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.