Black Metal Disco, a brewery only sweet stout that was so popular Balter decided to put it into a 500mL can as a Winter special release. I love the almost white can with it's inky black liquid!! Can. Pours a thoroughly ink black, with a small mocha head. Deliciously rich chocolate aromas, followed by roasty [...]
Weihenstephan Hefe Weissbier is the best hefeweizen in the world. Period. The Free State of Bavaria owned brewery has been doing it continuously since 1040, so they know a thing or two about combining water, malt (wheat and barley in this instance), hops and yeast. Bottle. Pours a cloudy, light straw with big frothy head. [...]
A long weekend in the NSW Southern Highlands, an hour and a half south west of Sydney bought a pleasant surprise when I stumbled upon Eden Brewery in Mittagong. Opened in January, owner and brewer Jacob had never brewed anything larger than a 20L home brew before taking the plunge and going pro, opening Eden [...]
Sticking to the West Coast of the USA but moving way up north to Oregon, comes another traditional American brewer – Deschutes. Perhaps not as brash as its southern cousins, their seasonal ‘Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale’ is still jammed full of hops (60 IBU’s no less), but countered by truckloads of malts, creating a [...]
It’s been a pretty good week, with two iconic, standard bearing West Coast US IPA’s from San Diego gracing the lips. Firstly Stone IPA and now Ballast Point 'Big Eye' India Pale Ale. The Big Eye is a little more fruit driven, the Stone drier. Both are delicious and right up there in terms of [...]
Stone Brewing’s IPA is THE standard in West Coast US IPA’s. This beer has been in the stable since 1997 with only a slight tweak of dry hops (Coopers was as good as it got in 1997 Australia to put in perspective how long Stone have been making quality IPA's) and has been copied by [...]
It's a tricky one. Is Young's Double Chocolate Stout craft beer? Young's was a London family brewery established in 1831, subsequently bought by another English family brewery (Charles Wells, established 1876). The result may be a large commercial brewery that now brews multiple brands, but I still have this in the craft beer camp - [...]
I hold a soft spot for Bridge Road Brewers, pioneers in the Australian craft beer scene, having established in 2005. In the mid-2000's they were the standout brewer in cases of random Australian micro-brewed beer I used to have delivered and a visit in 2012 to their Beechworth brewery cemented my thoughts (try the pretzels!). [...]
English style Brown Ale - a very old fashioned beer from a very new fashioned brewer. In this day and age of hopped on hopped beers, this is an unusual little malty number to form part of the small core range (including an XPA, IPA and Pilsner) from the relatively new Gold Coast outfit. Disclaimer [...]
After losing all their American pale ale hops in a fire, Tuatara turned to a land just as well known for creating wonderful hops - their own. Aotearoa, otherwise known as New Zealand. Packed full of Motueka, Pacific Jade, NZ Cascade and Nelson Sauvin hops, all New Zealand malts and packaged into the best bottle in [...]
One of the most anticipated beer nights of the year, a mate and I have been quietly purchasing six packs of Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale each year and leaving them to age in the cellar. Annually we sit down and sip six vintages in a vertical tasting, appreciating the ageing process of this fine [...]
I really like brown ales, and when it is an American version of the style, the big hop element turns it into quite a complex little beer, unlike it's English cousin which can have a hollow middle. Perfect for a cool night in front of the Tour de France. Bottle. Pours a murky brown (it [...]
