So since we didn’t know, and this ain’t a tea site – Gunpowder Tea is a style of Chinese tea where the leaves are dried and rolled into little balls that resemble gunpowder like pellets. This makes them easier for travel and retains more flavor for a longer time which is what we assume the distilling mind of one PJ Rigney was concerned about.
Orval Trappist Ale: 6.0 – There’s a nice hoppy aspect to this, but it’s not gone crazy with it, and most of that is just a small lingering aftertaste for what is otherwise an easy to drink beer. Beyond that bit of flavor though there’s not much going on and it feels rather ‘short’ and near tasteless, which could be a boon to not realize how much you’ve had.
Price Average: $8
Website: http://www.orval.be/
Grain Reaper: 4.0 – The barley wine style certainly has an input here but that barrel aging just overrides so much. It’s just an awkward blend of sugar and malt
Price Average: $12
Website: https://springdalebeer.com/
We realize that it’s rare a spirit can be spooky (phrasing?), and as such, this really should be saved for the Halloween posting, but it’s April 1st so this is a joke? Either way, this rum is a bit of a terror. It says little, has a creepy vibe, and it’s strong enough to make your clothes fall off to the point where you become a slutty fortnite player? (We don’t do costume parties). It does, however, have some good bits to it.
Working Man’s Porter: 6.0 – There’s a sort of rosemary/thyme aspect to this, but it’s a nice dark ale/porter. It’s not too heavy and the roasted flavors are there. They mention using this with Oysters or a Shepard’s pie – and that’s agreeable, but for the end of the day – no way. Maybe long after the day is over with a meal. The other problem this has it’s hard to take this a working man’s porter, when the Berkshire equivalent is half the price.
Price Average: $11
Website: http://hennikerbrewing.com/
We honestly did not pick this up because it was an Indian whiskey – as always it was huh, never seen that before. let’s get it. That being said it’s great to see that the offering from India is actually pretty good, oh sure it’s got problems, and it’s not as good as Japan’s recent forays, but first impressions are good.
Pannepot Old Fisherman’s Ale: 3.0 – It is certainly a bit too ‘rich’ by way of being a tad too mellow and sweet to enjoy drinking, especially a full pint. There is some spices here (chocolate, nutmeg, mint?), but you only get it at the very end. Overall, not a fan of the beer, but it was much nicer used in making a gravy. It might have simply sat for too long though (5-6 years)
Price Average: $4 half bottle
Website: http://struisebrouwers.be/
