Emersons APA

2006 batch from bottle: This is definitly my pick of the recent incarnations of this beer. The very first batch was legandary but then again there just wasnt anything in the NZ market back then to compare it to. Ballance is the catch cry for the 2006 version. Outstanding fruity citric grapfruit aromas jump out of the glass while on the palate citric hop flavour and luscious malt sing in unison rather than one pummeling the other. Last years was in my opinion over dry hopped and exhibited some distracting flavours as a result. This years hits the perfect ballance and as a result is a work of art.

Maybe it’s the water, maybe it’s the hops, maybe it’s Richard or maybe it’s me, but this beer is one of the best on the Planet! Calling this beer a Pale Ale is the most understated understatement I’ve ever seen. I live in the US Pacific Northwest and we have hops a plenty and plenty of hoppy beers. I love this beer so much that I left my golf bag in NZ last trip just so I could fill my hard case golf carrier with Emerson’s Beer - mainly the APA. I can only hope Emerson’s makes it to the United States somewhere sometime other than In my DREAMS!

10/11/2004. From the gaudy labelled 500ml bottle purchased at New World. Wow, the label’s claim of "extra hoppy" is accurate. You can smell the hops before you even begin pouring: citrus, wood and forest flowers. The APA pours a beautiful toffee-ish golden colour with a light white head that diminishes quickly to leave only a fluffy film-like head. The aroma is a huge hoppy bouquet citrus fruits and freshly cut pine. The flavour is surprisingly balanced between the pale malt and the big american hops; the woody, resinous properties of these hops nicely bitters after a juicy summer fruit front flavour. All comes wrapped in a full soft mouthfeel. The palate is left with a slightly over bitter feel (the only negative) before dying away cleanly. Everyone compares this one to Limburg Hopsmacker, which I actually think is more like Emerson’s Maris Gold. This is a step above other NZ New World Pale Ales.

Rerated: 09 Sep 2006 The 2006 edition is even better. Beautiful to look at clear with a pleasant lasting head. And if possible even hoppier than before !!!!!! Yum. A real contender. This and Little Creatures as good as any APA out there.. You NEED to drink this one, the flavour is just as rich as the Organic Pilsner but with a more bitter Finish

Bottle. HUGE thanks to Duff for bringing this to me, wouldn’t have dreamed of getting the chance to try this any time soon. Best before MAY 07 0834, is what it says, clearly on the label. Served in my duvel tulip on 11/10/05. Jaw-droppingly intense aroma. Surprised it comes from such an unassuming bottle. Fresh, juicy fruits with a smattering of juniper and other aromatic, fresh, green herbs. Ever so light citrus, just faint sweet tangerines and ruby-red grapefruits. Soft, sugary, light base malts sit on the edge of the tongue, supportive, but not bullying in the least. Deep, hazy-golden-amber appearance. Fine bubbles rising to create an off-white head that is retained at cover with spotty lacing. Plenty of sediment in bottle. Flavor begins with a light malt sweetness (honey, touch of caramel), a dry yeast note and almost a wheaty/oaty/barleyish grainy sort of flavor that I can’t place. Grainy, mildly sour (maybe munich malt) flavor sticks and some hop bitterness mixes with it. Hop bitterness clings to the palate, as does the malt sugar. As it warms, the mouthfeel stays perfectly tight and the texture does not turn watery. Spicy dill and grapefruit on the end. An APA to savor and sip. Exquisitely intricate expansive carbonation. No alcohol apparency. Fresh on draught this could prove to be positively stupefying.