Three Boys IPA

Style:IPA (English)
Alc %:5.2
Brewery:Three Boys Brewery
Country:NZ
Tap/Bottle?:500ml bottle
Where/When:NZ
Cost:approx NZ$10
Rating:6/10

Malty and very english in style to me- that means mild and not too(very) hoppy.

Nice not over rich maltyness.

The Hops barely come to the fore at any stage.

Best before 23/8/12 on bottleneck.

Beer Videos/ Beer Spiel

I haven't watched this (above) vid for a while, but apart from it being just a little bit American for my tastes, what I like about it is: rather than being anti-corporate it's instead being pro community. Simple. Smart. Relevant & Positive.

However, the below trailer for Beer Wars gives the impression that being pro community isn't quite enuf- as if it would be- and the big boys will do what they can to maintain and preserve their market share- of course they ain't gonna walk away, eva.

The impression I get from the trailer is if craft breweries can't get their brews on the shelves in the supermarkets etc then they will become extinct!

(As a side note, I was told by a reliable source that Brew Masters, the beer doco shown on Discovery Channel hosted by Sam Calagione was cancelled because the 2nd series was to profile (for lack of a better term) a range of US craft breweries to create an awareness of the breadth of American Craft Breweries. Anheuser-Busch got wind of this and threatened to pull advertising. If anyone can add details to this theory I would welcome them.)

I've been to Los Angeles and New York and in my experience NYC (esp Manhattan) was far superior for getting ones hands on some juicy beverages- LA being so spread out doesn't help at all. I went into a fairly average supermarket in LA and found the range of US craft beers fairly limited and once I found a decent bottle shop I found I couldn't buy singles of smaller (355ml size) bottles!

No idea what it's like in the middle states of the US but I imagine ordering via mailorder would be your main option.

Which brings me to AUS & NZ.

I can only vouch for Sydney, specifically the inner west; the good news is that the chain booze shops are stocking certain craft brews and a couple of indie liquor stores are doing a good job.

If all else fails, I order from Melbourne which it's pretty safe to say is ahead of the rest of the country. Slowbeer has 1 rotating tap for Growlers (Flagons in NZ) and an impressive list of worldwide brews.

Now to NZ. I can vouch for New Plymouth and Auckland.

In NP (and NZ) you have the option of both supermarkets and bottleshops which will help you get your hands on a decent array of NZ craft beers, tho it has to be said o/s (particuarly US) brews are hard to find.

So when I go home and I'm not passing thru Liquor Land in Newmarket I will order something over the net. I recommend Regional Wines.

So, what does this all mean? There is no doubting that craft brewing in Australia & New Zealand is healthy and advancing, both in quality and infiltration. I have no specific stats to verify this but the evidence is out there: quality breweries selling quality beers, liquor chain stores having varied brews, bars and stores like Slowbeer, Local Taphouse & Red Oak etc.

Also journals such as Beer and Brewer and the success of beers festivals (Good Beer Week & Beervana in NZ).

It's all good!

What brought all this on you ask? Today I went to a bar in Balmain, The Riverview Hotel, and they had four taps of McLaren Vale Beers, a Stone & Wood Pacific Pale Ale and also Little Creatures. All in this little albeit classy out of the way suburban pub. The food was above average too.

I had the MV IPA. It was fantastic. No Hop Monster but showing real class and lovely fruity flavours.

That simple.

Mad Brewers Noir Stout

Style:Russian Imperial Stout
Alc %:7.4
Brewery:Malt Shovel Brewery
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?: bottle
Where/When:Home, 2011
Cost:$10+
Rating: 7/10

Pours dark coke colour with a creamy looking lightly tan head.

Little bit of hops, cocoa and a little bit of funkyness.

Now the liquorice added to this which piqued my interest to purchase this in the first place isn't that dominate in my opinion. So what do I taste: after letting this warm up a bit i get,

nicely rounded roasted malts and barley that make for a sweet drop. The 7% alcohol is reasonably well hidden which makes it easily drinkable.

I'm giving this a 7/10, a little short on fullness of body but overall a worthy decent stout.
Tho, in retrospect not really an Imperial.

Moo Brew Dark Ale

Style:American Brown Ale
Alc %:5.0
Brewery: Moorilla Estate
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When: Home, 2011
Cost: $3 appox
Rating: 6

Very little head and pours dark cola like.

Taste: roasted coffee like notes.

Green Flash Imperial IPA

Style:Imperial IPA
Alc %:9.4
Brewery:Green Flash Brewing
Country:USA
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home, 2011
Cost:$18 or
Rating:8.5

Nice slightly of white head,

Light orange/copper colour body.

The nose is super inviting- pine and citrus.

First off i get burnt orange rind, then the flavour softens off with pear like mellowness-it gives it a classy white wine (sav blanc) feel about it and then finishes off with alcohol and hops.

This is a great drop- it's an example of what seperate's US IPA's from the rest of the world.

Vale/Dry

Style:American Pale Ale
Alc %:4.5
Brewery:McLaren Vale Beer Company
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home, June 2011
Cost:$20 for 4 approx
Rating:5/10

Big white fluffy head. Pale gold and a little cloudy.

Nose: straw like and a little earthy.

Alot of spice which makes it bitey and not so friendly- softens off with a bit of pear but not alot else going on here.

It's not that bad but it's not that great either. Not a flash follow up to their first beer, which showed just a but more depth and class.

5/10

Samuel Adams Summer Ale

Style:American Pale Wheat Ale
Alc %:5.3
Brewery:Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:home, June 2011
Cost:$15 a 6 pack
Rating:6.5

Cloudy pour, orange/yellow- head disappears.

Lemon shines tho not over dominant with what seems like pear to soften it all off.

It's has elements of a wheat beer- wheaty and summery and a little spice at the end.

Sweet and easy to drink with a fairly high carbonation.

I saw this @ Dan Murphy's so thought I would give it a go, even tho it's cooling down a bit here in Sydney. Initially I didn't like it- i thought i could taste something metallic about the 1st bottle I had but after that it grew on me.

Solid, 6.5/10

Mountain Goat Rare Breed Surefoot Stout

Style:American Stout
Alc %:4.9
Brewery:Mountain Goat
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home, May 2011
Cost:$10 approx
Rating:7/10

Typical light tan head. Coffee on the nose.

Sweet yet dry, moreish. Cocoa and coffee.

Alpha Pale Ale

Style:American Pale Ale
Alc %:5.2
Brewery: Matilda Bay
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home, May 2011
Cost:$2-$3
Rating:6.5/10

Slightly dark copper, with an off white head that dissapears.

A little pine on the nose, mild all the same.

This is in the direction of a solid APA- the fruit and hops are there but tale off and ends up quite watery and letting me down intensity wise- it's 50-60% of the way there. It wants to deliver up front but fails in the end. Ends up green when it should be packing punch.

It's in the ball park- I swish it about my mouth and keep on thinking it's just short 10+% on the intensity and sharpness of flavour that would make it stand out.

With food the hops come out.

That said, I will be trying this on tap next chance I have.

6.5/10

Fat Yak Pale Ale

Style:American Pale Ale
Alc %:4.7
Brewery:Matilda Bay
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 345ml
Where/When:Home, May 2011
Cost:$2 or $3
Rating:6/10

Been drinking this on tap at my local for a while and quite enjoy it.

Nice head that disappears, light copper colour.

Little honey and apricot on the nose- nice.

Piney and citrus, not huge by any accounts- sweet caramel, not like the apricot that appears on the nose. The hoppy bitterness doesn't linger- solid carbonation.

Comes up short to me compared to draught- keep thinking this tastes like a twist on a lager.

Kiwi Craft Beer Spectapular

The Local Taphouse, Darlinghurst

Sat. May 21st

20 Kiwi Beers on tap!!!!

I got there about 3:30 after work and got a paddle straight away.

First sample: Twisted Hop Sauvin Pils:nice light summery Pils- i gave it 7/10.

2nd sample:Emerson Bird Dog (Pale Ale): malty lookin. Nose- light but intense sweet passionfruit- gorgeous. T- different, sweet with spice.

3rd sample: Cock and Bull Monks Habit (US Red Ale/APA):a little funky for my tastes.

4th sample:Moa Five Hop (ESB/Strong Ale):more honey like than hoppy

5th sample:Croucher Patriot (American Black Ale): nice nose, bit like a red ale.

310ml of Yeastie Boys Rex Attitude (Peat-smoked Strong Golden Ale): wow!! Never had anything like it before- if you don't like the smell then you will struggle to get past it- i thought it was like a smoked ham hock- very unique sipper.

575ml 8 Wired Hopwired (New World Kiwi IPA):Had this before and I love it, great grapefruit flavour and aroma- classy, fruity and morish.

310ml Epic Hop Zombie (2IPA):fantastic sweet fruit nose, well rounded sipper that wasn't as bitter on the hop front as i thought it might be.

Finished off with another 8 Wired Hopwired!!

Some high alcohol brews- very enjoyable.

William's Organic Pale Ale

Style:Pale Ale
Alc %:4.5
Brewery:William Bull Brewery
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home, May 2011
Cost:$15 a six packh
Rating:6/10

Nice white head, pale light gold colour.

A bit of straw comes thru along with a touch of fruit (apple & a hint of lemon) and finishes with a bit of spice at the end/tip of the tongue.

Clean and fairly smooth, easy enuf to drink- not too offensive but nothing particularly outstanding all the same- fairly high carbonation.

Coopers Strong Ale

Style:English Strong Ale
Alc %:7.5
Brewery:Coopers Brewery
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home, May 2011
Cost:$5 for a 375ml bottle
Rating:7

Slightly off white head that dissapears.
Sweet caramel toffee on the nose
Sweet toffee like alcohol warm ness
It is a little sherry like which makes it a bit of a sipper.

Doppelbock Winter Ale

Style:Doppelbock
Alc %:6
Brewery:Monteith's Brewery
Country:New Zealand
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:April 2011
Cost:freebie/gift
Rating:6.5

Pours Dark, light tan head.
A little cocoa in the nose...and clove.
some nicely roasted malts and a little chocalate.
It's quite nice and moreish as it warms to room temperture.

Carlsburg

Style:German Pilsner
Alc %:4.8
Brewery:Carlsburg
Country:Denmark
Tap/Bottle?:330ml bottle
Where/When:Home, Easter 2011
Cost:freebie
Rating:5/10

This has been sitting around so long I can't remember how I got it. At least 6 months ago from someone who thought I would like it 'cos I like beer....

Light pale gold upon pouring with a lovely frothy white head.
An ok nose- a little straw like, slightly herbal.
Light on the malts but sweet enuf all the same. Light too on the hops with just a little spiceness that quickly dissapears. So too does the herbyness from the nose rear it's head then vanishess.
It's light but not offensive, just an easy drinking lager with wide appeal.

Gotta go, the footy is starting....

Red Angus Pilsener

Style:German Pilsener
Alc %:4.8
Brewery:William Bull Brewery
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 330ml
Where/When:Home, April 2011
Cost:$15 for a 6 pack.
Rating:6/10

Quite pale - a nice light gold colour. A little white head.
A light bready scent on the nose.
Clean and crisp- a little grain, herbal / spicey bitterness comes thru- not fruit driven and with a hoppy bitterness that lingers lightly. The carbonation adds to this aswell.
I was told this is great with food and thought i'd give it a try.
However, I haven't got excited about this brew.
6/10.

Vale Ale

Style:American Pale Ale
Alc %:4.5
Brewery:McLaren Vale Beer Company
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 330ml
Where/When:Home, April 2011
Cost:approx $20 a four pack
Rating:6.5

Nicely presented bottle I must say- you can't see in this photo but the label is kinda embossed and nicely designed- makes sense since this is brewed in South Australia.
A little white head with a light gold/straw colour body.
Nose is faintly herby and grape like. Subtle but pleasant enuf.
There's a grainy melon like sweetness, clean and well balanced- nothing really stands out tho it is a little spritzy or high on carbonation that gives it a little sting on the tip of the tongue.
Look, I confess to not liking this when I first tried it.
It had won the punters choice top 100 beers in Oz, so I went out and bought a 4 pack and tried one straight away. I had hopes it would be up there with the Knappstein Reserve Lager but it just didn't impress me at all and I wasn't pleased that it had received such regard by the average punter out in beer drinking land.
However, this tasting i'm not being as hard on it and I can see why it's so popular and worthy of it's regard by those who voted for it.
It is fair to say that for an American APA it doesn't at all fit the mold. Which really makes it an Australian APA!
That said it's still not my cupa tea, so 6.5/10.

Thorny Goat

Style:Black IPA
Alc %:6.8
Brewery:Mountain Goat Beer
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:640ml bottle
Where/When:Home, April 2011
Cost:$12
Rating:7.5/10

Uber dark body, with a light brown finger width head.
The nose is everything you'd hope for in a beer like this. Very resinous hops.
Grapefruit comes thru but not in abundance.
It's very malty and a little stout like- really covering the tongue. It's quite well balanced and the slap/smack of the hops never really comes.
It's a little thicker in the mouth than I expected, with a creaminess about it makes the tongue think stout.
It would be fair to say that this is an ozzie take on a Black IPA - a well done one at that - it's not outrageously hoppy like a Stone black IPA but it's bold and well balanced without being over the top. It's big but it's not trying to punch your lights out! And it really hangs around in your mouth and lingers. (The more i drink this, the more i love how this lingers in the mouth!)
I got a surprise to see it on the shelf at my usual bottle-o and it's a brew that I already would like to see always available but as it's a collaberation with Thornbridge, that's not going to happen.

Now, a slight whinge and a little info for my millions of overseas readers. This 640 ml bottle cost me $11.99 which is.... fucken outrageous! We have a really crappy tax system here in Oz (& NZ has got it bad too, from what I know) in regards to the levy paid by smaller breweries.
I also purchased a 750ml bottle of Chimay White which cost $13.99- $4-5 dollars less than what I normally expect to pay for this brew.
So, if you couple this cruel tax system with a competitive market place it's a brave man who would put their livelihood/lifestyle on the line to produce beers that really stand out yet appeal to alot of punters.
I'm giving this 7.5/10.

Gage Roads Sleeping Giant IPA

Style:English IPA
Alc %:5.4
Brewery:Gage Roads Brewery
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:345ml bottle
Where/When:Dapto
Cost:$4.50 or so
Rating:5.5

Dark and malty- nothing amazing with not alot of fruit to be found...., nice sweet malt tho.

Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye

Style:American IPA
Alc %:8
Brewery:Bear Republic Brewery
Country:USA
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home, March 2011
Cost:$12 approx.
Rating:8/10

Fairly dark on pouring. Nice off white head that all but dissapears.
Fantastic oily resiney nose.
It's nicely balanced too with lovely sweet malts.
The bitterness coats my tongue- it's super.

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