 mullet (763), Melbourne, Australia
Oct 13, 2007
The most anticipated Australian beer since...? Admittedly expectations were very high for this one, but whilst it’s a good beer I can’t really share the enthusiasm of my fellow raters.
So yeah, the label is pretty striking. I’m not sure I love it but I don’t hate it, and it definitely makes it stand out on the shelf. The beer itself is very clear with a nice orangey-copper colour and a somewhat sparse head with big bubbles distributed throughout it like it was thick and creamy but then termites ate it or something. Anyway, hops are the dominant aroma but like Highlandlad says it’s all a bit subtle. Tropical fruit, basil and a weedy edge but it’s somewhat stewed and not particularly fresh - I think beers like this really benefit from a vivid, fresh, raw hoppiness and this doesn’t have it, though perhaps it does on tap at the brewery? Malt aroma is quite good - fresh biscuits, toast, caramel and a vague hint of chocolate. Some banana esters and alcohol are also apparent. Flavourwise it starts with quite a thick, fresh, juicy sweetness which dominates until a solid alcohol flavour, woody hops and a late-developing bitterness. The hops mostly seem to add sweet tinned tropical fruit flavours and I’m sure I taste Simcoe in all its weird, weedy glory. Ultimately the malt sweetness and alcohol hold the hop expression back to far too great an extent for my tastes, and I’m left with the distinct sensation of a sugar rush. The carbonation is also quite low - a bit more might’ve helped to emphasise the hop flavour/bitterness.
So yeah, like the Anniversary Ale, I like it but I definitely don’t love it. It’s a very well-made beer but it just doesn’t hit the right notes to really impress me. Like most Australian attempts at hoppy US styles it’s a bit too thick and sweet for my liking (and lacks fresh hoppiness). It’s not entirely dissimilar to the Beast in that respect, but I think the Beast has marginally better balance (plus it’s cheaper and I like the label better!) But it goes without saying (even though I’m saying it anyway) that they get extra points for doing something different. I still like their Sassy Blonde the best though.
Lunkie (1006), Glen Iris, Australia
Jun 1, 2008 Malt hop aroma with sweet floral undertones. Murky brown colour with great head and lacing. Sweet malt hop flavour with floral aftertaste. Smooth palate.
madquacker (474), Canberra ACT, Australia
Apr 18, 2008 Impressive deep murkiness in colour with a good two fingers head. Beckoning introduction followed by a powerful and lingering sweet apple, licorice citrus and acidic aftertaste which kept on giving. The 750ml bottle looked daunting but once got into it, couldn’t get enough. A good beer.
winkle (440), Brisbane, Australia
Mar 1, 2008 bottled: scored the bottle from the brewery - so i’m presuming it was fresh - big aroma as expected - passionfruit, grapefruit, lychees a all round very pleasent combination. good malty body which, while in balance - i though could have been slightly heavier and the alcohol a touch higher. these are just small whinges - the beer itself is great, well done. now to fix this stupid keyboard.#%&^@#
MBison (356), Southern Highlands, Australia
Feb 9, 2008 Updated: Mar 4, 2008Bottle (750ml). This was one of the most anticipated Australian beers for me to try (and rightly so), so I brought 3 bottles (750ml) of the stuff. Poured a muddy deep copper with a good size frothy head which lasted well. Aroma was quite tropical with peaches, orange citrus, pine needles, passion fruit, grapefruit, resin and some light toffee malts in the back. Flavor was a burst of citrus hops with toffee and caramel malts, resiny hops, pine needles, earthy notes, passion fruit and a spicy hop finish. Full bodied with lively carbonation, oily texture, syrupy mouthfeel and a very long finish. I am glad I brought 3 of these as one is not enough. Luckily there making this brew into cases soon 16 x 330ml.
bluevegie (1732), Perth, Australia
Dec 16, 2007 This is a lot easier to drink than last nights IIPA although I can only enjoy a half glass at a time as the head fills the rest of the glass and won’t go away. I seemed to have the same trouble as everyone in trying to get the cork out of the bottle. The colour is coppery honey with an off-white head. Nose is tropical fruit and sweet, taste is expected hoppy bitterness with a fairly full body of malt. Not a big punch from the hops and the alcohol was just right. I was little bit wary of drinking this baby by myself but I knocked it off easy enough.
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