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Tall Poppy
8 Wired Brewing Co.
- From:
- 8 Wired Brewing Co.
- New Zealand
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Ale
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 88
- Avg:
- 3.93 | pDev: 8.65%
- Reviews:
- 35
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Feb 16, 2021
- Added:
- Jan 24, 2011
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 9
This is an ale that is not afraid of standing tall among other great beers. The intense, sharp and fruity hoppiness is backed by its complex, caramel-like malty structure. Big, yet refreshing. Bold but balanced. This beer has been designed to have it all, to be the greatest common denominator.
60 IBU
60 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by biboergosum:
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)
3.88/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
3.88/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
500ml bottle. My first IRA since sitting in Henry's in downtown Portland, Oregon last summer. And now, all the way from Marlborough, New Zealand - huh, the circle isn't exactly zeroing in on me now, is it?
This beer pours a crystal clear, ruby brick amber hue, with one flabby finger of tightly foamy beige head, which leaves some spooky lightning strike lace around the glass as it genially subsides. Who's a pretty girl?
It smells of sweet grapefruit and orange citrus, and some other very south seas oriented fruitiness, with a soft, thin caramel malt, and a mild cherry cough drop essence. The taste is more citrusy/piney hop esters, ones better ingratiated to the growing whim of the bready caramel malt, tinged with toffee, and edged with exceedingly ethereal ethanol.
The bubbles are feebly prickly, and generally ok, the body a waiting list medium weight, and tacitly smooth. It finishes fairly off-dry, the hops digging in, and the malt taking that dare in stride.
I assume that the 'India' designation, as before in that Oregonian offering, indicates an IPA-like treatment applied to a base amber ale. If so, this is a bang-on interpretation of this meta-style - nice and hoppy, of the Pacific NW (or SW, if you will) bent, over an adequately solid caramel malt base. Quite enjoyable, very drinkable, however, just not all that affordable at 10 bucks and small change per serving.
Jun 17, 2012This beer pours a crystal clear, ruby brick amber hue, with one flabby finger of tightly foamy beige head, which leaves some spooky lightning strike lace around the glass as it genially subsides. Who's a pretty girl?
It smells of sweet grapefruit and orange citrus, and some other very south seas oriented fruitiness, with a soft, thin caramel malt, and a mild cherry cough drop essence. The taste is more citrusy/piney hop esters, ones better ingratiated to the growing whim of the bready caramel malt, tinged with toffee, and edged with exceedingly ethereal ethanol.
The bubbles are feebly prickly, and generally ok, the body a waiting list medium weight, and tacitly smooth. It finishes fairly off-dry, the hops digging in, and the malt taking that dare in stride.
I assume that the 'India' designation, as before in that Oregonian offering, indicates an IPA-like treatment applied to a base amber ale. If so, this is a bang-on interpretation of this meta-style - nice and hoppy, of the Pacific NW (or SW, if you will) bent, over an adequately solid caramel malt base. Quite enjoyable, very drinkable, however, just not all that affordable at 10 bucks and small change per serving.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.87/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
500 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7%. Cloudy amber to brown colour, large and creamy off-white head. Lovely aroma of fruity (particularly grapefruit) and piney American hops (Warrior, Columbus, Simcoe, Amarillo). The flavour is distinctly piney and resinous, the hops immediately take command of the malts in the background. Not very sweet, dry and bitter finish.
Feb 16, 2021Reviewed by Everydayoff from Thailand
4.04/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.04/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
330ml bottle poured into a pint glass.
Translucent ruby amber color, the pour builds up massive silky light brown head that very well retains with excellent retention before slowly subsiding to an everlasting crown and leaving plenty of sticky lacing here and there.
Sweet caramel leads in the aroma together with the other malty scents of toasted bread, cocoa, toffee, and biscuit. Hop blends in and mingles to make some crisp by providing notes of citrus, lime, spice, pine, and resin.
The taste is obviously balance between the sweetness of caramel malt and the crispness of fruity hop. They both together lend notes of caramel, toasted bread, cocoa, sweet toffee, biscuit, all from malt while hop with its citrus, lime, spice, pine, resin, and moderate bitterness.
Medium body with smooth mouthfeel and rather low to moderate carbonation through the palate, the feeling is well-rounded and a bit crisp with a very dry finish.
This is what the Amber/Red Ale is all about.
A heavy dose of caramel and sweet malt – check.
A crisp and citrusy yet piney hop – check.
A balance between malt and hop – check.
All check.
Jun 26, 2017Translucent ruby amber color, the pour builds up massive silky light brown head that very well retains with excellent retention before slowly subsiding to an everlasting crown and leaving plenty of sticky lacing here and there.
Sweet caramel leads in the aroma together with the other malty scents of toasted bread, cocoa, toffee, and biscuit. Hop blends in and mingles to make some crisp by providing notes of citrus, lime, spice, pine, and resin.
The taste is obviously balance between the sweetness of caramel malt and the crispness of fruity hop. They both together lend notes of caramel, toasted bread, cocoa, sweet toffee, biscuit, all from malt while hop with its citrus, lime, spice, pine, resin, and moderate bitterness.
Medium body with smooth mouthfeel and rather low to moderate carbonation through the palate, the feeling is well-rounded and a bit crisp with a very dry finish.
This is what the Amber/Red Ale is all about.
A heavy dose of caramel and sweet malt – check.
A crisp and citrusy yet piney hop – check.
A balance between malt and hop – check.
All check.
Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong
3.23/5 rDev -17.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75
3.23/5 rDev -17.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75
A 330ml bottle from batch # 65 with a best before date of 25th January 2017, poured into a Moonzen teku glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear brown colour with a reddish hue and a just over one finger beige head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Strong caramel malt notes with some dark fruits like plum, prunes and raisins. There is also a touch of pine and earthiness.
Taste: A touch of booziness hits first followed by everything in the aromas. Caramel, dark fruit, prunes, plum and raisins. The finish gives a touch of tea, coffee, pine and citrus.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: More amber ale than IPA in my opinion. But it was overly boozy and caramel-ly on both aroma and taste for me to fully enjoy it.
Sep 13, 2016Appearance: It poured a clear brown colour with a reddish hue and a just over one finger beige head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Strong caramel malt notes with some dark fruits like plum, prunes and raisins. There is also a touch of pine and earthiness.
Taste: A touch of booziness hits first followed by everything in the aromas. Caramel, dark fruit, prunes, plum and raisins. The finish gives a touch of tea, coffee, pine and citrus.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: More amber ale than IPA in my opinion. But it was overly boozy and caramel-ly on both aroma and taste for me to fully enjoy it.
Reviewed by pbasran from Canada (BC)
3.71/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Their Big Smoke blew me away so I looked forward to trying out another brew from this New Zealand brewery.
It's quite caramelish (more than I'd like)... It starts quite sweet and the hop blast leaves a pleasant linger. You don't get too much of the alcohol-taste, but you can tell it's not like making love in a canoe. Clean.
Normally I'd think it has a tad too much carbonation, but they work by revealing the hoppiness after your first swig. Clever (or just lucky with his batch).
Jul 02, 2016It's quite caramelish (more than I'd like)... It starts quite sweet and the hop blast leaves a pleasant linger. You don't get too much of the alcohol-taste, but you can tell it's not like making love in a canoe. Clean.
Normally I'd think it has a tad too much carbonation, but they work by revealing the hoppiness after your first swig. Clever (or just lucky with his batch).
Reviewed by baumaxx1 from Australia
4.02/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance -
Pours a dark red/amber/brown colour, and appears clear, but dark. Mocha white, 2 finger head, which dissipates to a thin, but sustained film. Little effervescence. Moderate lacing.
Smell -
Caramel malts, dark fruits, cocoa, cherries, raisins, with an earthy hop resin aroma. Almost dark ale territory. A bit like rum.
Taste -
Strong alcohol, rum and raisins as per the nose. Dark fruits, plum, dates, cherries and raisins. A hint of roast malts, giving coffee and a hint of flavour as if it was barrel aged. Bitter finish.
Mouthfeel -
Mild effervescence as observed with a medium, creamy body which lines the mouth (slightly oily perhaps). Refreshing on the way down nonetheless.
Overall -
A big, refreshing beer full of flavour. Lots of dark, roasted flavours. Just a touch unbalanced by the alcohol flavours, but an enjoyable brew nonetheless.
Jan 18, 2016Pours a dark red/amber/brown colour, and appears clear, but dark. Mocha white, 2 finger head, which dissipates to a thin, but sustained film. Little effervescence. Moderate lacing.
Smell -
Caramel malts, dark fruits, cocoa, cherries, raisins, with an earthy hop resin aroma. Almost dark ale territory. A bit like rum.
Taste -
Strong alcohol, rum and raisins as per the nose. Dark fruits, plum, dates, cherries and raisins. A hint of roast malts, giving coffee and a hint of flavour as if it was barrel aged. Bitter finish.
Mouthfeel -
Mild effervescence as observed with a medium, creamy body which lines the mouth (slightly oily perhaps). Refreshing on the way down nonetheless.
Overall -
A big, refreshing beer full of flavour. Lots of dark, roasted flavours. Just a touch unbalanced by the alcohol flavours, but an enjoyable brew nonetheless.
Reviewed by Andrewharemza from Australia
4.33/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From bottle, Pours Dark amber, big creamy light tanned head. Smell of ripe fruits, dark malts, dark fruits, hint of spices, pine and resins. Taste sweet, fruity, ripe fruits and dark malts blended nice together with woody and piny hops. Excellent stuff
Sep 24, 2015Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand
3.54/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.54/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
A: Dark brown with a ruby tinge, light haze, almost no carbonation, and a finger of yellowy beige head.
S: Your typical American Amber Ale, reminds me of Rogue’s version. Citrus and pine, dark caramel notes, slight stinky foot, dog hair.
T: Coffee, chocolate, caramel, pine and citrus notes, light bright finish.
M: Medium thick body, lots of foamy carbonation. Relatively dry with a light roasted coating left on the tongue.
O: Really well done brew. Love the name, the bottle, and the fact its from New Zealand. Bought on Wishbeer, drank in Kunming March 16th, 2015.
Mar 16, 2015S: Your typical American Amber Ale, reminds me of Rogue’s version. Citrus and pine, dark caramel notes, slight stinky foot, dog hair.
T: Coffee, chocolate, caramel, pine and citrus notes, light bright finish.
M: Medium thick body, lots of foamy carbonation. Relatively dry with a light roasted coating left on the tongue.
O: Really well done brew. Love the name, the bottle, and the fact its from New Zealand. Bought on Wishbeer, drank in Kunming March 16th, 2015.
Tall Poppy from 8 Wired Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
74 ratings
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