Whats the best beer you've had & why?

[The Duckmeister]

The best beer I've encountered is the Red Hill Brewery Imperial Stout from the Mornington Peninsula.



Thick, black syrupy goodness with a 8+% punch that warms the soul on the coldest of nights. This limited release seasonal brew is only available through selected specialist outlets, so can be difficult to find, but by golly it's worth the hunt! Don't put it in the fridge; the cold will destroy the richness of the flavour. In winter I just keep the box in the garage, it's cool enough there. In summer (I ration the supply to get me through to the new season's release) I bring it inside & place in a cupboard where the temperature is stable & relatively cool.

Other candidates that come close to the title of the best beer are other Imperial Stouts from Mornington Peninsula Brewery (Vic.) & Moo Brew (Tas.), and the Belgian Trappiste abbey ales - Chimay (especially the Blue label; the 750ml is the only beer I've ever seen that's corked!) and Leffe (Radieuse in particular).

At the extreme opposite end of the scale is anything from CUB, Tooheys, Fosters etc. They're best suited for use as chain cleaner, but I respect my bikes too much to inflict that shit on them.

 

[Fatman]

How has it been so long?

Wow, I knew it had been a while but this thread might begin to smell if not posted in.

For today.......



Didn't get through all of them but the one's I did.

Otway Estate. 'Prickly Moses Black Panther IBA'. 6.2%abv India Black Ale.
Clear dark brown with a generous creamy head. Hoppy syrup and marker pen with fresh garden clippings and dark chocolate. A little underwhelming, a bit of body and some spicy hops, not a patch on some other black IPA's though. Something not quite right in the aroma, a little like garbage. Lingering hop bitterness.

Sierra Nevada. '2012 Narwhal Imperial Stout' 10.2%abv Imperial Stout.
Black with a creamy bronze head, no light penetration at all. Dried fruit and hop aromatics, strong alcohol and licorice. Big body, coffee and licorice with a warm grassy hop finish. A little tingly on the palate, this is a sipper, plenty of complex flavours and character.



Bridge Roads and Nogne O breweries. 'Aurora Borealis' 14.9%abv Barley Wine.
Cousin of Aurora Australis this beer is brewed in Norway and sent on an ocean journey unrefrigerated to Australia in Scotch whisky barrels. Deep chocolatey brown with a thin bronze head. Fruity chocolate aroma like strawberry filled confectionery but with some boozy alcohol wafting off it. Whoa! Big alcohol hits first quite roasty like the burnt ends of a piece of roast beef. Huge flavour, silky mouthfeel but with loads of booze. Bittersweet and quite challenging. Fortified wine and brandy characteristics, so many different flavours are present you seem to find something each sip. A big swig was greeted with a wince and a few swear words.



Birra del Borgo srl and Dogfish Head breweries. 'My Antonia' Continually hopped Imperial Pils. 7.5%abv Imperial Pilsner.
Hazy light yellowish orange with a generous uneven head and lazy bead. Big Saaz aroma like a good Pilsner should but much bigger, grainy and sappy hops with some candied fruit. Excellent balance, alcohol is well masked, seems a bit smooth but does have some late bitterness but also sugary sweetness which was unexpected. Leaves excellent lacing around the glass.



Epic Brewery. 'Hop Zombie' 8.5% Double IPA.
Gorgeous clear golden straw with a light uneven crumbly head, beautiful appearance. Big aromatics of fresh picked hops, resinous and sappy. Very drinkable, hop flavour masks the big 8.5%abv. Champhor Laurel leaf aroma and flavour, just amazing balance and taste. This is an instant favourite, isn't a massive dose of hops and malt to destroy the palate and claim bragging rights, this is done well.

 

[hach_bee]

Fatman, I've missed your amazing reviews!



Tried this boy bad today with relative expectations and was pleasently surprised. Very nice smooth character, give it a shot from DM's if you get the chance.


Also, any thoughts on McLaren VALE brews? I love the ALE and LGR and DRY.

 

[Stew41]

Is the Sail 'n Anchor kit an OEM "craft beer" from Woolworth's? Seems a little out of left field and to hit the shelves with a full offering, in store tastings, etc. I smell a money grab from Woolies?

I've tried 4 of them now and mostly in the "rubbish" bracket. A shame as S&A had some decent heritage.......

 

[The Duckmeister]

I don't mind the S&A "Boa's Bind" amber ale. It's certainly nothing outstanding, but it's better than the crap on offer from the major brewers.

Hach_bee: I've tried a few of the McLaren Vale things & been thoroughly unimpressed. The shorthand labelling with the missing letters is a good clue that when you drink it, there's something missing from the beer too - flavour & texture. The DRK in particular; all colour & no body.

 

[MasterOfReality]

Fatman, I've missed your amazing reviews!

View attachment 256647

Tried this boy bad today with relative expectations and was pleasently surprised. Very nice smooth character, give it a shot from DM's if you get the chance.

Yes yes yes, I had this on Friday night and will definately be heading off to get some at DM.

 

[Bermshot]

Not sure if I've missed a review nor am I much a reviewer (I just drink it). KIZZ Destroyer or kiss as the band went by, very hoppie as my tastes go. May give a better review when the 2nd has cooled a bit more.

In between drinks though tis obviously a marketing ploy yeah? Probably from o'l man Gene himself, they're touring again or will be so I have heard. Which starts me thinking along the the lines of when that brewery brought out Duff beer and once they got sued the cans went through the roof value wise, I'm talk'n 4 hungie a can! So my point is in between drinks should I buy a few warm cases and put them away? There are always Kiss tragics looking for shite to put in their collections.

 

[HimynameisMike]

View attachment 256611

Epic Brewery. 'Hop Zombie' 8.5% Double IPA.
Gorgeous clear golden straw with a light uneven crumbly head, beautiful appearance. Big aromatics of fresh picked hops, resinous and sappy. Very drinkable, hop flavour masks the big 8.5%abv. Champhor Laurel leaf aroma and flavour, just amazing balance and taste. This is an instant favourite, isn't a massive dose of hops and malt to destroy the palate and claim bragging rights, this is done well.[/QUOTE]

Where can I purchase this beer from in Victoria? Anyone have any clues?

 

[Fatman]

Not sure if I've missed a review nor am I much a reviewer (I just drink it). KIZZ Destroyer or kiss as the band went by, very hoppie as my tastes go. May give a better review when the 2nd has cooled a bit more.

In between drinks though tis obviously a marketing ploy yeah? Probably from o'l man Gene himself, they're touring again or will be so I have heard. Which starts me thinking along the the lines of when that brewery brought out Duff beer and once they got sued the cans went through the roof value wise, I'm talk'n 4 hungie a can! So my point is in between drinks should I buy a few warm cases and put them away? There are always Kiss tragics looking for shite to put in their collections.

Kissrockdrink Brewery AB 'Destroyer' Lager, Sweden 4.7%abv. Lively clear straw with a soft fine bubbled white head. Delicate grassy aromas, grainy with a hint of grapefruit and garden clippings. Smooth but it really is quite unpleasant, it just tastes cheap. Lightly sweet with a lingering bitterness, it reminds me of watercress leaves with less crunch. Digging deeper it has a dry finish and leaves good lacing on the glass but it's rubbish, just like their music.

 

[Fatman]

Where can I purchase this beer from in Victoria? Anyone have any clues?[/QUOTE]

Try Purvis cellars or slowbeer.

 

[Bermshot]

Kissrockdrink Brewery AB 'Destroyer' Lager, Sweden 4.7%abv. Lively clear straw with a soft fine bubbled white head. Delicate grassy aromas, grainy with a hint of grapefruit and garden clippings. Smooth but it really is quite unpleasant, it just tastes cheap. Lightly sweet with a lingering bitterness, it reminds me of watercress leaves with less crunch. Digging deeper it has a dry finish and leaves good lacing on the glass but it's rubbish, just like their music.

Lol! I def don't have your palate Fatman. I'm getting a type of a grass clipping heap left for a week taste and maybe a touch of cardboard, again I say very unrefined.

But what about putting a couple of cases away for when the collectors want to pay 50 a bottle? It will be easy to get my son to keep it (if he doesn't let teenage influence get to him) "that tastes like lawn clippings with dog shit in it boy but it will be worth some dough one day" why dad?

 

[Fatman]

Lol! I def don't have your palate Fatman. I'm getting a type of a grass clipping heap left for a week taste and maybe a touch of cardboard, again I say very unrefined.

But what about putting a couple of cases away for when the collectors want to pay 50 a bottle? It will be easy to get my son to keep it (if he doesn't let teenage influence get to him) "that tastes like lawn clippings with dog shit in it boy but it will be worth some dough one day" why dad?

There's always the possibility, the reason Duff was so expensive was because it was unlicensed and they were forced to remove it from sale. I remember paying less than $20 a case for it and drinking thousands at my mates place, it was shit. Benefits of hindsight.
I guess you could put a few away and see if a fan wants them somewhere down the track but how many of them can be left, even now?

 

[Bermshot]

There's always the possibility, the reason Duff was so expensive was because it was unlicensed and they were forced to remove it from sale. I remember paying less than $20 a case for it and drinking thousands at my mates place, it was shit. Benefits of hindsight.
I guess you could put a few away and see if a fan wants them somewhere down the track but how many of them can be left, even now?

Yeah that's what I was getting at, I saw a fat kid around 10 yrs the other day wearing a Led Zep shirt so considering that, the circle will turn and rock'n roll will never die! Be worth heaps!! Lol

 

[Fatman]

Just drank this and had to share.

Mountain Goat Brewing Co. Cross Breed Seven Seeds. Seedy Goat IPA 6.2%abv.
Pours a darkish lightly cloudy orange brown with a short lived foamy light brown head. Oh dear lord, what a delicious sweet chocolate orange aroma, molten jaffas with a hop cone inside each one. This particular bottle is still in date and has about two months to run, the flavour is mellow but the hops are still showing signs of fight but the added coffee just brings an amazing dimension to this already great IPA. Use of the Finca Jaime Molina Montechristo bean adds cherry, citrus and cocoa to the brew. I'm a bit lost for words right now, the perfect beer? No, but it is just so full of character and flavour. Balance is great, mouthfeel spot on and the proportions are just fantastic. The benefits of hindsight suck, I would have bought cases of this and savoured it. This is $%&*ing good.

 

[nikmcc]

Making the trip to warners at the bay this Saturday... Can't wait, hope is as good as they say :beer:

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk 2

 

[Fatman]

Making the trip to warners at the bay this Saturday... Can't wait, hope is as good as they say :beer:

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk 2

Take plenty of money and an idea of what you want, I never get out of there for under a hundred. The sign out the front now says over 1000 in store.

 

[nikmcc]

Take plenty of money and an idea of what you want, I never get out of there for under a hundred. The sign out the front now says over 1000 in store.

Good idea! I've got some gift vouchers, plus I'm planning to drop maybe $100-150 of my cash.

I've got a huge glass collection, so will try get the matching beers for them. Then some new ones I've not tried. I'll post a pic of haul :beer:

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk 2

 

[jazzyj]

I went to Warner's yesterday.

Pretty much just focused on the aussie micros this time, and walked away very cheaply at $40 for 8 beers.

Also got lunch at the Albion and that place is amazing.

The bridge roads / nogne 0 collaboration beer on handpump was the standout

 

[nikmcc]

I went to Warner's yesterday.

Pretty much just focused on the aussie micros this time, and walked away very cheaply at $40 for 8 beers.

Also got lunch at the Albion and that place is amazing.

The bridge roads / nogne 0 collaboration beer on handpump was the standout

Sweet.

What's the albion? It's that nearbye? (I've not been to warners bay before)

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk 2

 

[Stew41]

Where can I purchase this beer from in Victoria? Anyone have any clues?

Try Purvis cellars or slowbeer.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the plug Fatman! (I own Slowbeer)....................I assume you buy some of your beers from us from time to time?