GABS 2016 Beer, Cider & Food Fest

#GABS2016

Beer, Cider & Food Fest

Preface: Of the 120 craft beers available on tap, I only had 80. Most of these were in 85ml servings via numerous paddles. There were a few which I took off other breweries separate to my paddles. This quick blog will showcase my top 10 craft beers of the 80 I had from the Sydney event.

I've taken the liberty in placing them in order, from my vote as People's Choice Award to number 10. Additionally, I have a couple of 'special mentions' to make. These beers almost made it, but as each individual taster is different you could say they were unlucky not to reach my top 10. 

To make sure all is above board, my list was created before I knew of any official announcement.   

Finally, as there were 40 craft beers I missed out on, it's clear this is not a complete list. I have no doubt that three or four more could have made this list (and possibly ousted others). That all said, please enjoy my top 10 list for GABS 2016 here in Sydney. 

#1: This beer tops the ratings. My notes on the day described this as "...so far the winner". I guess I'm not a bad judge after all, huh? I also added that this was "...nutty, peanut butter-like, German Sour". Apparently I found it "very weird" but I did "love it". Interestingly, I was also noted as saying that the "...aroma [is] like a lolly buttery nutty type".

I later found out what I meant. It was like those Werther's Original sweets. Still, I'm so glad I correctly picked the GABS 2016 People's Choice Awards.

My only concern: there'd be no way I'd have a couple of pints of it. A small glass will do.

#2: This surely had to be second best? My notes suggested this was "...almost like #12". It was "...like a cream/butter pastry-like 'layer upon layer' Sarah Lee pastry sheet" taste to it. (Digressing, who remembers those infamous Sarah Lee ads on the telly?)

What surprised me about this beer was I've never really been a fan of the Biere de Garde style. I've had them before without it really exciting me. Thankfully, this one did.

An amazing effort, and an amazing beer. Again, my only concern with these types of beers is that I most likely would not want more than a small glass of it.

#3: Without a doubt this beer is my 'dark horse', A very definite surprise packet. I bumped into Yulli's head brewer, James 'Harvs' Harvey, and he gave me the opportunity to try some tasters. It turns out that his Berliner Weisse is an absolutely phenomenal beer.

Maybe it was me, but at 3.3% alcohol by volume this beer deserves a lot of bloody credit. GABS was full of full-strength beers, and lots approaching 10% and over. What a damn pleasant surprise to have one of the best beers on show at only 3.3%.

It's a thirst quencher, and one you can drink all damn day long. I love that. It had the right amount of sourness, with the right amount of everything else. What a great job. A damn fine beer indeed.

#4: Wow. Just WOW! This knocked my fucking head off! I'll admit that I am a sucker when it comes to Russian Imperial Stouts, but for me this was a blinder. This beer is what it says it is.A tricky thing to do in this day and age of craft beer brewing.

Admittedly, this took a second sip for me to realise how good this beer was. What kicked this beer over the line was the fact it was aged in oak Puncheons for 5 months. Phenomenal.

This definitely was what it said it was, and I like that in craft beer descriptions. Are you who you say you are? Yes? That's grand. It was something above the rest, so this gets good marks.

#5: My notes say: "...pretty much fucking sums this up in their title: Hot and Sour". Need I say more?

What a fantastic beer from award-winning home brewer, Paul Morrison. Give him full credit for this beer. A straight-forward description that delivered in bucket-loads.

You know what? When I was sipping this beer it distinctly reminded me of two similar beers I had while in my last US trip in 2015. Check out #37 and #38 here.

This beer rates highly as it was very well balanced and way different to the current crop out there. It gets full marks from me. Awesome job, Paul.

#6: 'Your honor, I plead Guilty as charged,' is what'd I'd say if he'd/she'd ask: you do realise this is a gimmick beer, right?

Sure, there is always a bit of a 'gimmick' tale to some beers. I like that, though. I enjoy the depths at which brewers go to in order to capture the public's imagination.

My notes showed that it was "...absolutely like cherry!" and that the "...aroma is cherry too!". Damn, lots of cherries it appears. "The chocolate comes through first then the cherry". I gave this a higher mark as it is a beer that is what it says.

I reckon that sums it up perfectly, don't you? I liked this one a lot.

#7: Another entrant in my top 10 list from Yulli's head brewer, James 'Harvs' Harvey. And what a ripper this is. It's rare that I come across a fantastically balanced vanilla porter, but I reckon I've found it.

This was a carefully crafted beer with 150 vanilla beans in about 2,000L of Porter. It is exactly how it tastes: vanilla-like and chocolate-like. What a combination!

What I like about this is that it's one of the best Vanilla Porters that I come across. Granted, the best Chocolate Porter I ever came across is something you can read about here (check out #4).

Vanilla Porters? I think Harvs is on a winner. Something different from the rest of GABS 2016. I liked it a lot.

 #8: lago's Revenge. A very impressive 9.8% Black IPA rested on American oak and whiskey brewed by the very famous Dave Padden from Akasha Brewing.

Dave's renowned for the superbly crafted and brewed 10% Triple IPA, Wooden Leg. This beer goes some way in reminding us that Dave is fucking good at what he does.

Again, it's a beer that clearly is what it says it is. To me, that's important. It's bold, dark, hoppy and has a touch of complexity that lifts this beer well above the rest.

It's extraordinarily light for it's 9.8% rating, but damn, I could sink a skinful of these! Great job!

#9: And I quote: "In some strange sadistic, lamb-killing ritual way, this beer is fucking awesome!" It's very much a beer that is as it's described, and you already know I like that - right?

I certainly did recognise this as very different from the rest. It proves that if you have a great product that's a little bit 'out there' and fits the bill, people will like it no matter what.

What I would like to point out, however, is that (once again) there is no way I could drink a six-pack of this beer. As good as it is, a small glass is just fine.

Apart from this small critique, I was fully impressed with this beer and am glad it's been included in my top 10.

#10: I can hear that Breaking Bad theme tune in my head. Walter White with his sidekick Jesse Pinkman. And truthfully, when I drank this beer it's exactly what I had imagined.

The use of gin-distilled organic oranges in an Imperial Witbier is something only a crazy person would come up with. The joy I had in this, and it being the first taster on my first paddle for GABS 2016, makes this very unique indeed.

It was one of the few favourites that you could easily have a six-pack or more of. Nothing offensive, clean drinking and lots of character that, for me, beat the rest. I really liked this beer immensely.

A couple of special mentions:

• #29 from Australian Beer Co, Beyond The Black Stump. It's a 6% Wild Specialty Beer that is "an Australian take on a classic Strong Ale as native black wattle seeds have been added. Full boded with a gentle sourness that offsets the sweet hazelnut flavours". 
• #58 from James Squire, Thaibock. It's a 6.5% Bock. It's a "straw coloured strong lager with a malty and a dry finish. Sorachi Ace and Motueka hops give pleasant herbal aromas while lemongrass gives an exotic touch to this classic German style. 

So, there you have it. My top 10 list. 

Agree? Maybe you do, maybe you don't. The important thing is to go out there and experience it for yourself. Go checkout GABS in 2017. You will love it!

Email: dannbrew@gmail.com

For the record, this is what the GABS Festival were quoted as saying on their Facebook page:

"While Bacchus Brewing Co won the Beer & Brewer People's Choice Best Festival Beer of GABS 2016 (Australia), here is the complete top ten:

1 Peanut Brittle Gose (Bacchus Brewing, QLD)
2 Loose Lips Sink Ships (Pirate Life Brewing, SA)
3 Beery Ripe Porter (Big Shed Brewing Concern, SA)
4 Tiramibru (Wolf of the Willows Brewing, VIC)
5 Bière Henri (La Sirène Brewing, VIC)
6 Compendium (KAIJU Beer, VIC)
7 Jam Donut (Two Birds Brewing, VIC)
8 Choc Banana Split (Bad Shepherd Brewing Co., VIC)
9 Assault Trifle (Black Hops Brewing, QLD)

10 Project #21: The Reuben Sandwich (Colonial Brewing Co Margaret River, WA)"

Bangers & Brews: Akasha Brewing Sausage Queen Tour

Bangers + Brews: Sausage Queen Tour, Aksaha Brewery

Scott and Charlene

Bangers + Brews: Sausage Queen Tour, Akasha Brewing. This had to be the most anticipated event since Charlene and Scott got married on Neighbours. With the event kicking off at 1pm, you could tell this was going to be an awesomely fun day. 

And what more fun can you ask for than notice sausages on a barbecue? Oh, that wafting aroma of cooking meat permeating across the whole brewery. Would you prefer beef or pork sausages? Maybe both!

Master Cook

Even the condiments were mouthwatering. There were pickles, spicy tomato or mustard sauce, used with Akasha's Tradewind Lager. Try one at a time or all three at once. The choice was yours.

The sausage queen herself was in good swing, and so was the live entertainment. The atmosphere was friendly and the beers were rocking. To our surprise, Akasha gave us the opportunity to try their new craft beer teaser: American Brown ale.

With a limited supply of one 19 litre keg, the American Brown ale was a very hot item. Despite my best efforts to obtain several samples (yes, it was that good) I could only manage two. What I can tell you though is that both samples were extremely delicious.

Sausage Queen

So delicious that I am sure Akasha will brew this again. It had very subtle chocolate notes, its malt profile was solid and the hops were subdued but still apparent. Personally, I really enjoyed it.

Lots of other beers were on tap to enjoy, too. The Hopsmith IPA, Freshwater Pale Ale, Tradewind Lager and even a cider. For me, the Hopsmith IPA is the pinnacle of IPAs here in Australia. I have no doubt that the craft beer lovers out there will agree.

Akasha Brewing: A great, fun day

And all of the craft beer-loving people turned out in their droves. The day started off slowly but the Five Dock brewery was soon full. So many people attended that there was a waiting line at the taproom! Both the main entry area and inside the brewery were jam-packed.

The Akasha Brewing team should be proud. The turnout certainly would have put Charlene and Scott's wedding to shame! Great beers, great food and great music can only mean one thing: it was an awesomely fun day. Congrats to Akasha Brewing.  

Akasha's dynamic duo: Ben and Dave

Until the next blog.....
dannbrew@gmail.com

USA 2015: Top 40 Craft Beers - #10 to #1

USA 2015: Top 40 Craft Beers 

Earlier this year I had the tremendous privilege of trying some 387 unique craft beers while in the US. Some were simply magnificent, while others were just ordinary. My objective was to form a 'best beers' list that showcased the 'best of the best' from those 387 craft beers tasted.

As time wore on it eventually become my 'Top 40' list. It identifies all the craft beers that uniquely stood out. Each beer had an attraction that allowed you to become that beer. Each beer had their own characteristics that hypnotised you into drinking more. Each one of these craft beers had all the qualities that made them special.

It's these beers that I eventually fell in love with. Due to this, they have reached my Top 40 list. They have achieved something great that no other beer could accomplish. From New Jersey to Seattle, New York to Minnesota, below is my take on the top 40 beers that blew my mind.

This is the final installment, so sit back and enjoy my TOP 10 beers that includes my favourite #1 from the USA 2015 trip!

Peanut Butter Porter 5.5%

#10: Dangerous Man Brewing Peanut Butter Porter
Dangerous Man Brewing has come up with a Peanut Butter Porter that can only be described as outrageously wicked. I managed to find this beer at The Beer Dabbler Summer event located at CHS Field in St. Paul, Minnesota. Some 70+ breweries from across the US visited this venue to showcase their marvelous craft beer creations.  

And this Peanut Butter Porter creation was, for me, the best of the lot. Trust me, there were lots of great beers out there with many different styles to choose from but this managed to get the nod. 

Honestly, imagine cracking open a jar of peanut butter. You know that aroma you get? Well, that was this beer. Imagine now eating from the same peanut butter jar. You know the taste of peanut butter? Well, you get the same sensation from drinking this remarkably gifted beer. 

So gifted, the additional flavours of chocolate, some coffee notes and subtle roast notes lifted this beer to a new level. The audacity of a brewer to pull off a beer like this and still have it taste this good?! I have the utmost respect for Dangerous Man, which means this Peanut Butter Porter gets to #10 in my list. 
(My rating: 9/10)

Surly Blakkr

#9: Surly Brewing Blakkr
I was fortunate to actually have Surly Brewing Blakkr both on tap and in a can. This black-as-black Imperial IPA is a collaboration with both Real Ale Brewing and Three Floyds Brewing. It's monumentally good, and it typifies Surly Brewing's attitude and brewing style: big, bold, brazen and damn fucking awesome. 

So awesome, it reached my top 10 list. On tap this was just wonderfully crafted. It has a touch of 'bite', is hoppy and has a lighter body than you'd imagine. It's sensationally drinkable and extremely addictive, even on a hot Minnesotan day. It's rare that I can actually have an impressive black Imperial IPA, but this certainly seems to seal the deal. 

For me, what really stood out about this beer is that it appears so simple yet is so complex. It has no aggressive features, can be sipped or drank quickly and is light enough to have during the hottest of days or the coolest of nights. This collaboration brewed by Surly is impeccably crafted. It's really a top-notch black Imperial IPA that I'm sure you'll also enjoy. 
(My rating: 9/10)

  

Gothic American Stout

#8: Widmer Brothers Gothic American Stout
This Limited Edition Gothic American Stout by Widmer Brothers was crazily good. Granted, stout beer is a hit-and-miss style that a lot of people don't like. Not only that but this style is also be extremely subjective. For me, I'd rate it as one of the best stouts I have had in a very long time.   

Once again I was at Seattle's Yard House, the often frequented watering hole that gave so much pleasure. The Gothic American Stout is a classic style off tap that goes above and beyond anything imaginable. The subtle roast, chocolate and malt characteristics matched perfectly. It was light-medium bodied and had you wanting more. 

The reason why, I feel, this beer stood out from the stout crowd is its blended ingredients melded into one. Everything was perfectly balanced, it was easy to drink and the flavour profile was just phenomenal. Each sip just complimented the next in such a way that my fascination for this beer ran wild. Honestly, for a really well-balanced American Stout then look no further. I love this beer. 
(My rating: 9/10)

The Seer 5.9%

#7: Holy Mountain The Seer (Foudre aged hoppy Saison)
If you hadn't read the beer menu, this beer would have you thinking twice. The Seer, from Holy Mountain Brewing in Seattle, is described as an "aggressively hopped Saison" with "galaxy hops". I can honestly tell you that it really is an awesomely intriguing beer. 

Just imagine you've come up with a wicked plan for a beer. Well, multiply that by 5, throw in the Wicked Witch of the West, a pinch of Denny Crane and....et voilà! You now have your masterpiece from Holy Mountain Brewing. The Seer is sheer class.  

It is fermented with one of Holy Mountain's Saison cultures and, as they say, "aged 3 months in our foudre with Brett and then dry hopped". For the uninitiated, a foudre is a large cask for storing or maturing wine. 

Whatever and however they have brewed it, this is elegance at its best. I love the fact this beer is soft, hoppy, light, refreshing, a little tart and has the body of Elle Macpherson. I'll have to admit, this is a seriously good beer that is worth its weight in gold. A great effort by the gang at Holy Mountain. 
(My rating: 9/10)

Polygamy Porter 6%

#6: Wasatch Brewery Polygamy Porter
Why just stop at one? Well, you can't. Wasatch Brewery has a Polygamy Porter that is on Nitro and is amazingly good. Its light, creamy and chocolate-like subtleties makes this beer a joy to drink. 

And the drinkability of the Polygamy Porter is to be admired. A lot of people have issues with drinking beer of this nature, but what you'll find here is that all the ingredients are well-balanced and just blended ever so well in this Nitro fantasy. Yep, Nitro beer can have a tendency to expose faults in beers - but none were found in this beauty. 

It's funny but there really aren't any superlatives to express how good this beer is. Such a damn shame that I wasn't able to have this beer on tap. If I had, who knows if this would have knocked up a few notches in my top beer list? 

Regardless, this is a beer the perfect blend of malts, hops and yeast that enabled me to lick my lips after each sip. I have to admit that this came really close to the Left Hand Milk Stout, but there were qualities from this that just didn't quite match (spoiler alert!). Nonetheless, it's certainly a winner in my eyes. 
(My rating: 9.25/10)

Sommelier 8.7%

#5: Castle Danger Brewery Sommelier George Hunter Red Wine Barrel-Aged Stout
Castle Danger Brewery have come out with what can only be described as an extraordinarily complex beer. It also has the kick of an angry mule that had its testicles tickled by a naked, randy clown. 

The Sommilier George Hunter Red Wine Barrel-Aged Stout (say that 10 times quickly) is something to actually write home about. Castle Danger say that: "George Hunter was our founder and brewer's great-great-grandfather who brewed in Tower, Minnesota in the early 1900's". 

What makes this beer special? I'll let Castle Danger explain the beer: "Napa Valley Red Wine Barrel-aged George Hunter Stout, aged for 8 months. Flavors & aromas of molasses, licorice, maple, coffee & cream enhanced with red wine & oak". Now if that isn't complex to you, I'll run naked on Bondi Beach every week for a year! 

The aroma is of a dark, red wine with flavours that really go deep down into the heart of the beer. You can definitely sense this was in a wine barrel, that's for sure. It had a complex array of texture, lots of unique characteristics and it was something you could drink again. It was an experience worth repeating. I really liked this amazing beer. (Note: After having this beer we did ask the actual percentage - we were at Castle Danger end of August, 2015 - and they said it was close to 12%? I'd love someone to correct me on that, please?) 
(My rating: 9.25/10)

Shake Porter 5.9%

#4: Boulder Beer Shake Chocolate Porter
This beer was like winning the last golden ticket in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Direct from Boulder Beer, this Shake Chocolate Porter was absolutely outstanding. It's not often I fall off my chair when I'm sober but this beer did it. Boulder Beer Shake Chocolate Porter has to be the best chocolate porter in the world. 

I managed to park the peepers on this one while rambling through the beer menu at Old Chicago. Boy, was this a beer I was lucky to have. Lots of chocolate, and lots, lots more of chocolate. Simply breathtaking!

But this was a different chocolate beer, at least to my interpretation. It was very close to what I'd call a dark chocolate flavour. The usual beers out there have things like cocoa nibs and whatnot, but this was very much different. I am still astonished at how awesomely chocolate this beer was. If you haven't yet tried it, get off your ass and go down to your local liquor store. Get your hands on it (the beer, that is) and try it. You will not be disappointed. 
(My rating: 9.5/10)

Apricot Sour 5%

#3: Holy Mountain Apricot Table Sour
Located in Seattle, Holy Mountain Brewing delivered the perfect Summer beer: Apricot Table Sour. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I would love, let along enjoy, a sour beer. I've tried many sours brewed by both home brewers and professionals, none of which even come close to this baby. Holy Mountain Apricot Table Sour is an astonishingly refreshing beer. It's quite tart, has malt character yet is smooth, well carbonated and has a fruit taste (apricot) that is perfectly balanced. 

Holy Mountain describe this beer as "the first in a series of table sours, our apricot table was aged in oak barrels with a wild culture for 3 months, then racked onto apricots in a oak puncheon with brett where it aged 3 additional months. A refreshing, easy drinking sour". 

Do I need to say any more? I absolutely loved this beer when I first tried it and cannot wait for the next time when I hit Seattle to get to Holy Mountain. It's the expectation of further sour beers to try that really blows my mind. I'll admit that it was just about the perfect beer on the perfect day with perfect friends. This was truly a world class beer. 
(My rating: 9.5/10)

(Left) Pyrokinesis 9.6%

#2: Holy Mountain Pyrokinesis Double IPA
Simply put: the best Double IPA in the United States of America. I searched high and low, far and wide, and I finally found my prize. Stand proud, Holy Mountain Brewing. This truly is one of the best beers in the country. Everything about the Pyrokinesis was phenomenal.  

Its golden-orange hue, citrus hop aroma, exemplary malt to hop balance and body shapes this stunning Double IPA into depths of the brewing universe no one has dared to tread. It has a blend of Amarillo and Simcoe hops with some Columbus which allows this beer to shine brighter than our very own Sun. 

There are not enough words in the Oxford English dictionary to describe how awesomely fantastic this Double IPA is. All my life I wanted to get my hands on the best Double IPA the world has ever seen. Did I taste it here in Seattle at Holy Mountain? I reckon I've come close.  
(My rating: 9.75/10)

Left Hand Milk Stout 6%

#1: Left Hand Brewing Milk Stout Nitro
Sexy. Inspiring. Beautiful. Intuitive. Desirable. These are five words you wouldn't necessarily say about a craft beer, but I am. Left Hand Brewing have crafted one of the most magnificent beers in recent history. The Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro was certainly the most inspiring discovery throughout my travel in the US: 

How good is this beer? If Jennifer Love-Hewitt and Jennifer Carpenter asked me to have a threesome together, I'd politely decline and ask for another Milk Stout Nitro, Okay, maybe I went a bit overboard on passing up a threesome with the two Jennifer's but this beer is that good. . 

Actually, thinking about that now makes me have to sit down and cross my legs. So let's go back to talking about beer, shall we? 

The smoothness, the texture, flavour, the subtle chocolate and even a touch of roast propels this work of art into the stratosphere. It is all encompassing, all empowering and all conquering. It is without a doubt one of the rare opportunities you get in life: to actually love a beer so much you could drink it anywhere and anytime. 

This beer inspires you to greatness, and Left Hand Brewing certainly have proved this by brewing a sensational beer. I strongly recommend you give this beer a whirl. 
(My rating: 10/10)


Thanks for reading my top beer list. Questions or comments?

Email me at: dannbrew@gmail.com

May you all have a very cool Xmas, a happy new year and I hope 2016 is nice to you all.

Cheers and craft beers to you all.
dann

USA 2015: Top 40 Craft Beers - #20 to #11

USA 2015: Top 40 Craft Beers 

Earlier this year I had the tremendous privilege of trying some 387 unique craft beers while in the US. Some were simply magnificent, while others were just ordinary. My objective was to form a 'best beers' list that showcased the 'best of the best' from those 387 craft beers tasted.

As time wore on it eventually become my 'Top 40' list. It identifies all the craft beers that uniquely stood out. Each beer had an attraction that allowed you to become that beer. Each beer had their own characteristics that hypnotised you into drinking more. Each one of these craft beers had all the qualities that made them special.

It's these beers that I eventually fell in love with. Due to this, they have reached my Top 40 list. They have achieved something great that no other beer could accomplish. From New Jersey to Seattle, New York to Minnesota, below is my take on the top 40 beers that blew my mind.

So sit back and enjoy.

Helles 14%

#20: Brauerel Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Helles
It is pure serendipity. In the depths of the fridge lay a beer nobody seemed to want. It was all by itself, just like Macaulay Culkin's character in Home Alone.  Since I'm the craft beer "nut", I had to try it. It was one of those lucky finds you get every once in a while. And what a find it was. 

The Samichlaus Bier Helles has its origins in Austria. It's "brewed only once a year on December 6" and "aged for a full 10 months before bottling". The bottle I happen to come across was from 2010, some five years previous. I can assure you that this beer blew me away like dry leaves on a windy day. 

Surprisingly, it was quite complex with the addition of a subtle sweetness. Combine that with its very acceptable drinkability, it was pretty awesome. Thankfully, I couldn't detect any oxidisation nor any other flaw that would suggest this beer was spoiled in any way. Its smoothness and malt-driven nature seemed to have improved over time. Gee, if I could improve with age I'd want to be reincarnated as this beer! 

This Helles must be drank with caution, though. At 14% alcohol by volume it creeps up on you like a hungry tiger in tall grass stalking its prey. Treat it like a fine wine: sip it nicely and over a period of time. I'd definitely recommend enjoying this beer on a comfortable recliner, though. This is just in case you fall asleep while drinking it, like I did. Whoopsie daisy! Still, what an amazing experience this turned out to be. (My rating: 8.5/10)

Hop Venom 10%

#19: Boneyard Beer Company Hop Venom Imperial IPA
Sweet zombie Jesus! Boneyard Beer Company brewed up this monster of a beer which should clearly have the nation talking! It comes pretty close to what a true Imperial IPA should be. Hop Venom is so powerful and so beautiful that like watching Ronda Rousey play chess in the nude.

This phenomenal Imperial IPA was thanks to Seattle's Yard House. It was one of several bars that I frequented on a regular basis. This one stood out like dog's balls. It's aroma was nice, it had a solid medium-low body and was quite well-balanced. Although I'd argue this was definitely a sipping beer, ultimately the choice is yours. Either way it was winner.

In actual fact, the real winner in all this was me. The Yard House had some 100+ craft beers on tap from around the US, and a few of them were simply magnificent. The hours spent there were worth every penny. Although I was yet to find the perfect Imperial IPA in the US, this was certainly an improvement and a continuous challenge I was happy to indulge in. Top marks.  (My rating: 8.5/10)

Mosaic Pale (EPA) 5%

#18: Holy Mountain Mosaic Pale (EPA)
Call it fate, but after a long day's walk around Seattle my mind started to wander, saying: what beer should I have? It suddenly dawned on me. I needed a crisp, clean yet hoppy ale that would be as refreshing as icy-cold water running through an Alaskan mountainside.

And with such astute judgement, I headed off to Holy Mountain Brewery alongside Alaskan Way. They're quite notorious in changing their beer menu every few days, and so it was no surprise to me that I had the pleasure of lavishing down a Mosaic Pale (EPA). 

It's brewed with Pilsner, Wheat and 2-Row malted barley with the heavy-handedness of Mosaic hops late in the boil. This may sound strange but it had similarities to that of the Stone & Wood Pacific Ale, an Australian classic. Both beers are extraordinarily easy to drink, are remarkably well-balanced, have generous hop aroma and are simply out of this world. 

The Mosaic Pale's quirkiness, too, was also out of this world. I recall trying a Mosaic IPA some years ago (when Mosaic was the hot hop in the market) and had a similar experience. To me, the combination of both fruit and citrus aroma is always curious and somewhat off-centre. Still, it's a beer that drags you back for more and more. That's something no one can argue about. Top marks from Holy Mountain. (My rating: 8.5/10)


#17: Black Raven Brewing Coco Coconut Porter

Coconut Porter 5.6%

The drool-factor I place on a Coconut Porter was made evident while watching an episode of Drinking Made Easy. Forget world poverty. Forget the global financial crisis. Forget about tax increases. Forget sky-rocketing house prices in Sydney. My aim in life was to try a Coconut Porter!

And that aim finally came to fruition in July of this year while at The Sixgill, Seattle. Thanks to Black Raven Brewing, this lush, almost hypnotic-like Coconut Porter makes you consider selling your mother's soul to the Devil just for sip of it. The extreme drinkability of this beer combined with its subtle nut and coffee tones makes it a worthy entry in any top beer list. 

Just another dark beer, you say? Certainly not! Although it does have a nonchalant appearance, there were several reasons why this got high on my list. Its subtlety, its softness and it's ability to keep you coming back means it's overall impression kept me guessing. The first two or three sips, it was quite okay but the more you drank the more you fell in love. Like a fine lady you have the hots for, you keep on going for more.  (My rating: 8.5/10)

Sour. Salty. Delicious. 4%

#16: Westbrook Brewing Gose (Sout. Salty. Delicious.)
Okay, own up. Who'd want to drink a beer that is sour and salty? How about if I add coriander to the mix? I'd wager $100 that the average punter on the street wouldn't touch it with a bloody bargepole. Heck, even I was having second thoughts on drinking it! 

But drink it I did, and I'll be the first to admit that it actually works. It just bloody-well works! Westbrook Brewing have come up with a Gose that is nothing short of magnificent. There aren't enough superlatives in the universe to describe how amazingly good this beer is. 

There is sourness, there is saltiness, and you also get the subtle note of coriander. What I found interesting is that hiding such flavours in a low alcohol beer can be very difficult. Not for Westbrook Brewing, though. It's a termendous credit to themselves for this sensational beer and for achieving the unthinkable: combining sour, salt and coriander to a light, refreshing beer. It was genuinely a marvellous effort. (My rating: 8.75/10) 

Surly Cacao Bender

#15: Surly Cacao Bender American Brown Ale
It took a while, but I had the pleasure of visiting the new Surly Brewing beer hall and restaurant back in September. Just like Bavarian beer halls (minus the girls with big boobies carrying litres of German lagers), this was an enormous place for eating and drinking with lots of friends. 

And all of my friends certainly ate and drank! After managing to get my hands on the beer menu, I just had to try the Cacao Bender. It's a "Bender made with cacao nibs, vanilla beans and coffee". That description alone was enough to make me drool like a 3-year-old in a high chair. 

The Bender is good, but what they did to it with this Cacao Bender is phenomenal. It's got perfect body, flavour, texture, balance and the overall impression will simply astound you. The cacao nibs, the vanilla, the coffee. it's all there. The beer is a credit to Surly and their creativity. Sure, It's nothing short of superb. (My rating: 8.5/10)

Smoked Porter 6.5%

#14: Alaskan Brewing Smoked Porter
Amazing. Simply amazing. I have to give credit to Alaskan Brewing for their fantastic Limited Edition Smoked Porter. The delicate tapestry of ingredients has somehow been woven into this sublime masterpiece. With "five types of malt" and "two varieties of hops" this has all the hallmarks of a 'beer for the ages' that every single craft beer geek will love.  

Mind you, it wasn't like that for me when I started brewing. I had never understood smoked beers, just like I could never understood certain women when dating. Some complexities are best left alone, me thinks. Still, the inquisitive nature in me as a home brewer gets the better of me. Smoked beers, just like a woman you fancy, need to be respected and understood in its full context.

My first smoked beer was back in 2012 from Dalgety Brewing. It was somewhat of an interesting tale, actually. I opened the bottle up and took a whiff, all the while slipping some expletives. I then poured the beer into my glass and then took a sip. Even more expletives leaped forward. What on planet Earth was I drinking? I had very much mixed emotions, just like watching your mother-in-law drive off a cliff in your newly-purchased $100,000 Mercedes Benz.

Suffice to say that drinking a smoked beer is an experience you'll never forget. I fell in love with this Alaskan Smoked Porter and understood its complexities and ambiance. Its divine nature tempted you to places never thought possible. But that is its allure. It was a world away from the normality of craft beer. It simply gets my huge nod of approval. (My rating: 8.75/10) 

#13: Coney Island Brewing IPA
I was introduced to the Coney Island IPA at the ultra cool Jiggs McAllisters in New "Joyzee". Ken and Heidi were giving me the grand tour, and this beer just popped out of nowhere. Off tap, this beer is pretty freakin' awesome. I was even lucky enough to have a freshly delivered batch straight from the brewery itself.

The fact I love things 'straight from the brewery' makes this even more special. But what surprised me was its similarity to one of our own Australian craft beers: Akasha Brewing Hopsmith IPA. Both beers aren't too dissimilar. The Coney Island IPA is an extraordinarily smooth drinking, thirst-quenching beer that makes you come back for more.

It has fine citrus aroma, a light-medium body with a very malty background. All this while showcasing its amazingly awesome hops and sensationally well-balanced ingredients. They have managed to master this IPA with such aplomb that it ranks highly. Other IPA beers don't have this fantastic combination, of which makes this a dead-set winner in my eyes. I could drink this beer all day long, and I think I did! (My rating: 8.75/10) 

The Oracle DIPA 10%

#12: Bell's Brewery The Oracle Double IPA

When I think of Oracle, I think of annoying Database Administrators. Thank goodness this isn't the Oracle I'm referring to. What I am referring to is The Oracle Double IPA by Bell's Brewery. The beast of beasts. The King of all things living. The epitome of Double IPA and what it stands for. 

And what this Double IPA stands for is style, leadership and coolness. It has more style than Pierce Brosnan, more leadership than Richard Branson and has more cool than Steve McQueen. It had intense hop aroma, flavour, was light to light-medium bodied and was perfectly balanced. Mind you, at 10% it could knock you out more quickly than a Holly Holm bout with Ronda Rousey!

That knockout feeling came from a multiple of sources. This Double IPA lured you into its lair, seduced you with its aroma, caressed you with its flavour and touch you with it's body and balance. The overall experience was nothing short of fantastic. Could there be something out there that was better, though? Possibly, but this beer shouldn't be underestimated. What a beer! (My rating: 8.75/10) 

Darkness Barrel Aged 10.3%

#11: Surly Brewing Darkness Russian Imperial Stout
Fuck a duck! If you were to look up the word 'awesomeness' in the dictionary, you'd find a picture of this beer: Surly Brewing Darkness Russian Imperial Stout. This was available exclusively at the Surly tap takeover at Lone Oak Grill in Eagan, Minnesota.

That exclusivity really did mean I felt special, said in a Bruce McAvaney way. A fellow craft beer enthusiast even stated that Darkness in this form was a rarity. Who am I to argue with a Minnesotan that loves Surly? Its rich flavours of "chocolate, cherries, raisins, coffee and toffee" came through strong. The barrel-aging process had blended this beer to utter perfection. 

And if perfection can be defined in a beer, this has it in spades. I was blown away by everything about it; texture, body, alcohol content, richness, smoothness. The beer made me feel I had just been invited on an all expenses paid week-long trip to the Playboy mansion. This beer made you drool before, during and after consumption. This was a remarkable beer that amazed every person that had the pleasure in drinking it. (My rating: 8.9/10)