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7/15/2015

[USA] Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout




 On the old post, I had mention about Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout. Since a long time, I want to try this Stout, because I am a Sriracha lover. Sriracha is a well-known hot chili sauce made from USA California. But in Thailand, there is an small town calls Si Racha too. The local restaurant had a kind of hot chili sauce to dip with seafood. Not sure the taste of those hot chili sauces is similar to the USA Sriracha. But now, I am talking the Sriracha is USA one, the name is Huy Fong Foods(滙豐食品公司).

Huy Fong Foods established by David Tran in earliy 80’s, he is Chinese-Vietnamese born in Vietnam Saigon. In the old time, he managed a red chili pepper farm and making hot chili sauces for local restaurant. During Vietnam War, David moved to USA. At that time, he started to resume his old profession, which is making hot chili sauces. Then, it will sell in supermarkets at Los Angles Chinatown. In the beginning the production was very small. Later on, he expanded his business and opened a factory in Irwindale, California.

In supermarkets or restaurant are very easy to recognize his Sriracha sauce because on the plastic bottle, it printed a big rooster and green color screw cap. Since, David Chinese Zodiac sign is rooster, then he used Rooster as the company’s logo. On the side, there some Chinese words [無加色素之是拉差香甜辣椒醬乃採用特種大紅新鮮之指天椒香蒜精製而成用於調和各種魚肉麵餃食料都美味可口且久藏氣味不變品質擔保]. Which mean the Sriracha is using fresh ingredient such as red chili peppers, garlics, no artificial colors added, quality grantee, etc. The major indigents are included red chili peppers, garlics, salt, sugar, vinegar and more. Sriracha is popular in North America, is common to find it in Vietnamese Pho restaurant. Every time I eat Pho, Sriracha is a must for me. Some other food company is using Sriracha to make beer, chips, popcorns, beef jerky, candy canes, peas etc. Besides food, I also had a Sriracha water bottle.  

Before drinking this beer, is hard to imagine the taste. I thought, it may taste very heavy because Stout and Sriracha have a strong taste. In the beginning, the color is black color and brown head, it had roast malt, chocolate and coffee aromas, just like standard Stout. For the taste, it is full body, spicy (I mean real spicy) and pleasant bitterness, the lips can feel spicy too. During drink, the Sriracha taste is not that obvious, but after I swallowed, it is gently show up such as robust garlic, spicy and little salty. Overall this beer is not too heavy, by adding Sriracha makes this beer become much amusing. And, it should drink with some food like Chinese Fried Noodles, Fired Chicken, Burger, Pizza, Steak, etc., just like dipping Sriracha sauces. Worth to mention that the beer bottle is exact the same as Sriracha's bottle for example red color, big rooster and green color bottle cap. 


                                  My Sriracha Water Bottle / 我的是拉差水樽

在之前的舊文, 我提過一枝Rogue Sriracha (是拉差) Hot Stout (司陶特啤酒). 一路以來我都很想試這枝啤酒,因為我是一個是拉差愛好者,非常喜歡是拉差辣椒.原來泰國有一個小城市都是叫做是拉差 (Si Racha). 當地餐廳有一種用來點海鮮的辣椒醬叫做是拉差.不知道味道是否跟美國出產的是拉差一樣,但是我想講的Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout是放了美國出產的是拉差辣椒醬,它的名字是 Huy Fong Foods(滙豐食品公司).

滙豐食品公司是由陳德 (David Tran)80年代早期創辦,他們一位越南華僑在越南西貢出生.早期他在越南管理辣椒園和出產一些辣椒醬供應給當地的餐廳食用.在越戰期間陳德逃離了越南,搬移到美國生活.在這段時間,他開始重操舊業,就是生產辣椒,之後放在洛杉磯唐人街的超級市場內銷售.剛剛開始的時候,生產量比較低,只是一間家庭式工業.後來他在加州的Irwindale開設更大的工廠.

在超級市場或餐廳是很容易認出他的是拉差辣椒,因為膠樽上印上一隻大公雞和鮮明的綠色.陳德的生肖是屬,所以他用了雞作為公司的Logo.在樽的旁邊印上一些中文字[無加色素之是拉差香甜辣椒醬乃採用特種大紅新鮮之指天椒香蒜精製而成用於調和各種魚肉麵餃食料都美味可口且久藏氣味不變品質擔保],都是形容他的辣椒醬是用新鮮材料,不添加人做色素,品質保證,等等.製造是拉差辣椒醬主要材料包括有紅辣椒,大蒜,食鹽,,,和更多的材料.在北美是拉差是非常受歡迎,普遍一般越南粉店都可以找到它的存在.我每次食越南粉店都一定要配是拉差一齊食.另外有一些食品公司都會用是拉差來製成,啤酒,薯片,爆谷,牛肉乾,花生,等等的產品.除了食物,我有一個是拉差水樽.

                                                   Photo from website
司陶特(Stouut)是一種黑啤來自英國,烘焙過麥芽來釀製,味道都有一些咖啡,巧克力,焦味,等等.飲之前是很難想像這款啤酒的味道,因為我以為它的味道會很重.首先啤酒是黑色,頂部是啡色泡泡,烘焙麥芽,巧克力和咖啡的香氣,有基本黑啤的味道.在口感方面酒身比較,帶辣 (是真辣,不是一般品酒來形容的哪種辣)和苦味比較溫和,咀唇會有辣感覺.在飲的時候間是拉差的味道不是太明顯,當我吞下啤酒後After Taste慢慢就有是拉差味道出現,例如強勁的大蒜,辣味和少少咸的感覺.整體味道不算太重有司陶特的基本風格,加了是拉差飲落不會太悶,會有激的感覺.這款啤酒最好是配一些食物來飲,例如炒粉麵,炸雞,漢堡包,薄餅,牛排,等等,食物就會好像點了是拉差一樣.值得一提啤酒樽的外型是跟是拉差一樣的,例如紅色,大公雞和綠色蓋.

"I put Sriracha in my Rogue"
#srirachastout


6/02/2015

[USA / NORWAY] Big Shopping of Beer!!




There are some brands of beer new arrivals to HK. I bought some to drink on this summer but, I may finish them before summer end :) . My shopping list included 2 brands of beer, Rogue Ale from USA and Nøgne Ø from Norway. Both brands are interesting to try out. From my old post, I mentioned that Rogue Ale will have a beer using Sriracha hot sauce as indigent. This time, I bought it and really looking forward to this Sriracha Hot Beer!!

Beer List:

Rogue Ale (From Left To Right):
XS Old Crustacean Barleywine 750ml
New Crustacean Barleywineish Imperial IPA Sorta 750ml
Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout 750ml
Voodoo Doughnut Pretzel, Raspberry & Chocolate Ale 750ml
Double Chocolate Stout 750ml
Rogue Farms 7 Hop IPA 650ml

Nøgne Ø (From Left to Right):
India Pale Ale (IPA) 500ml
Pale Ale 500ml
Saison 500ml


On that night, I already tasted Nøgne Ø Pale Ale. There is a simple tasting note for your reference. When I pour out, it has hazy orange copper color with very fine bubbles on top. The aromas have honey, caramel, citrus and lemongrass. The taste is full body, hoppy and light sweet. The bitterness is quite sharp for a Pale Ale, after taste can feel bitterness too. Overall, this pale ale is a strong one, very nice beer.





我在網上看到某牌子的啤酒有新貨到港.我買了一些留給夏天飲,不過我可能在夏天末完之前已經飲完 :) 名單內包括2個牌子的啤酒,來自美國的Rogue Ale和來自挪威的Nøgne Ø.這兩個牌子都很直得品嚐.之前我的舊文已經提過Rogue Ale將會有一枝啤酒的成份是包含Sriracha辣椒醬(是拉差香甜辣椒醬).今次我有買這枝啤酒和對它的期望很高,因為我真係好鍾意是拉差辣椒醬的味道!!

啤酒名單:

Rogue Ale (From Left To Right):
XS Old Crustacean Barleywine 750ml
New Crustacean Barleywineish Imperial IPA Sorta 750ml
Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout 750ml
Voodoo Doughnut Pretzel, Raspberry & Chocolate Ale 750ml
Double Chocolate Stout 750ml
Rogue Farms 7 Hop IPA 650ml

Nøgne Ø (From Left to Right):
India Pale Ale (IPA) 500ml
Pale Ale 500ml
Saison 500ml

作晚我已經飲了Nøgne Ø Pale Ale.這裡在一個簡單的Taste Note給大家
參考.當我倒出來,可以見到朦朧橙銅色帶有非常細緻的泡泡.它蜂蜜,焦糖,柑桔類水果和香茅的芳香.味道方面是厚身啤酒帶有強烈啤酒花香和輕輕的甜.對比一般的Pale Ale,它的苦味是比較尖銳,After Taste都可以感覺到它的苦.整體它是一款濃厚型的Pale Ale,我個人喜歡濃厚型的啤酒,因為飲起來會刺激一點.





3/14/2015

[USA] DuMOL Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2011



During Chinese New Year’s holidays, I bought 2 bottles of Pinot Noir wine from USA and New Zealand. The greatest Pinot Noir wines are from Burgundy (France), but the New World countries are also trying to make similar style of Burgundy Pinot Noir wine. Pinot Noir requires a cool climate area to grow, it is successfully grown in Oregon and New Zealand. This time, I tasted the one from USA DuMOL Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2011. DuMOL winery was established in 1996, the name was came from the first winemaker’s children named Duncan and Molly. The owner Kerry Murphy, Michael Verlander and winemaker Andy Smith are big fans of Burgundy wine. In order to emulate Burgundy Pinot Noir perfumed style, the winery settled in California Sonoma, the most famous wine region Russian River Valley. The cool, foggy and maritime climate is very suitable for Pinot Noir growing. However, they tend to be low profile winery and there is not much public exposure. But on 2011 White House State Dinner, DuMOL Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2008 was selected for dinner wine.

DuMOL produces single vineyard wine and blending vineyards wine. This Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is a blending vineyards wine from 9 different vineyards in RRV. For Vintage 2011, they believe blending wine can achieve heightened complexity, low yield and provide excellent concentration. The grapes are hand harvested and crushed, and goes to malolactic fermentations. Then the wine are aged for 11 months in 35% new French barrels and settled 3 months in tank. Before bottling, the wine has no filtering, it help the wine to keep developing in the bottle. Wine critic Robert Parker rates this wine as 90 points which is outstanding wine.

My Taste note : It shows beautiful Dark Ruby colour. Before tasting, the wine has decanted for 1 hour. The aromas included Ripe Red Fruit, Cherry, Leather, Spicer, Licorice and Herbs. The palate is Dry, Light to Medium Body and light acid like cherry and strawberry. It has silky tannins, very smooth and pleasant. After taste brings out red fruit flavor and smooth tannins that can last to the end. Overall, this wine provides complex aromas, nice structured and enjoyable mouthfeel. The price for this wine is acceptable for New World wine. Sometime, Burgundy wines are not ready to drink or too expensive, at this price and quality, DuMOL RRV is very worth to try out.


在新年假期間, 我買了兩枝來自美國和紐西蘭的Pinot Noir(黑皮諾)紅酒. 當然最好的Pinot Noir紅酒是來自法國的勃根地, 但是新世界的地區嘗試釀造跟勃根地差不多風格的Pinot Noir紅酒. Pinot Noir 葡萄需要在涼爽氣候的地區生長. 它成功地在Oregon(奧勒岡州)紐西蘭成長. 這次我先品嚐來自美國的DuMOL Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2011. DuMOL 酒莊在1996年創立, 它的名字是來自第一個釀酒師的子女名字 Duncan Molly. 莊主Kerry Murphy, Michael Verlander 和釀酒師Andy Smith都是勃根地葡萄酒的愛好者. 為了釀造出帶有勃根地Pinot Noir的芬香, 酒莊設置在加州Sonoma(索諾瑪)內的一個出名釀酒區Russian River Valley (俄羅斯河谷). 這裡是海洋性氣候,清涼和大,適合Pinot Noir的生長.他們都是一個比較低調酒莊,盡量都不會在公開活動. 但是在2011年的白宮國宴上, 他們的DuMOL Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2008被選為餐酒.

DuMOL有生產單一葡萄園和混合不同葡萄園的葡萄酒. 這款Pinot Noir Russian River Valley是混合了9個來自RRV不同葡萄園的酒. 2011年他們相信混合不同葡萄酒可以獲得提高葡萄酒的複雜性,低產量和非常好的濃度.葡萄是人手採摘, 壓碎之後進行乳酸發酵.之後在35%新法國木桶內熟成11個月後再在別的酒桶內3個月安定下來.裝瓶之前葡萄酒是不會進行過濾,這樣可以幫助葡萄酒在瓶內繼續發展.這款酒葡萄酒評論家Robert Parker評分為90, 代表Outstanding的酒.

我的品酒筆記: 這款酒有漂亮的深紅寶石色.在品嘗之前,葡萄酒在醒酒器內1小時.香氣包括有成熟的紅色水果,車厘子,士多啤利,皮革,一些香料,甘草和草藥氣味.口感是乾身,中等酒身和輕輕的酸好像車厘子和士多啤利.它有絲綢般柔滑的單寧,感覺非常和藹. After Taste帶出紅色水果味道和平滑的單寧可以維持到最後.整體這款酒提供複雜的香氣,有良好結構和很享受酒在口內哪種感覺.這款酒的價錢是可以接受,有時勃根地的酒還沒到時候飲或太貴, DoMOL RRV這個價錢有這種質素的酒是很值得一試.  

1/15/2015

[USA] Rogue Ales


When I started to have interest in craft beer, I read books about it and the books always mention Rogue Brewery from USA - Oregon. They use unique ingredients in their beer (for example using Sriracha spicy sauce for “Rogue beer Sriracha“), and it has very creative label for each type of beer. Those labels attracted me to try out their beer. I searched where I could buy or taste Rogue in HK. They are sold in few shops in HK including IC Beer HK, City’Super and a bar in Central called Craft Brew & Co.”. At the bar I ordered a beer tasting plate with 4 different styles of beer, included 3 types of Rogue, Dead Guy Ale, Brutal IPA and 7 Hop IPA, and the last one is from Belgium Früli Strawberry beer. This bar also provide tasty hot dog for pairing with beer.


Dead Guy Ale, Brutal IPA and 7 Hop IPA, and the last one is from Belgium Früli Strawberry beer (From Left to Right)

I bought 2 different styles of Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar, Juniper Pale Ale and a bottle of Dead Guy Ale in a local beer shop. I have tasted 5 different styles of Rogue, the most impressive ones are Dead Guy Ale, Hazelnut Brown Nectar and 7 Hop IPA. Rogue plants their malt and hop in their farm, all the beers are made with no chemicals and additives.

Dead Guy Ale 6.5% ABV: This is a German Maibock / Hellerbock beer, it has amber color with rich toasted malt, chocolate and caramel aromas. The beer tastes like strong honey and biscuits, the palate has bittersweet. After taste shows more hoppy, this beer is rich and fruity with medium body. If you like mild beer style with littler bitterness, Dead Guy Ale will be a good chose.

7 Hop IPA 8.02% ABV / 90 IBUs: This IPA is blended with 7 kinds of hops from Rogue Farm. It is an American IPA style beer with strong hop bitterness. The color is reddish amber. On the nose it has citrus, flora and hop, it tastes complex with light caramel sweetness and aggressive bitterness.. I like this one so much; it is a very nice hoppy beer and very powerful IPA.      

Hazelnut Brown Nectar 6.0% ABV: This is a Brown Ale beer. Not sure if it is blended with hazelnut, but for sure this is a nutty beer. The color is dark brown with hazelnut, chocolate and malt. It tastes bittersweet and chocolate, with medium body. This Brown Ale didn’t show too much bitterness, the style is quite mild with nice chocolate and hazelnut flavors.


當我開始品嚐手工啤酒時,我經常都會看一些有關啤酒的書,有些書本經常都有提及到來自美國-俄勒岡Rogue Brewery. 他們會用上獨特的材料來造啤酒(例如是拉差辣椒醬Rogue beer Sriracha), 他們的啤酒Label都很有創意. 這些啤酒Label很吸引我去飲他們的啤酒. 我尋找過香港哪裡可以買或品嚐到Rogue 啤酒. 有幾間本地啤酒鋪,包括 IC Beer HKCity’super和中環有一間酒吧Craft Brew & Co.都有出售.我在這間酒吧點了一個beer tasting plate, 4杯不同風格的啤酒,其中3杯是Rogue,包括Dead Guy Ale, Brutal IPA and 7 Hop IPA, 最後一杯是來自比利時的Früli士多啤利啤酒. 這間酒吧有提供一些美味的特色熱, 可以用來配啤酒.

之後我在一間啤酒鋪買了兩款Rogue, Hazelnut Brown Nectar, Juniper Pale Ale 和一枝Dead Guy Ale. 到現在我總共品嚐5Rogue啤酒, 印象最深刻是Dead Guy Ale, Hazelnut Brown Nectar7 Hop IPA. Rogue有個自家農場, 種植他們釀啤酒的麥芽和啤酒花. 所有啤酒都沒添加化學製品和添加劑.

Dead Guy Ale 6.5%ABV : 這款是一款德國Maibock / Hellerbock 啤酒. 它帶有琥珀顏色有複雜的麥芽香, 巧克力和焦糖香. 味道方面是有強烈蜂蜜和餅乾味帶出少少甜,和藹的苦味. After taste有多一些苦味, 這啤酒是很豐厚和Fruity, 中等酒身. 非常好飲, 如果喜歡溫和型啤酒帶少少苦, 可以選擇這款.

7 Hop IPA 8.02% ABV / 90 IBUs : 這一款IPA用了7款來自Rogue Farm的啤酒花來釀造. 它的風格是美式IPA,帶強烈啤酒花苦. 顏色是琥珀偏紅色.香氣上有柑橘類(Citrus),花香,和啤酒花.它的味道是很複雜帶焦糖甜味,有力的啤酒花苦味.啤酒花苦味不是只感覺到苦, 它會帶有一些花香,草藥等等的味道. 這款啤酒的苦度是90, 如果喜歡一些啤酒花的味道或口味較重的啤酒,這會是不錯的選擇. 

Hazelnut Brown Nectar 6.0% ABV: 這是一款 Brown Ale. 不清楚是否有加上榛子的成份.不過我可以肯定這款是堅果般的啤酒.顏色是深咖啡色帶有榛子, 巧克力和麥芽香.味道方面是先甜後苦,巧克力和咖啡的味道. 這款Brown Ale 不是太苦, 它的風格是比較溫和和有一些不錯的巧克力榛子味道.