Author Archives: 2hopheads

Snowy Way ‘Mountain’ Pale Ale

Rating:

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Presents a hazy golden-orange complexion and a frothy two and a half finger head. Good retention and blotchy lace left in its wake.

Aroma: Pretty underwhelming to be honest. We had a few schooners of this up at Thredbo a couple of weeks ago and recall thinking the same thing. We’ve really gotta dig our noses in deep just to pick up the very muted orange citrus/rind and the earthy and spicy hop profile. The malt offers hints of biscuit and grains and is also quite underwhelming. Very stock standard aroma.

Flavour: Look, for a crushable pale ale (which we think is what they’re going for, considering the 4.4% ABV) it ain’t bad. Our gripe is that it barely has any notable character. The Ella and Eclipse hops are very subdued while the malt bill doesn’t really provide anything further than some delicate biscuit and wheat grains. There’s next to no bitterness as it finishes pretty smooth and uneventful.

Mouthfeel: Very inoffensive (take that as you will). Smooth, light on, mild-moderate body. Finely carbed.

Overall: If the plan was to slam a 4 pack of these down at a summer BBQ then drive home then it’s on the money. The only other time we’d ever consider another one would be so we could support an indy brewery and not have to drink Balter or Stone & Wood. Average at best.

Holgate Nitro Irish Stout

Rating:

“All the roasty, toasty, malty flavours you expect from a dry Irish Stout, made with Holgate love and care. Deep and dark with a luscious creamy head from the nitro.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Shake hard then pour and watch the magic happen. Seeing the layers clamber up to form the creamy two finger head is a beautiful thing to watch. Excellent retention with a sheet of lace being draped down the sides of the glass.

Aroma: Lots of chocolate, some coffee and dried dark fruits lifting off initially. Noticeably dry and peppery, roasty, toasty. Almost like they’ve taken to it with a dehumidifier. What’s impressive is that it’s still nice and creamy which provides a bit of density and depth. There’s something rich and yeasty too…almost like Vegemite. Aniseed and very subtle star anise right down deep. Solid aroma.

Flavour: Not quite sure what happened here but the pour, the aroma, everything was shaping up for a home run then it all just goes to water. Literally. Everything from the dark chocolate, the coffee, the roasted malts and spice…tastes like it’s all been diluted. We’re aware that nitro can have that effect but this is on another level unfortunately.

Mouthfeel: Watery but there is some grip there. Mild-moderate body. The nitro does its thing as the 5% ABV does as well.

Overall: Pretty disappointing in the end. It was shaping up to be something good then it all just went astray. Shame.

Dalgety Brewing Co ‘Devils’ Porter

Rating:

“As dark as the devil himself, with silky chocolate and coffee flavours this DEVILS PORTER will welcome you to the darkside.”

Glassware: American pint.

Appearance: Mostly black pour with a vigorous two and a bit finger head. It holds its shape well but struggles to produce much lacing.

Aroma: We picked this up from a random little bottlo attached to a servo in East Jindabyne. We’d heard of this brewery before but never considered the one hour drive off route to the snow to check it out. Let’s crack on. We get a hint of either blackcurrant or blueberry amongst the more dominant chocolate, coffee and burnt toast. Subtle raisin, pine/resin and a really strange hint of rubber. Hhmm.

Flavour: She’s definitely packing some roast. Upfront it’s all about the slightly charred malt, espresso coffee and dark chocolate. We feel like the hops want to push through but they’re drowned out by the big roasty bitterness. It all tastes a bit tired and whaddya know.. this cans BBD was 1/7/25. Almost 3 months past BBD. Luckily dark beers can weather that storm but hoppy dark beers…not so much.

Mouthfeel: Holds up nicely. Kinda chewy, bitter in the swallow. Slightly lifted Co2 and the 5.6% ABV adds a little bit of mayo.

Overall: It’s testament to the brewers that it took us until over halfway through the beer to realise it was 3 months past BBD. Damn we’d love to try this fresh, it’d be a cracker.

Snowy Way ‘High Country’ Lager

Rating:

“High Country Lager is a well-crafted brew that balances malt sweetness and earthy bitterness. The combination of Schooner, Amber, and Munich Malts with Ella and Mt Hood Hops creates a refreshing beer that’s perfect for any adventure.”

Glassware: Footed flute.

Appearance: Bold amber pour with a light and fluffy two finger head. Excellent retention and healthy lace work on the glass. We had a few pints of this at the Banjo Patterson Inn last week and were quite taken aback by the deep colour.

Aroma: It certainly strikes us as more of an amber lager. Not only does the colour give it away but the malt bill displays rich caramel, nutty and toasty characters. Really nicely paired with our very own Ella hops which in this brew imparts a rather floral, earthy and spicy set of aromas. Very well structured.

Flavour: Aahh takes us back to that first sip at the Banjo. The first thing that hits is the toasty and sweet malt profile which lays a magnificent foundation for the ensuing earthy and spicy hops to work off of. Very minimal bitterness through the mid as it all leads into a pretty crisp finish with lingering caramel, toast and spice on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Quite firm and chewy. Well rounded and with a slightly lower Co2. Medium body and a nicely positioned 4.7% ABV.

Overall: We like how they chose to take the amber lager route as opposed to a generic Aussie lager. It certainly adds more character. Can’t expect anything less from the creators of Kosciuszko Pale Ale we guess. Solid drop.

Deeds ‘Eternal Abyss’ BA Barleywine

Rating:

“Ensnared in an alley with no exit, your frantic breaths swallowed by the blizzard, the town’s ancient evil nears. Spawned of winter’s gloom, they scramble at you with frostbitten claws, trying to haul you into the lightless depths of the eternal abyss. You know there is no saviour to hear your choked cries, to fend off the deadly cold crawling up your chest – but you refuse to give in. In a desperate final attempt for salvation, you strike the lighter in your pocket and ignite a torch. Waving the flame defensively, you glimpse a possible escape route – but will it lead to redemption or ruin?”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: That classic muddy brown complexion hits our glass with style. It only manages a short tan head which quickly forms a collar. Nice intricate lacing left in its wake though.

Aroma: There’s two things tripping us out right now. One – we haven’t reviewed a barleywine for almost 18 months and two – we’d never reviewed this barleywine before. And going off the first few whiffs we were absolutely nuts to take this long. Smells like barleywine bliss…rich maple syrup, toffee, residual sugars, raisin, port and molasses all wrapped up in a sensational spicy bourbon oak. Superb.

Flavour: It just keeps getting better too. Why are these guys shutting up shop?! Make it make sense! This is world class BA barleywine right here. Maple syrup, lashings of rich chewy caramel and toffee, dark fruits like raisin, fig and dates. Fortified wine, hints of spice i.e clove, star anise etc. then the spicy, nutty and vanillin bourbon oak rounds this all out like nothing else.

Mouthfeel: Dense, chewy and velvety. Full bodied with low carbonation. The 12% ABV is ridiculously well buried.

Overall: It’s an outrage that these guys won’t be producing top notch beers like this anymore. We’re off to fill the cellar with as many of these as we can get our hands on.

Beer Fontaine Red Rye IPA

Rating:

“A malty IPA with an earthy, woodland, fruit hop character, balanced by a firm, crisp bitterness that leaves you wanting another sip. This beer was crafted with Golden Promise, Caramel Rye, Columbus, & El Dorado Hops.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Somewhat muddy and burnished copper pour with a thumb of finely beaded off-white head nestled in atop. It holds together well and weaves a wavy lace down the sides of the glass.

Aroma: Ooft the rye is strong on this one. Very distinct notes of black pepper, pumpernickel, bread crusts, woody spice and earth. Using rye malt in a red IPA is a masterstroke too as the sweet fruity hops provide the perfect counter balance. Not to mention the piney, herbal and citrus qualities as well. Really good depth but the overall balance is key here.

Flavour: The progression is impressive. It opens up almost juicy – sweet fruits and orange citrus backed up by chewy caramel before dropping its payload of rye which balances everything out. A good dose of hop bitterness lands midway but the big malt presence is enough to keep it all in check. A subtle toasty note turns more roasty as it finishes a tad caramelised, toasty and bitter.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and gelatinous then dry and bitter in the swallow. Medium body, nicely carbed and a well integrated 7% ABV.

Overall: We only just realised recently that we’ve almost reviewed 10 Fontaine beers. We didn’t realise we were fanboys until now! After releases like this it’s no wonder we’re on the Fontaine train.

Jindabyne Brewing ‘Aussie Blonde’ India Pale Lager

Rating:

“Part 2 of our busty blonde seris we have done a strong aussie larger filled with some homegrown hops. This blonde fits the profile of an Indian pale larger. Give us a wink if you enjoy.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Bright and radiant golden pour with a light and fluffy three finger head perched on top. Good retention and lots of thick blotchy lace clinging to the glass as it retracts.

Aroma: Interesting one this. We bought it on the presumption that it was an Aussie interpretation of a Belgian blond but turns out it’s been classed by the brewers as an India pale lager. It does actually come across as more of an IPL than a blond! We get a dominant scent of candied passionfruit, lemon and lime, orange blossom, nuanced hints of stonefruit and canned peach. Some florals in there too. Semi sweet biscuit malt. Not sold on it yet.

Flavour: Hits far different here. JB’s signature cleanliness and the lager qualities come forth and the weird mix of fruit has taken a back seat. Delicate black pepper spiciness also getting amongst it. Still tasting some of the candied fruits and the canned peach as it rolls across the mid. A restrained bitterness develops late and helps set up the fairly clean, dry and grassy finish.

Mouthfeel: Crisp but with a bit of resistance. A slight chewiness there. Mild-medium body, slightly lower Co2. The 6% ABV plays a good role in the kinda heavier body.

Overall: Not sure about this one. We dig 9 out of 10 beers from these guys so this must be that one we’re not a fan of. Not digging the weird fruit flavours and the beer as a whole seems a bit untidy.

King River ‘Ballyblack’ Dry Irish Stout

Rating:

“Introducing Ballyblack Dry Irish Stout. We wanted a nice sessionable beer for the colder months so we brewed this dry and super roasty Irish Stout. Notes of dark chocolate, toasted bread and coffee. A welcome addition to our winter core range.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Jet black with a frothy three finger head emerging on top. It peels off rather quickly and settles to a collar with a very wet lace being dragged down the glass.

Aroma: It’s important to note that this isn’t on nitro. It’s actually half the reason we bought it (not to mention that King River is one of our favourite Aussie breweries). We’re keen to see the contrast between nitro and Co2. The differences are already quite pronounced…the aroma is far less creamy and much more bulbous. The roasted qualities still have an earthy dryness but this expression displays more aniseed, spicy hops and wholemeal bread.

Flavour: Very old-school tasting stout. It reminds us of what Tooheys Old used to taste like back in the late 90’s….when it was good. Initially it’s very amicable…moderate roast and bitterness, just a hint of ash and chocolate. Crusty dark bread coming through the middle and then just as you think it’s wrapping up…bam! Heavy roasted malt, espresso coffee and dark chocolate tails in late and draws out nicely on the back…begging for another sip.

Mouthfeel: Muscly but without the density of a big ABV. It only weighs in at 4.8% with moderate Co2 and medium body.

Overall: When it comes to Irish Stout we’d prefer nitro over Co2. That’s not to say this release is no good – quite the opposite actually. We just prefer the creamy qualities that nitro offers, and the way it marries up so well with this style.

Bright Brewery ‘Midnight In The Mountains’ Pastry Stout

Rating:

“These peaks are home to countless legends – from elusive Alpine bears, to mythical abominable snowmen and even the ghosts of lost ski-bums of seasons past. For those though, that would rather embrace the thrill of the dark from the safety of your own home, enjoy this Coconut, Vanilla and Chilli Stout that is the perfect mix of sweet and dangerously bold.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Not dark enough for a stout in our opinion. Yeah it’s mostly black but there’s a fair bit of light punching through at the base and the edges of the glass. Short tan head on top, settling to a film. Minimal lacing as it ebbs.

Aroma: Smells like we’ve just popped open a bottle of Reef sunscreen. Nothing like the smell of summer in a stout called midnight in the mountains 😆. We can dig the juxtaposition. If that’s what they were actually going for. Unfortunately, other than a lick of vanilla and cola, there’s not much else to this aroma. Very weak and insipid. Can’t even smell the chilli either!

Flavour: Tastes exactly how it smells – artificial coconut, some vanilla sweetness and a very lacklustre stout base. The chilli component (which is 90% of the reason why we bought the beer) is somehow drowned out even though we’ve had brown ales with a bigger body. It all meekly rolls into a kinda roasty, sweet and creamy finish but it’s all so pedestrian.

Mouthfeel: Far too light and watery. Medium body, finely carbed. The 6.2% ABV slots in nicely we must admit.

Overall: We just don’t get their angle. Why brew such a weak base stout if the plan is to carry three (rather boisterous) feature flavours? We’d prefer a bigger and more aggressive base stout then integrate the feature flavours through. Maybe we’re just purists.

Merino Brewery ESB

Rating:

“Floral and earthy aromas accompany fruit esters showcased by the characterful British yeast pitched on this ESB. The lower carbonation illuminates the biscuity, nutty, caramel flavours of this beer. The finish strikes a delightful balance of malty sweetness and bitterness, perfect for the cooling months ahead.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Hits the glass with a copper hue and a short white head which retreats to the rim. A wet, spotty lace is dragged down the glass.

Aroma: There are numerous Aussie breweries that cannot get this style right so it’s a welcome surprise to take in this nicely balanced and true-to-style aroma. Immediately we get that classic British malt bill of toast, caramel, nuts and buttery biscuit. If we had to guess we’d say EKG hops were used as it displays a notable floral scent accompanied by softer hints of woody spice, sage, grass and earthy honey. Solid.

Flavour: Follows through nicely. It stays well balanced and it’s free of that undesirable syrupy sweetness that plagues most Aussie-brewed ESB’s. Equal parts sweet to savoury, caramel and buttery biscuits, nutty, toasty and grainy. The hops opting for more of an earthy approach here with the floral, spicy and woody aspects playing a good support role as it finishes with a soft bitterness and a semi sweet malt.

Mouthfeel: Sticky, a little chewy. Co2 is kept pretty low. Medium body and a neat little 4.7% ABV.

Overall: This was our first crack at this brewery from the Southwest of Sydney. We have it on good intel that the head brewer is English so that explains a lot. Very pleasantly surprised by the quality of this.

Beer Fontaine ‘Full Nelson’ Hoppy Saison

Rating:

“Bright, airy, like a fresh afternoon breeze on a warm spring day. Ripe wine grapes, citrus, tropical notes on the nose, spicy notes, pepper, clove & star anise. This beer was crafted with Belgian pilsner malts, Australian rolled wheat & Aromatic, Motueka Hops & Nelson Sauvin.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Bright golden pour with a soft haze. It forms a big and frothy three finger head which slowly deconstructs. Not a whole lot of lace to be seen though.

Aroma: We’ve been impressed with every Saison these guys have produced previously so we’ve got high hopes for this Nelson Sauvin-laden expression. There’s a lot happening…it has a notable barnyard funkiness mixed in amongst fresh lime juice and zest, gooseberry, green grapes, apple juice, hay, wheat grains, peppery spice and clove. A DMS-like sulfuric note intensifies as it warms. Not bad.

Flavour: There’s something that’s not quite gelling here. Nice and fruity upfront, crisp and zesty as it shifts into the mid. A subtle tartness and a dry, earthy and funky note that hits a bit like a dry champagne enters the fold…must be the yeast profile. That’s where it’s losing us too. Once it dries out it stays bone dry and finishes with a slightly artificial sweetness that lingers.

Mouthfeel: Kinda mineraly and effervescent with a lifted Co2. Mild-medium body with a well integrated 6.8% ABV.

Overall: It’s been a long time between drinks for us and Fontaine so we must admit it was a tad disappointing to return to this average Saison. Especially after a three-year spell!

Reckless ’24 BA Baltic Porter

Rating:

“From the depths of Europe comes the dark design of this richly flavoured beer. A historic staple given the Reckless treatment in signature style. A lagered melody of lush malts thrumming with dark toffee and chocolatey currents, it’s a smooth, smokey and mouth- filling creation with a just-dry finish that’s as broad and deep as the Baltic Sea.“

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: As black as midnight with a quickly vanishing head. It forms a ring with next to no lace work as it ebbs.

Aroma: Getting strong wafts of cola/sarsaparilla initially. As the beer settles it becomes clearer that we’re just picking up the undeciphered notes of the whiskey/barrels which display uniquely green and almost tart citrusy qualities. Below them is the roasty and chocolatey malt base which does a pretty darn good job of holding up the bottom end. Nice integration of the two, we must say.

Flavour: The progression takes the palate on quite an adventure. Initially those tart and citrusy qualities we got on the nose kick things off here as well. The warmth behind them ignites the bitterness in the background while some of the lighter roasty notes carry through the mid. The whiskey returns with its seriously green and immature flavours as it all sets up for a lightly roasted, woody and slightly fruity finish.

Mouthfeel: Chewy, full bodied, mildly carbed. The 9.4% ABV was pretty well behaved for its size.

Overall: We’ve tried many past vintages of this release and been very impressed but this 2024 vintage didn’t really tickle our pickle. The whiskey was too green and the tartness it brought was unfavourable in our opinion. Good without being great.

Jindabyne Brewing Bavarian Bock

Rating:

“First up in our busty blonde series is the Germans. They are experts in many things including delivering a beer with a great smile. Even though we’re not German, we are sure the big malt backbone to this strong German Lager will make you smile.”

Glassware: Dimpled mug.

Appearance: Brilliantly clear bright amber pour with a short white crown. It peels off fairly quickly and leaves wavy lacing on the glass.

Aroma: Interesting. One of the things we love most about JB is the ultra clean nature to every single one of their beers. Our first thoughts here are that those same ultra clean qualities are working against the classic richness of the malt but once it settles in the caramel, toasty, nutty and biscuity notes begin to open up. Well balanced by a floral and earthy hop profile of dried leaves, rose petals, strawberry and forest floor.

Flavour: Similar to the aroma where the ultra clean nature is almost working against it. The rich malt sweetness is there i.e caramel/toffee, honey, biscuits and toast but the hops and the bitterness they provide outshines. There just isn’t enough depth from the malt in our opinion. Alas, it shifts into an incredibly clean finish with lingering notes of bush honey, eucalyptus leaves, caramel and pot pourri.

Mouthfeel: Clean with a certain gelatinous texture. Medium body, low-ish Co2. The 6.8% ABV was well disguised.

Overall: It has all the character traits which makes this brewery so good, but it just misses the mark for us. Not enough depth from the malt and just a tad too bitter. Hey, they can’t be perfect all the time.

Beer Fontaine ‘Ye Olde’ British Pale Ale

Rating:

“Orange, marmalade, dried apricots, slightly woody, stone fruit & herbaceous with a malty backbone provided by Golden Promise malt. If you’re lucky, you may just get to try it fresh from our hand pump at our Botany Taproom!”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Muddy and somewhat burnished dark orange pour capped off by a billowing three finger head. It takes an age to reduce and decorates the glass nicely as it retracts.

Aroma: Smells mostly of orange citrus and dried fruits like apricot, apple and mango. Definitely some herbals getting amongst it – mint is the main one with more subtle notes of lemongrass, basil and sage. Not getting much from the malt though…by that we mean it’s fairly clean with a mild sweetness and missing the conventional English traits.

Flavour: Pretty darn tasty actually. It’s well balanced, crisp and certainly tastes like an old world pale ale, the only thing is it tastes nothing like a British pale ale 😆. Even with the traditional list of ingredients to go with it. We get dried orchard fruits, mixed herbs, light florals and a semi-sweet biscuit malt into a dry, slightly bitter and malty finish.

Mouthfeel: Chewy and well rounded. Medium body, lifted Co2. The 5% ABV is on par for the style.

Overall: Even though it doesn’t taste a lot like a British pale ale we aren’t going to pan it. It was actually a rather good beer in its own right. Rename it as an old-world pale ale and it’s on the money.

Mountain Culture ‘Crumble Completely’ Speculoos Imperial Stout

Rating:

“We’ve taken the flavour of the month and infused it into our signature imperial stout base by adding a literal trolley load of Belgian speculoos cookies, crushing them into crumbles, and letting our imperial stout base sit on them until they completely dissolved and fermented.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: As black as the ace of spades with a finger of brown head emerging on top. It eventually forms a ring with scarce lacing as we go.

Aroma: We’re pretty critical of MC’s stouts so it was a leap of faith to part with the cash (around $20 a can) on this occasion. We can say with confidence that this time it may have paid off. The biscoff (sorry, speculoos) is presented not only well but genuinely. We’re getting real and direct biscoff notes blended beautifully into their rich and roasty impy stout base. Excellent start.

Flavour: Not as refined as the aroma but it still displays a well integrated biscoff character, a restrained booze burn (which is rare for them) and a well executed impy stout base that holds enough depth and complexity to carry the feature flavours. There’s a hint of astringency but it tapers off into a spicy, rich and warming finish.

Mouthfeel: Dense and viscous. Full bodied with low carbonation. The 10% ABV was fairly well buried for MC’s standards.

Overall: We just started our venture into finding a biscoff stout worth its weight and we’ve already found one! Thank God it didn’t take us as long as the affogato stout venture took. That one’s been going for 5+ years and it still continues!

Shepherd Neame ‘Spitfire’ Amber Ale

Rating:

“A true classic, Spitfire Amber is the head of the Spitfire family and a true taste of Kent. It was first brewed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, played out in the skies above Kentish soil.  It is brewed using 100% Kentish hops, the finest malt and water drawn from a well deep beneath Shepherd Neame’s Faversham brewery.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Gorgeous deep amber with 100% transparency. It struggles to produce much head, quickly settling to a halo with minimal lace work left on the glass.

Aroma: Classic British malt sweetness wrapped up in a light veil of old world hops. The balance is key here…rich caramel, maple syrup and sweet dark fruits are countered by notes of toast, woody spice, delicate herbals and mildew. Getting freshly baked whole meal bread too. We know we sound like a broken record sometimes, but no-one can brew am amber ale like the poms.

Flavour: Exactly like the aroma – exquisitely balanced with a perfect 50/50 ratio of sweet caramelised malts and trad British spicy and herbal hops. A super subtle bitterness adds that lick of dryness that’s so crucial to the overall balance. It continues to gradually dry up as it punctuates on a sweet yet well rounded finish. Good length on it as well.

Mouthfeel: Sticky, chewy and effortless. Medium body, low-ish Co2. The 4.2% ABV is a tad lower than expected but makes no difference in the end.

Overall: A cracking English amber ale. Can’t believe it has taken us this long to review it. It just ticks all the boxes. Superb.

Banks ‘Cake Eater – HBC1019 & Citra’ DDH Oat Cream DIPA

Rating:

“Big, bold, and unapologetically indulgent. Cake Eater is our luxurious Oat Cream Double IPA Series brewed with a hefty dose of oats and a touch of lactose for that ultra-creamy, pillowy mouthfeel. Hopped with the juicy crowd-favourite Citra and the intriguing experimental hop HBC 1019, this beer bursts with ripe mango, fresh-squeezed orange, and a hint of creamy pineapple coconut smoothie.“

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Turbid and slightly milky-looking pastel yellow complexion. It forms a thumb of tightly held white head that slowly reduces. Excellent lacing as it ebbs.

Aroma: We can smell the sweet and heady tropical fruits as the glass sits idle on the table. Under the nostrils it’s magnified by a thousand as big notes of mixed citrus and fleshy, nectar-filled fruits lift off. Dominant scents of freshly squeezed orange juice, ruby grapefruit and pine resin are supported by a creamy oat-laden malt bill, coconut, milk sugars, a hint of green mango and pineapple. Superb.

Flavour: So smooth for 8% ABV it’s wild. Definitely a citrus bomb but not like the IPA’s of old where it’s accompanied by an 80+ IBU. This is beautifully rounded out by a soft and pillowy oat cream malt structure and built upon with lashings of tropical fruit, mixed citrus, stone fruit and a hint of pine/resin. Dries out a tad late in the piece and finishes fruity, piney and sweet.

Mouthfeel: Silky smooth and creamy. Medium body, finely carbed. The 8% ABV is unbelievably well concealed.

Overall: Cracking OCIPA. This series along with “Feels” and “Cake Stand” are without a doubt on par with MC’s best NEIPA’s and Hazy’s.

Hargreaves Hill ‘The Dark Side’ Coffee Milk Stout

Rating:

“The Dark Side is a collaboration between Hargreaves Hill and Storehouse Roastery in the Yarra Valley. This beer combines only the finest freshly roasted coffee, combined with roasted malt and a touch of creaminess to create a balanced, yet indulgent treat.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black with a thumb of fizzy tan head over the top. It gradually reduces and settles to a halo. Minimal lacing on the glass as we go.

Aroma: Smelling pretty good off the bat. The coffee comes through in a few different forms – raw bean, black and cold pressed. The sweetness from the base milk stout meets it nicely with vanilla and creamy lactose. Subtle hints of milk chocolate, smoked meats, dark fruit and caramel bolster the bottom end and ensure a good amount of depth. Diggin’ it.

Flavour: Starts strong but it slowly drops away which sucks. The coffee components are delicious initially…offering roast, nuttiness and sweetness but as it all develops it becomes a bit too sweet and watered down. A touch of bitterness and some hop character would’ve been a welcome feature if the base stout and coffee had been intense enough. Unfortunately they weren’t so it all finishes in a watered down mess.

Mouthfeel: A tad too thin and slippery. Medium body, low-ish Co2. The 6% ABV is neither here nor there.

Overall: Not as good as we’d hoped. We hold Hargreaves Hill in high regard so it was a little disappointing to have this lacklustre stout.

Mountain Goat ‘Imperial Fancy Pants’ BA Imperial Amber Ale

Rating:

“Fancy Pants just got fancier. This is a big, bold amber ale with all the bells and whistles. Layers of toffee and caramel malts bring sweetness and depth, backed by toasty, spicy notes for extra warmth. Aged in Starward French oak barrels, it’s rich with bourbon and oak character that wraps around a full, boozy body. Dry hopping adds a citrusy lift, along with flashes of candied red fruit and soft stone fruit esters.  Decadent, balanced, and just a bit indulgent, exactly how we like it.”

Glassware: American pint.

Appearance: Pours a burnished copper to auburn colour with a thumb of frothy tan head. It holds its shape well and decorates the glass as it retracts.

Aroma: Extremely complex. It’s pulling the olfactory’s in a million different directions. There is a gorgeous base malt sweetness that’s providing a good dose of caramel and maple syrup. The French oak barrels integrate really well with its vanillin oak and subtle oriental spice. Getting a tangy flambeed orange scent too…hints at Cointreau and concentrated blood orange juice. The depth is off the charts.

Flavour: Sheesh, we’re tasting every bit of the 11.8% ABV. We don’t mind some warmth from a high ABV beer but the burn here is pretty intense. Upfront it’s like a big mash up of burnt orange, blood orange, Cointreau and earthy ripe apricot. Caramel, stewed fruits and the French oak characters then roll through quite an astringent mid and into a rich, sweet, oaky and warming finish.

Mouthfeel: Very slick and gelatinous. Medium body, mild-moderate Co2. The 11.8% ABV overplays its hand unfortunately.

Overall: It’s sad to see the fall from grace that this brewery has undergone since its acquisition by Asahi. The OG fancy pants was a favourite of ours and although this suped up version of it had some positive traits it just didn’t deliver as well as we’d hoped.

Brouwerij Zeevonk Tripel

Rating: 
"Zeevonk triple is based on our blonde Zeevonk, with even more flavour thanks to the use of abbey ale yeast.This creates a wonderfully intense flavour that lingers long after the first sip."

Glassware: Chalice.

Appearance: Deep golden-orange complexion with a lot of suspended sediment floating around. It builds a finely beaded two finger head which eventually forms a collar. Lace rings mark each sip as we imbibe.

Aroma: Classic Belgian tripel vibes. Oodles of yeast esters i.e banana runts, clove, black pepper, bubblegum and Angostura bitters. A mix of zesty and candied lemon/peel, tang and coriander powder also getting a good look in. It offers a sturdy honey malt profile too…adding that fine little touch of sweetness to round out a pretty darn good aroma.

Flavour: First sip displays quite a strident booze burn. It weighs in at 9% ABV so we can’t be too critical. We’d have liked a tad less burn though. Alas, a heady malt sweetness of floral honey and subtle caramel makes way for the yeast esters and old world hops through the mid-palate. A hint of tartness late in the piece as it finishes quite dry, malty and astringent.

Mouthfeel: Kinda dense and creamy yet prickly. Medium-full body, effervescent Co2. The 9% ABV is quite noticeable as aforementioned.

Overall: What we’ve found from these more obscure Belgian breweries is that the further we get away from the tried and tested brands (Chimay, Westmalle, Leffe etc) the more likely to get one that misses the mark. Although this one didn’t really miss the mark it’s clearly not as refined as the more well-known brands. Good but not great.