Tag Archives: test batch

Monita Blonde IPA (Bottle Conditioned Test Batch) – Andina Brewing Company

by Mike

Andina Brewing Company in East Vancouver is well under way in their construction now and I was able to get a bottle of their bottle conditioned test batch of “Monita Blonde IPA”. The beer pours a cloudy orange colour with an off white head and lots of hop protein. The aroma  consists of floral hops, citrus with maybe a hint of caramel.  The flavour is of resin, pine, bitterness, citrus and some caramel. The alcohol content comes in at 6.5% with an IBU of 60. I have had this version of the beer and a keg version at the BC Beer Awards and while this version is good I prefer the keg version I had.

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Mapalé Milk Stout (Test Batch) – Andina Brewing Company

by Mike

Andina Brewing Company in East Vancouver is well under way in their construction now and I was able to get a growler fill of their test batch of “Mapalé Milk Stout”.  Mapalé is a dance from the Northern Coast of Columbia.  The beer pours a deep brown colour with some red notes when held up to light with a brown head.  The aroma consists of milk chocolate, roasty malt and a creamy lactose finish.  The flavour is of roasted malts, chocolate, earth, mild bitterness and a lactose sweetness in the finish.  The alcohol content comes in at 4.6%.  While the colour is off for a stout the aroma and flavour are spot on.  This was the first test batch of a stout they made and its tasting really good already.  Batch 2 is fermenting now.

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Melcocha Andean Mild Ale (Test Batch) – Andina Brewing Company

by Mike

Andina Brewing Company in East Vancouver is well under way in their construction now and I was able to get a growler fill of their test batch of “Melcocha Andean Mild Ale”.  This is the same beer that was served at the BC Beer Awards Recently.  The beer pours a cloudy orange copper colour with an off white head.  The aroma is of toffee, caramel and fruit.  The flavour is of some bitterness up front, stone fruit, citrus rind, caramel and toffee.  The alcohol content comes in at 4% with an IBU of 27.  With the depth of flavour in this test batch mild ale you would never guess that it had an ABV below 5%!

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Best Bitter (Test Batch) – A Frame Brewing

by Mike

A Frame Brewing in Squamish may not be open yet but they are doing test batches of their beer. I was lucky enough to be given a bottle of their test batch of their “Best Bitter” to try. The beer pours a deep copper colour with a tan head. the aroma consists of caramel and an overall malt forward aroma with fruit and a little bit of floral hops. The flavour is of caramel, fruit notes, resin and some very mild bitterness. The alcohol content comes in at 4%. I quite enjoyed this beer and would love to have a glass at the brewery when they open.

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