The Session - Brew Zoo

I thought I would get in on this Session lark even though I’m a bit late. What better brewery to feature for this month’s Animal themed session than the Pink Elephant Brewery in Blenheim. Roger Pink is probably NZ's most idiosyncratic brewer. He brews a range of beers which both display an English heritage and yet taste utterly original at the same time. Pink Elephant beers featured in Jackson 500 and the late Mr Jackson wrote of Pink Elephant in his column in All About Beer in 1997.

My beer of last summer was Pink Elephant Golden Tusk, and Roger has introduced the first Russian Imperial Stout to be commercially available in NZ since the Australis Range disappeared.

Golden Tusk 5% abv
Pours a deep gold with a white head. Aroma has tropical fruit , pineapple and perhaps peach, also hops with a the slightest touch of cattiness, but not enough to be unpleasant. On the palate there is a bold minerally note , fading to some very dry malt flavours without to much in the way of sweetness. Pineapple again makes an impression and perhaps coconut and then a satisfying drying bitterness. Fantastic summer beer, quenching, balanced and yet still providing enough interest to drink all session.

Imperious Rushin Stowt 10.5% abv
Pours a viscous pitch black with an oily slick of dark brown head. Big slightly sour caramel aromas, with a hint of chocolate. On the palate big forthright dark chocolate leading to a big bitter finish. Very dry for the style, seeming to lack sustenance for the years to come. This is ready to drink now and Im not sure how it will be in 5 let alone 10 years time. Still its a great beer.