darjeeling sungma summer - its about tea.

It is a second flush darjeeling from Its about tea.

4.7g in dayi gaiwan at 95c

1st infusion 30s:  light in color and flavor, very slight briskness sweet floral arrival.

2nd infusion 1m:  looks like this is a one steeper  super brisk all complexity has been washed over by the dryness. 

oveall:  not my favorite black tea never mind a darjeeling.  could likely add nicely to a blend tho.

Innis & Gunn Treacle porter.

The second of the innis and gunn holiday beers  is "treacle porter" "a rich complex porter finished with the adition of treacle"   never had treacle before so lets see what this is like this beer weighs in at 7.4% abv

Appearance:  redish brown clear body  off white head that dies down quickly.

Smell:  it smells sweet aroma is really feint.

Taste: sweet then a bakers chocolate bitterness with a boozy finish.

Mouthfeel:  medium smooth body with a light carbonation nip. 

overall:  a nice balance of bittersweet has a good body and is smooth  3.75/5

innis & gunn bourbon stout

For the Holiday season  innis and gunn  do a gift set  with 2 of their special offerings.  and the first of that is  the bourbon stout  that weighs in at 7.4% abv

Apearance:  a dark brown with red highlights wen held up to a light with a tan head that dies down to a skim and leaves some lacing.

Smell: dark chocolate really sweat malty body and a hint of vanilla whiskeyness.

Taste:  chocolate ripe fruit and lots of vanilla oak with a boozy finish. kinda bitter.

mouthfeel:  light nippy carbonation kinda thin body. 

overall:  honestly not my favorite from them.  its an experience  just not as nice of one as some of their other offerings. 3/5

Jasmine silver pearls: its about tea.

I am not usually one for  overly floral teas like jasmines, but these are supposed to be really good so i decided to give them a try.

I used 7 pearls in my dayi gaiwan. @80c

1st inufsion 1m : aroma is very floral  and the taste is floral and delicate. 

2nd infusion 1m: floral-ness is increased but not overbearing.

3rd infusion 2m:  floras are even more pronounced but the tea is starting to battle its way forward.

4th infusion 4m:  same intensity as before tea is starting to wind down.  I dont foresee it getting any more intense or complex. so I'll save you from reading more of the same. 

overall:  its a very well mannered tea with lots of floral presence and delicateness  a good tea for beginners,  the leaves are mostly whole 2 leaves and a bud.  excellent quality.  the actual jasmine has dissipated in the bowl. 

ACDC lager

an acdc branded euro lager at 5%

pour:  pale yellow with almost no head retention

Smell:  crisp and cleen pale malt. 

Taste: citrus hops with a thin malt background.


Mouthfeel: thin with a medium carb

overall:  a lager with a decent hop presence. pretty mild mannered not offensive.
lager mark: 3.5/5  overall mark  2.75/5

paddock wood brewing london porter

5.2% abv porter made in  Saskatoon Saskatchewan.

pour:  deep mohagany with a tan head that stays for a decent time

Aroma: dark chocolate and malts with a coffee note

Taste: malty  bitter chocolate and coffee with earthy hops on the finish

mouthfeel:  on the thin side but has medium carbonation  goes down easy.

overall: decently good brew  would drink often.  3.4/5

Iron Maiden Trooper ESB

a 4.7% ESB from robinson brewing that has  iron maiden artwork all over the bottle.

pour: amber with a thin soapy head. that laces.

Aroma: malty caramell with a light earthy pine note

Taste: malty sweet that melts into a light earthy hops and a light bitterness

Mouthfeel:  light drinkable  medium body.  low carbonation

overall:  its a nice beer not terribly interesting but i could see myself sitting in a brittish pub enjoying a few pints of this.   3.7/5