Second post in “From the drawer” series. Today I am coming back to Panakeja created by Olimp brewery – Earl Grey American IPA style beer. This note was created on 27th October 2016. Lets see,
Second post in “From the drawer” series. Today I am coming back to Panakeja created by Olimp brewery – Earl Grey American IPA style beer. This note was created on 27th October 2016. Lets see, how this beer tasted…
As an introduction: examined beer is called Panakeja and was produced in Olimp brewery in Poland. It is Earl Grey American IPA style. Initial extract was 15% of weight, hops that were used are Citra and Chinook, alcohol level is 6%.
Its color is orange gold, clarity on hazy level, medium viscosity. Its foam is white, weak, from the very beginning it is vanishing pretty fast up to a little bit higher ring, tiny bubbles until its gone, leaves gentle lacing. Color is pretty intense.
In aroma I can feel earl grey tea, citruses with advantage of lemon and grapefruit, maybe some hops and slight smell of bergamot. Although aroma is strong and intense, it is very refreshing.
In taste I can also feel strong and condensed earl grey tea and far, far away some hops and citruses with companion of bergamot. Taste is very intense, thrilling, deep, but pleasent. The beer itself is very easily drinkable but not sip by sip – you need two or three seconds until the strong tones of earl grey will let you move forward.
Attack is slightly aromatic with stronger feel of pinching on the tongue – beer is medium saturated. Body could be described as expansions of tastes, basically one taste to be more precised – earl grey tea, which stays with us till the very end. This beer is pretty velvet. Considering its dynamics – it is static. Finish is a little bit longer, full of taste and very pleasent, however the after tastes does not last long. Obviously finish and aftertaste are both full of earl grey too… Acidity is very poor in slight character of citruses, bitterness is strongest – earl grey style, sweetness is also poor, following tea aroma.
Thinking of balance… Well… Someone has gone too far with this earl grey. Unfortunately it is jamming this beer as a whole and in fact is the only taste that can be felt. You can definitely look for something deeper, but I do not think, that this is what it was meant to be… Apart from that I must admit, that this beer is very nice to drink. Of course it does not fullfill the style, or in other words, goes with only part of it to excess. American IPA is generally imperceptible.
Honestly I have a huge problem, how to evaluate this beer. If I were about to go with objective note considering this beer as some style with variation, unfortunately it would end with 4/10. Earl grey is killing the taste. However this note is my private decision and can be as subjective as I want. This is why this beer gets 7,5/10. I just like it a lot! It is funny, unparalleled, interesting and what is most important, it gives the uniqueness I am looking for. If I were to recommend that beer I would, but only those, who are huge fans of tea, especially earl grey and beergeeks looking for new and unusual experiences. This beer is worth coming back. If so, then better alone or only with other beergeeks, who are ready for indescribable feelings – only then we will be able to appreciate this extraordinary (for me) beer!
My final note is 7,5/10
A few words of comment to foregoing note. It is three and a half year since it was created. I think, that it was the time, when my approach of beer examination was stabilized. I am curious, if others had simmilar impression of this beer or were they totally opposite? I invite you to share your thoughts in comments. If you haven’t any chance of trying that beer, let me know if after reading this tasting note you would buy this beer. See you in next post!