I was in Island Bay World the other day and amongst other things I picked up a bottle of Shepherd Neame 1698 the strong bottle conditioned bitter from a brewer who I have criticised in the past. I decided to taste it off against
Shepherd Neame 1698
6.5%abv
Dark Copper with a disappearing white head. The aroma features fruity citrus and berry fruit notes, a touch of caramel malt and minerally note. On the palate there is toffee malt, fruity and earthy hop, a peachy note, firm mouth feel, leading to a lasting bitter finish. Best Sheps beer I have ever had.
Ohanlons
Dark Crimson with a pillowy enthusiastic white head. Aroma features rich toffee malt, complex fruit, strawberry, ripe plum, an over all effect like that of sniffing a roses chocolate box. On the palate there is chewy sweet malt, a profound fruit medley of strawberry, peaches and apricot leading to a firm bitter finish.
5 comments:
I'm noticing a lot of variation between branches of large chains here in NZ, which is a good thing. For example, Liquorland in Forest Hill has an excellent range of NZ and British beers, whereas the similarly-sized branch at Northcross has pretty much bugger-all other than the usual Macs and Monteiths.
I'm told that the New World at Victoria Park has a good selection, so that's where I'm planning to source the beers for a beer tasting at work in a couple of weeks time.
Martin, I know a bit off topic but Liquorland New Market also has a fantastic selection...as does Don Johnson Wines (Manukau Rd, Royal Oak, Auckland) and I think I recently noticed some stock of Ohanlons Royal Oak as reviewed by Kieran (there brought back on topic)...
Royal Oak really floated my boat. Probably the best bottled English ale I drunk last year. Maybe the best I've had ever. Didn't mind the Brakspear Triple either...
Keep it up Kieran. I've not time for blogging these days but enjoying yours (and I'm brewing this Friday - yay!!! Probably my Ordinary, given the last one was all Munich malt and ended up blended, but maybe my American Stout).
it will be a stout for St Paddys on sunday.
Actually Liqourland Northcross has an ok selection. Thats where I go every couple of months for a fix of Emersons. There's also an offie on Jervious that has an extensive selection of Emersons. But I was in Wellington last week and anything I've seen pales in comparison to Regional W&S. Crikey what a place. You'ld think that with all that selection I'd be able to conjure up something other than a Rennaisance Porter eh Kieran? Ah well, still learning...
Stout for St Paddys sounds like a grand idea.
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