Life always comes in two, good or bad. There are grey areas, but when you drink a beer, it is always either good, or bad. Life is too short to drink bad beer, and there are definitely grey areas where you might think that a beer was either goodish or badish, but generally, on the first sip, you know.
Having brewed much beer in my youth, and having drunk so many different breweries’ beers over the last couple of years, I have developed my palate to tell me almost instantly if I like a beer or not. This is a good and bad thing. Because I want to taste more of the vast array of different beers that South Africa has to offer, but I also want to drink the same ones that I have come to love and appreciate in my journey.
That said, in the quest to try more and more beer, I have come across two more IPAs: Boston breweries and Side Hustle brewery. In my previous experiences with Boston breweries, I had some mixed feelings. They brew solid beers, but not something I would really grab at when I come across them again. Side Hustle brewery is new to me, even though I had their IPA a while ago. And the verdict was quite simple: One beer was so good I salivated, the other so average and strange that I could not figure out how they actually sell the beer.
Without further ado then, here is my tasting notes from these two beers!
Side Hustle's A Side of War IPA
When I celebrated my birthday many moons ago, my fiance's family wanted to buy me a special beer. I was told to choose a beer, and I could not not choose. I already had a couple of beers, and I wanted to take the beer home. But then the waiter told me I cannot take the beer home. I had to drink the beer then and there! But what a beer. When I saw it at my local beer shop, I needed to buy it.
As I poured the beer, I had the same incredible nose all those months ago. It had a bitter warm and delicious nose. It had incredible hops notes, but also some malt smells like home brewed beer.
The first sip was a bit too carbonated, but it was an hop overload on the first tast. It was very bitter, but had an incredible malty balance. It was a big beer, and it had a very nice taste similar to my home brewed beers. It tastes like my IPAs brewed at home and I loved all of it!
Boston's 33 Degrees South IPA
I looked forward to this beer... But sadly, it was no IPA in my book...
The nose was slightly yeasty; but with overwhelming caramel notes. It had an incredible malty overload which I love... But this was an IPA, not a malt upfront beer... I did not get too much hops. This was very strange for an IPA… and then also some bready notes?
The first taste was not full bodied but watery; not much alcohol... It was a nice and bitter beer, but it had more malt than hops in taste? This was really a strange IPA though… The caramel malt on the nose was not as strong in taste. All being said, not the best IPA I had; it was a good beer but a very bad IPA.
 |  |  |
|---|
Not all beers are created equally. Sometimes a bad beer is good in the sense that it reminds you not to drink it again! Jokes aside, a beer is still a beer.
For now, happy drinking, and keep well!
All of the musings and writings are my own, albeit inspired by the delicious first IPA. The photographs are also my own, taken with my Nikon D300.
I'm not a beer fan, not by far, but always love looking at the cool labels. You took some cool shots, as always :)
Sorry for the month delay! I really crashed out a bit, but I am back again. Thank you so much, same with me. Sometimes I buy beer just based on the label. Thanks again!
Some beers definitely once off and never again, yet others linger fondly in memory to buy again when seen.
Nice photography shoot on these two, Cape Town based breweries appear to be popping up everywhere.
!BEER
Sorry for only replying now. PhD and other hassles, but now it is over and hopefully I can breathe a bit.
Thank you so much, so true. Although, this brewery is from Joburg, but CPT breweries are everywhere!
Is it possible your 33 degrees to past it's used by date, that would explain the lack of hops as they will fade away if not fresh, it's hard to tell from the picture of the bottle, does it say EXP: 01 2025. If so maybe see if you can find a fresh one and give it another chance, the malt is there, if the hops were also there then you have a nice balanced beer
Awh that might be it! The people should have picked that up at the store, selling old beer is not good. Thank you for picking that up, I will give them another try if I find some.
Sorry for only replying now, things were a bit hectic on this side.
View or trade
BEER.Hey @fermentedphil, here is a little bit of
BEERfrom @joanstewart for you. Enjoy it!Learn how to earn FREE BEER each day by staking your
BEER.