Friday, August 5, 2011

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.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

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


Wednesday, August 3, 2011

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.