The Twisted Hop Centennial

For those that thought Emersons APA was good, it should be measured against this. Currently off tap but we’re hoping it returns. Gone but not forgotten.

Feb/06 served from cask via beerengine with sparkler fitted. This was the first batch and one of the first casks to go on sale. Pours an amber gold with the caracteristic sparkler driven head. citrisy piny hops on the nose but perhaps not as much as you would expect. Loads of hop resins and interesting fruity hop flavour after anouther aswell as sweet smooth malt and caramalt flavours on the palate. Not as bitter in the finish as is promised but perhaps the sparkler has had some hand in this. Wish I had tried it without the sparkler . Will nextime.

Tasted 12/09/2006. 500ml white-labeled bottle from BrewNZ. Amber, hazy, with an off-white head that collapses and laces lightly. American hop perfume, fruity and flowery, with a load of crystal malt. These can’t quite disguise some sulphurous yeast and a hop harshness. The mouth continues on the same lines: the sweet malts and hop flavour are lost amongst a hot, harsh, astringency that dominates the middle and lingers. Hints of chlorine in there too. Full bodied and cask-style carbonation. Big bodied hoppy ale - has real potential but isn’t up to scratch.

Cask @ Twisted Hop. Golden orange, lovely handpump ale with tons of citrus hop flavor yet little hop aroma and almost no hop bite. Very odd. Very tasty bitter, though.