我是來自香港的手工啤酒愛好者，歡迎交流任何啤酒心得，我亦有興趣與其他國家的朋友交換手工啤酒，Cheers!
This blog was created by a craft beer enthusiast from Hong Kong. Please feel free to share any comments. I’m also interested in trading craft beer with you. Cheers!
Russian River – Pliny the Elder
Pliny The Elder，可能是手工啤酒界最著名的一款imperial IPA，其評價一直都當相高，它也是Russian River 的常設酒款，而且比之前介紹過的 Blind Pig IPA 更搶手。啤酒於2015年9月22日入樽，我飲用的日期是11月11日，以此廠的標準來說應該已不算很新鮮了。酒體呈相當清徹的琥珀色，泡沫純白泡量不多。香氣跟某些酒花炸彈型imperial IPA 相比起來不算很hoppy，但仍有強烈的酒花特性，香橙、橘皮、松木，三者都非常分明，再帶有輕微焦糖氣息。味道有比氣味明顯的麥芽風味，麥芽糖般的甜與酒花的苦兩者皆濃郁但平衡，襯上恰到好處的柑橘果香，再以非常悠長的苦韻收結。這酒雖然沒有很高的複雜性，但其結構與平衡度都令我印象深刻。
Pliny The Elder, probably the most famous Imperial IPA in craft beer scene. It’s an all time high rating beer too. Like Blind Pig IPA, it is also a year round beer by Russian River and its demand is even higher than the Blind Pig. The beer had been bottled on 22 Sep 2015 and consumed by me on 11 Nov 2015, maybe not very fresh in the brewery’s standard. Pliny The Elder pours a clear amber colour with small white head. Aroma is not as hoppy as some hops bomb type imperial IPA, but still fairly hoppy. It contains distinct orange, citrus peel and pine with mild caramel scent. The malt character is more evident on taste. Rich but balanced maltose sweetness and hops bitterness with perfect level of fruity flavour. Extra long bitter finishing. This beer is not a complex one but I’m impressed by its structure and balance.
Russian River – Bling Pig IPA
Blind Pig (酒精度6.1%) 是享負盛名的美國加洲手工啤酒廠Russian River 旗下的一款常設IPA，雖然它並非限量生產酒款 (當然也不是巨量生產)，但一直以來也是手工啤酒界的搶手貨。啤酒於2015年10月1日入樽，而我是11月7日享用，應該尚算新鮮。酒液是非常清徹的橙銅色，泡沫呈純白色，泡量不多。香氣是濃郁的柑橘、橙皮和松木，酒花個性突出。味道是中等的柑橘酒花苦韻、草本植物、麥芽以及少量焦糖，酒體中等，餘韻乾身並帶有意想不到的輕微堅果味。
Blind Pig (ABV 6.1%) is a year round IPA brewed by the extremely celebrated craft beer brewery Russian River. Even though it is not a limited edition (not in mass production as well), it’s still a highly demanded beer in craft beer scene. The beer had been bottled on 1 Oct 2015 and consumed by me on 7 Nov 2015. I think it’s still fresh. Pours a clear copper orange colour with small white head. Aroma is very hoppy which contains heaps of citrus, orange peel and pine. Taste is moderate citrus hops bitterness, herbs, malt and a bit caramel. Medium body with a dry and unexpected mild nutty after taste.
Stillwater Artisanal / Brewer’s Art – Débutante
來自美國巴爾的摩的Stillwater Artisanal，與當地一家著名自釀酒吧Brewer’s Art 合作釀造了這款Bière de Garde。Bière de Garde 是源自法國北部比利時接壤地區的一種farmhouse ale，故此它的特質跟比利時saison 大同小異。Débutante (酒精度6.4%) 以小麥和裸麥作原料，再配上石楠、忍冬及牛膝草三種植物釀製。半透明的酒體呈介乎金與琥珀之間的顏色，薄薄的酒帽很快就散去。香氣很重酵母感覺，香蕉、吹波糖，再帶點花香以及香料氣息，入口偏甜，不過是柔和的甜，有麥芽與麵包的味道，再以微苦的香料作結。
Collaborative Bière de Garde brewed by Baltimore’s Stillwater Artisanal and Brewer’s Art brewpub. Bière de Garde is a farmhouse ale traditionally brewed in Northern France borders Belgium. Therefore it is very similar to saison. Débutante (ABV 6.4%) is brewed with a combination of Spelt and Rye, flavoured with heather, honeysuckle and hyssop. Pours a half clear gold to amber colour with small quick head. Its yeasty aroma contains banana, bubblegum with floral and spicy touch. Soft sweet in taste which reveals malt and bread with a spicy and light bitter finishing.
Mikkeller – Vanilla Sky
向來創意十足的Mikkeller，今次以雲尼拿為題創作了這款Vanilla Sky IPA (酒精度7%)，酒色呈朦朧的金黃色，淺米白色的泡層相當豐厚。香氣有橘子以及草青氣息的酒花香，口感油潤，味道帶西柚味，苦道適中。問題來了，雲尼拿在哪呢？雖然這瓶IPA 加了雲尼拿枝作材料，可是我卻感覺不到它的存在。但原來只要耐心一點，等啤酒的溫度稍為回升，害羞的雲尼拿氣息就會慢慢出現，不過它只會躲在啤酒花的後面，不輕易讓人察覺得到。
The innovative Mikkeller created this IPA (ABV 7%) on the theme of vanilla. Pours a hazy golden colour with large pale off-white head. Aroma is mandarin with some grassy hops. Oily mouthfeel with grapefruit flavour and moderate bitterness. But where is the vanilla? Although the beer was brewed with vanilla beans, I can’t find its existence. However, if you could be patient and wait for the beer temperature increase, the shy vanilla will show up. Nevertheless, it hides itself behind the hops and not easy to be recognized.
Yo-Ho Brewing – Yona Yona Ale
Yo-Ho Brewing 是一家位於日本長野縣的人氣啤酒廠，Yona Yona Ale 是他們的一款American pale ale。琥珀色的酒體頂著中等厚度的米白色泡沬，酒體稀薄。香氣有明顯的杏脯味，再加上熱帶果及穀物氣息。味道帶麥芽、蜜糖的甜，亦有少量柑橘酒花的苦，然而味道略為模糊，欠缺層次感。
Yo-Ho Brewing is a renowned brewery based in Nagano, Japan. Yona Yona Ale is an American pale ale brewed by them. Pours an amber colour with medium off-white head and watery body. Evident aroma of dried apricot on nose, with hints of tropical fruit and grain. Taste is sweetness of malt, honey and bitterness of citrus hops. However, the flavour is a bit vague.
Mikkeller – Cream Ale
我會稱它為一款很輕的啤酒，因為它無論氣味、味道乃至酒體都略為輕柔，唯一比較強烈的是其炭酸感，因此啤酒整體感覺很清爽 (其實上述全都是cream ale 的特性)。有著金黃色的酒液及略薄的白色泡層，香氣是鮮橙、檸檬、酵母以及很輕微的糖漿。味道挺簡單，只有帶西柚氣息的酒花苦韻。
I would call it a “light ale” because of its light aroma, light flavour and light body. However it gives fair carbonation, hence quite refreshing (in fact, all of these are characteristics of cream ale). This hazy golden beer pours with a small white head. Aroma is fresh orange, lemon, yeast and very slight syrup. It tastes clean and simple, hoppy bitterness with hints of grapefruit.
Toccalmatto – B Space Invader
產自意大利Toccalmatto 酒廠的black IPA (酒精度6.5%)，啤酒由四種麥芽配上五種酒花釀成。黑色酒體上面是很豐厚的米色泡層，泡沬黏度不高只有少量掛杯。氣味是柑橘、焦香、咖啡及少量香料，加起來讓我聯想到陳皮。作為一款black IPA，口感絕對不會像stout 般飽滿，酒體輕至中等，味道帶西柚似的果酸，亦有既像西柚又像咖啡豆的苦韻，輕微草青味，收結是富烤烘感覺的苦味。
Brewed by Toccalmatto from Italy. A black IPA (ABV 6.5%) brewed with 4 types of malt and 5 types of hop. Pours a black colour topped with very thick beige head providing some lacing. Aroma delivers citrus, roastiness, coffee and a few spice. The mixture reminds me of Chenpi (dried tangerine peel). As a black IPA, it has a light mouthfeel comparing with most stout. Light to medium body. Taste contains tartness of grapefruit, bitterness between grapefruit and coffee bean and slight grassiness. Toasty bitterness on finishing.
Buxton Brewery – Axe Edge
來自英格蘭的一款IPA，外觀呈金色，泡沬豐厚，酒體中等。果香與麥香俱備，香氣帶有柑橘、菠蘿以及焦糖。入口起初帶甜，但很快就被西柚皮般的苦味蓋過，一直伸延至尾，做成悠長而較乾的餘韻。
An IPA brewed in England. Pours a hazy golden colour with big white head. Medium body. Aroma contains both fruit and malt characters such as citrus, pineapple and caramel. It tastes a bit sweet at the start, but covered by grapefruit peel bitterness very soon. The bitterness extends and builds a long and dry aftertaste.
Beer and food pairing @ Beef & Liberty
以葡萄酒佐餐，例如吃生蠔時配上礦物味豐富Chablis 白酒、吃烤紅肉時配上比較spicy/peppery 的Shiraz 紅酒，對很多吃貨來說已是常識。其實除了葡萄酒外，以啤酒佐餐在西方國家也日趨流行，許多外國的啤酒廠 (例如Dogfish Head) 也在他們的網站載有一些關於啤酒配合食物的小貼士。適逢每年一度的Hong Kong Beer Week，少爺麥啤聯同主攻漢堡的Beer & Liberty 泡製了一個啤酒配漢堡的菜單。
Wine and food pairing, such as having oysters with Chablis white wine, or having grilled red meat with spicy/peppery Shiraz, is a common sense for foodies. Besides wine, beer and food pairing is being more and more popular in foreign countries. Many breweries (e.g. Dogfish Head) are posting food pairing tips on their website. In Hong Kong, Young Master Ales and the burger restaurant Beer & Liberty are introducing their beer and burger pairing menu to you during the Hong Kong Beer Week.
左至右：法拉費素漢堡與Mo’ Mo’ Wit (夏日麼麼啤)，芝士漢堡與Young Master Classic，燒烤醬豬肉漢堡與Cha Chan Teng Gose (鹹檸酸啤)
Left to right: Falafel and Mo’ Mo’ Wit, Cheeseburger and Young Master Classic, BBQ pulled pork and Cha Chan Teng Gose
店員建議我從法拉費素漢堡開始，它是由鷹咀豆泥混上香料製成，味道與同樣加了香料釀製的夏日麼麼啤非常配合，而漢堡的豆泥餅由於炸過的關係，吃起來頗脆口，口感跟這輕盈的酒體及其清爽亦很相配。之後吃的是芝士漢堡，蕃茄醬與Young Master Classic 的柑橘酒花味匹配得很好，而啤酒的麥芽味亦令漢堡牛肉的焦香有所提升。最後的是燒烤醬豬肉漢堡，是三款中味道最濃的，配上個性異常突出的鹹檸啤，想不到燒烤醬竟然中和了啤酒的鹹味，令它只留下清新的檸檬酸味，反而減低了這漢堡的油膩感。這款菜單只會供應至10月11日。
Their staff recommended me to start with Falafel, which was made with chickpeas and spices. The taste is a good match with Mo’ Mo’ Wit, which is also brewed with spices. The Falafel is very crispy that well-paired with the light bodied and refreshing beer. Secondly, the cheeseburger and Young Master Classic. The citrusy hops flavour nicely matches the ketchup while the malty character enhances the roastiness of beef. Lastly, the BBQ pulled pork which has the richest flavour among three. The BBQ sauce surprisingly dilutes the saltiness of Cha Chan Teng Gose. This makes the beer remain crispy tartness of lemon that reduces greasy feeling of the burger. The menu is serving until 11 October.
除了少爺麥啤外，餐廳亦有數款樽裝及生啤供應。
Besides Young Master, the restaurant also has a collection of bottle and draft beer.
Brouwerij Huyghe – Delirium Tremens
滑稽的包裝裡面是8.5% 酒精度的比利時啤酒，顏色呈金黃色，白色的泡層非常豐厚，酒體中等。複雜的香氣包括有酵母、焦糖、水果及花香。味道算不上濃郁，是很平均的酒花苦味和果酸。
An 8.5% Belgium ale inside a funny bottle. Pours a golden colour topped with big white head. Medium body. Complex aroma which contains yeast, malty caramel, fruit and floral perfume. Taste is mild but balanced hoppy bitterness and fruity tartness.
CAPYBEER 