Sydney Craft Beer Week: Southern Style BBQ at Riverside Brewing Company

Riverside Brewing Company

Seriously, does life genuinely get any better than this? A spectacular Sydney Craft Beer Week event on Wednesday, 23rd October saw the craft beer geeks out in force. This time in the heart of Western Sydney at Riverside Brewing Company. Riverside teamed up with Smokey O's BBQ for some "Southern Style BBQ". Smokey O's delivers an "authentic American style barbecue" that is "low, slow and smokey cooked traditionally over charcoal and wood."

Smokey O's cooker

Deliciously good craft beer and slow cook American style barbeque? No man, or woman, alive wouldn't want to be part of this phenomenal extravaganza. As my mate and I entered Riverside we were greeted by David Padden and his employee, Matt Wilson. Both Paddo and Matt are great guys doing a fantastic job, so it was nice to immediately get a taster of a Sixty Nine Summer Ale.

On a balmy Sydney day drinking a 69 is unbeatable, if you also include the magnificent aroma of slow cooked meat wafting through the brewery.  The tables and chairs were out, the cutlery out, the menus out. Not an inch was spared at the brewery to accommodate more than forty craft beer lovers, with the added bonus of some fantastic food provided by Smokey O's man himself, Tim Odom.

David Padden, Riverside

To my surprise, Paddo got everyone's attention and spoke proudly of the event at hand. His brewery's been a success, the craft beer lovers and people wanting to try different kinds of beer have also made his brewery a success. His open, honest and heartfelt speech was a tearjerker, just like the movie Titanic. No, I wasn't crying but those damn onions were being cut at quite an inappropriate time.

Tim Odom, Smokey O's

Paddo then passed the baton onto Tim Odom, from Smokey O's whose speech made Paddo's one look like this. Tim sadly advised that he was unable to cook the meat over charcoal and wood due to the week long total fire bans here in New South Wales. He also mentioned that Shields Orchards in Bilpin, where he gets all the apple wood from, is still under threat from the bush fires. Still, with all this pressure he managed to cook us up a perfect storm.

A muffin to die for? Yes!

As we sat down at our tables we were served "Buttermilk Cornbread muffins with homemade Country Valley cream butter served with '33' Golden Ale." I don't remember the last time I felt so unashamedly in love with a muffin, but there is always a first. This heavenly muffin really could prove useful in world affairs. It'd turn Vladimir Putin into a democratic voter and Kim Jong-un an  anti-weaponry advocator.

While my body and soul was being cleansed by the muffin and butter, I also made a good home for the 33. A great beer that certainly blends with the softness of the muffin. Both shared a unique quality that when mixed at the right times made you believe that there wasn't a care in the world.

Ribs and 'slaw. Hell yeah!

Although I cried like Homer Simpson over spilt milk, wanting more muffin with butter...and more Golden Ale, up next was the "Sweet and Spicy Baby Back Ribs with Creamy Apple Coleslaw served with '77' India Pale Ale." The sight of ribs and 'slaw like this made me drool. The meat literally fell off the bone without you having to lift a finger.

The stunning kaleidoscope that was the coleslaw is something to be proud of. The ribs, simply out of this world.  The 77 has to be one of the best IPA's going around in the craft beer scene here in Australia. Combine both of these magnificent creations and you have actually died and gone to heaven. Thankfully, back on planet Earth there was more to come.

Brisket, beans & potato salad

You want more? You got it. Our next mouthwatering experience was the "Cape Grim grass fed Angus brisket with baked beans, potato salad and 'pork n greens' served with '44' American Amber Ale." Oh. My. Goodness. There are no superlatives to describe the awesomeness of this meal. None. It was at this moment in time that I felt like I was actually the King of England, eating at the head of the table being served the best food the kingdom could provide.

The combination of the food and my 44 was just unbelievable. To eat like this at an event such as this? Astonishingly brilliant. It's like watching a sports person at the top of their form, winning with ease - and you're the only one in the stadium to witness it. Such a fantastic experience that you just want the world to know how good it was.

Pumpkin pie and 88

Not only should the world know, but NASA scientists should send the next voyager into space with some of Smokey O's and Riverside's treats. You want intergalactic peace for several millenniums? Doing that would solve it. Our final piece of the food and drink puzzle was a scrumptious "Pumpkin Pie with whipped creamed served with '88' Robust Porter."

How beautiful was it? Well, if Jessica Alba asked me out on a date while I was at Riverside Brewing eating the pumpkin pie and drinking the 88, I would politely tell her to wait until I finished my pumpkin pie and 88. Actually, I lie. I'd probably take her to an empty room and cover her sexy, naked body with pumpkin pie and slowly lick it off, make love to her and then delight myself afterwards with the 88. Still, it's the thought that counts....right?

Yours truly at Riverside

The night ended fantastically when Paddo managed to "let his hair down" and join us for a few beers and chat the night away. To top things off I allowed myself to have just one more beer before I left.  What an event. What a fantastic showcase of both beers and food. Both Paddo and Tim should be excited that the combination of food and drink can be exotic, even to the uninitiated.

With the addition of a special collaboration beer brewed by Riverside and Cavalier Brewing (which was a Belgian Pale Ale) this better than brilliant Sydney Craft Beer Week event was a joy to be a part of. Both Riverside Brewing and Smokey O's impressed the crowd and delivered something that was nothing short of spectacular. Does life get any better than this? No. Riverside and Smokey O's simply rock this world.

 dannbrew@gmail.com

Sydney Craft Beer Week, 2013

http://sydneycraftbeerweek.com/

Sydney Craft Beer Week (SCBW) for 2013 has began, and in earnest Sydney's craft beer community is out in force trying our best Aussie brews at specialist venues around Sydney. For me, SCBW has started at home with a specially selected batch of 12 craft beers brewed right here in Australia.

Thanks to the selectively stocked Oak Barrel in Sydney my very own craft beer week started in grand form. My guilt-free selection would have made former NSW Labor minister Eddie Obeid proud, and would have had ICAC talking.The plethora of choices was just too much to fathom for such a meek-minded simpleton like myself. Still, I managed to gather enough courage and propel myself into the Aussie craft beer section. Boy, what a selection I chose.

12 Australian Craft Beers

From Hawthorn Brewing, to Dalgety, to Riverside, to Mountain Goat, to Moon Dog, to Prickly Moses. Was I in heaven? Possibly. Even when I saw all 12 beers in front of me I wondered how on Earth would I approach such a task? Drink all 12?

Yep. Drink all 12. I had various theories on how to approach this mammoth task. One thing that stood out was to go from "light to dark". It was my feeble attempt to have some type of structure around what I was trying to do. Indeed, that was probably the most sensible approach I could have taken. Secondly, having now determined what order the beers were to be had I needed to decide how to approach some type of 'rating' system.

Says it all, huh?

Anyone that knows my blog (as I see no one put their hand up) should know about this.  Rating craft beer is such a bloody subjective thing that it's not funny. What I would consider a fabulous beer would be some other persons train-wreck of a beer. Should I take notes perhaps and just simply write down what I taste?

A terrific idea, with only one drawback. I realised that I'd most likely be pissed as a fart by beer 5 and couldn't even write my name in the snow (assuming it'd snow here in Sydney in an almost total fire ban during Spring, approaching Summer).

So, with those little details in mind I figured out that my approach would be similar to that of my recent US trip: what beer wooed me? What beer would make me talk like a sixteen year-old girl and, like, just went, like, you know, like - wow, you know? With the mind of a teen I went and just went, like, you know, from light to dark, man. Having said that, each and every beer was fantastic in their own right. No beer was "bad" per say. I just had to be wooed. So, from the ground up here is my list and, eventual, favourite.

Enjoy.

dannbrew@gmail.com

12. 2 Brothers

2 Brothers. 4.5%

A rice lager. Now, when I think of rice lager I think of US beers such as Coors and Bud Light. This is not one of those beers. It has character, it has flavour, it has style, it has an immense taste that blows away any competition in its path.

It's one of those qwerky things in life, or is it psychosomatic? I read this as "rice lager", so here is me thinking: did I just taste rice in this? I am pretty sure if I hadn't read the label then I would not have said I taste rice. I would have more likely have said that this was a great lager, and a fantastic addition to any Summer drinking session.



                                                                                                                            11. Prickly Moses

Prickly Moses Wheat 4.8%

It's one of those weird things in life. In a training course recently I got to talk to a fellow work colleague I don't normally associate with. I know him, he knows me. We both know what we do. In the training course I mention that I am a craft beer connoisseur and brew my own beer. He advises he likes craft beer and if I had tried "Prickly Moses". No, was the obvious answer.

It was with delight I tried this wheat beer. Sadly, it was slightly over carbonated and wasn't up to my "expectations" (as tough as they are). Your local Dan Murhpy outlet will provide you some German wheat beers that are much better.

10. Ekim Brewing

Ekim Brewing IPA 6.4%

Ekim Brewing was already known to me. They had taken part of Paddy's Brewery "Hop Festival" about 18 months ago. I recall having a terrific beer from Ekim, and it could have been this one I'm talking about now. What I found, however, was this beer was just a tad too sweet in the aftertaste department. Was it hoppy? Yes. Unfortunately,  that touch of sweetness I got from the beer wasn't something I was expecting from an IPA.

Still, drinking one of these beers was a pleasure and compared to other beers that I even tried in the good ol' US of A, this beer was pretty good. On this occasion, this beer had some hefty competition and it came in 10th place. Nothing to be shy about, rather a blessing that we have Ekim as an option here in Oz for IPA's.

                                                                                                                            9. Stone & Wood

Stone & Wood 6.6%

This lager kicks ass. Actually, it also kicked my balls into oblivion. This is certainly not a Summer beer per say, but what a mother f****r of a beer this is. I was gobsmacked at how good this beer was. This fairly hefty beer had what I thought was roasted malt in it? It was very much darker than normal lagers, and with a bit of a kick at 6.6% abv.

If I had judged this in March or April, rather than late October then my guess is this would most likely had been a much higher rating. As it stands, a fantastic beer that I had such pleasure in drinking. With such solid viscosity and some 'roasted' malt (or maybe chocolate?) that gives it a very unique taste was sublime. Simply brilliant.

8. 4 Pines

4 Pines Oktoberfest 5.5%

The moment I see the word "Oktoberfest" is the moment I wet my pants. I think of German beers, naked German women with big breasts caressing my naked body....eer, I'll just scrap that. When I think of Oktoberfest beers I think of greatness. I get images of politicians tapping the first keg. I visualise thousands of people drinking the most gorgeous of beers. This is what I thought of this beer when I looked at it.

When I drank it, however, was something else. To be truthful, I've never been a fan of 4 Pines. Sorry to those who are. Their range of beers is good, but there are better beers out there. However, this breaks the cast. This is good. Real good. I get that similar taste to that of the Stone & Wood beer with that roasty taste (chocolate? roasted malt?). Regardless, this is a quaffer of a beer, and I love quaffers.

                                                                                                                            7. Wayward Brewing

Wayward India Red Ale 5%

At this point, after five beers I was indeed a touch 'wayward'. However, I was pretty much on fire at this point and raring to go. What I found about this beer was that it was a touch too over carbonated perhaps? Strikingly similar to a beer I had the night before (...and the brewer shall remain nameless, unless he gets a Facebook account and reads this - then I am completely F***ED). 

Nothing wrong with over carbonation as such but it does take away from the overall beer. Apart from that, an India Red Ale? Wow. I gather an IPA mixed with an IRA? Great! In fact, it's a fantastic combination. I am truly loving this beer to death.

6. Mountain Goat

Mountain Goat 4.7%

Gee whiz. What can I say about this thirst quencher? My goodness. I'm in awe of this beer. The Mountain Goat Summer Ale is such a light and refreshing beer that I'd be prepared to drop my pants in readiness for someone to kiss my white, naked butt to get another. It's that good.

It's so funny that the only reason why I got it was because it was in a can. You see, if you know me then you know I love Surly Brewing. They have their beer in cans. I'm a huge fan, and when perusing through the Oak Barrel stockist my eyes caught this strange creature. I had to buy it. I'm so lucky I did. I could drink this again...and again...and again...and again. You get the picture. A supremely superb Summer beer.

                                                                                                                            5. Hawthorn Brewing

Hawthorn IPA 5.8%

That deep, dark seeded feeling that you've had this beer before crept up on me when I actually opened this beer. I couldn't help but think that somewhere on my Facebook photos that I had this beer? Even if I did, the fact remained that right now was the time to judge this beer. It was a winner.

A lovely fruity aroma that had hops right throughout the boil process, and indeed some dry hopping. It was very nice, and at one point was my number 1 rated beer. Of course, more beers were still to come. Anyway, what an excellent IPA that's been hand-crafted by an Aussie brewer. Can it get any better than this?

4. Riverside Brewing

Riverside IPA 7.7%

OK, this isn't really a cash for comments issue but I will admit to knowing the head brewer, David Padden. I am a huge fan of his beers. Having said that, I'm quite open and honest of my assessment of all beers, be it his or any other.

Granted, I always go to his brewery on Saturday and try the beers on tap. With the IPA, I'd never tried it in a bottle. So, it was with great relief that I not only tried it in a bottle but actually enjoyed it. Off keg, it's a brilliant IPA and in the bottle it's just as nice. It just beat Hawthorn's IPA simply because I got less of that "sweetness" and more of a "hoppiness". It was more drinkable than the Hawthorn IPA, and that gave it a higher number in my judging.

                                                                                                                            3. Riverside Brewing

Riverside Robust Porter 6%

Without a doubt this is the best Robust Porter in Australia, bar none. I had the pleasure of having this beer soon after I came back from the USA, with 253 different craft beers under my belt. This beer held its own quite easily. It's phenomenal on tap, but is oh so fantastic also in the bottle.

I continue to drool at this beer. It defines greatness, elegance and poise in such a way that it will make you proud to drink it. There are quite a lot of good Porter's out there, and they shall remain nameless for now. What I can say is that this stands high in the craft beer world, and Paddo should be proud.


2. Dalgety

Dalgety Smoked Porter 6.5%

Can I swear? Sweet Zombie (Fucking) Jesus. I've had a few smoked beers before, but this certainly takes the cake. I was so looking forward to trying a Dalgety beer that it's not funny. About 18 months ago a mate of mine introduced me to Dalgety and how great they were. We were only a few hundred yards from their brewery, only for a blocked road to make us turn back. I was cheesed off!

That disappointment meant that I just had to try this beer, which is why I picked it up in the first place. Thank God I did. Smokey, chocolatey, and just enough body, texture, flavour and awesomeness that I just cannot describe how brilliant this beer was. It wasn't too smokey, rather just like reading a Goldilocks rhyme; it was just right. It was just mind-blowing.

                                                                                                                             1.  Moon Dog

Black Lung III 8.7%

We have a winner. I am speechless. Black Lung III is a beer for the ages. A smokey, woody barrel-aged Stout that is all that you want in a beer. Some Crystal malt, Peated malt, Chocolate malt and some English malt gives this beer a magnificent depth of flavour and texture. The smokiness is there, that woody characteristic is certainly there, so too the chocolate and slight sweetness.

Was I surprised that this beer won on the night? Yes, and no. I was not surprised that my taste for darker style beers has increased over time. What I was surprised was that it actually "wooed" me significantly. That's what essentially done it for me. It wooed me enough to give this the number 1 spot in this 12 craft beer extravaganza.

So, the winner out of all this? Australian craft beer. A magnificent array of craft beer that can only get better and stronger as time goes on. It is an honour and privilege that I had the opportunity to try such a vast range of beers, which we all could only dream about several years ago.

Long live craft beer in Australia.

dannbrew@gmail.com

PS: Excuse any spelling or grammatical errors. Several beers were consumed during the course of this blog!

British Lions versus Australia: Craft Beer Wars

British Lions SpecTAPular

(Due to major personal issues and dramas, this blog update has been severely delayed. Just pinch yourself and dream you're reading this straight after the event. Done it? Great! Now relax, grab a beverage of your choice and enjoy!)

Saturday, 15th June 2013

The anticipation was palpable. Brittan versus Australia. Our very own craft beer wars. The venue? The Local Taphouse in Darlinghurst, Sydney. What a monumental occasion. Forgot about The Ashes. This showdown was all about craft beer. On a cool Saturday afternoon the event slowly heated up to devilish temperatures. Brew masters from opposite ends of the globe waged battle in what can only be described as the British Lions versus Australia SpecTAPular.

Wilkinson's Curse 4.8%

In acknowledging the arrival of the British Lions tour of Australia, the event showcased 20 craft beers from that of the UK and Australia. What an event this turned out to be. A gold coin donation at the door was all that was needed to ensure complete and utter bliss for the rest of the day. 
What better way to start off the craft beer day than to have an Australian beer. 

Illawarra Brewing put on an "Aussie Pilsner" called Wilkinson's Curse. It was "...brewed to remember the pain of the last 10 years, and look back fondly on all Jonny's injuries since then." A simple dig at the well-known Jonny Wilkinson, but this beer certainly didn't carry any injuries. It was tasty, light, refreshing and can certainly be classed as a world beater.

(L) Feral & (R) Harviestoun

After Wilkinson's Curse, out of the scrum feed I went and upstairs to find a mate of mine and his friends. Along the way I managed to wiggle my way through to the bar and order a premium Scottish lager. Harviestoun Brewery has come up with a wonderfully brewed lager, Schiehallion. It's described as "...a stunning lager with elegant head and luscious lacing. It has aromas and flavours of fresh-cut grass, brown sugar, lychee and green mango with a crisp palate and a lingering, fresh, grapefruity finish."

After much searching through the crowd, like driving slowly through thick fog, I finally managed to see my mate Dougal, then promptly plonked my butt down to taste this beast of a lager. To my surprise, Dougal was kind enough to already have a beer waiting for me. Feral Brewing's Smoked Porter. Oh what a delight that beer was.

The Smoked Porter had a "very gentle bitterness" that combined "the classic chocolate malt and coffee characteristics true to the Porter style. A subtle smoked hickory flavor comes from the use of German malts smoked over Birchwood chips." I can assure you that the subtlety of the smoke malt blended superbly well with the chocolate and roasted notes of the Porter. Just behind was my lager I bought earlier, and drinking that behind the Porter managed to get me a bigger smile that anticipated. How big a smile? Anyone that knows the song Black Hole Sun will understand how big it was.

5 flight

Next up, the tasting platter. Well, not the platter itself (which is made of wood), rather the beer tastings which served a perfect go-between from the pint glasses and not having anything at all. Having had such a magnificent start, could I possibly have more fantastic craft beer on my hands?

I could, without question. What a phenomenal introduction to the following beers, from left to right:  Moor Nor'Hop Blonde Ale (England) 4.1%, Brains SA Smooth Bitter (Wales) 4%, St Austell Proper Job IPA (England) 5.5%, Kooinda Hop Infusion (Australia) 7.5%, Summer Wine Warthog (England) 6.5%.

My favourite from the flight was both the Proper Job IPA (center) and the Summer Wine Warthog Porter (far right). The IPA was described as "an authentic IPA brewed with Cornish spring water and malt made from a blend of malts including Cornish grown Maris Otter barley." It was great example of an IPA, and for me a good showing on how to use Maris Otter as a base malt for such a fantastic tasting beer. The Porter was described as "a smooth, subtle porter with fruity notes and malty tones dry-hopped with world varieties." What a cracker this turned out to be. It was worthy of being best beer on the night.

Foreign Extra Stout

However, I wasn't done just yet so judging what would be 'best beer' would take a little longer. What continually fascinated me was the abundance of glorious craft beer at my fingertips. Both Australian and UK beers showcasing their talents in what turned out to be a remarkable evening. Of course, like the Pope helping out at communion on Sunday's I had to drink another pint. Up next, Mountain Goat's Foreign Extra Stout at a very consumable 6.7%.

Imperial Stout

Had I just tasted the best beer of the evening? Indeed I had. Big roasty notes, lots of chocolate tones, great mouthfeel and a sublime all round balance. It was simply superb. What was equally superb was my next craft beer; Marble Brewery's Decadence Imperial Stout at 8.7%.  OH. MY. GOODNESS. It's not often I cry over a craft beer, but this Imperial Stout made me cry with happiness like nothing else. It's like being a kid going to Disneyland.....again!

Can you guess this beer?

But like going to Disneyland, good things must come to and end. Although the evening was still young, the wallet got a huge pounding. For some odd reason I had one last beer, and to my shock I have no idea what the hell it was.

Can you tell from this what the hell I was drinking? To be truthful I don't even know what it tasted like, so giving a report on it would be wrong. What I can say is that the British Lions SpecTAPular was unbelievable. A great array of UK and Australian craft beers that kept the crowd wanting more. I departed The Local Taphouse with nothing but praise for the event and for the staff pouring all that great beer. It was indeed specTAPular.



dannbrew@gmail.com

Feral's Royal Albert takeover

Feral's tap takeover at Royal Albert

Steeped in history, the Royal Albert Hotel is in the dead-set middle of Surry Hills, a close inner-city suburb located a bar-hop, skip and a jump away from Sydney's Central Station. This extraordinarily popular local pub hosts tap takeovers, which promote the local craft beer industry. On the 14th July our friends from Feral Brewing in Western Australia provided what some could argue as one of the best craft beer shows this side of Sydney.

Twelve beers were available on tap, with an awe-inspiring set of tasting notes for each beautifully crafted beer. Although the Royal Albert is somewhat of a small pub, it appeared that every craft beer lover came out that night to try and drink Feral dry. How packed was the Royal Albert in readiness to drink Feral's brews? This here gives you a very good insight. Fancy a Japanese train ride? :-/

Hop Hog 5.8%

Once inside, my friends Sam, Leigh and I had varying ideas of which beer to drink first. Sam and I agreed to go with Australia's hottest craft beer (as voted by Australian craft beer lovers), Hop Hog.  As the beer states it is an "...American style India Pale Ale" with a dose of "American Hops......to give Hop Hog a strong pine needle and citrus aroma, followed by an aggressive bitterness and a dry finish."

An interesting beer, even a damn good one. But I will admit that my Riverside Brewing t-shirt that I wore sparked a little bit of interest, and some debate. "The Hop Hog is good, but the 77 is better," one bemused customer said to me as he caught a glimpse of my Riverside t-shirt. I fully agreed with his sentiments. In fact, my earlier post here mentions how these voted beers can be lop-sided. Access and availability are two key factors in helping peoples decisions.

Still, not to knock Feral at all. This was a classy IPA that had all the hallmarks of legendary status. Tastes are like bums; everybody's got a different one. So, onto our next beer it was. I chose the Rust, without looking at the tasting notes. Leigh recommended it as that was his first beer of the night. So, to keep in line with our pack (for now) we chose the said crafty. Waiting to be served was a killer, though...unlike this. So many interested folk in wanting to get their hands on a Feral is something to behold.

Belgian Dubbel 6%

Trust me, though...the wait was worth it. This next little ripper was just phenomenal. By this stage our little rat pack managed to squeeze into the gaming room behind the main bar. Here I was trying to decipher the aroma and texture of this beer, just like trying to decrypt a code at Bletchley Park. I could gather there was some hint of banana aroma and some banana characteristics in this Belgian beer, which copped some criticism. Thankfully, the tasting notes "agreed" with me, stating that "Rust is a strong Belgian Abbey ale style. The aromatic is reminiscent of candied banana is produced from a distinctive imported yeast stain."

Fantapants 7.6%

The next adventure turned to a darker side. Well, a darker beer really which happened to be the Fantapants Red IPA. Such a shame the photo you see on your right is an atrocious attempt at photography. The beer had a deeper red colour to that of the Belgian Dubbel. Described as "...offensively bitter (like some redheads!) but begins slightly sweet, with an aroma of passion fruit and pineapple.  The finish is full-bodied with a hint of biscuit malt." I thoroughly enjoyed this beer, and was looking forward to the next.

It was at this moment I felt like Darth Vader: if you only knew the power of the dark side. Our Karma Citra Black IPA was showcased as a "...relatively new beer style" that  "...sees a high proportion of dark malts combined with

Karma Citra 5.8%

resinous and floral new world American hops. The dark malt adds chocolate and toffee undertones whilst American citra hops add a tropical and citrus hop aroma and flavour." Gosh, what a solid beer this was.

No sooner than we finished Kama Sutra, err....Karma Citra was the one I was most looking forward to: Smoked Porter. I'd recently been brewing some Porters in which one of them had a chipotle chilli in secondary fermentation. Now, apart from the gentle heat it provides, the chipotle chilli is essentially a smoke-dried jalapeno. Of course, the smoked porter didn't have a smoked-dried jalapeno in it but I was curious to see the different characteristics this beer was going to show.

Smoked Porter  4.7%

Although the smoked porter picture is strikingly similar to the Karma Citra picture above, trust me to say that it is indeed a different picture...and, importantly, a different beer. And what a beer it was. Wow. It "...combines the classic coffee and chocolate malt character  true to the Porter style. A subtle smoked hickory flavour comes from the use of smoked beechwood German malts." I've had a few smoked porters in my time, but this one actually stood out for me. Very subtle on the palate, smooth yet immensely enjoyable to drink.

Boris 11.5%

Our last tasting for the night was an absolute kick-ass beer. Absolutely kick-ass. I was gobsmacked at how good this beer really was. I hadn't expected anything from it. In fact, I didn't even expect to drink it on the night. However, Sam and Leigh thought it wise to go out big with a BIG beer.

So big was this beer, in fact, that it made the Russian Army and its artillery supplies look like a solitary tin of baked beans in an empty pantry. The Boris Russian Imperial Stout hit a whopping 11.5%, the biggest beer of the night. Phenomenal. The thing was that it didn't even taste like an 11.5% beer. How brilliant was that? With it's "mocha head" and "viscous full body" it was so high in alcohol that Boris Yeltsin himself came back from the dead to sink a few. No wonder he kept referring to his 'cabinet' meetings. He must've had this on tap!

Boris Yeltsin

Like Boris Yeltsin, we were getting rosy around the checks after a while. So, it was time for us to head home. But what an experience we had. A great line up of beers, tremendous local support from the craft beer community that had everyone wanting more. Feral Brewing done a marvelous (where are you Richie Benaud?) job at such a well-known venue with great bar staff.

I tip my hat off to you, Sirs.

Za vashe zdorovye!

dannbrew@gmail.com

Coolest Beer labels of the USA

Big Writing!

Following on from recent articles on the best US beer and the ones that missed out, I thought it'd be a good idea to lighten up the mood a touch. Those articles were somewhat traumatic to write, let alone to conjure up.....but it was heaps of fun.

In this blog entry I focus on the graphical side: beer labels. It only dawned on my while writing the the two previous blogs that I was viewing some of the coolest beer labels in the world (take that with a grain of salt). Sure, I have no way seen every single beer label ever produced, but that isn't the point. The point is the ones I did see during the 253 different beers I had, some of them were simply damn good.

So, without a long and arduous explanation I hereby present my selection of what I thought were the coolest beer labels of the US. I'll write up some commentary to boot, just so you don't get too bored? And that is on the assumption you're not fast asleep already? :-/ (Those people with insomnia should pay me accordingly.)

Eye Dream of Jeannie?

Magic Hat came up with a pretty cool label with 'Heart of Darkness'. Not sure about you but when I bought this beer my immediate reaction was to think of I Dream of Jeannie. You know when they run the theme at the start of the show and Jeannie gets sucked back into the bottle and all you see is the blinking eyes? Well, that's the image I get.

I am not sure if that's a totally healthy image or whether that is normal, but if you've read enough of my blogs you'll already know that I am not really "normal". Still, 'Heart of Darkness' does portray, in my view, a soul searching beer. I know I did a lot of soul searching when I was in the US.....or was that beer searching?

John Wayne Gacy?

Doesn't this have John Wayne Gacy written all over it? It's a real spooky beer if you ask me, and from memory it tastes pretty spooky as well. Clown Shoes have come up with a design that actually got me scared. Me. Scared. The funny thing about this beer is I recall drinking it in Arkansas with friends, and I can assure you that after a night out drinking I genuinely looked like the clown on the label. Scary stuff, huh? Mind you, I probably drank this almost blind folded, thinking only positive thoughts. I mean, with a label like this you wouldn't really want to make fun of the Mexican folk, would you not?

Devil got your tongue?

Southern Tier Brewing Company laid out this cracker of a design on an OK beer. The only wish I had was that if I could get a tongue as long as that? That would enable me to do numerous things, some of which are best not to mention in this blog. This Imperial Helles Lager is nice, but be careful. The Devil is awaiting to play havoc with your mind....and after drinking a few of these you'll certainly end up in Hell, most likely face up in the furnace of the Devil himself with him licking your face with his long tongue.

Encore!

Another great label from Magic Hat. This time we're shouting Encore! It's a pretty self explanatory beer label, this one. A rock band is playing, the crowd pull out their lighters, hands in the air, flick the lighter and get a flame then sway.

I guess it's such a pity I don't smoke and therefore don't have a lighter. It'd make things a whole lot easier if I did next time I was at a concert. Of course, I do not condone smoking. That is a terrible habit but having a lighter just for the sake of being at a concert and doing that is cool. This label definitely sits in my 'way cool' category because of it's rock 'n' roll theme. Actually, it wasn't a bad beer either.

Monkey see, monkey do

Gorilla's in the Mist? King Kong? Planet of the Apes? These are just some of the thoughts rattling through my mind like an old Volkswagen when I look at this label from Pangaea Beer Company. They've come up with a classic design on Lilja’s Sasquatch Stout.  I have to say that this beer was really, really nice.

I'm pretty sure that if I had a top thirty (30) list it would make it. Still, the artwork on this label is awesome. I love it. This is one of my favourites. Whether you're thinking of apes, chimps or chimps at typewriters copying the works of Shakespeare you have to be a complete monkey not to think that this label cool.

Party animals!

Staples Mill Brewing have designed a classic retro-style label that conjures up thoughts of young American college students drinking Bud Light 'til the wee hours of the morning. It did for me, anyway. The Frat Boy Pilsner wasn't really a beer I enjoyed, I don't think. I remember having it, but it didn't bring any pleasant memories. Still, (oh, you liked how I put the word 'Still' in this? The brewery is in Stillwater, Minnesota. Get it?) the label is a real eye-catcher for me and it kind of sparks a bit of Dick Tracy in my mind, too. A great label. Such a pity it was a poorly brewed beer.  I am just hoping that I got a bad batch of this stuff, rather than it was actually an ordinary beer. Still, life moves on. :-)

A pretty big cock

There is a strong possibility that I actually had chicken the night I had this beer. New Belgium Brewing and Brewery Vivant have locked horns (or should I say chicken lips) to come up with a quirky label. The Lips of Faith beer somehow made me think of farm yard animals, which I relate to farmhouse ales. Maybe I'm daydreaming but there was a concern while drinking this that I wasn't the only cock in the house? I guess I'd be more worried if there was Foghorn Leghorn! But as my attempted humor goes down quicker than dirty water down a sink, I'll just stick to picking another label for you to review. Don't worry, my half-arsed attempted humor will not allow me to give up my day job. (applause and cheers)

Kiss my ass!

Well, I'm saving my favourite label 'til last. Ass Kisser bring out the kid in me with their ultra cool insignia. The beer I had was a Smoked Porter. Wow. This was probably another beer that could have made my top twenty (20) list. It was quite something, both the beer and the label. I guess if there was a competition that allowed me to pick the coolest label combined with the beer then this would actually win.

Luckily for me there is a distribution chain here in Sydney that have this available. It's now just a matter of time before I get my hands on this beer again. Yay for me!


Once I get more photos available I will go through them and see if I can't get more cool labels. Until then, enjoy.

dannbrew@gmail.com

Best Beers of the USA: the unlucky few

Frothy goodness

Following on from my best beers of the USA article, I have managed to compile a list of beers that just missed out on the cut. These could so easily have been part of my top twenty (20) and replaced a lot of the current crop. In fact, you'll probably even think they should've been in the list? I hope you don't scream profanities at me?

I wouldn't blame you if you did, actually. Taking into consideration all the factors that made me decide what beers made my list (and which beers didn't) was harder than even I had anticipated.

So, you can take everything I say with a pinch of salt - or perhaps a bucket of salt? Either way, while you read the list below I'll put on my motorbike helmet and padded vest in readiness for the pandemonium. Can't be too careful, nowadays. :-/

Allagash Brewing Fluxus

Talk about finding a diamond in the rough. Fame Wine & Cigar Lounge is an extremely up-market and classy venue in the middle of Palm Springs, California. Had it not been for the eagle eyes of Dawn and Jenn this venue would have been missed. I'm so glad they spotted this. Inside was luxury personified. Leather seating, ambient lighting, posh atmosphere, classy architecture. It had everything.

Sipping this beast called Allagash Brewing Fluxus made me feel like a millionaire. I even managed to squawk out a few toffy-nosed English phrases, just to pretend how it felt to be obnoxiously rich. The Fluxus has fruity aromas with a touch of spice while the malt profile lends itself to be a dry finish but sweet tasting. An astonishingly good beer.

Elysian Omen Belgian

Crikey! The Collins Pub is one of the best finds in Seattle. Jenn and I had just completed the Underground Tour of Seattle and while we were finishing up our tour guide simply pointed out that he loved his beer and we should "try Collins pub." You didn't have to ask us twice. Even more remarkable that, as it turned out, we had our car parked right in front of Collins Pub without even knowing. I think the Universe was aligned in some magical way that day?

Elysian Brewing turned out to be my favourite brewery while in Seattle. The beer we had at Collins was simply amazing. The Elysian Omen Belgian Raspberry Stout rocked my socks off. A stout with raspberry notes and I'd hazard a guess that the Belgian portion was the yeast, which finished dry.

Samuel Adams Alpine Spring

Outback Steakhouse. It was the first time I'd ever been. It was a great experience, and me being an Aussie was quite funny in an Australian restaurant in the middle of the US. Even more funny was Samuel Adams Alpine Spring Seasonal. I vividly recall why I drank this beer: there was no other decent beer on tap! I guess I should be thankful that they didn't have VB or Carlton Draught? :-/

This beer really did surprise me. I actually had two of these, possibly three. It was so refreshing and tasty. I felt it had a malt flavour that was smooth and a hop taste that was fruity and subtle. All that combined made for a beer that fit the moment, fit the mood. The more I tried it, the more I actually liked it. Very surprising to say the least.

Wookey Jack

I would like to apologise to you all. This beer could have been in my top five (5). So, so easily this could have been. In fact, I'm sure if I were to have this again that I'd revisit my list and include it. Bambino's Pizzeria in Seattle is simply amazing. It is fan-bloody-tastic. I have never seen anything like it, and would love to go again to this place if given half a chance.

The craft beer menu is phenomenal. Pages upon pages of craft beer from around the country. Lots of bottles, lots on tap. It is to die for. For a pizza place, it has to be the best ever. Sadly, when Dawn and I were there we had an extra visitor, another 'friend' with us. Suffice to say that both of us didn't really agree with most of what this person was saying. It really spoiled the mood Dawn and I had. So, instead of the Firestone Walker Wookey Jack being a winner, my focus was trying finish things quickly so I didn't have to listen to our 'friend'. The whole experience of drinking this beer was lost. I know it was a Black IPA, and I know it was good. How good? Don't know. I just wish I could have that day back again.

Bourbon Stout

You don't need a long neck to be a goose. In fact, this is one goose you'd want to have a long neck for. Goose Island has brewed a real knock-about beer. It will actually knock you about, and not in a good way. The Goose Island Bourbon County Stout is just over 14% alcohol by volume. The moment you take a whiff of this your mind is blown. I immediately smelled a whiskey-like (actually, bourbon) aroma. I'm not a drinker of fine whiskey's or bourbon's but this is a beer you must sit down and drink.

Like it did me, it will kick your butt, rip it in two then expect you to come back for more. I did, but I paid a hefty penalty post consumption.

Jolly Pumpkin Weizen Bam

Trying to pronounce this beer after a skinful is probably not the best of options. It is particularly more difficult when you're at The Happy Gnome in Minnesota. The craft beer menu available is remarkable. In fact, so good is this that I can't even think of any more superlatives. I really wish I had spent more time there.

The Jolly Pumpkin Weizen Bam is a tart, somewhat sour wheat beer that is astonishingly good. I'm not a fan of sour beers but this is an experience you're sure to enjoy. The only other sour beer I ever liked was at a local home brew meet-up in Sydney in which I am part of. That was brilliant, and had been agesd for over twelve months. This didn't quite reach those same heady heights, but it was a solid beer nonetheless.

Tricerahops

To think that all this time I thought a Thesaurus was a dinosaur with a good vocabulary. Ninkasi Brewing delighted me with this equally baffling name of Tricerahops. (At this point in time I did not think that Tricerahops was a dinosaur made from hops). I had the pleasure of having this beer over at The Crab Pot in Seattle, which you can read about here.

There was something about that day, something about the need to drink that beer. It was the name, without a doubt. It didn't disappoint. The beer blended so well with the seafood that it was like they were made for each other. This double IPA proved a worthy beast to drink and the food was awesome as well. What a combination. My senses were definitely overloaded that day.

Double Jack

With a head like that, how on Earth didn't this make my list? Well, as I mentioned earlier the trip to Bambino's Pizzeria was more of a distraction than an entertaining night.

Still, Firestone Walker Double Jack is a formidable beer. An Imperial IPA that is simply bold and beautiful. Sadly, my memories of this (as stated) aren't the best. This could also have easily been added to my top list. I'd really love to get my hands on this beer again and give it another whirl. Are there any bottle shops around Australia that have it? I hope so, as I'll be the first to grab a batch of it and see what I missed out on.
                                        

Fade to Black

"Life, it seems, will fade away. Drifting further every day". Know where that lyric is from? If so, well done. If not, pack your bags and head off to Nashville, Tennessee. The moment I picked this beer up there was a sense of expectation. Sounds funny? It is. I just looked at the 'Fade to Black' label and immediately thought of Metallica. I love Metallica, so in some strange type of way was hoping to love this beer. See where the absurdity lies?

Left Hand Brewing showcase this beer very well. Although my expectations were high, the product itself proudly announced its worth with smokey notes, fruit-like flavours and an ever so slight heat attached to the malt that is found in the chilli.

This beauty of a beer cropped up in Seattle. This was the same night we went to iFly, an indoor sky diving place where they spell fun with a capital F. This Belgian beer capped off a beautiful day, and what better way to drink this spectacular beer

The Scaldis Noel sits between a golden ale and a barley wine. At 12.5% alcohol by volume it sure as hell warms you up. It is described on the website as "one giant beer". It sure as hell is. That night I had about ten (10) beers, and this one was the last. All I remember saying after this was "can we go home? I'm very drunk".

Well, there you have it. The supposed "lesser" list has been compiled. What do you think? Again, I don't doubt that these couldn't have been in my top list. I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles, eh?

dannbrew@gmail.com