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Blasting off! Gagarin Imperial Stout from the Basha-Flom Brewery. (Photo: Tom Lahav) |
The first is Gagarin, a
Russian-style Imperial Stout named after (who else?) Yuri Gagarin, the first
Soviet cosmonaut. It was made by the brewing team of Basha-Flom (Omer
Basha and Dvir Flom) and contract brewed at the Sheeta Brewery in Arad.
About 400 bottles were made.
Gagarin is one of the most impressive
Israeli beers ever brewed. A true Imperial Stout such as was brewed in
England for the Russian nobility back in the 18th century. Apparently
those Russians liked their beer powerful (high in alcohol), flavorful and
nourishing.
Before I tell you what I think of the beer
now, let me add that Omer Basha recommends that Gagarin is "intended for
aging and will probably reach its peak in about a year or two."
Since I have an extra bottle, I will try to do that -- if I can resist drinking it sooner!
Without aging, Gagarin pours out an
ultra-dark brown color with very little carbonation and a small halo of
foam. The alcohol by volume is a hefty 9.5%, and you sense this immediately
in the aroma, along with toasted bread, coffee, chocolate, licorice and some
carob.
The first thing you feel on your tongue is
the pleasurable creaminess and moderate sweetness of this beer, which fades
into a very bitter finish. The taste of alcohol is also very strong, with
malt, dried fruit, licorice, caramel and dark chocolate. It seems that
every mouthful brings on different flavors. I can see where aging will
mellow the strong alcohol taste and the bitter finish.
This full-bodied beer should be poured and
sipped like a fine wine. By no means should you drink it ice cold. Very few foods have
the intensity to pair with Gagarin. However, desserts with rich chocolate
flavor, cheesecake, and oozy or smelly cheeses would be scrumptious with any
Imperial Stout.
The second disappearing beer is Freedom
IPA from Oak & Ash, brewed at the Dancing Camel Brewery in Tel
Aviv.
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Freedom IPA from the Oak & Ash Brewery. |
A lovely cloudy and golden copper color,
Freedom is blessed with rich aromas of fruit and a hint of citrus. Since you know there's mango and pineapple inside, that's what your
nose is looking for, and that's what you find.
The taste is an inspired combination of
malt sweetness and piercing hop bitterness (100 International Bitterness
Units), with flavors of fruit salad (mango, banana and other tropical fruits). The huge 10% alcohol is not at all aggressive, and the finish is
bitter and fruity. You could describe Freedom as a Belgian strong ale
with IPA hops. Not too shabby a combination.