James Squire Hop thief - Limited release

[Swifty]

So I'm gunna buy a slab of this to keep as a collectable. So do you guys think it's worth it, there's only 12000 cases made and it's only the second year it's been released. Also, what's the best way to store it?? What's people's opinion, should I buy or just drink it (I plan on buying a six pack to test) how should I store it or should I just get a six-pack?

[rwh]

Ah, I don't reckon beer's a good investment, though some on ebay would (try to) beg to differ. I'd drink it.

[Swifty]

It's not as good an investment as wine but would be nice to have 10 years down the track. After reading more about the Hop thief, it's looking like they might do a limited release every year now so it's not really going to be that special anyway. Maybe I'll just keep a bottle or two.

[Rysa]

I did that with the Ballarat Bertie release.
Kept a 6pk, then drank them two weeks later.

[Swifty]

That would be my problem. When I'm thirsty I have no willpower. When people leave beer in my fridge and I say I'll keep it till next time (even if it's the next day) it usually dissapears. I would have to store it away.

[rwh]

It's not so desperate at my place any more... now that I have kegs!

[Swifty]

I'm hoping to solve that problem too. My birthday is on saturday and I've been telling anyone that cares to listen that I need money for a keg setup. My brothers are all for it as they have been extreemly impressed from my homebrew, they had both had a crack and never new you could actually produce delicious beer only average drinkable beer, so they are quite happy to fund the keg setup. Can't wait, sick of waiting for beers to carbonate.

[drsmurto]

Drink it! I bought 2 stubbies last night and they werent bad at all. Not as good as their GA or the LCPA. Its hoppy and with more than one hop being used for flavour/aroma its a complex bugger but i reckon its not as bitter as it needs to be to balance it. Worth a taste tho

Cheers
DrSmurto

[Swifty]

Drink it I will, it's my birthday on Saturday so it can be my present to myself while I wait for beers to carbonate. I'm still gunna keep a bottle or two. I love their GA, it's my favorite beer along with LCBA so I'm looking forward to this.

[Brewaholic]

Hi guys ive never tried it but a big fan of squires where can i get the hop theif?

[Swifty]

I got my slab from 1st choice in Ringwood, but I got them to put it aside this morning and when I turned up tonight the guy said they sold the rest today. They only got 3 slabs and doesn't look like there'll be any more. Drinking it now and very much enjoying it, not as good as the Golden ale but absolutely delicious still. Was on sale for $50 too.

[Brewaholic]

Good shite i bought 2 slabs drank one just starting the other might save one full stubbie cant be bothered saving a slab for two years hoping to make 100 bucks profit then when nobody wants to buy it its too old to drink even!

[Swifty]

I came to the same conclusion. Was going to save a six pack but was enjoying it so much it dissapered Bloody beautiful drop though, I thought the Golden Ale was delicious but had one the other night after having a Hop Thief and didn't think it was as nice.

[pacman]

Picked up a 6 pack from Dan's Toowoomba last Sun. Plenty left for this town's beer connoiseurs, but sorry, not for this cookie.

Hop thief? Not bittering hops, that's for sure, IMHO. Guess an IBU of 24 max. Over malted & under hopped for my taste.

Have acquired a 30ml bottle of Brewcraft Hop Extract for the purpose of dosing my last few bottles of MSB brews I put down about a year ago. Why not? They need some serious treatment, that's for sure.

How do you guys think a drop of hop extract would go in a stubbie of Hop Thief?

[KEG]

bought a 6 pack of this tonight.. contemplating giving the remaining 4 bottles to mates, they're just not for me

[SpillsMostOfIt]

bought a 6 pack of this tonight.. contemplating giving the remaining 4 bottles to mates, they're just not for me

Look at it as a good thing.

You bought a sample of what one of Australia's premium brewers has to offer and decided that you can make better yourself.

[KEG]

on the contrary, i thought it tasted like some of my poorer hop-enriched home brews

either my homebrew and the hop thief is crap, or i have bad taste and my home brew is in fact decent

[SpillsMostOfIt]

Huh?!!!

[drsmurto]

I didnt mind it but agree with keg, i dont feel the hops are balanced at all and it almost tastes thin, like my brews using too much dex. I love the Golden Ale and mots of their range but didnt think too much of this.

[Pale_Ale]

I can understand the thinness comment, but I really enjoyed it. I had it off tap and it's probably not a good sessional beer but I liked it