Beer Porn

Bought this lot on 15/8/12 for around about $110!!
How long will it last for? The Growler leaked when I lay it down in the fridge so that's fucked.
Went to three different spots: Young Henrys, Dan Murphy's in Alexandria for Pintail Pail Ale, 4 Pines Pale Ale and the Sierra Nevada Stout ($12 for those 3), went to Camperdown Cellars for Racer 5, Two Birds 6 pack, Stone & Wood 'Amasia' & Sierra Nevada Hoptimum (approx $60)!!!!!!

Thomas Cooper's Selection Celerbration Ale

Style:American Pale Ale
Alc %:5.2
Brewery:Coopers Brewery
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 355ml
Where/When:Home, July 2012
Cost:approx $4
Rating:6

Pours a warm copper colour, with a white head that dissapears- forgot to roll the bottle so the brown sediment come out last- I let that settle into the glass.
Dusty grainy nose.

Haven't had James Squire's Amber Ale for a while but this reminds me of that- this is more of an amber or red ale than an American Pale Ale.

Balmain Original Pale Ale

Style:American Pale Ale
Alc %:4.9
Brewery:Balmain Brewing Company
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:bottle, 330ml
Where/When:Home, July 2012
Cost:approx $4-$5
Rating:5.5

A fairly pale and clear light gold pour with a little white head that recedes.
A bit of lemon peel which comes on thru the taste up front- little soapy to aswell, not 100% sure if that's my glass or not. It's got a sharp bite upfront and then the sweetness kicks in. Kind of thin and not particuarly appealing. I had it on tap and it was truer to style than this.

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.

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.

Alpha Pale Ale

Style:American Pale Ale
Alc %:5.2
Brewery:Matilda Bay Brewery
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:draught
Where/When:Darlo Taphouse, Oct 2010
Cost:$13 for a tasting sample of 5
Rating:

Sweet resin on the nose- with a little orange peel
Taste: translates from the nose but just a little thin
Fresh cut hay- good but doesn't quite meet expectations.
Didn't rate this, will have to try it again.

Liberty Pale Ale

Style:American Pale Ale
Alc %:6
Brewery:Anchor Brewery
Country:US
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:Home Oct 2010
Cost:$US8 or 9 6 pack
Rating:7+

citrus on nose- lemon rind?
biting hops, juicy fruits- pineapple....
Very nice easy drinking despite the bite.
good session beer.
I brought this back in my luggage from LA.

Anchor Liberty Ale

Anchor Liberty Ale, US$8.99 a 6 pack, 6% ABV

Had this before- sweet malts, caramel and a bit of pine- lovely session beer tho a little rich. I like it quite alot- nice little bitter note at the end too. (Sometimes this tasted great and other times just OK- I bought a bottle home to share)
Wish it was readily available here - can get here for $30 (+ freight) for a 6 pack.
7.5+/10

Anderson Valley Pale Ale

Anderson Valley Pale Ale
Ok nice and fresh- not outstanding, just good.
Didn't make many notes and the picture I took didn't work out.
6/10
Just checked the receipt, this was the 'Poleeko' Gold Ale
Cost US$ 3.49

Bridge Road Beechworth Pale Ale

Style:American Pale Ale
Alc %:4.8
Brewery:Bridge Road Brewers
Country:Australia
Tap/Bottle?:bottle
Where/When:AFL Grand Final Day, 2010
Cost:approx $5
Rating:5

Nice orange copper colour. Small white head.
Lovely sweet dried apricot on the nose-very pleasant & fruity.
Not getting much of the sweetness upon tasting...getting a bit of malt- grainy, biscuity but also a slight earthy woody-ness that really puts me off.
I don't believe this fits the style.... I searched all over the bottle for a use by date, looked under daylight and the glass seemed stained inside from sediment or 'cos it was past use by date?

Nice creamy mouthfeel with medium carbonation.
Presentation is classy with the golden label.