR stunts they are certainly being talked about. Their strong oak-aged imperial stout Tokyo* (18.2%) hit the headlines for it’s hefty abv, so as a two-fingered gesture Martin and James produced a protest beer called Nanny State, which at 1.1% is below the legal classification of beer, and so not subject to duty. This podcast was recorded on the night that James announced he had complained to the alcohol industry watchdog Portman Group about the strength of Tokyo*, in a publicity stunt to highlight what he thought was their double standards. BrewDog have since announced they are producing the world’s strongest beer, Tactical Nuclear Penguin (32%). As of 03/12/09 the Portman Group recommended British retailers removed Tokyo* from their shelves.

What They Say – “Nanny State is an extraordinary little beer. It contains more hops than any other beer we have ever brewed. There is over 60 kilos used in our tiny 20HL batch. It contains more hops than any other beer ever brewed in the UK. It has a theoretical IBU of 225. It is jam packed with our favourite hops and already tastes amazing.” [Official Website]

What We Say…
Shovels – Still tasting it even though I finished three minutes ago 6
Grooben – It’s like drinking lemon juice, but isn’t all that bad 6
Richard – I would urge everybody to try it as an experiment – is it a beer? Yes. Is it nice? No 3

4. Bashah (8.6%abv)
BrewDog, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.
330ml glass bottle

The second beer from BrewDog on the podcast tonight was brewed in conjuction with one of the heavyweights of the American craft-brewing scene, California’s Stone Brewery. Seeing as they currently top our BeerCast rankings with the peerless Ruination IPA, we were certainly expecting something from their collaboration – a Belgian black double IPA.

What They Say – “This particular beer has refused to succumb to the illusion of meaning or allow capricious parameters to have any influence on it’s own fermented fate.” [Label Tasting Notes]

What We Say…
Richard – Combines a nice strong alcohol kick with sweetness 8
Shovels – Strange one, it’s very hoppy and portery and maybe it should be one and not the other 6
Grooben – It’s a lot to take – I’m just not sure it’s to my taste 5

Panellists – (clockwise from top left) Shovels, Grooben, Richard

BeerCast panel verdict
Bashah (19/30)
Left Hand Juju Ginger Ale (18½/30)
BrewDog Nanny State (15/30)
Green’s Herald Gluten-Free (12½/30)

Recently on the BeerCast we quoted BrewDog co-founder James Watt’s opinion that British brewers had lost the sense of tradition when it comes to India Pale Ales. Modern mass-marketed IPA’s from this side of the Atlantic do tend to be session strength and lacking the hop bite of the old-fashioned versions of the past. The reasons for this could be many and varied, but the suggestion that the drinking public seek less challenging IPA’s is countered by the huge array of strong dark IPA’s that are generated in North America. Drinkers there certainly seem to demand India Pale Ale that packs a punch, and the BeerCast are also unashamedly in that camp. While not quite reaching the 8.5% magnitude of BrewDog’s Atlantic IPA, popular American IPA’s such as Anchor’s Liberty Ale and Goose Island IPA are still stronger and give more hop bite than the likes of Greene King IPA or Deuchars IPA.

Another American craft brewer with the desire to mix things up at every opportunity are California’s Stone Brewery. As you can see from our lengthy beer ratings column, they are currently topping our table with their peerless Ruination IPA. But aside from this double IPA they also produce a standard American west-coast IPA (if anything Stone do can be considered standard). Brewed at 6.9%, Stone IPA pours a golden lager colour with a pale long-lasting half inch head. The nose is beautifully flowery and hoppy, perfectly weighted towards each, and this continues in the taste. As you’d expect there are hops immediately up front, but surprisingly not much initial alcohol – however as the taste develops the alcohol comes through and warms, but without being overpowering. It’s more refreshing than Ruination IPA, and is a shrinking violet when compared to their other beers such as Arrogant Bastard. Gently numbing but not overwhelming, the Magnum and Centennial hops give Stone IPA a tremendous flavour – it’s quite wonderful. Forget Greene King IPA or Deuchars IPA. While you’re at it, forget Anchor Liberty Ale and Goose Island IPA. This is better.

Our latest BeerCast sees another split between the UK and USA – this time as we try four very different IPA’s. Originally heavily-hopped to survive transportation to the colonies, the India Pale Ale is a uniquely British style of beer. Or rather it was, as now IPA’s hail from all corners of the world – and particularly North America where, as ever, they like to do things ramped up a notch or two. First on the list for tonight is Kent’s Hopdaemon Brewery and their Skrimshander IPA (4.5%), followed by the first overseas entrant – Goose Island IPA (5.9%) from Chicago. We then go back to the UK for a strong ale – Downton Chimera IPA (7.0%), before finishing with an offering from one of America’s greatest exponents of tooth-rattling beer, Stone Ruination IPA (7.7%). On the panel this time are Richard, Shovels, Steve, and MrB. The Hopmeister Tom should have probably taken part given his title, but he’s still recovering from the effects of the Imperial Stouts.

1. Skrimshander IPA (4.5%abv)
Hopdaemon Brewery, Newnham, Kent.
500ml glass bottle

New Zealander Tonie Prins opened the Hopdaemon brewery in Canterbury, Kent, in 2001 and started off winning contracts to brew beer for several London tourist institutions (the British Museum, Science Museum, the Barbican), as well as 30 or so pubs in the area. In 2005 they relocated to bigger premises in Newnham, just outside the ancient brewing centre of Faversham (home to Shepherd Neame). Striving to use local ingredients where possible they rely heavily on East Kent Goldings, Fuggles and Challenger hops. Skrimshander IPA takes it’s name from the old-time practice of carving whalebone.

What They Say – “An aromatic copper-coloured pale ale brewed with Kentish hops for a refreshing taste and a fruity finish. Skrimshander is conditioned naturally in the bottle to produce a sparkle and sediment characteristic of all great living beers.” [Official Website]

What We Say…
Richard – 4.5% yet it tastes like a 7% IPA, it’s tremendous 8½
Shovels – More bitter than usual for an IPA 8
MrB – Smells like an IPA, a nice beer but not that special 7
Steve – Very tasty but it needs a beer garden 6½

2. Goose Island India Pale Ale (5.9%abv)
Goose Island Brewery, Chicago, Illinois.
355ml glass bottle

Goose Island opened their first brewpub in Chicago in 1988, which back then was something of a rarity – only a handful existed in the Midwest of America at that point. By 1995, the brewpub had become so popular that founder John Hall and his son Greg, who had by then become Goose Island’s brewmaster, decided to open a larger brewery and bottling plant to keep up with demand. Finding still more room for growth, in 1999 the father-son team opened a second Goose Island Brewpub just a stone’s throw away from historic Wrigley Field. Their most popular beers are Honkers Ale, Nut Brown Ale, and their India Pale Ale, which contains a heady mix of Styrian, Fuggle, Cascade, Centennial hops and Pale Malts.

What They Say – “Recognised as amongst the world’s finest, Goose Island’s India Pale Ale has a spicy hop aroma and inviting fruity flavour. This exceptional beer is one you will not soon forget.” [Official Website]

What We Say…
MrB – A lovely beer, it’s a longtime favourite of mine 9
Shovels – Got so much kick and flavour, perfect in the bottle 8½
Richard – A typically strong, hoppy, bitter American IPA 7½
Steve – The citrus taste comes to the fore the longer it sits 7½

3. Chimera IPA (7.0%abv)
Downton Brewery, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
500ml glass bottle

Downton have three 20-barrel vessels in their brewery, and produce a range of seasonal beers, many of which have added fruit. They were set up in 2003 with equipment leased from the Hop Back Brewery just up the road in Salisbury. In their early history their beers were sold solely through the larger operator, but eventually they outgrew their wholesaler and struck out on their own – although roughly half their output still goes up the road to Hop Back for transfer to other outlets. Downton are still a small producer though, and employ only two people – their director, and their brewer – both called Martin. Chimera IPA was the overall winner at the 2005 Bristol Beer Festival.

What They Say – “Chimera IPA is a truly classic IPA. Bursting with resin and hoppy flavours, Chimera packs quite a punch, as a traditional IPA should. Chimera would certainly win in a fight against Greene King IPA & Deuchars IPA’s softer, less traditional alternatives.” [Official Website]

What We Say…
Steve – Tastes quite light, this one is very deceptive 8
Shovels – I would drink this out of curiosity, it’s hard to rate 7½
MrB – I’m really confused – every mouthful I have is different 7½
Richard – Nice enough but not strong for a 7%er 7

4. Ruination IPA (7.7%abv)
Stone Brewery, Escondido, California.
355ml glass bottle

The Stone Brewing Corporation were founded in 1996 in San Marcos, southern California. In 2006 they relocated to a new, custom-designed facility in Escondido. The new brewery currently has a capacity of 70,000 US barrels per year, and also includes an on-site bottling line. It sounds ideal for a day out, having a 300 seat restaurant (Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens), with a large outdoor patio that sounds perfect for enjoying one or more of the brewery’s creations. Stone revel in the philosophy of not making a boring beer, as their names tend to reflect – Arrogant Bastard ‘This is an arrogant beer – you probably won’t like it’, and their brilliantly titled Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale. Ruination IPA is probably also aptly named.

What They Say – “So called because of the ‘ruinous’ effect on your palate! This massive hop monster has a wonderfully delicious and intensely bitter flavour on a refreshing malt base. One taste and you can easily see why we call this brew ‘a liquid poem to the glory of the hop!” [Official Website]

What We Say…
MrB – This is like my favourite beers multiplied by my favourite other beers, it tastes fab and should be a 10
Shovels – I was expecting to be blown away by hops but this is the single malt whisky of IPA’s 9½
Steve – I think you might still be able to taste this in the morning, it’s just so different to anything else we’ve tasted 9½
Richard – Got that whack oomph smell, it’s punishing but doesn’t overstep the mark like others I could mention 9

Panellists – (from top left) MrB, Shovels, Richard, Steve

BeerCast panel verdict
Stone Ruination IPA (38/40) 95%
Goose Island India Pale Ale (32½/40) 81%
Chimera IPA (30/40) 75%
Skrimshander IPA (29½/40) 74%

We’ll be back in a couple of weeks with our next podcast – an episode very loosely themed around a certain fruit that you wouldn’t normally expect to find in a beer. Stay tuned for that, and in the meantime keep the emails and comments coming in. Cheers!

Another week, another BeerCast fieldtrip – although it’s pretty tough to compare Birmingham and Tokyo. After all, one of them is a glittering, fast-paced neon metropolis packed with exuberance and incredible food – and the other is the capital of Japan (you must have seen that one coming). On a recent visit to the far East I was determined to track down some local beer – stay tuned for two special Ji-Biru BeerCast podcasts in the near future. Thanks to local guide Tim Eustace, I attended a tasting session in central Tokyo. Tim runs regular workshops on different types and styles of ale, with discussions and sampling – educational and fun. The few days I was in town, an IPA tasting evening had been scheduled. Here’s what was on the menu…

1. Shiga Kogen IPA (6%abv)
Tamamura-honten, Nagano
Two Japanese IPA’s to start with, the first of them from Tamamura-honten, a sake brewery founded in 1805. They have since developed into a range of beers, and produce a blondes, porters and a couple of IPA’s. The 6%er we tried had little hops about it, but a nice bitterness and a lingering taste.

2. Ise Kadoya IPA (7%abv)
Kadoya Honten, Mie
From the Mie prefecture south of Tokyo comes another Japanese IPA. Ise Kadoya IPA is really quite fantastic – dry, fruity and hoppy, and very moreish. At 7%abv it packs a punch too.

3. ACME IPA (6.5%abv)
North Coast Brewing, Fort Bragg CA
The rest of the tasting event switched to American IPA’s – some of which I was seriously eager to try, others I had never heard of. North Coast’s Californian IPA was one of the latter, but with mouthfuls of citrusy grapefruit was a very pleasant surprise.

4. Full Sail IPA (6%abv)
Full Sail Brewing, Hood River OR
American IPA’s aren’t known for being subtle, but Full Sail IPA is just that. Delicate and zesty, despite the 6%abv – which is high in relation to UK IPA’s, but relatively middling for those from over the pond. I’d certainly drink this again, if I could find it.

5. Stone IPA (6.9%abv)
Stone Brewery, San Diego CA
Bang! This is one beer that needs to be noticed. Over the months we’ve been writing and talking about beer, other (overwhelmingly American-based) websites and podcasts I’ve looked at continually sing the praises of Stone’s beers such as Ruination IPA and Arrogant Bastard, held up as being classics of their type. Their ‘basic’ IPA has everything, citrus, hops, crispness, bitterness, aroma, It’s fantastic. We need to hunt this down in the UK and get it on the BeerCast.

6. Hair of the Dog Blue Dot Imperial IPA (6%abv)
Hair of the Dog Brewery, Portland OR
There are normal beers, and there are Imperial beers – essentially this means everything involved is ramped up a level. In this instance, the %abv is still relatively low (given the direction we were heading), but the taste was certainly not. Frothy and lingering, it was amusing watching Tim trying to explain the meaning of ‘Hair of the Dog’ to the Japanese tasters.

7. Dogfish Head 90min IPA (9%abv)
Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton DE
One from the Eastern seaboard, and another standout American brewery – Dogfish Head. This is what Imperial IPA’s are all about. At 9%abv it’s seriously strong and robust, with a long finish. It goes well with cheese, something I never considered from a beer. But then I’ve never had a 9% IPA before.

8. Hopsickle Triple IPA (9.2%abv)
Moylan’s Brewery and Restaurant, Novato CA
Back west to California and Moylan’s Hopsickle IPA, a triple-hopped Imperial IPA. Tomahawk, Centennial and Cascade hops scream for attention. It’s dark and unbelievably strong. Pouring the last inch out didn’t help, as clumps of yeast added to the mix. The suggested food pairing for this one is blue cheese, which gives you an idea of the taste. It’s really too much.

9. Green Flash Imperial IPA (9%abv)
Green Flash Brewery, Vista CA
The ninth and final beer of the night (and it’s not often I say that) is Green Flash IPA – “It’s all about the hops!” trills the website, but it tastes a bit line a pine air freshner. Having said that, it’s actually pretty good, and a welcome way to end the tasting.

With that, I staggered out into the Tokyo night feeling pretty good. IPA’s are my favourite beers, and I discovered a few crackers. Top three would certainly be those from Stone, Ise Kadoya, and Full Sail. I just need to track them down in the BeerCast’s backyard.

Thanks again to Tim for the organisation, and you can catch up with some more Japanese brews here soon – in a change to the advertised schedule (as they say), BeerCast number 7 will be a four panellist, four beer spectacular from that very country. Check back next week for the podcast…