Where to buy beer in Brisbane?

When talking to people they often ask me where I get my beer from in Brisbane. There is only one answer – Nectar. Located on Boundary St, West End, without this place I would go crazy at the lack of good beer options in this town.  Nectar has a great range of many styles from pale lagers to pale ales and IPAs to stouts, Imperial stouts (my favourite!) and anything in between. You will find matilda bay, james squire and little creatures rubbing shoulders with southern tier, mikkeller and nogne 0 (sorry this keyboard can’t do the scandanavian symbol). They will have Dieu de Ciel soon (a famed french canadian brewery – I can’t wait!). No VB, XXXX or Tooheys here! Lots of aussie micros here too – so get out and support small aussie brewers!

Carl the manager is friendly and attentive and always willing to help you if you are a bit overwhelmed by the choice. With some 800 beers it can take a while. It is a bit on the pricey side (in comparison to xxxx or vb), but then again I look at it like fast food compared to a good restaurant. You can drink cheap piss water (ie xxxx, tooheys, vb) etc or you could shell out a bit more and enjoy an infinitely superiour beer in all respects. The choice is yours.

I think they are open everyday – any way the link to their site is here.

PS. This is in no way a paid advertisement. I just want to inform people of my favourite beer shop in Brisbane. Take it or leave it. I know what I’ll be doing….

1000 on the board

Well around four months or so in to the new blog and we have passed the 1000 hit mark (thanks mum!). Very happy to see that. Hopefully I can increase the information about Aussie beers in the near future. But looking at now I thought I would look at my cellar ;-p and run through it. Yesterday my American order arrived for some very rare beers. It was expensive but I’m pretty happy right now. Here’s what I have -

From my Yankie order -

Lost Abbey Cuvee de Tomee – Aged in Bourbon and Oak Casks for a year with cherries and wild yeast.

Lost Abbey Serpent’s Stout – Huge Imperial Stout from this coveted brewery.

Russian River Consecration – Barrel Aged for six months with currants and wild yeast.

Nectar Ales Black Xantus – Aged in Bourbon Barrels this rare Imperial Stout is limited to 2000 cases.

Alesmith Speedway Stout – I have wanted to try this ever since I got in to ‘good’ beer. Another Imperial Stout!

Port Old Viscosity – Partly Aged and blended Imperial Stout.

From Nectar (Southern Tier now available in Australia!) -

Southern Tier Chocolat – Imperial Stout with Dark Chocolate.

Southern Tier Un*Earthly – Enormous Double IPA.

From Slowbeer -

Rochefort 10 – Best beer in the World IMHO. Brewed by Belgian Trappist Monks.

Zywiec Baltic Porter – A great example of the style.

Also got some other beers that I’m hoping to share  with my good friend this weekend….

2009 Photo wrap up

Decided to throw up a few pics that I found recently that I haven’t put up.

A while back I enjoyed a bottle of Pumpkin beer from Hop Juice! Cheers for the hook up mate!

Southern Tier Pumking (9% ABV)

America

Rating – 9

Per Style (Fruit/Vegetable) – 9.5

Found this pic on Ratebeer. This is my beer porn. All Imperial Stouts and probably the best examples of the style.

Jacaranda tree on our street that reminds me a lot of Cherry Blossoms. They flower for a short time, but are very beautiful.

Double fisting in Popeyes.

Two local escaped mental asylum patients atBaird Numazu Taproom, Japan.

Clearing out the beer bottles before coming back to Australia.

Drinking a Dogfish head World Wide Stout (18%!) in Summer…probably not the best idea in the world.

Here’s to 2010!

Imperial Stout Tasting

‘beers such as xxxx and vb are enjoyed by so many because they are watered down to such a bland consistency they offend no one’

Recently had a tasting with Nate. It was a purely Imperial Stout Tasting, which is my favourite style and definitely a love it or hate it style.

Imperial Stout being defined as -

‘usually extremely dark brown to black in color with flavors that are intensely malty, deeply roasted and sometimes with accents of dark fruit (raisin, fig) or milk sourness. The bitterness is typically medium and often the low side of that. Imperial stouts are strong and often exceed 8% by volume. ‘

We were lucky enough to pool our resources and taste Imperial Stouts from Australia, New Zealand, USA and Scotland.

1. Murray’s Imperial Stout 2008 (10%ABV)

Australia

Rating – 8.5

Per Style (Imperial Stout) – 7

Poured a pitch black with lovely tan head. Nose was of coffee and roasty flavours. In the mouth it was full bodied and viscous. Lots of coffee, toffee and some licorice. Well made Impy definitely more on the roasty side.

2. Pink Elephant Imperious Rushin’ Stowt (11% ABV)

New Zealand

Rating – 9

Per Style (Impy Stout) -8

An interesting one. Nose was huge kind of raspberry. In the mouth it had a lot going on but was quite hot. The alcohol wasn’t well hidden. Sweet and almost resinous. A big beer definitely and with a bit of tweaking could be world class.

3.Stone Russian Imperial Stout (10.8%ABV)

USA

Rating – 9.5

Per Style (RIS)  - 9.25

The big daddy. So complex and full of life this would be a desert island beer for me.  Rich, full, chocolate, dark fruit etc. Just about as good as it gets. Only gave it a 9.25 for the style because there are a few other beers I want to try before giving it the perfect 10.

4. Brewdog Tokyo (12%ABV)

Scotland

Rating – 8

Per Style (Imperial Stout) – 6.5

Hmmmm…a tough one. Lovely big nose. Lots of dark fruit jumps out at you. In the mouth it’s a little thin for the style. Still quite good though lots of the jasmine, fruits and chocolate. The oak chips don’t really make themselves known to me. Very good but not quite there.

Momma Mia!

Bridge Road 6 Pack

A month or two ago I sent out an email to the breweries of Australia that I felt were doing good things ATM. Surprise, surprise I only got two responses, from not surprising two of the better, If not best breweries in Australia. Bridge Road down in Victoria, and in particular the head brewer Ben is producing some flavourful and inspired brews was the first to email me back (the other was Murrays if you must know) and he duly sent me a six pack of his offerings as well as two 750ml bottles of bigger beers that I will rate in the near future.

Obviously I want to state that the reviews are done with a clear consequence in that I rate them as I see them and will not be giving special favour to this or any brewery.

So without further ado..the ratings….

1. Bridge Road Bavarian Wheat (5%ABV)

Rating – 6.5

Per Style (Hefe Weiss) – 6

So close..Looks a treat, identical to german standards. Nose is banana and clove. In the mouth it is smooth and decent drinking, although had a slightly astringent aftertaste. Still the best aussie hefe I have had.

2. Bridge Road Australian Ale (4.4% ABV)

Rating – 5.5

Per Style (Pale Ale) – 6

Pours a light yellow fizzy looking colour. Nose is subdued – toffee and faint hops. In the mouth it is light bodied and reasonably well balanced. Solid but not going to blow you a away.I think this would be a good gateway beer for macro (xxxx,vb,tooheys) drinkers.

3. Bride Road Pale Ale (5%ABV)

Rating – 7

Per Style (Pale Ale) – 8

Good body, nice mouthfeel and decent hoppy finish. All in all a very good, solid APA(American Pale Ale).  One of those beers you could sit down and sink a few.

4. Bridge Road Celtic Ale (5.3% ABV)

Rating -5.5

Per Style (Red Ale) – 6

This is probably the only disappointment. Poured a deep amber hue with fizzy head. Nose is unique malt, although not too interesting. In the mouth it is a little thin but has a unique character. Didn’t really agree with me.

5. Bridge Road Bling IPA (5.6% ABV)

Rating – 7.5

Per Style (IPA) – 7.5

Their best beer. Really good. Beechworth seem to like uping the malt, thankfully this is reasonably hoppy as well. Not in West coast territory, but still quite bitter on the finish. Nose is dominated by the malt and this baby is dark for the style. Pretty easy drinking and reasonably balanced.

6. Bridge Road Robust Porter (5.2% ABV)

Rating –  7

Per Style (Porter) – 7.5

Nice malty pour – dark and lovely head retention. Nose is of chocolate and toffee although a bit subdued. In the mouth it is medium bodied. Deep toffee and licorice – in a mild way. Would probably be very good on tap.

So all in all some good to very good beer. These guys are only young and still developing but the promise is definitely there. They could be heavyweights in the future with  a bit more experience. You can get the Australian ale and Pale Ale at Dan Murphys (Just be careful – DM don’t really look after their beer that well) and the others usually at better establishments. The IPA is highly recommended, but all were good.

On a side note they recently brewed a Imperial Porter oaked in Wine Barrels (from a very much in demand small winery I heard). I like that they are experimenting with this kind of unique brewing. It is good to see and advantageous not just for the brewery, but the Australian scene in general, to push the envelope.

Cheers Boys!

San Diego shows us how it’s done

Got in to a Ballast Point Sculpin IPA last night. This was a kind of trade with Hop Juice (cheers mate!) so unfortunately it isn’t available in Australia. Wish it was though – apparently the boys over in Japan are enjoying from the keg right now! Lucky bastards! Oh well I am more than happy with this fantastic piece of beer as art from the bottle.

(This photo courtesy of Chuwy’s Blog cos my camera is f#$%ing up. Notice the screen in the background. Very Japanese Chuwy – Nice contrast with the beer!)

Ballast Point Sculpin (7%ABV)

America

Rating – 9

Per style (IPA) – 10

I love a good IPA and this is about as good as it gets. Unfortunately nothing in Australia comes close to this (not even the Epic Armageddon although it is a good effort). Huge pineapple, mango and citrus nose. In the mouth it is full yet so smooth. Lots of citrus and pine in the mouth, coating the tongue. Strong, but not overly aggressive. The malt profile is there but it takes a back seat to the hop bill. I could imagine this as the perfect gateway beer in to NWIPAs (ie Hoppy Beers) . However once you’ve had this little would stand up in comparison. The Green flash WCIPA would be the only IPA that could compare to this. World class and then some. i could still taste the hops in my mouth after drinking a bit of absinthe and I fell asleep sniffing the bottle! Sad I know but desperate people do desperate things hahaha.

Double Dead Guy…

Finally got my mouth around a bottle of Double Dead Guy from Rogue! I have ben meaning to drink this beer a number of times but circumstances have always conspired against me! It was on tap at the Aldgate in Japan a few months back and I arrived just after the last pint had been poured (the chuwy curse strikes again!;-p). So I shelled out the $23 dollars Australian (exspensif? no??) for the bomber and took it home to have my necrophilic way with it.

For those that don’t know Rogue make the dead guy ale at a sane 6% ABV I believe. It is a very nice American take on a Heller Bock (according to Ratebeer).  However may I present this said beer on steroids…

Rogue Double Dead Guy  (9% ABV)

America

Rating – 8

Per Style (American Strong Ale) – 8

Big, big beer. Like a Strong Belgian Ale mixed with an American Double IPA. Looks a treat and the nose is wonderfully sweet and fruity.  Starts off really sweet but finishes with some nice throat scratching hoppiness. A really well made beer.  Still behind Double Bastard as my favourite souped up version of a favourite (Arrogant Bastard Ale), but definitely a treat and eminently drinkable.

Cheers!

The Nanny State

Australia has really turned in to a indidualistic smoothering, leftist, archaic Orwellian State. I don’t want to ramble on for too long but I have to get these off my chest. There are a number of beer related issues that the government has intervened in, generally for the wrong reason (IMHO).

For a start are the taxing laws, which make it difficult for budding Australian craft beer brewers to make a good product. If it’s not taxing (raping?) beer via the alcohol content (which makes it difficult for brewers to experiment and bring us new and exciting styles) it’s making it difficult for the craft brewers with ridiculous licensing and production laws. The federal government will no doubt say it is trying to protect us…but what from? Good beer? Damn, better go have a xxxx or vb then. Better yet maybe a xxx Bright Lager or VB raw!

This link illustrates some of the problems. http://www.fairgocraftbeer.com.au/

To top this off now in Queensland the government are considering replacing glass glasses (ironic huh?) with plastic glasses in bars, to quell the (supposed) growing number of glassings (ie using your glass as a weapon of blunt force on someone’s face or body) that have been a problem of late in drinking establishments in this state. Firstly, I am sure this is not a new problem that has experienced a surge in ‘ popularity’, but rather something concocted and jumped on by the media and in turn government. Having said that, when I talked to my good friend in Adelaide he had never heard of the term ‘ glassing’.  So is it really a problem? I personally have never experienced or witnessed the use of the glass as a weapon, but the government, in all it’s poorly placed conservatism is acting as if most civilians can’t go out for a drink without deciding to use our drinking vessel as a weapon to inflict harm apon another like wise inclined individual.

Lastly (and certainly not least), are the bloody import tax laws, that make imports of most ‘luxury’ (ahh inverted commas -  gotta love ‘em) items, of which beer is included, so damn expensive. Don’t get me started on my feelings to the fact that for example I could drink a Samichlaus beer in japan for 600 yen ($7 Australian?) while i have to pay about $12 here in Australia, If I can get it at all. And before you say “oh Australia is too far away, or the population is not big enough to support this type of product” I point to New Zealand, where I have seen examples of cheap import products abound, not to mention a wider variety of consumer choice.  Australia also has the 4th highest per capita beer consumption in the World, so there is obviously a market (albiet brainwashed by macro brewers producing macro pale lager swill). Anyway, I am not here to talk macro economics, but surely there has got to be some give and take. This is the lucky country after all!

This government is killing good beer! Australia is lagging behind the rest of the world and i am tired of seeing it. Anyway I’m tired and going to bed before I have a coronary….

Weddings, Strippers and a lot of beers

Just got back from my best mate’s Wedding down in Adelaide. Lovely little green city. Now these boys down there know their beer – so much so that it makes me a bit envious when i look at the beer wasteland which I currently reside (ie Brisbane). Here’s a quick run down of the beers I tried…

At the Wheatsheaf Hotel (This is an awesome little bar with a great owner and fantastic fireplace!) on tap -

Moo Brew Stout from Tasmania (8.5% on Hand Pump) – Great Impy stout. Very thick and creamy and delicious.  Apparently the aged version of this goes for $30 dollars in a small bottle. So I guess I won’t be drinking any of that!

Moo Brew Dark Ale – Solid brew. Lots of Dark fruit and nice easy drinking at 4.5%.

Rogue Chocolate Stout – A little disappointing but still very good, If you know what I mean. Lots of cholcolate and espresso, but a little thin in the body. Still nice to try on tap.

Brew boys Ace of Spades – Solid. A bit one dimensional, but big on the dark coffee

At the Bachelor Party -

Southwark Old Stout – Great value Foreign stout. At 7.4% ABV this has a great cofee, chocolate and dark fruit flavour that only gets better as it warms. At less than $20 for a sixer it’s great value too. Sadly difficult to find outside South Australia (and even then not so easy to find).

Stouthwark Bitter – A typical Pale Lager.

Redoak Pale Ale – Part of my Pale Ales tasting from ‘Dan Murphys’. Had a strange astrigent taste. Maybe infected.

Holgate Pale Ale – Good solid Pale.

Wicked Elf Pale Ale – Malt heavy, pretty good, thhough not outstanding.

Bridge Road Pale Ale – Probaby the pick of the bunch. Nice balance and good hops on the tail.

Mildura Brewery Mallee Bull Heavy – Blah.

Miller’s – From Luke. Cheers mate!

At the Wedding -

West End Draught – Chemical tasting, tart, offensive. This kind of beer gives beer a bad name.

Cooper’s Dark Ale – Has the cooper’s taste. That’s all I really remember.

At the Airport -

Cooper’s Vintage Ale on tap – This is a decent drop. Actually better out of the bottle.

Whew…Some very good beers and some very poor beers (West End I’m looking at you, you abomination). Great to see some good mates and meet some new faces.

P.S. If you want a (slightly) more detailed wrap up of these beers check out my Ratebeer Profile.

No, I know I can dance

My  Beer order finally arrived! So at the moment my beer cellar (ie a box in my cupboard) contains the following -

Jamieson ‘The Beast’  IPA x 4 (Aus)

Epic Pale Ale x 2 (NZ)

Epic Armageddon IPA x 4 (NZ)….6.66%ABV?!

Emerson’s Pilsner and IPA (NZ)

Sam Smith Imperial Stout (Eng)

Schneider & Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse (Ger & USA)

Fuller’s 1845 (Eng)

Mikkeller Black Hole Imperial Stout (Den)

Mikkeller Single Hop Simcoe IPA (Den)

Bridge Road ‘Bling’ IPA (Aus)

Thomas Hardy Barleywine 2004 (Eng)

Matilda Bay Dogbolter (Aus)

As you can see I like IPAs! Along with Imperial Stout it is my favourite style.  This brings up some interesting drinking. My parent’s are also bringing some Kiwi beers back from their trip back to visit relatives, but I don’t know exactly what they will pick up..

Looking forward to the Jamieson IPA v Bridge Road IPA as these seem to be two of the better, If not best IPAs available in Australia. I hope they will arrest my recent run of bland, inoffensive ‘ boutique’ Aussie beers. The Mikkellers are always a (pricey) treat and a Kiwi tasting is in order too I think. Finally it was good to find a Thomas Hardys at Nectar. Heard a lot of good things about his one. Apparently it can be cellared for over 25 years. It’s got 5 years on it now and I think that’s more than enough for me.

Kampai! Prost! Get it down ya!