Another funny beer advertisement from Belgium

Stealthy beach beers

Now I'm not one to condone drinking in public but this is ingenuity at it's best.

Throw a little ice in the bottom of a soda cup, drop a can or bottle of your favorite beverage in, feed the straw through and Bob's ya uncle.

Aussie beer glassware 101

Have you ever driven from Melbourne to Sydney for the weekend, walked into the local pub and asked for a “pot-o-Vic” only to be greeted by a blank stare. If not a blank stare then maybe a look on the bar tenders face that plainly says, “bloody Victorians and their little glasses and crappy beers”.

To clarify for my international audience, it’s very important when in an Aussie pub that you order your beer the right way otherwise you never know what you’re going to get. Depending on which area of the country you live in, you would ask for a different type of glass for your beer. You can’t simply ask for a glass of your favorite amber nectar because there are so many choices in size depending on which state you're in. In the US, it's common to simply name the beer you want and then the bar staff will give you 2 options by volume which equates to big or bigger. Sounds easy enough but I can guarantee you that Aussie bar staff have no idea of the actual capacity of each glass. It's simply easier to know them by name and know which one is bigger than the other.

Being a Victorian I quickly learned there were only 3 sizes that mattered and was an indication of how hammered you intended on getting. The pot which is roughly half a pint is great on hot days as your beer never really gets warm. The downside is that you find yourself at the bar a whole lot more often. That’s why pints are perfect in my opinion. Pints are a nice size and force you to drink at a somewhat manly pace, thus to ensure your beverage of choice does not become tepid. The last one you need to know is the big daddy and is useful if you are getting beers for a few mates. The jug is the perfect size to share round some beer and will usually save you a few dollars in the process. I know you Americans think that jugs is the name of a magazine you'll likely find on display at your local 711 but to us Aussies, jugs is the godfather of beer vessels. What's a "pitcher" anyway? Something you hang on your wall.... or the guy who throws a ball at a guy with a round bat?

Speaking of pictures, this image is a rough guide to Aussie beer glassware. Stay tuned for more on selecting the right glass for your beer, AKA the right tool for the job.

Cheers, Matt the beerblogga

Samuel Smith’s, The Famous Taddy Porter, UK

Samuel Smith’s, The Famous Taddy Porter – 4.5/5

Once again, Jeff and Virginia have introduced me to an amazing beer and having heard nothing but positive reports, I was very excited to try it.

It poured out dark brown with a frothy, tan head. On the nose and tongue you will be presented with a light roasty nuttiness. You will also get very subtle coffee and chocolate notes before the taste mellows out to a mild bitterness.

Picture if you will an exquisite piece of luscious chocolate and you’ve only been given one piece. Like the chocolate, Taddy Porter left me wanting more and I can’t wait to drink it again soon. I think I will go as far as saying that this is the best Porter I have sampled to date. In hindsight, I truly regret not drinking it on tap while I was living in London.

Piraat Ale, Belgium

Piraat Ale – 3.5/5

Ahoy maties. I have the perfect beer to celebrate international talk like a pirate day. This little number from Belgium pours out cloudy amber and has a typical Belgian yeast flavor. It’s supposedly a Belgian IPA but I would liken it more to a strong ale. It’s not overly hoppy and is warm on the way down. It’s quite obvious that the ABV is over 10%.

While I enjoyed Priaat Ale, it blessed me with a bad case of heartburn which turned me off at the time. Having said that, I’m keen to give Piraat Ale a second chance and potentially bump up the rating a little. Definitely worth trying if you can find it.

Duchesse De Bourgogne, Belgium

Duchesse De Bourgogne– 4.5/5

I love grey imported beer when you can’t read the label as it often leads to surprises; hopefully good ones. This was another birthday beer from Jay and the Thomas girls and boy did it catch me off guard.
After pouring it out into a glass I took a nice big sniff as I always do. I felt like I had buried my head in a bag of salt and vinegar chips and taking a good old whiff. It had a really vinegary smell to it which tingled all the way up my nose. I took a sip and found it to be quite sour which lead me to do a quick google search from my phone to make sure it was supposed to be this way and hadn’t spoiled. After the first initial shock I went back for more and was getting notes of dark cherry coming through.

Overall it was very refreshing and quite pleasant. I can picture drinking Duchesse De Bourgogne with Thanks Giving turkey as an alternative to champagne. It’s definitely worth trying.

Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock - Aying, Germany

Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock - 4/5

This was another decent beer donated by Erin, Cheryl and Jay. It poured out nice and dark and had a fluffy head.

It has toasty notes up front and a nice coffee bitterness. If you're into malty beers then you'll love this little Baverian bombshell. With this in mind, it's not the greatest consumption beer and best left alone on warm summer days.

This beer would pair well with a nice, earthy Camembert or Fontina cheese.

Orval Trappist Ale - Brasserie d’Orval, Belgium

Orval Trappist Ale - 4.5/5

I feel my close friends are really starting to get to know me. Erin, Jay and Cheryl were nice enough to hand select some very interesting beers for my birthday and I finally got around to drinking them last weekend.

Although I have read about Orval and seen around, I was yet to experience this Belgian delight. From what I had heard, Orval is brewed with wild yeast therefore no two bottles with be exactly the same.

With this in mind, there are some common characteristics. Firstly, I was surprised to find how fizzy it was. It poured out a golden amber color and had a nice, thick head. It was dry and hoppy and finished a tiny bit sour. Overall, a fantastic brew. Thanks guys for introducing me to another world class Belgian ale.

A Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout (2003) – UK

A Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout (2003) - 5/5

This was another amazing birthday beer from Jeff and Virginia. I don’t really know where to start with this one as there was so much going on.

I was intrigued to find a wine style cork in the top and for the first time I had to use a wine bottle opener to unleash the malty goodness from within. It poured out thick and dark with little to no head or bubbles. This made me nervous that it might have spoiled due to poor handling or storage but after the first sip I was reassured that it was handled with care.
It was rather bitter and had a sharp, dark chocolate flavor. The mouth feel was almost like that of a red wine or port and I definitely got the sense that there was a high alcohol content.
With that in mind, A Le Coq is NOT a consumption beer. I would recommend sipping at it or saving it as a night cap.

I get the sense that this is a volatile beer and if improperly stored could easily disappoint. Overall, I was stoked with what I drank and was lucky enough to get a 2003 vintage in good condition. Keep in mind that a younger or poorly stored vintage could lead to an undesirable experience.

Thanks J&V, you’ve led me down the path to greatness once again.

Beer for thought

If beer = car

Then Hefeweizen = VW Karmann Ghia

Both are light, great for a summer day and known to be fruity.

Beer for thought

If beer = car

Then IPA = muscle car

Therefore American IPA = Camaro and English IPA = Aston Martin

Pint of Aston please.......

Men in slow motion

Most EPIC beer commercial EVER

Hopus – Brasserie Lefèbvre SA, Belgium

Hopus – Belgium - 4/5

Once again, good friends Jeff and Virginia (aka The Sizzlies) hooked me up with a fine selection of beers for my birthday. Amongst those chosen was Hopus from Belgium.

It came in a classic style pop-top bottle and poured a golden amber color. It was cloudy and full of sediment, but to me that equates to flavor.

It had a faint honey smell to it which was made more evident after a taste. Up front it had a classic Belgian flavor, then came the smooth hops, which was followed by the subtle honey note. As this was not a combination I had encountered before I was pleasantly surprised.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable drop and I’m quite sure I will be drinking it again. Jeff and Virginia have once again introduced me to a keeper. Thanks guys!!

Zatec - Žatecký Pivovar, Czech Republic

Zatec - Czech Republic - 2.5/5

Another interesting selection from Jeff and Virginia, this brew was very easy drinking. I try my hardest to remain impartial when trying a beer for the first time but this beer was exactly how I imagined it would be.

I wouldn't go as far as to say it was watery. It was light, fizzy and had a slight hoppyness which is typically Czech. It would make a great summer session beer and a nice change from the usual Mexican varieties.

I might grab one of these for the next BBQ beach session.

Julian Hard Cider – Julian, CA

Julian Hard Cider – 3/5

I was first exposed to cider in the summer of 2006 while living in London. Up until this time I thought cider was a direct threat to my manhood and stayed clear. Having said this, there was little to no variety in Australia at the time.

The UK however had a huge selection of local microbrewed and European ciders. At the time I became very fond of Magners, Bulmers and Gaymers from Ireland, all of which are a slightly dry cider.

I recently discovered Julian Hard Cider from the little town of Julian, East of San Diego. Having recently taken a drive out there with my wife Sarah and dog Charlie to sample famous apple pies, I had high expectations of this cider.

As most of the ciders I have sampled over the years were either sweet or what I considered dry, I must say it really took me by surprise. Julian Hard Cider is incredibly dry and bubbly, similar to sparkling white wine. It’s dryer than I ever knew a cider could be. Personally I prefer a mildly dry cider but I can definitely appreciate it for what it is.

I can imagine drinking this at Christmas time. I think it would pair really well with roast pork or pork chops.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – Chico, CA

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – 3.5/5

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale holds a place in my heart. It was the first beer I drank to consumption upon arriving in the US. At the time my wife was working in a Mexican restaurant and I was unemployed so I would spend a decent amount of time in there drinking pints of Sierra and watching the Padres getting slaughtered.

Sierra is a run of the mill Pale Ale and is on the slightly hoppy side. Easy enough to drink to consumption or pair with something spicy. I would consider Sierra Pale a ‘go to’ beer when nothing else tickles your fancy.

AleSmith Anvil Ale ESB - San Diego, CA

AleSmith Anvil Ale ESB - 4.5/5

This would have to be one of the best ESB’s I have discovered outside of the UK. Like any good ESB it is light on carbonation and has a smooth caramel malt with light citrus hops following close behind.

Drinkability is high so I recommend it as a session beer. It paired extremely well with a home made pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms, onions and caramelized garlic.

Sam Adams Chocolate Bock – Boston, MA

Sam Adams Chocolate Bock – 3.5/5

Sam Adams Chocolate Bock was part of this years winter collection. For those of you who are not overly adventurous with trying new and interesting beers, I strongly suggest trying the Sam Adams seasonals.

Sam Adams brewery seems to play it safe with their seasonals. They are never big and bold but more a subtle and safe effort.

The Chocolate Bock has a really nice roasty, chocolate aroma and mild sweetness to taste. I found it was very drinkable and the sweetness paired really well with my wife’s chipotle chilli.

Flying Horse Royal Lager, India

Flying Horse Royal Lager – 2/5

I very much expected this beer to be similar to other Indian beers I’ve had. Both Cobra and Kingfisher are plain but drinkable lagers and Flying Horse was a disappointment.

The first thing I noticed was the skunky smell. Although in a brown bottle, it smelled as if it had been effected by some light contamination. After reading other reviews on this beer I have come to the conclusion that I got a bad bottle.

It didn’t taste as bad as it smelled although unfortunately the smell was quite off-putting. Maybe the brewery sourced their water from the River Ganges? Adrienne and Rick, thanks again for the donation. It was unfortunate that this Flying Horse was more of a donkey.

Pliny The Elder – Russian River Brewing Co, Santa Rosa CA

Pliny The Elder – Russian River Brewing Co - 5/5

Well I guess you’ve heard me bang on about overly hopped beers and probably did not expect to see me reviewing a Double IPA any time soon. My friends Adrienne and Rick generously donated a few beers to the blog and I am so very pleased that they introduced me to this hopped up hottie from Sonoma County in Northern California.

The fragrant aromas will assault your senses as soon as the cap is popped. You’ll smell a carefully crafted bouquet of floral, citrus and pine which will call to you to take a sip.

On the tongue it’s very hoppy but so very carefully balanced by the grassy, pine flavors. It’s really difficult to believe that Pliny The Elder is classed as an IPA and a Double at that.

From what I hear, this beer is rather difficult to come by. My advice is to keep an eye out for this one and buy a few bottles if you get the opportunity..then let me know and I’ll help you drink them. I suggest drinking this one on its own. Definitely one to add to the “beer bucket list.” Thanks again Adrienne and Rick for showing me the light.

Who knows their beers?

Well as you can see the fridge is stocked with blog-worthy brews.

Some are as local as they come, some are semi-local, some are from out of state and some are from over seas.

I offer a challenge to whoever can guess the 9 beers correctly...

Stay tuned for upcoming brews reviews.

Cheers,

Matt the Beer Blogga