Palate Calibration

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Trough Lolly
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Palate Calibration

Post by Trough Lolly »

An important aspect in attempting to copy commercially available beer is to regularly sample the real thing....So, in the interests of better brewing, I'm submitting my palate to a recalibration exercise this evening (or until I lose bodily function!). :wink: :lol:

Here's the entree:

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And main course (gotta love those pint bottles of Little Creatures!!):

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And as the ambulance arrives, the dessert course:

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It's a tough job, but it's all in the name of making better beer!! I'm a tad disappointed that there was no SNPA available... :cry:

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Cheers,
TL
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ryan
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by ryan »

:shock:
Sorry Trough, I`ve mislaid your address again?
Don`t do anything till I get there.

your old mate ryan that hasn`t been round for a while and can`t remember just where you are :oops:
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Trough Lolly
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by Trough Lolly »

Sorry Ryan - I've kicked off without you....the White Shield IPA was a ripper!

Cheers,
TL
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ryan
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by ryan »

Trough Lolly wrote:Sorry Ryan - I've kicked off without you....the White Shield IPA was a ripper!

Cheers,
TL
Wouldn`t it f##k ya, I was in such a hurry to leave I got 8 k`s down the road before I realised my pushie had a broken chain :(
You better have my share mate,thanks anyway.
Over and out. :(
{sob}!!
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Trough Lolly
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by Trough Lolly »

Burp!! :oops: :D

For those of us who would like to know what DMS smells and tastes like - grab a stubby of Sam Adams Boston Lager pour it in a glass, wait one minute and inhale deeply from the glass then take a swig....pheew!

Call me crazy but I'm taking notes as I go and for the hell of it, I'll post my thoughts when I'm not seeing several keyboards! :oops: :mrgreen:

Cheers,
TL
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warra48
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by warra48 »

Nice score there TL. Enjoy them, and any you can't get through, you know where to send them.
I had a Hobgoblin a few days ago, and have just finished a Weihanstephan Dunkel. Beers like that are a revelation, compared to most of the standard Aussie beers.
Not only do they educate your palate, they also give you something to aim for in your brewing.
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Trough Lolly
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by Trough Lolly »

Cheers for that - they had Hobgoblin and several Weihenstephan beers but I ran out of cash! :oops:

They had the full range of Knappstein / Mountain Goat and several other oz brewers there as well - they've come a long way from VB and Cardonay! :wink:
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Ross
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by Ross »

the white shield is my fav out of that lot..... a great example of an IPA.

cheers Ross
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Trough Lolly
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by Trough Lolly »

Yep, it's a beauty - but then again, I'll perform lewd acts for a keg of IPA or dunkel!!...And the Bishop's Finger is nice but the bitterness is quite unusual - it's somehow delayed, not an in your face bitterness but one that hits the palate well after you swallow. Quite nice but not as obvious as other well bittered Kentish Ales...

Then again, my palate is taking a hammering - much the same way it did when I visited your fine abode, Ross!

Cheers,
TL
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pixelboy
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by pixelboy »

That is indeed a fine selection...

how you holding up... thru the Little Creatures yet?
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Trough Lolly
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by Trough Lolly »

Yep...opening the first Hatlifter Stout right now...Grand Ridge have done a reasonable job - it looks like a dark ale not a stout and there's a tiny whiff off DMS in it too. Yep, definately not a stout in opaqueness - but the taste is quite nice and sweet plenty of chocolate and toffee and a hint of roasted malt - certainly not a dry stout. I'm having trouble picking up the hop bittering type but then again, I'm having troubles looking at the tv too!

It reminds me of a poor cousin to Young's Double Chocolate stout that is an excellent sweet stout IMHO...

Gee this is fun!

Cheers,
TL
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Kevnlis
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by Kevnlis »

I am interested to hear of the first harvest. I only recently heard of this beer and it sounds very intruiging. I am certain I have no hope of finding it locally but it may be worth having my brother in law bring one down for me next visit? ;)

I was always under the impression that the first harvest of hops were over the top and you should wait a few years for the plants to settle in and take on their true character. Perhaps using "first harvest" hops in a beer is nothing to brag about? :?
Prost and happy brewing!

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pixelboy
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by pixelboy »

Trough Lolly wrote: I'm having trouble picking up the hop bittering type but then again, I'm having troubles looking at the tv too!
lol, im not suprised, If I drank that much I doubt I could stand!!
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gregb
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by gregb »

Kevnlis wrote:I was always under the impression that the first harvest of hops were over the top and you should wait a few years for the plants to settle in and take on their true character. Perhaps using "first harvest" hops in a beer is nothing to brag about? :?
Kev,

I think the first harvest refers to the first harvest of the season, rather than first harvest of that plant. Link.

Cheers,
Greg
Kevnlis
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by Kevnlis »

Nice find TL. I had read that it was made with the first crop of two new breeds of Tasmanian hops and was sort of experimental. I can now assume that was crap ;)
Prost and happy brewing!

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Trough Lolly
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by Trough Lolly »

Yeah, it was ok but not exactly jaw dropping. Mind you there were worst beers in the lineup...

Cheers,
TL nursing a bit of a hangover!
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drsmurto
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by drsmurto »

Ross wrote:the white shield is my fav out of that lot..... a great example of an IPA.

cheers Ross
Agreed! Added it to the list of styles i need to learn more about.
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James L
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by James L »

Nice....

I have about 40 empty LCPA pint bottles sitting around waiting to be filled... they are the perfect size...

I might have to see whether i can get my hands on the White Shield IPA.. but i'm a little poor on funds to do any R&D at the moment....
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aurelius121ad
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by aurelius121ad »

So when do we get to see the results of your palate calibration experiment and read about what you thought of your eclectic selection of beers?
You guys with your homebrew shop access have no idea just how fortunate you are!!!!!
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KEG
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Re: Palate Calibration

Post by KEG »

when he remembers :lol:
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