Illawarra Brewing Company Reviews

Pyobon	3.3 Illawarra / Local Taphouse 'The Chuck Norris' Single Hop Red Ale (On tap) Clear brown with good off-white head. Nice aroma with subtle notes of toffee and pine. Medium body with good carbonation. Tangy start, with some toffee notes. Nice hoppy bitterness develops for crisp finish. Very good. Wednesday, January 6, 2021
hef0909	3.7 IIllawarra Shot in The Dark Creamy coffee medium body Saturday, July 11, 2020
hef0909	3.5 Illawarra Apocalypso Amber pine resin bitter Saturday, July 11, 2020
hef0909	3.5 Illawarra / Local Taphouse 'The Chuck Norris' Single Hop Red Ale Full body full flavour brown malt some fruit Monday, June 15, 2020
hef0909	4 Illawarra Wit Surprisingly small head light body banana spice Wednesday, June 10, 2020
hef0909	4 Illawarra Koelsch Malt low bitterness dry refreshing easy drinking Tuesday, June 9, 2020
finnius_fog	1 Illawarra Strawberries & Dreams Sunday, May 19, 2019
macca147	3 Illawarra Koelsch On tap at Local Taphouse, Surry Hills (2014). Pours a copper orange with a white head. Aroma: biscuity malt, mild citrus, grain notes. Taste: biscuity malt, grain, straw, mild citrus flavours. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Mild bitterness. A bit dull but ok. Wednesday, August 8, 2018
tp35282	3.6 Illawarra Interplanetary NEIPA Sour Taster @ GABS 2018 Sydney. Light gold with white head. Tropical fruit aromas. Tropical fruit flavours (pineapple, passionfruit), with tart notes and lactose. Saturday, June 16, 2018
macca147	2.8 Illawarra Interplanetary NEIPA Sour Taster at GABS 2018. Pours a murky orange gold with a thin head. Aroma: citrus, tart berry, white grape, funky notes. Taste: citrus, white grape, mild funky flavours. This was a bit disappointing. Sour, but not much flavour. Wednesday, June 6, 2018
macca147	3.7 Illawarra Apocalypso On tap at brewery. Pours a pale copper gold with a white head. Aroma: pineapple, mango, citrus, mild pine and stonefruit. Taste: citrus, grapefruit, pineapple, pine, mild caramel and biscuity malt flavours. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Mild lingering bitterness. Easy drinking. This was quite pleasant. Would happily drink this again. Tuesday, February 13, 2018
WingmanWillis	3 Illawarra Pale Ale Saturday, February 10, 2018
WingmanWillis	2 Illawarra Summer Ale Saturday, February 10, 2018
WingmanWillis	3 Illawarra / Local Taphouse 'The Chuck Norris' Single Hop Red Ale Saturday, February 10, 2018
WingmanWillis	3 Illawarra Apocalypso Saturday, February 10, 2018
WingmanWillis	3 IIllawarra Shot in The Dark Saturday, February 10, 2018
Muggus69	3.4 Illawarra Intergalactic Sour IPA 375mL can from Carwyn Cellars. PACKED 06/10/17 Yellow gold body, quite clear, sparse white head. Tropical fruit aromas, touch of grapefruit, grass, natural yogurt, bubblegum, hay. Medium-light body, smooth with a mild acidity that draws things out, lowish carbonation. Flavours are interesting - grapefruit & orange rind, that sort of bubblegum character again, sweet white grapes, yoghurt & hard cheese funk (subdued), hay, grass, ripe tropical paw paw notes toward the finish, bitterness on the light side. Not overly IPA or sourish, but an enjoyable beer nonetheless. Tuesday, December 12, 2017
arkki	3.8 Illawarra / Local Taphouse 'The Chuck Norris' Single Hop Red Ale Wednesday, November 8, 2017
macca147	3.5 Illawarra Twin Cities Sour XPA Can. Pours a yellow gold with a thin white head. Aroma: Citrus notes dominate. Lemon is particularly dominant. Mild funkiness on the nose. Taste: Citrus, grapefruit, very mild passionfruit and tropical flavours. Tastes like sour lemonade. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Very tart. Quite refreshing, but a bit over tart for my liking. I can imagine that this would taste amazing on a hot Summer's day however. Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Maris	3.1 IIllawarra Shot in The Dark From a 640ml bottle on 29/8/2017. Pours dark brown with a medium head. features a very light aroma of chocolate, caramel and coffee. The flavour is sweet with chocolate, lactose, vanilla and just a hint of coffee coming through. You certainly won’t confuse this with a Speedway Stout. Finishes with a mild roasty bitterness. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. A fairly easy drinking stout, which could use a bit more character. Tuesday, August 29, 2017
gam	3.2 IIllawarra Shot in The Dark Small head deep brown almost black pour medium carbonation aromas cocoa smooth coffee vanilla the flavours sweet some lactose richness milky touch is good coffee not strong but mixes well mild bitter coffee seems to pick up somewhat easy drinking stout good winter drink a fair tasting one for me Sunday, August 20, 2017
Dervock	3.8 Illawarra / Local Taphouse 'The Chuck Norris' Single Hop Red Ale Can - pours red with a big white head. Aroma is caramel, mango and resin hop. Taste is mix of caramel and sweet fruity malt up front w8th a drying fruity finish. Smooth beer. Saturday, July 8, 2017
mkel07	4.4 Illawarra / Local Taphouse 'The Chuck Norris' Single Hop Red Ale 120517. Can from Beer Cartel. Just like Chuck Norris this beer will knock you around if you don’t treat it with respect. Pours a copper colour with an even head of tan foam. Packed full of malty goodness with a sweet breads aroma and caramel and toffee flavours. Friday, June 9, 2017
mkel07	4 Illawarra / Shark Island We Lost An Eye 120317. This is a beer that is big in every way. Super chewy in the mouth with a dank aroma of earthy hops. This is not a beer that can be drank quickly or in large volumes and is not a beer for the novice - be warned it will bite you if you do not give it the respect that it deserves and you may well lose more than an eye. Coats the mouth and the glass with a resinous sticky coating. On tap at Wooly Mammoth Alehouse. Monday, March 27, 2017
mkel07	3.9 Illawarra Smashing Rumpkin 120317. I had the 2016 edition of this beer on tap at Wooly Mammoth Alehouse. This is a beer that is filled with spice all the way from the aroma to the finish. There is also a hint of smoke and rum in the aroma. This is a full bodied beer that appears to be a bit boozier than the 5.5% ABV was stated on the board. Monday, March 27, 2017
jase3812	3.8 Illawarra Rust Amber Ale It feels like a cross between Amber and brown ales. Strong sweet sticky flavours like molasses and toffee caramel. Good after dinner beer while awaiting a sticky date pudding desert to be played up. Quite sweet in flavour with a hint of caramel aroma. Thursday, February 23, 2017
mkel07	3.3 Illawarra Summer Ale 040217. Can from Bucket Boys. Now this is a beer for summer. Crisp, refreshing, easy to drink and perfect for a hot summer day. Nice golden colour with a clean white head. Aromas of citrus and pine with a refreshing aftertaste. Medium bodied and well rounded. Saturday, February 4, 2017
fletchfighters	1.9 Illawarra / Shark Island We Lost An Eye 330 ML bottle Deep amber/ copper color. Light tan head that falls to a thick collar. Good strips of lacing. nose is Big notes of burnt grain/ Overcooked brown sugar and scorched pineapple. Big notes of the ABV. Taste mirrors the nose. Very sweet and burnt brown sugar sweet, burnt grain, followed by Sweet grilled Pineapple and citrus. lacks balance as very sweet and tastes a bit not fermented fully. not clean at all. Grainy and chewy. Lots of AVB in this. Feels and tastes like 12%. Not 9.8% got 1/4 through the bottle and dumped it. Wednesday, October 5, 2016
tp35282	3.8 Illawarra / Shark Island We Lost An Eye Tap @ The Belvedere, Sydney. Deep bronze with cream coloured head. Big biscuity malt aroma, with elements of grapefruit, pine and alcohol. Palate cleansing grapefruit bitterness, alcohol and great balancing malt. Deliciously big beer. Sunday, August 14, 2016
mcberko	2.2 Illawarra Knights Watch Black IPA On tap at Illawarra, pours a reddish dark brown with a small beige head. Aroma has a diacetyl problem, with subdued roast and dry hopping. Flavour is likewise the same, with light roast, piney hops and diacetyl. The diacetyl is less pronounced on the flavour, thankfully. Gotta fix this. Saturday, May 21, 2016
mcberko	1.7 Illawarra Mo & Co IPA On tap at Illawarra, pours a hazy golden with a small white head. Aroma is a massive diacetyl bomb, with light pine and biscuity malt in back. Flavour is unfortunately the same, with a big diacetyl infection. Can’t drink this. Drain pour. Saturday, May 21, 2016
mcberko	2.5 Illawarra Why So Pale Timmy On tap at Illawarra, pours a hazy pale copper golden with a small white head. Aroma brings out some light diacetyl, biscuity malt and a touch of floral hopping. Flavour is slightly off, with a touch of diacetyl over everything, along with dry biscuity malt and dry hopping. Needs tweaking but it’s not a disaster at least. Saturday, May 21, 2016
mcberko	3.3 Illawarra Rust Amber Ale On tap at Illawarra, pours a clear copper with a small white head. Aroma brings out bready malt upfront, with a touch of hop resins. Flavour is balanced well, with bready malt and a little piney and resinous hops. Dry and quite flavourful for the style. Well-hopped. Nicely made. Saturday, May 21, 2016
mcberko	3.4 Illawarra Porter On tap at Illawarra, pours a reddish dark brown with a small off-white head. Aroma brings out toasted malt upfront. Flavour is along the same lines, with toasted malt, light fruitiness and a little cocoa. Smooth and easy drinking. Very good. Saturday, May 21, 2016
mcberko	2.8 Illawarra Wit On tap at Illawarra, pours a cloudy yellow with a small white head. Nose is more like a hef, with banana and clove. Flavour is dry and wheaty, with coriander, a little banana, and wheat. Dry and decently balanced. Meh. Saturday, May 21, 2016
mcberko	2.7 Illawarra Summer Ale On tap at Illawarra, pours a clear yellow with a small white head. Aroma brings out biscuity malt and some weird boiled vegetables. Flavour is cleaner, with toasted malt, bready notes and a gentle hopping. Dry and clean. Decent. Saturday, May 21, 2016
mcberko	3.1 Illawarra Pale Ale On tap at Illawarra, pours a hazy pale yellow with a small white head. Aroma brings floral hops, a little pine and biscuity malt. Flavour is quite clean, with floral and piney hops, along with a crisp biscuity malt backing. Quite clean and refreshing. Well-made if a bit tame. Saturday, May 21, 2016
GothGargoyle	3.9 Illawarra Raspberry Lambic On tap at The Local Taphouse, Sydney. Light pink with a small pale head. Aroma is raspberry, red fruits, red wine vinegar, touch of funk. Light bodied, very tart on the palate, fruity with a tart finish. Taste is raspberry, red wine vinegar, red berries. Yum. Great to see a legit Australian sour! Sunday, December 20, 2015
stoutnick	3.5 Illawarra Raspberry Lambic On tap Weekend of Tartness 2015 - The Scratch Bar. Light strawberry pour. Aroma is a solid fruity zing. Taste is raspberry juice plus an acrid tang; bready finish. Overall not a patch on the straight up inheritance but still tasty. Monday, December 14, 2015
stoutnick	4 Illawarra The Inheritance Weekend of Tartness, 2015 - The Scratch Bar. Cloudy pale peach pour. Aroma is tartness (boom) then bit of oak. Taste is wow, so delicious - very well balanced with big tang then mild funk then some breadiness - solid beer. Finish is sweet lemony citrus tang - lovely. Very good Aussie sour here. Monday, November 30, 2015
Oakes	3.4 Illawarra Smashing Rumpkin @Dove & Olive. Darker amber with a light haziness. Clovey, nutmeggy aroma. Light malts have a vague caramel accent. Balanced, albeit pretty straightforward and not picking up much actual pumpkin character...maybe it’s rumpkin I’m tasting. Thursday, November 26, 2015
Dervock	2.9 Illawarra Imperial Wit Tap. - pours hazy yellow with a small white head. Aroma is little citrus, spice and malt. Taste is quite mild, some spice light finish. Lightq palate. Thursday, August 6, 2015
Dervock	4 Illawarra Mo & Co IPA Tap - pours a cloudy orange. Aroma is lots of resin and citrus. Taste is not as expected with the aroma, nothing over powershops come through but there is enough malt to blance it out. The palate is rich and full. Great balanced APA. Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Dervock	3.8 Illawarra Porter Tap - pours black. Aroma chocolate, roast and caramel. Taste is sweet up front with a dry roast malt finish. Palate is light. Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Dervock	2.5 Illawarra Koelsch Tap - pours gold with small white head. Aroma is a bit subdued, malt, cereal, bit of hop. Taste is sweet lots of malt mild finish. Thin palate. Wednesday, August 5, 2015
TedE	2.1 Illawarra Summer Ale On tap at brewery. Very little nose, maybe tiny floral hops. Amazing looking beer, opaque but caramel coloured! Hmm.....tastes like a mild watery IPA. Abrupt finish. Sessionable but a bit bland. Sunday, February 15, 2015
TedE	2 Illawarra Pale Ale On tap at brewery. Spicy hop nose, a bit umami. Very little carbonation. Light body, medium hop finish. Pretty standard pale ale, their Apocalypso is the same price so drink that instead. Saturday, February 14, 2015
TedE	2.6 Illawarra Koelsch On tap at brewery 5.1%. Slight malt nose. Little carbonation, clear yellow beer. Clean crisp taste, short malt finish. Nice, true to style. Sessionable. Saturday, February 14, 2015
TedE	3.2 Illawarra Apocalypso On tap at brewery. Great hoppy aroma, stone fruit, tangerine. Minimal carbonation, small lasting head. Ohhhh, its bitter! And it’s creamy. Finish is lingering grapefruit. This is a good beer. Of course, looking at the pacific ocean on a gorgeous late summer Sunday helps! Saturday, February 14, 2015
Sissio	3.4 Illawarra Porter On tap at Illawarra Brewing Company in Wollongong Nice beer but too hoppy for a porter Wednesday, December 24, 2014