Bird Dog
The Emerson Brewing Company
- From:
- The Emerson Brewing Company
- New Zealand
- Style:
- American IPA
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- +1 rating needed
- Avg:
- 3.9 | pDev: 10.26%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 10, 2023
- Added:
- Jun 01, 2011
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 4
NO SCORE
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-
The combination of NZ and US hops in the boil, the hopback, and dry hopping, along with traditional bottle conditioning makes this true India Pale Ale a significant addition to the range.
Bird Dog IPA is a tribute to The Verlaines album of the same name, and John Collie's painting which appeared on the Bird Dog album cover features on the Bird Dog label.
The stand out feature of Bird Dog IPA is that it is cellared for some weeks prior to each batch's release and sold only when the flavours have developed to Emerson's satisfaction. After many trials we've discovered the beer hits its peak well after bottling date, and keeps improving.
Bird Dog IPA is a tribute to The Verlaines album of the same name, and John Collie's painting which appeared on the Bird Dog album cover features on the Bird Dog label.
The stand out feature of Bird Dog IPA is that it is cellared for some weeks prior to each batch's release and sold only when the flavours have developed to Emerson's satisfaction. After many trials we've discovered the beer hits its peak well after bottling date, and keeps improving.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Rated by Jugs_McGhee from Texas
3/5 rDev -23.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -23.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
IPA. 7.0 % ABV.
On-draught @ the brewery
High C / AVERAGE
Feb 10, 2023On-draught @ the brewery
High C / AVERAGE
Reviewed by lacqueredmouse from Australia
4.17/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
4.17/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
On-tap at the Local Taphouse in Darlinghurst for their Kiwi SpecTapular.
Pours a deep copper-gold colour, with a very clear, almost filtered look. Head is fine and white, which dissipates to a ring of film around the edge. Lacing is patchy but decent. Light in the look, but it's suitable enough.
Nose is sweet and citrussy, giving a good Cascade aroma of crisp orange, although it's missing some of the bite I expected from the NZ cultivar. Indeed, the malts give a pleasant smooth vanilla note, or at least they give just enough sweetness to pretend. It's an interesting balance. Certainly more malt-heavy than I thought it might be.
Clean, bright cascade characters on the palate, with a bit of nutty grain. Some sharpness to brighten it, but not a lot of true bitterness. Very well balanced and exceptionally drinkable. The hops certainly appear more on the front than the back, leaving the back a little flat. But this just means you want to take your next sip.
A very drinkable and very enjoyable pale ale. Lovely.
Jun 07, 2011Pours a deep copper-gold colour, with a very clear, almost filtered look. Head is fine and white, which dissipates to a ring of film around the edge. Lacing is patchy but decent. Light in the look, but it's suitable enough.
Nose is sweet and citrussy, giving a good Cascade aroma of crisp orange, although it's missing some of the bite I expected from the NZ cultivar. Indeed, the malts give a pleasant smooth vanilla note, or at least they give just enough sweetness to pretend. It's an interesting balance. Certainly more malt-heavy than I thought it might be.
Clean, bright cascade characters on the palate, with a bit of nutty grain. Some sharpness to brighten it, but not a lot of true bitterness. Very well balanced and exceptionally drinkable. The hops certainly appear more on the front than the back, leaving the back a little flat. But this just means you want to take your next sip.
A very drinkable and very enjoyable pale ale. Lovely.
Reviewed by laituegonflable from Australia
4.1/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.1/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep golden colour. Head is whispy and off-white. Decent lacing, quite nice.
Smells very enticing. Lots of floral hop notes - tropical fruit, pineapple, citrus, sherbet and a touch of rosewater. Fresh, sweet, tangy. Very pleasant indeed.
Taste is full of refreshment from the get-go. Light pineapple notes with mild sweet grain. Touches of citric hop come through midway, but it's just a touch of zest, with a bitter finish that is clean, crisp and confoundingly good.
Feel is wet, smooth, with a bit of bite towards the back.
Fantastic pale ale showcasing the lovely flavours of NZ Cascade hops to their full potential. Emerson's have done it again; supremely enjoyable beer.
Jun 01, 2011Smells very enticing. Lots of floral hop notes - tropical fruit, pineapple, citrus, sherbet and a touch of rosewater. Fresh, sweet, tangy. Very pleasant indeed.
Taste is full of refreshment from the get-go. Light pineapple notes with mild sweet grain. Touches of citric hop come through midway, but it's just a touch of zest, with a bitter finish that is clean, crisp and confoundingly good.
Feel is wet, smooth, with a bit of bite towards the back.
Fantastic pale ale showcasing the lovely flavours of NZ Cascade hops to their full potential. Emerson's have done it again; supremely enjoyable beer.
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