Well, it’s been a while since my latest post here, but now as I’m traveling and not the driver, I found some time to throw a long awaited post for the beersaturday challenge.
The target of my post will be a gift set from a local brewery in Bulgaria. It’s called Metalhead brewery and at the beginning these guys started brewing abroad, and importing their beers, but from a year or so, they started their Bulgarian brewery.
I was not very lucky to visit the brewery, when it was open. Having two or three chances, going by the location, the first time it was a bit early and they were not supposed to be open, but the second time the timing was better - late afternoon, but they were still closed for unknown reasons. My parents, though, were lucky to find the brewery open about a week later and brought a gift set to me.
My first pick was Lady lust - a Milkshake IPA. While I’m not a big fan of sweet IPAs and never would probably brew one for me, this was a good one with interesting hops in it. They were not very fresh at all, maybe due to the fact that this gift set was transported in heavy summer heat and we all know that the high temperatures are not the best friend of the hops.
Overall, I liked this one and enjoyed having it for a start.
Next one was a bit more special beer - CINN CITY. This one is a winter ale, a brown ale with added spices cinnamon, clover and anise.
I don’t know if they brew winter beer during the summer months. Maybe this one is from the last year’s winter when it was cold and the beer was better appreciated. I wasn’t in a mood for a winter ale anyway so I didn’t enjoy this one at all. And it was a bit overcarbed maybe due to addition of special ingredients.
After all it was a craft beer and I liked drinking something different, not the right timing for this one.
Next was Lick it up - an American pale ale. This one got the right amount of hopiness in it.
I first tried this beer from the times when they brewed abroad and liked it a lot back then. A very fresh summer beer, again lost some of its qualities due to the summer heat. I bet all the beers will taste better served fresh at the brewery.
Stink it was a lot better than the winter ale. After all it’s summer now!
Now, going to the last beer from the gift set - a rye IPA with the name HOP SUEY.
The rye gives the beer special tartness and some special and unique flavors. The color is very unique too. Although it’s a hoppy beer, you may guess again. The temperatures took their share of the hop flavor. They may used to be intense, but now the beer got a bit more grassy flavor, replacing the fresh citrus and fruity ones.
Of all the beers, I found the milkshake IPA to be the most joyful pleasure bringing one to me. I’m sure all these beers will be a lot better served fresh and not spending a week or so out of the refrigerator. This makes me even more impatient about visiting this brewery. Let’s only hope that I will have a chance sooner. One thing is sure. Never ever let your beer stay long. Drink and enjoy it as fast as you can and it will reward you in the best manner.
Cheers and enjoy the beer!