If you ever found yourself stranded on the proverbial desert island with an offer of one style of drink to keep you sated for the rest of your days, what would it be?I’m guessing you’d choose beer - after all, this is a blog about beer on a site owned by NZ’s finest purveyor of beer (he he).As good as sipping a cold ale under a coconut tree with the sun beating down and the waves lapping hypnotically at the shore sounds - I’d still be a touch conflicted if I am honest; the thought of never tasting whisky again...

Today we take a look at another mighty brew from Dogfish Head, the Delaware outfit that has made quite the reputation for big beers. Their list includes such gems as the 120 Minute IPA, which is continually hopped for over two hours and sports an abv in the late teens, and Fort, a Belgian style ale which clocks in as the world’s strongest fruit beer. Simply put, these guys don’t muck about.Our beer today is a further twist on Fort, which is made with tones of pureed raspberries and was first released in 2005. At around 17% abv this is an unashamedly...

Ok, we’ve done some long, factually driven historical beer studies of late so time for a bit of fun perhaps? After all, there’s more than one way to write a tasting note…Piraat Belgian Strong AleIt is 1784 and Captain Orange Beard is thirsty. He has led a successful campaign of tyranny on the high seas for nigh on seven months, scuttling no less than five schooners, two naval frigates and one galleon, and although his sloop sails low in the sea thanks to a wealth of ill gotten gains, what he really wants is a drink!The expansive monotony of sea...

I was reading up on blended beers last week whilst researching Krieks, and stumbled across the history of the porter. It’s an interesting tale which illustrates nicely the ebb, flow and evolution of styles.I wouldn’t describe the humble porter as popular, by any stretch of the imagination, but most modern breweries will have it on their list, which I guess is a reflection on the current brewing scene - where variation is king. But it wasn’t always like that… and for a brief moment in the mid 20th Century - the poor old porter basically became extinct!How the porter exactly...

If I were to ever join a gang - it would have to be the Ommegang - America’s first farmhouse brewery in over 100 years, situated in Cooperstown in New York state. I’d have a pied-a-terre in New York City and would spend the week brewing ‘cool’ beers and the weekend stuffing my face with pizza whilst listening to jazz in the shabby chic bars of Greenwich Village.Oh to dream!*Ommegang isn’t a brand I know too well - so today’s beer was chosen in an effort to find out more about this bizarre sounding brewery that seems to be knocking...