Tried the Bridge Road (Beechworth) Chestnut Lager last night. There are only a few select Lagers which I enjoy, and this is one of them. It's brewed with chestnuts in it, and while the flavour certainly isn't overwhelming, you do get some nuttiness in the middle, and after the hop finish left, I noticed some subtle buttery feeling on the palate. It's very well balanced and I think a lot of people would find this enjoyable over summer. pity it's almost five bucks a stubby.
I also found some Red Hill Imperial Stouts at Swords Wines on Queens pde in Clifton Hill. I took one and left three so somebody else can enjoy them. They should be gone by Monday. If they're not, I'm taking them...
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Innis & Gunn Original (Scotland)
I was always told to be wary of beers that come in clear packaging. In this case you can ignore the warning.
Innis & Gunn is a very rare beer in Australia, only a handful of places in Australia sell it, and only sporadically (I picked this up in Cloudwine Cellars on Clarendon St in Sth Melbourne)
It is matured in whiskey barrels (Bourbon, judging by the taste) and the flavours gleaned from it are unbelievable. It's so warm and smooth, and the vanilla flavours are unlike anything I've ever tasted in a beer of this type.
This is one of the beers you must drink before you die.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Unibroue 17 + Sweetwater News
I drank the Unibroue 17th Anniversary Ale last night. For those of you who don't know, Unibroue are a Belgian style brewery from Canada, and their beers are among my favourites.
Like their other anniversary beers, you have no idea what your getting. 17 is a strong dark ale, it is sweet and has hints of cinnamon and other spices. It is very high in alcohol (11 percent?) but so drinkable that it was gone in less than half an hour. Don't remember much after that.
It's $21.95 for the 750mL bottle at Swords Wines outlets, (come into South Melbourne Market!!!)
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Also, spoke to Pete, the brewer from Sweetwater yesterday. He told me they're brewing a summer ale for release around Christmas. It will use Sauvin hops, so I'm expecting a dry ale with a fruity, almost winey finish, much like the Young's Kew Gold Summer Ale or Knappstein Lager.
Top 20 Aussie Beers
Here are my top 20 Australian micro brews (that are bottled - sadly because of this condition, Son of Beast cannot be considered.)
20 Little Creatures - Rogers Amber Ale
One of the nicest Amber Ales available, and certainly the best midstrength beer being brewed in Australia at the moment.
19 3 Ravens Black
A really solid Stout, nice bitter coffee flavours, very smooth.
18 Wils Witbier
A shame this is only brewed sporadically, this is one of the only decent Belgian style wheat beers made in Australia, Tasmanian mountain pepper leaves a nice warming sensation in the back of the throat after the initial zing of the coriander is gone.
17 Port Dock Brewery 'Ginja'
One of the best brewed ginger beers in the world, low alcohol, but exceptionally full flavoured.
16 Red Hill Scotch Ale
Big and Malty, the flagship beer of their regular range.
15 Baron's Black Wattle Original Ale
Benefits from the use of toasted Black Wattle seeds, this is the most distinctive Australian beer.
14 Bootleg Brewery Raging Bull
A really ballsy porter - enough said.
13 3 Ravens 55
'American Style Pale Ale' isn't completely accurate, however this wholesome Pale is still top notch. Oats, Corn, Barley - lots of things to sink your teeth into.
12 Redoak Belgian Chocolate Stout
The second best stout in Australia, which is an achievement given the range.
11 Bridge Road Brewers 'Chevalier' Saison
Along with the Temple Saison, this is the best Aussie attempt at the traditional Belgian style. spicy and hoppy, but also nice and light - not much beats this on a hot day.
10 Knappstein Lager
The best Lager in the country, because it is much more flavoursome than any other lager. Big and fruity, their choice of hops is genius.
9 Bootleg Brewery Wils Pils
The best pilsener in the country, hands down. More of a Czech/Austrian style, getting a fresh bottle of this is one of the great Aussie beer experiences.
8 Little Creatures Pale Ale
The original, and still one of the best.
7 Temple Pale Ale
Shares the title of best Australian pale with Hargreaves Hill, a must have.
6 Hargreaves Hill Pale
See above.
5 Sweetwater Golden Bitter
The lush malts in this beer are unbelievable. Truly the best ESB in bottle. The Golden Bitter is dark and rich but it's easy to get through a six pack like it's water.
4 Red Hill Hop Harvest
The Autumn seasonal from Red Hill is a magnificent English Style bitter. Brewed to celebrate the harvest of the hops at Red Hill, I would love to taste this out of a hand pump.
3 Jamieson 'Beast' India Pale Ale
A huge bastard of an IPA, its massive hops are balanced by good malt. Not a beer to be taken lightly, truly the king of Aussie IPAs.
2 Malt Shovel Abbey Ale
I was hesitant to open this beer, as most things from Malt Shovel disappoint me. This was a revelation. Cellared in a Benedictine Monastery in WA, this is an elegant attempt at a Belgian Abbey Ale. Fruity and spicy, with a perfect hop finish, it is not lighter than the Belgian ones, just more subtle. An absolute killer.
1 Red Hill Imperial Stout
This is not only the best Australian beer, it's one of the best in the world. A creamy mouth filler with plenty of nice alcohol driven flavours, this seasonal ale flies of shelves so quickly it's best to preorder. I can't explain how important it is to try this beer. If you're a beer lover, missing this is like missing Woodstock.
20 Little Creatures - Rogers Amber Ale
One of the nicest Amber Ales available, and certainly the best midstrength beer being brewed in Australia at the moment.
19 3 Ravens Black
A really solid Stout, nice bitter coffee flavours, very smooth.
18 Wils Witbier
A shame this is only brewed sporadically, this is one of the only decent Belgian style wheat beers made in Australia, Tasmanian mountain pepper leaves a nice warming sensation in the back of the throat after the initial zing of the coriander is gone.
17 Port Dock Brewery 'Ginja'
One of the best brewed ginger beers in the world, low alcohol, but exceptionally full flavoured.
16 Red Hill Scotch Ale
Big and Malty, the flagship beer of their regular range.
15 Baron's Black Wattle Original Ale
Benefits from the use of toasted Black Wattle seeds, this is the most distinctive Australian beer.
14 Bootleg Brewery Raging Bull
A really ballsy porter - enough said.
13 3 Ravens 55
'American Style Pale Ale' isn't completely accurate, however this wholesome Pale is still top notch. Oats, Corn, Barley - lots of things to sink your teeth into.
12 Redoak Belgian Chocolate Stout
The second best stout in Australia, which is an achievement given the range.
11 Bridge Road Brewers 'Chevalier' Saison
Along with the Temple Saison, this is the best Aussie attempt at the traditional Belgian style. spicy and hoppy, but also nice and light - not much beats this on a hot day.
10 Knappstein Lager
The best Lager in the country, because it is much more flavoursome than any other lager. Big and fruity, their choice of hops is genius.
9 Bootleg Brewery Wils Pils
The best pilsener in the country, hands down. More of a Czech/Austrian style, getting a fresh bottle of this is one of the great Aussie beer experiences.
8 Little Creatures Pale Ale
The original, and still one of the best.
7 Temple Pale Ale
Shares the title of best Australian pale with Hargreaves Hill, a must have.
6 Hargreaves Hill Pale
See above.
5 Sweetwater Golden Bitter
The lush malts in this beer are unbelievable. Truly the best ESB in bottle. The Golden Bitter is dark and rich but it's easy to get through a six pack like it's water.
4 Red Hill Hop Harvest
The Autumn seasonal from Red Hill is a magnificent English Style bitter. Brewed to celebrate the harvest of the hops at Red Hill, I would love to taste this out of a hand pump.
3 Jamieson 'Beast' India Pale Ale
A huge bastard of an IPA, its massive hops are balanced by good malt. Not a beer to be taken lightly, truly the king of Aussie IPAs.
2 Malt Shovel Abbey Ale
I was hesitant to open this beer, as most things from Malt Shovel disappoint me. This was a revelation. Cellared in a Benedictine Monastery in WA, this is an elegant attempt at a Belgian Abbey Ale. Fruity and spicy, with a perfect hop finish, it is not lighter than the Belgian ones, just more subtle. An absolute killer.
1 Red Hill Imperial Stout
This is not only the best Australian beer, it's one of the best in the world. A creamy mouth filler with plenty of nice alcohol driven flavours, this seasonal ale flies of shelves so quickly it's best to preorder. I can't explain how important it is to try this beer. If you're a beer lover, missing this is like missing Woodstock.
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