Beer tasting @ Craft Brews

Beer. The world’s oldest and still most widely-consumed alcoholic beverage, usually made from malted barley, with hops added for flavour, and for bitterness, to counter the sweetness of d malt.

Its been around for ages – fuckers have been gettin drunk for at least 10,000 years! (And still no real hangover cure?? Other than this recent attempt. Dafuck man. Goddam slackers.)

There are two types of beers in the world – lagers and ales. Explain in a sec.

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Bitches lined-up

Last week tried out some American craft beers available at Craft Brews (7722-3000). Earlier in the month tried their draft beers.

These babes are from the Flying Dog Brewery, an award-winning one that began brewin d piss in Aspen in 1990.

It wasn’t a beer-pairing dinner; just beer. Four of ’em. (Hmm. Dunno why no bars / restaurants have hosted beer dinners.)

To kick off t’was Old Scratch (amber lager). Obviously the colour is amber as its a lager.

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Beer with ticks on d label. Appetizing

Wats da diff between a lager and an ale? To d layman, a lager is a pilsner like Tiger, Chang, Angkor, Bintang and all d beers brewed in this region. Its filtered, clear gold, crisp, and has a clean taste.

An ale is generally unfiltered, usually darker beer.

The difference in creation is lager uses bottom-fermenting yeast, ie yeast that gather at the bottom of the fermentation barrel. Ales use a top-fermenting species. Like cider. And wheat beers.

Ales are generally robust, more complex, bolder and stronger in taste and aroma, and normally darker. Very common in US, Europe, not really in Asia. Early beers were all ales. They usually have a higher hop content. Stouts fall under ales.

The strongest beer made so far is 32% – the Tactical Nuclear Penguin. Haha! Penguin also kena exploited.

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A pack of crazy dogs

Anyway the Ol Scratch (5.5%) is a malty beer, more on the sweet side, but mellow. The finish is light.

The Snake Dog (India pale ale) is a different story altogether. Its fosher a straight-up, big-dick ale. The aroma is of…. lychee. Seriously.

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Grace tryin to figure d beer with the highest alco content

The IPA is hoppy (meaning heavy in hops). Translation = bitter. Tasting-buddy Grace, who’s a freak, digs dis.

The finish is pretty strong & long. ABV is da highest among the four – 7.1%.

Hmmm. Now Grace’s choice makes sense.

Its got an IBU (some new shit i learned) of 60, which means its goddam bitter. All these bottles have an International Bitterness Unit number at d back, ranging from 12 to 60.

Next, the Doggie Style (classic pale ale).

Dis dude’s got character, a lil too much character for i n Grace. It’s gotta real bite. But a shorter finish than the Snake Dog IPA. ABV is 5.5%.

Checkout like real, taking notes n shit

Checkout like real, taking notes n shit

Its supposed to make u engage in doggie-style d same night. Didnt happen.

Even if it did, i aint no snitch.

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If dogs could fly....., I'd watch out for dog shit

.

Final beer’s the In Heat (wheat hefeweizen – 4.7%). Its got the aroma of pisang goreng. No shit.

Dead easy to drink, the traditional German hefe is my fave. Simple unfiltered wheat beer.

Choices....

Choices....

My ranking – In Heat, Ol Scratch, Snake Dog, Doggie Style.

Grace – In Heat, Snake Dog, Ol Scratch, Doggie Style.

A hydrant beer-dispenser? Great spot for a dog to take a leak

A hydrant beer-dispenser? Great spot for a dog to take a leak

The beers are only served from bottles and cost $20.70.

Party continued as we hit Alexis with my buddy Rubin for long islands. Got pretty bent on d way there.

Rubin n Grace fight for sum wine i brewed

Rubin n Grace ungraciously fight for sum wine i brewed

Senget, altogether now...

Senget, altogether now...

Brain damage: 6.5/10

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Checkin Craft Brews

Was there on a cool Friday evening, sampling their draft beers and a lil food.

Craft Brews (7722-3000) launched last month, and is located near Petronas / Tesco, Mutiara Damansara, PJ. It serves mainly beer, as well as some interesting food like pork ribs.

The main beers featured here are those sourced from micro breweries; Craft Brews is not a micro brewery. There’s the Monster Green Lager, English Ale, Weizen (German wheat beer) and Czech Pilsner on tap. These are from RedDot Brewhouse, Singapore.

Hey i’ve got a micro brewery too! Sort of.

Piece of cake!

Piece of cake!

There’re also bottled beers from Flying Dog (US) and Rogue (US). These will be tested & featured here shortly!

The ‘Signature Home Brews’ soon arrive in towers, with four ‘flavours’. They all have different shades.

Grace seems to like Martian piss

Grace seems to like Martian urine

Choose your piss. Left-right: Czech, English, Martian, German

Choose your poison. Left-right: Czech, English, Monster, German

The Czech tasted pretty much like standard lager, the Monster Green (added spirulina) is quite similar, but with a fresher edge, the English Ale’s bold flavour is too strong for me, while the Weizen went down quick & easy.

I find prices for the draft beers on the high side -$28.75 for a pint of Carlsberg and $33.35 for the signature brews.

Prices aint nett - add service charge n govt tax

Prices aint nett - add service charge n govt tax

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Our fave for d night - Weizen

Pick your juice

Choose yor juice

D joint is also a restaurant

D joint is also a restaurant

Nice plumbing

Nice plumbing

A blind beer-tasting challenge. Not for me - my task was easy - down all the samples. Obvioulsy i lost

A blind beer-tasting challenge. No challenge for me - my aim was simple - down all the samples. Obvioulsy i lost...

And Grace won, d beerholic. But my prize was better haha!

And Grace won, d beerholic. But my prize was better haha

Moved on to Nigel's housewarming n harrassed his kid Dylan

Moved on to Nigel's housewarming n harrassed his kid Dylan

Tx to Khabir, ended d night in style

Tx to Khabir, ended d night in style. Ended up staggering

And messed with Homey on d street

And messed around d street with Homey

Brain damage: 8/10

[Follow-up post here]

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Food, drink @ Tom’s

Swung by Tom Dick & Harry’s (7710-2122) in TTDI recently. Food blogger chick Sue Lynn was checkin out some of the menu items, so i joined her.

We also went thru a few cocktails. My friend Sarah orders the Mudslide Martini to start. It’s different from what we’re used to, ie TGI Friday’s ice-cream filled one, but its ok.

The girls went thru quite a few cocktails!

Mudslide

Hmm, not sure if this was the White Russian or Mudslide

First on d munchy list – Pigs in Blanket. Their version uses small sausages. Pretty ok. The mustard rocks.

Little piggies

Little piggies

Left to right: Beer, Hopscotch Martini, Mojito

Left to right: Beer, Hopscotch Martini, Mojito

Other cocktails sampled – Hopscotch Martini – one for those who like their drinks lollipop-like, Mojito – a favourite anytime, Vodkachino – good as a dessert.

I also had the Long Island. Unfortunately, the bar uses locally-made cheap liquor, which i find quite shocking, considering its priced as premium. I’m not sure if their house-pouring liquors are also local moonshine.

My lovely 'double-date'. Haha

My lovely 'double-date'. Haha

Pork spread

Meeeat!

The Pork Platter (above) is pretty decent, tho the slices are kinda thin.

Prices are above average. The bar opened early this month, with happy hours from 4-8.

Remember d movie Alien, when d baby alien bursts outta d dude's stomach? Flashback. Pork knuckles.

Remember d movie Alien, when d baby alien bursts outta d dude's stomach? Flashback. Pork knuckles.

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Doin Overtime

If u gonna work overtime downtown, this is the spot, at least until Wed (Dec 16). Overtime (2161-0246 / 012 233-1816) is a new joint that specializes in a German beer known as Starker. It’s known as a ‘fresh beer’, meaning its made and consumed within a week.

Another new beer in town

Another new beer in town

Checked it out on Sunday. A pint normally costs $30, while a barrel is $345. BUT, from Dec 10-16, as i said here before, it’s DIRT CHEAP. A pint is $8 NETT, a barrel is only $80 NETT for 5 liters, ie 10 pints.

To make sure, we had three barrels.

They come in very chilled wooden kegs, sent to your table still sealed.

Tap that ass

Virgin

You get the honour of bashing it open.

Tap dat ass!

Tap dat ass!

The copper tap breaks the seal, and you’re on.

Party starter

Party starter

The beer is 1) Fucking cold. 2) Smooth & light-tasting. 3) A li lfruity. 4) Goes down easy.

Its brewed from wheat & malted barley, unfiltered, with a murky, Hoegaarden-like colour. It’s served at 3 Celcius. I like.

It was a crew of 3 (my bro & MadMax) that soon expanded as word got round of what mischief we were up to in the city on a Sunday afternoon. Haha

Lil got more & more

Lil got more & more

Hooligan in dahaus

Hooligan in dahaus

There’s also a bbq section – the grilled siakap is pretty good, but get the sauce on the side, not on it.

Like i said...

Like i said...

They got tons of pork! Char siew too. Honey pork, fire pork, beancurd pork, crunchy pork, honey char siew, garlic pork.

There’s a band – called Suresh & Friends. Unexpectedly impressive.

Happy hour entertainers

Happy hour entertainers

Chill outdoors...

Chill outdoors...

Or in, which is dark and quite sleazy

Or in, which is dark and quite sleazy

Barrels of fun

Barrels of fun

Smack downtown

Smack downtown

But this ridiculous deal is only until tomw (Wed, Dec 16), so get organized. It operates 3pm-3am and located at Life Centre along Sultan Ismail.

There’s also a sweet deal for Smirnoff – $300 NETT for 2 bottles. Not sure until when.

The official launch takes place on Thursday from 6.45pm. Freeflow. Reshmonu & some chick called Chi Ling will be in dahaus.

Brain damage rating: 8/10

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