Phillips Brewing Company Apteryx IPA American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$6.79 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)
Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of fluffy ivory head, excellent retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bright citrus, vinous, pineapple, light caramel, earthy. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry finish. (4/5)
OK, so I’m a little slow on the uptake – and in my defence, it’s because I was trying to remember the line and the comic strip associated with “Apteryx” (“Hi there, I am an Apteryx, a wingless bird with hairy feathers.”, and “B.C.,” in case you obsess over shit like that, like I do.) – but I was wondering what the heck a bird shaped like a hairy potato had to do with beer. Until I looked more closely at the label, and realized no, it’s not shaped like a potato at all, but a hop cone. And of course, Kiwi are Apteryx. And Nelson Sauvin hops are from New Zealand, just like kiwi. Yes, that’s the kind of shit that goes on in my head. Sad, isn’t it? Oh, the beer? Yeah, it’s good. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
