Murray's - Whale Ale

Murray's brewery is in Port Stephens, NSW. I have driven up the east coast of Australia and that part of Australia is beautiful. I would happily live in that area.

This American wheat beer is 4.5%.




I saw this beer at one of my favourite pubs a few weeks ago and I enjoyed many of them. Yes, it's another wheat beer. I have changed my mind. I really like wheat beers now. This is a very nice beer but is slightly lacking in flavour.

I would be happy to drink this any time, but if you want something with a lot of flavour there are better beers out there and you can move on to this beer later on when the taste doesn't matter as much.

Murray's website

 

Barecove - Radler

Barecove brewery is in Adelaide, Australia. Adelaide is about a day's drive from where I live but I still haven't been. It is definitely on the 'places to go' list, just not that high up.

This Radler is a light 4.2%. Radler style beer is traditionally a beer and lemonade mix. I believe that this tradition was started in Germany which is where I had a Radler done this way and it was delicious.

 

I got these beers because it is coming up to summer and I was wanting something crisp, light and easy to drink. This beer did not live up to expectations. It is light and has lemon and lime flavours but it just does not work.

I will not be buying these again and I do not suggest anyone else does. In saying that I'm still going to drink all six of them because I know one should not waste beer.

Barecove website

 

Paulaner - Hefe-Weizen

Paulaner brewery is in Munich, Germany home of Oktoberfest. I have been lucky enough to go to Oktoberfest and I spent my time in the Paulaner tent. Oktoberfest is basically all about drinking a lot of beer out of massive jugs, so it's amazing. Munich itself is a beautiful city and I would like to get back there one day. Maybe at a time when the festival is not on to avoid all of the craziness.

This Hefe-Weizen is a 5.5% natural wheat beer.

 

I have said previously that I wasn't a fan of wheat beers but here I am really enjoying this one so I guess I am a fan. I must have just had a few bad ones a while ago. This beer has a dark golden colour and a fairy strong yeast flavour with some fruity flavours coming through.

I could enjoy any number of these beers at any time of the year. It is delicious and easy to drink.

Paulaner website

 

La Trappe - Isid'or Trappist

La Trappe brewery (O.L.V. Koningshoeven Abbey) is very special. It is one of seven breweries in the world still making Trappist beers. A beer can only be called a ‘Trappist beer’ if it is brewed at a Trappist monastery under the supervision and responsibility of the monks. For more information have a look at trappist.be. La Trappe brewery give some of their profits to monasteries in Indonesia and Uganda.

This particular beer is not the 'Real Trappist' but as far as I can tell the Isid'or is still brewed in the monastery.

The brewery (O.L.V. Koningshoeven Abbey) is in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I have been to The Netherlands and it is definitely a interesting place.

La Trappe Isid’or is a 7.5% Amber Ale so it is strong but doesn't taste it.

 

This beer is amazing. It has both great colour and flavour. It is malty with hints of caramel. This beer has made me want to try all of the beers from this brewery and possibly try and track down and try all of the 'Trappist beers' in the world. Mostly because it would be pretty cool to say I have tried every beer in the world that is of a particular style.

I would drink this beer anytime as it's flavourful, light and very easy to drink. It's right up at the top of my list of favourite beers.

La Trappe web site.

 

Bear Republic - Hop Rod Rye

Bear Republic is in Healdsburg Cloverdale, California which is North of San Francisco. I have not been that far North but I hear driving though the red woods up there is amazing.

Hop Rod Rye is a strong 8% Indian Pale Ale (IPA) with a difference. It is super hoppy and made with 18% rye, which is something I haven't tried before. It has a great colour: not too dark but a little bit darker that an Amber Ale.




I am enjoying this beer a lot more than I thought I would when I bought it. I do really like hoppy beers and this is probably the hoppiest beer I have tried. I thought that the rye would wreck the flavour but if anything I would say it has just bumped up the % of the beer.

I would enjoy this beer any time. It is delicious. I don't think I could have too many though because the hops would get to me after two or three. Not to mention the the fact that it's stronger than your standard beer.

 

Mountain Goat- Hightail Ale

Mountain Goat brewery is just down the road in Richmond, Victoria. I really should visit this brewery because they do make some great beers.

Hightail Ale is 4.5% and is an English inspired Amber Ale.

 

I was kindly introduced to this beer by a friend who works for the brewery. This beer is slightly maltier than a normal Amber Ale, has great fruity flavours and is a very nice beer.

This is not really a summer beer but it is easy to drink so in reality I would enjoy it at any time after the sun has set.

 

Pintail - Pale Ale

This beer is brewed in San Diego, California. I have been to California but didn't get down as far as San Diego. I did how ever try many American beers. I was informed that the Americans brewed some terrible beer (and they do) but if you don't drink the cheep and nasty ones they also brew some amazing beer, like this one.

The Pintail, Pale Ale is 5.3%. Pale Ales are generally lighter in colour than your stand ale, hence the "pale" ale. I find American Pale Ales to be a little bit more malty that your average pale ale but that might just be me.




Pale Ales are probably my second favourite type of beer (very closely behind pilsner). This one is malty, hoppy and citrusy. Apparently they use hops from New Zealand (my home country) which makes the flavour that little bit better.

This is a great beer for a Spring or Summer afternoon, maybe around a BBQ with some friends. It's refreshing, easy to drink and I'm glad I have more in the fridge.

 

Red Hill - Scotch Ale

The beer is brewed very close to home, about an hour south.

This Scotch Ale is 5.8%. Scotch Ale is a dark ale with a bittersweet, sometimes slightly metallic, tang and is a bit stronger than the average ale.

 

I have always wanted to try a Scotch Ale and something from Red Hill Brewery so I'm very happy to try this one. It has a very woody, malty flavour which is delicious. It definitely is a darker ale which I'm slowly enjoying more the older I get.

I would recommend this on a colder day with food like a roast. I wish I had have saved it for the roast I will be enjoying tomorrow night.

Red Hill Brewery Scotch Ale

 

Hoegaarden - Wheat Beer

From a place I have been, (for a whole day. It still counts right?) Belgium.

Hoegaarden is a white (cloudy) wheat beer and is 4.9%.

 

I'm not normally the biggest fan of wheat beers but this is one of my favourite beers. It is easy to drink with lots of fruity, citrusy flavours. I believe it is even brewed with coriander but that may have just been the original recipe.

I think this is a beer that could be consumed on any evening. It is light enough for a warm summer evening but still has the hearty flavours of a wheat beer that are looked for in the depths of winter. However, I would have to say that I would get sick of the strong flavours after two or three.

Hoegaarden website