41% ABV beer is something seldom heard off, when I’m able to get my hand on it I wouldn’t want to miss this chance. I bought it for a whooping SGD$150 (around RM375) for a 375ml bottle, which make out to 1ml = RM1. Is it better then the single malt out there? Is it worth the money? Does it taste like beer? Non of the above question relevant when I purchase that bottle. In my mind is all about wanted get one bottle and try it.

The pouring of the beer is smooth and thick. Oily smooth texture that leave a nice legging on the glass. The aroma are sweet but not pungent while the beer is still cold. As it gets warmer, more of other flavour start to emerge including the alcohol vapour. Nosing the beer may spice up your throat. This beer is strong. The first entry is sharp with lots of alcohol, sweetness, grassy, roots and like hops of bitter. Can taste sweet and hoppy at the same time give a faint character of IPA.

Never tried beer that taste like this, more complex and rich in character. Slowly sipping is the only way to enjoy it. As the beer get’s warmer more character can be detected and more sweetness in floral and fruity on the throat. Plus the last bit is very syrupy.

Now I’ll answer the 3 question many asked me.

Is it better then the single malt out there?
Not really, they are different genre. More towards brandy but at the same time very different. If this beer would have age in a wood barrel then the complexity will be even more overwhelm.

Is it worth the money?
I don’t think is worth it but at the same time is kinda do. I still amaze that for such a short period a beer can be turn to something so complex and detail. Price why may not worth it, but for the effort of this beer – it does stand up high.

Does it taste like beer?
Nop, not at all. But do have some character of beer in it. Was hoping for a bit more or even better then Tactical Nuclear Penguin. Later when everything sink in, is just 2 different style and genre.

Verdict
I’m glad that I buy this and try it, it take away a lot of my curiousity  of how this beer taste. Would I buy another bottle? Not too sure yet, still wondering about it. But one thing for sure, this type of beer really open up many new height of beer making. Interestingly, there’s just no limit of what beer can become. Who would have taught that beer can be this fun!

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Just received this 2 bottles of 41% ABV Brewdog Sink The Bismarck. Can’t wait to try this baby next week. One already a taker, left one more bottle for my self. Per bottle of this is a shocker at RM400+ per bottle.

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Bocq Agrum and Apple just arrive at our shore few days back. Now available at Ales & Lagers. It come in a 250ml bottle, that can goes quite nice with food. It’s a light wheat beer with fruit flavour. Agrum is a mandarin orange flavour while the other one is apple flavour wheat beer. Have fun trying! Cheers!

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Almost half a year has gone, we are entering to the next half. Nothing much has change in the beer industry, except that there will be another price hike of 3-4% in June for both GAB and Carlsberg product in Malaysia.

For me, last year is a boring beer scene year. We didn’t see many new concept bars and what happen is, many bars move from KL town to Ipoh or Penang. While the scene here drop to a standard boring same thing. All the new bars in the market are just a copy of other bars that doesn’t show much of idea input to opening a bar.

Of course, lately many people are toying with opening a cocktail bar. One that just opened 1 month back is Omakase + Appreciate at Ming Annexe Building in KL. A small hidden place in town. More bars are looking for new drinks to add on to their menus.

Of course, I’m mostly busy with my own Ales & Lagers, which for many is quite hidden as well. We did get a lot of enquiries from many customer about the beer market here. If you asked me, I’ll be like an opposition slogan “UBAH”. I think bar should now change and adapt into different scenario, rather then just fighting for the market, we create a different genre to capture the market. Of course, this mean a lot of advertising and promotion to capture the crowd.

The best place doesn’t mean it’s crowded but thumbs up given by the customer every time they came. Many consumer are looking for something new and fresh but the market don’t offer this type of alternative. Not many willing to take the risk, just like Taps Beer Bar open more then 1 year now many beer drinkers still haven’t pay them a visit to try good craft beers for around the world. Most consumer will go for advertise brand, but sometimes is the specialty places that offer the best thing in town.

More and more specialty bar scene are setup and many are in the planning. I hear there will be tequila bar coming out soon, more whisky bar are in the midst of planning. I have no doubt may of this place will be a big hit if they push the right concept. Concept of just having fun in a place is no more that outstanding this days. Weirdly, the trend setter of today is not the young 20-30 age group. They are actually the part that hold back the industry, getting drunk and have no clue what they drank.

The 30-40 age group have become the module of trend setter that eyeing for specialty product and this will certainly boost bar concept. Prices will always determine the crowd but noble good product will have a good range of customer visiting the places.

I hope new concept bars come in to KL soon to start the trend, I have heard the plea for good places lately where many business owner are lacking in concepts and ideas. Stop following the trend and start creating a new idea that can capture a niche market that will evolve.

For many out there, a beer is still a beer, but for beer fanatic like me a beer means a lot of things. The saying goes, “Good People Drink Good Beer”. Cheers!

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