Beer – #441 – Tuatara – NUI (Mighty Big Hop APA)

Big brother of the fantastic ITI, I’m now going to enjoy the NUI. I hope anyway to enjoy it. It’s a big act to follow.

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company and that’s in the style that is American Pale Ale and they’re in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

For this then the familiar all bumpy and lumpy bottle that is 500ml (17fl oz) with a beer that is 7% ABV and 2.76 standard drink units, 210 calories and 8o IBU’s round out that set. 80IBU is about high IPA – low end DIPA – so therefore a bit bitter.

NUI (te reo Maori for “big”) takes Tuatara’s beloved American Pale Ale and reshapes it into a more assertive beast. We’ve spiced things up with some serious New World hop porn in the form of Citra, Simcoe and Amarillo, delivering 80 IBU of palate-stripping bitterness. And to showcase the aromatic action, Nui swaggers about on a beefed-up malt base that lifts the alcohol to 7.0%. Frailer souls will blanch at the thought of having their taste buds assaulted in this manner, but the rest of us will love Nui big time

I wonder if the big brother is as good as the little brother?

Lovely hop aroma on opening, with a great hiss of carbonation, nice sweet smell. So far…..

Fantastic pouring, brilliant colour, head! it has head! all fluffy and white and persistent, and aroma, it’s great. Nice looking beer is all I’m saying.

With some anticipation then – the taste – which is all of it’s bitterness, and this finishes with dryness. Hold on go again, that’s a lot of bitterness and hoppiness. Lots of grassiness.

This one is really bossing it’s small brother somewhat, I might get back to that later.

It sat for a few minutes, and then it got a bit quieter, or I had a reset. I would err to sway that this might be a notch, a skerrick, over-played on the bitter, as it’s not awfully balanced. Sure it’s bitter, as advertised, but I’m not sure that I enjoy the raspy dryness that comes with it, in a short range too.

There isn’t a lot of middle that balances this so you get the bitterness, a bit of carry and a dryness, so there am I finding that I am enjoying the bitterness and really enjoying it, I had a crave for a big bitter beer, and this delivers.

What would I do to make it better? or Could it be better? I’m not sure that’s what was in mind, I think that this has turned out like the brewer wanted it. A statement. It’s difficult knowing these are a “pair” to not compare them.

Taken as a pair you can see how that the addition of the extra alcohol comes at a cost at the margins, They’re both good beers, but you could drink a lot more ITI than NUI, just because the NUI is such a big beer.

And, big is better, right. If I was being honest I’d like to have another because it’s just the thing right now, the sun is shining, it’s not warm enough, but it’s fresh, and so much more fun than raining. This is a celebration beer in some sense though, I should have got two, and really enjoyed myself.

It is of course at this point that I remember having this on tap at the excellent Sky Sports Grill in the Viaduct Auckland and enjoying a lot. I blame age, and many good beers for them getting lost in the wash of things.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. There is nothing wrong with this beer, it’s sold as big and big it is, in all the right places, aroma, bitterness, finish and then drinkability. For me not sure I could drink more than a couple before my mouth became as dry as a dry thing, and that would need some remedy and remediation.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Yes it’s a seriously good beer Would I have another? Well I had both the tap and bottle versions now, and yes I’d have another of either. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? IF there was something to balance this off, like food then yes, as a stand up and drink chatting beer I think that this would be a short conversation.

I’m listening to David Bowie, again, this time the Diamond Dogs album, which contains the rather good Rebel Rebel

I’m not overly enjoying the whole album though, even if I remember quite a lot of the words, I guess it’s not one that aged well with the passing years to my ears.

AMERICAN PALE ALE

American Pale Ales are light in color, ranging from golden to a light copper color. The style of this beer is defined by the American hops used. American hops typically have high bitterness and aroma.This is a perfect beer for big fare like grilled burgers or combination pizzas, as well as lighter fare like sushi and green salads

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