S
o, onwards to beer. I’m still a bit stung, I
must say, about never having tasted or
had Triggerfish Kraken, a mightily bitter
beer with the name of a sea monster and
a price to match. But what bitter I have
had, bar perhaps a Southern Passion hops pellet
I ate a month ago at Wild Beast Beers which I
still taste when I concentrate, was from Rogue
Ales: in the guise of their sprightly Morimoto
Imperial Pilsner. A few of my knowledgeable
friends were underwhelmed by it, but I didn’t
know a thing when I had it and its boldly
elegant bitterness somehow stayed with
me. At 74 International Bitterness Units it’s
miles from the bitterest out, but keeping
in mind that most palates saturate at
about 80-100 IBU, it’s right out there with
a hops pellet. It will set you back about
a hundred rand at Roeland Liquors but it
might just be worth it. Locally one might
proof ones pucker too, even by mistake. I
recall the Batch #21 - Golden India Pale Ale
from Standeaven Brewery which almost
gave me whiplash at CTFOB. Also around
sixty or seventy IBU, if I recall correctly,
but almost unpleasantly bitter – “stupidly
hoppy” as one charmed reviewer referred
to it. It was a special brew but I don’t know;
maybe they’ll still have some.