More IPA Challenges

Over the weekend I continued my IPA challenge. This time I pitted Goose Island IPA up against Little Creatures PA, Snake Dog IPA and Meantime Pale Ale. Overall the Goose Island is a good beer, but does not have the bitterness and density of flavour to compete with Snake Dog IPA (which is still the best beer I have had this year). The Goose Island IPA is similar to Little Creatures PA - actually almost the same. They are refreshing but don't have that strong bite I like in an IPA. The Meantime IPA was bottled in a mini champagne style and hit well below the mark of the US and Australian beers. I think it's a better beer on draught than bottled, but then Meantime have a few different Pale Ales including their IPA, London Pale Ale and this Pale Ale.
I don't normally consider my self much of a hophead, but I think my palate is coming around to the US way of doing things. Luckily I am off to New York over Easter where Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA is well up on my list of things to do, along with visit the Statue of Liberty, World Trade Centre memorial and Times Square.
Oh, I almost forgot, you can learn more about Chicago's finest Goose Island at their website: http://www.gooseisland.com/

The Sun Shined (Briefly)

On Saturday, the Sun made a brief appearance in London and prompted us to escape our flat. We (the Mrs and I) decided that we are going to try and tick off our to-do lists over the next few weeks before - fingers crossed - heading back to Australia.

Anyhow we decided to check out the British Museum and marvelled at the Rosetta Stone, Cleopatra and some old coins before grabbing some lunch at the Cafe in Russell Square. The food was ordinary and the Sun also decided that it had enough and decided to hide behind the clouds again. We gave up and performed a quick lap around the Brunswick centre before heading back to the flat.

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I was pretty quick to get amongst my beer stash and went for BrewDog's definitive Cult Lager.

This beer is described as a statuesque pilsner, but comes across as just another US style IPA which happens to be brewed with a lager yeast. It's not a bad beer, but I was expecting more than this unbalanced offering.

Craving something a little more German, I reached for a bottle of Schlenkerla Weizen. After my positive experience with the Marzen a few weeks ago, the wheat offering was well up on my tick list. Again, I was a little disappointed. It's not a bad beer as such, but it does lack the body and maltiness that makes the Marzen stand out. By this stage a "Come Dine With Me" omnibus was starting which lifted my spirits. I have the formula for this show sussed out now. There is always a house wife, a single guy, a single girl an older singleton (either sex) and the token homosexual guy. I think the producers have their formula perfected as this mix of stereotypes always produces the best bitchiness and drama resulting in compelling television.

After "Come Dine With Me" I decided that I was in an IPA kind of mood. Not that I was feeling bitter (excuse lame pun), but I needed a beer with a little bit more kick in it alcohol wise to survive the comic relief crap that appears in just about every media form at this time of year. Don't get me wrong - I love the concept and I support the charity, but they take it a little bit too far. Really after a day of culture in the British Museum the last thing I need is to see a 7 foot Welshman wearing a shit eating grin, trying to make lame jokes while Z grade celebrities sing and dance and make twats of themselves. Just wear a red nose like everyone else. Anyhow the IPA of choice was Snake Dog IPA from the Flying Dog Brewery. An excellent beer and potentially the best beer I have had yet this year.

Anyhow after the wife went to bed, I stayed up and channel surfed between Lock up with Sly Stallone, Fortress with Christopher Lambert and a show with the interesting title of "Sex: How To Do Everything." The sex show was rather funny and featured people dressed up in Micky Mouse costumes getting it on. Apparently they are called 'Furries' and its a new form of fetishism. I think they are freaks. I don't need a TV programme to tell me how to get busy in the sack. Anyhow, I used this time to sample a bottle of Sam Smith's Imperial Stout. It was an OK beer, but failed to live up to it's reputation. Is it just me or does everyone agree that Sam Smith's beers are pretty ordinary in both bottle and draught form? Anyhow, after the stout I gave up on channel surfing and joined the wife in bed. At least the Sun came out today, but bring on summer.