Gage Roads ’The Convict’ Australian Strong Ale

Brewed by Gage Roads Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Perth, Australia

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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640ml bottle from Dan Murphy’s. what else would you have on Australia Day but a beer called The Convict. Bronzed copper colour that is almost red with a sprinkle of tan foam. Looks pretty good and smells even better with a load of resinous piney hop aromas. The flavour is also good with a combination of hops and caramel malt. A well crafted beer. Perfect with my roast iamb.

Bottle from Dan Murphy’s. Nice and malty, good hoppy backbone. Aromas of caramel, chocolate, hints of anisette, cola and liquorice. Taste is sweet and bitter, with long length. Palate is velvety, with medium-to-full body. Amber, with a thin head.

I’ve criticized Gage Roads in the past but their latest series of beers has been very good. This has strong hop aroma and plenty of hop flavour, it is an Australian version of some of the American strong ale beers. i don’t think this quite fits the double IPA category but I don’t believe it is meant to either. Rate Beer doesn’t have a strong ale class so it has to go somewhere, judge it on its merits I say. And this beer is very good, had it a couple of time now and enjoyed it a lot on both occasions.

Quite a deep copper colour with a tight tan head. First hit is the hops and lots of them. Tropical stone fruit, citrus, pine and some passion fruit. Taste has some sweetness, though mostly bitterness from the big load of hops. Big bitter finish. Good beer.

Deep redish amber poor. Pleasant carbonation minimal head. Big aroma of crisp tropical fruits especially some pineapple. The interesting hop aroma gives way to a more subtle flavour with a slight bitterness and nice malt base.

640ml bottle, from dan murpheys, Aroma - hops, fresh, dark red/golden appearance, off white head.First taste - light sweetness, medium bitterness, medium sourness, salty, <- Quite an array. Complex, Great head retention, lasted till the third taste! Then fades around to the edges.medium body, average carbonation, abrupt finish, <-> As it warms the bitter lingers. Bottle did look like an exalted Emu export glass, whch is why I first walked past it.

Bottle from Dan Murphys. The whole bottle pours clear light copper amber with decent creamy light tan head and some light lace. Big aroma of sweet malts: toffee, toast, bread and grains. Decent hop aroma shining through the malt aromas; grassy, a touch herbal and spicy; perhaps vegetal, with citrus, apricot and passionfruit all on the nose. Medium body, generous bitterness, med-high carbonation. Complex malt body, finishes sweet, but the bitterness rides it out such that its not cloying and with the zesty carbonation giving a bite also. Overall a good effort showcasing a tasty beer and the embrace of the newer aussie hop varieties.

Pours a clear dark bronze, almost red, color with a good tan head that fades to ample lacing. Aroma of dark fruits, roasted malt and spices. Taste of dark fruits and spices with some roasted malt. Mild bitterness and a fairly dry finish. Medium body, quite smooth and flavorful. Nice balance. Enjoyable beer and an easy drinker. Worth a try.

Pours a clear amber colour with a beige head. Aroma is malt, fruits, caramel, pine and hops. Taste is light to medium sweet leading to a balsy bitter and hoppy finish. Really liked it.

Pour is almost dark ruby with thin tan head. Aroma is mainly dark sugar with some tropical fruit, flavour is reminiscent of a scotch ale, lots of dark raisiny flavours that dissipates with a bitter finish that comes out once the rich malts subside. Nice, good to see some strong beers coming out in Australia that are well balanced.