A nod to the bottlo

So my posts to date have all been about pubs, breweries and their beers but there is an important area of "all things beer related" - the bottle shop. 

Too often bottle shops won't really stock a range of craft beers as the market is still small, [and the fresher the beer the better for 'crafties'] but there are a few that standout as great places to buy beer for that footie game on the TV or the BBQ...

So my favourite has been +Beer Cartel but it's not really that convenient to get to for me, or anyone really (it's in an industrial estate in the back streets of Artamon) so if are planning a party or event, head there to pick up some unusual and beers from all over the world. How they manage to get such a wide range of beers from every country known to man is impressive! And with the US, NZ and UK craft beer scene so good, having a place that stocks a decent number of beers from there and elsewhere is great. 

I also have to give +little bottle shop of Glebe a little/big shout as well as it too has a few very hidden gems, and considering it is small makes it even better.

But I have to say my 'go to' bottle shop is  +Balmain Wine Shop.   

The dedicated craft beer sign... that's a 'good sign' it's a good place.

a fridge of international beers

A couple of fridges of craft beers with a focus on inner west breweries

What I really like about it is that it has a focus on inner west breweries, which there are many, and many of them are some of the best in Sydney. But they also have a wide array of other craft beers over their many fridges! They also do a really good selection of world beers, from the bigger breweries (opposed to the more boutique breweries that the beer cartel offer) and they also have another couple of fridges full of your normal lagers and the traditional chiller room you walk into on a stinking hot day to cool down for slabs of beer (I love that term - slab of beer; it really is a better way of saying a crate!). I really do believe that Balmain Wine Bar has the formula - normal beers, through to global lagers with a big mix of Australian and then inner west Sydney beers all in the mix. Shortnecks, longnecks and slabs are all on offer. 

The only thing that is missing is growlers (a big bottle of 1.89 ltrs traditionally which you use to refill your beer with. The upside of them is it is cheaper as there is no bottling costs for the brewery but the downside is that it has to be drunk on the day otherwise it will go flat). 

A christmas stocking gift for beer lovers!

So I have read two articles (one from the thousands newsletter and the other in this months Beer and Bewery magazine) recently regarding beer soap - yes soap using the used hops when making beer and it struck me that this would be a fun and slightly unusual gift to give a beer lover. 

If you are in WA, head here http://www.thebrewersdray.com.au/index_files/beer_soap.html

If you are in Sydney, Young Henrys have it in the brewery bar or I am sure if you cantact them through the website etc http://www.younghenrys.com/ they will be able to sort you out.

Etsy have a number on offer too!  https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/TheBeerSoapCompany

Failing that, the Beer Cartel will probably be able to sort you out with their many beer gifts online - http://www.beercartel.com.au/epages/BeerCartel.sf/en_AU/?ObjectPath=/Shops/BeerCartel/Categories/Gifts__Merchandise

For the international readers - 

If you are in the UK - Staustel Brewery can post it too you http://www.staustellbrewery.co.uk/article/brewery-launches-the-perfect-bar-of-beer-soap

If you are in the US - The beer Soap Co can help you out  http://www.thebeersoapcompany.com/ 


Merry Christmas, and remember to leave a craft beer out on Chistmas eve for Santa (and one for Rudolph too - he is sick of the carrots... ;)

'Santa' Neil

Bank hotel - Uncle Hops Craft Beer Bar

So I was in Newtown mid week and we meandered into the Bank Hotel for a cheeky mid week meal and a few beers. This place is huge! But there is a crafty surprise in the back of this place - the old back bar has become the hops bar - a craft beer cave where the taps rotate ever week.   

Like many other typical aussie pubs in the front bar...

Now anyone that knows the history of the Bank Hotel knows that it has certainly changed - it used to be a bit of a dive so the renovations have transformed the place.

Hop on to the back bar...

So it really feels like its a bar in a bar as it has its own name, doors and the bar staff wear different outfits. They also work in the Hops bar opposed to rotate between the Banks Bar and Uncle Hops.

Its a bar in a bar! 

You can really feel the different crowd that comes here, but there is a real limitation - it only serves beer - one of the group was drinking wine, so we had to set up a tab and she went to the front bar while we ordered our beers. You also have to order food at the front as well. This is the thing - while it is working hard to differentiate itself from being a "back bar" it limits itself to being just craft beer.  And that makes me ask the question - is this just a dressed up back bar to get more people through the door or is it something different - i.e. two stand alone bars, for different people, under one roof? I would like to see it really being more stand alone - to represent the different clientele and be another craft beer pub on the list and it doesn't feel it is quite there yet.   

Anyway, the food was tasty - I had the pulled pork burger and one of the others ordered a pizza and it didn't disappoint... 

Someone has stabbed my burger!!!

So for drinks, I ordered a Murrays Fred IPA, but it was a Wednesday, which meant that while they advertised the beers for the week, most of the beers won't arrive until Thursday so I think there was only 7 out of the 12 taps available (which still is a decent number!). They only offer middies and pints - awesome, pints should be the standard serve in my opinion! I do like how craft beer places are defaulting more and more to pints - I think the problem is that craft beer would be too expensive for a schooner, and that craft beers don't last as long so they need to get through the keg as quick as possible. 

I then asked the barman if he had Young Henrys Newtowner, and he didn't - only their Real Ale and Cider. Now, if I was mayor of Newtown, I would only offer a bar licence if they had the Newtowner on permanently on tap. Now I love rotating taps but the YH range should be locked in for Newtown pubs, but thats just my crazy thoughts! 
So I had the Australian Brewery Extra Hops Ale - as you can see below, small head, slightly dark body and full of hops! My mouth was tasting hops for days! It was a good solid beer to sit and have while chatting away. A bit like James Squires Copper Ale but with more punch.  

A pint or middy is the serving sizes... 

I finished the night with a Edge and Stillwater 'Angel of Zest'. I have never heard of Edge and Stillwater - it's a US brewery. It really was in the wrong order - this is a bit like a Saison and a bit like a Belgian wheat beer - big citrus flavours with the bitterness you want from a saison and a really light body. An interesting beer, and I have written about Saisons before here. I think this a good beer, but not my favourite Saison (but I think it was influenced by the Extra Hoppy Ales I had before!).

Overall, the staff knew their stuff, the refurb of the overall pub is good, and if you are in Newtown looking for a few craft beers after a visit to YH brewery, here is a half decent shout.  

Batch Brewery

So I had the pleasure of heading to Batch Brewery the other week and when I was telling a friend about this he told me "I often have a few beers there when cycling back home" and you what? He wouldn't be the only one... When we were there a number of people had cycling hats on the table which only added to the community feel this place had in abundance. 

those big tin things in the back is where the magic happens... My technical brewing knowledge is at an all time high... 

The crates that make the bar give this brewery a cool chilled out vibe.

I had a few different Batch beers before in a number of pubs in the inner west (Welcome Inn and East Village) and I had always known them for their full flavour so it was great to try a bit more of their range. 

We started with their APA and it was a great full full flavoured beer - fruity upfront and taste with a big kick at the end. Not overly bitter finish, more just a complimentary aftertaste.

We then moved onto the The Big Kahuna. A coconut brown ale. I don't know how to explain this beer other than to say it was malty and very unique - the coconut oil wasn't upfront but rather more obvious at the end of the taste where the bitterness has been replaced with a sweet finish. I only had a small jar of this (they serve all their beers in jugs or jam jars!) and I don't think I could drink much more of it but never-the-less it was an enjoyable experience! 

After a taste of the Big Kahuna we moved onto my favourite - the Indian Black Ale. A really great mix of more malty hops brewed for longer but in an IPA style. The outcome is a dark beer but has all the refreshing tastes and smells of an IPA. Not what you would expect when you look at it, but definitely a beer you have to try...

We finished with their Summer Farmhouse Ale which is a saison, which is an odd mix between fruit upfront taste, light body and then a sour aftertaste - somehow the beer morphs tastes! I never liked saisons until I tried one in Drygate (Glasgow, UK) but I really enjoyed this one at Batch.

The last thing I would say about this place is that due to it's size, what it has on tap is always evolving - I reckon if I blogged about this place in a years time it would be discussing completely different beers. 

Overall, a real neighbourhood gem that if you can get someone to drive you there, or in close proximity to cycle there, you have to pop in here. If you can get hold of an Indian Black Ale you would be a fool to pass the opportunity up.

Neil

Willie the Boatman Foo Brew Golden Ale

So how many people have heard of Willie the Boatman? Well not many, yet at every festival they go to, it seems to be the crowd favourite. We (the wife and I) had the privilege of going to Willie the Boatman on Daves Brewery Tour and we got a few bottles of their beers. Well the other day I had their golden ale. It is a great beer! I have always said with a golden ale, the thing that makes it work for me is that it has a light body but a decent amount of flavour on the tongue. This way Golden Ales can be a session beer - i.e. a beer you can drink happily all night. This is a great example of a great golden ale. 

their labels make great door hangers!

Golden in colour but actually a light body that you can see through...

A proper size for a beer, none of this 330 ml rubbish!

So the Foo Brew doesn't have too much smell on the nose, a light body and it has a slightly bitter finish that gives the beer a nice finish. I drank this on a warm evening after a day of exercise (tough mudder) so I was great need of refreshing beer. This was perfect for the occasion. I reckon in winter this beer lacks the big flavour but thats the awesome-ness of craft beer - this beer is perfect for a time and a place while their other beers (such as 'Todd's Trailer Ale' or 'The Crazy Ivan') are bigger in flavour and taste. While other refreshing beers such as Saisons or Belgian wheat beers you can drink, but not all night - a golden ale, such as Foo Brew, you can sit happily with and enjoy whoever's company you are with.

If you can find Willie the Boatman - http://www.willietheboatman.com.au/venues.html then grab one, or if you are in Marrickville, or are looking for an excuse to go to a small and really cool brewery, head to Marrickvile and then pop in to their new brewery you won't regret it... OK, I need a few more beers now - the pain of tough mudder is starting to kick in; what high strength beers do I have? Bugger it, it's whisky time!

Rise of the Saison?

So in my recent posts about Drygate in Glasgow and Batch in Marrickville I have drank and discussed the "saison" beer (among others). 

Well on a cheeky mid week meal out we wandered home via the London Hotel in Balmain. Here I tried the Little Creatures Saison and it was an interesting beer. As Little Creatures is a bigger brewer their Saison was a bit more mainstream in taste (i.e. the bitter finish isn't there in such quantities but the light body and fruits flowed through) but it was a really nice beer and released in perfect timing for the hot summer evenings.  

A light but refreshing beer for summer

A saison was originally brewed in Northern France / Belgium as a "Farm House Ale" - i.e. in the hot summer days, it was a light but refreshing drink for staff to drink after a hard days work. It is usually low to medium strength alcohol. What you find with it is a light body, bright yellow in colour with fruit and a bitter mash finishing the taste to make it a really refreshing but highly unusual drink.

Bright yellow colour and a light body

What I find amazing is the stellar rise of Saison - from a few craft breweries (like Batch) to the larger, more established brewers, like Little Creatures, are now producing great quality saison's. I wonder if part of the appeal is that it is less of a hoppy beer which is very 'vogue' just now making the brewery stand out or if it is because of the hotter weather? 

Either way, what is clear is that from Europe through to Australia, brewers are producing more unusual beer styles which is great for us punters to try... 

Is this the start of a new beer craze?

There's a beer for that!

You know when you are onto a good thing in life when friends give you some beers to try as they thought it was nice and I should blog about it but it is also nice when my wife sends me an email about a beer initiative!

So it looks like the brewery industry in the UK is having a stab at trying to get people to think about beer with food opposed to just thinking wine. 

Here's the advert - http://youtu.be/1-UtQzdDros

When you think about many of the events at Sydney Craft Beer Week it was clear this was the message being promoted over here in Aus as well - food and beer match just like wine and food.

So the UK industry has created a slogan “There’s a beer for that”. It aims to tout the category’s quality, diversity and flexibility, areas where brewers feel they have lost drinkers to wines and spirits in recent years.

A TV ad (see above), directed by 24 Hour Party People director Michael Winterbottom, launches next month to kick off the category’s marketing makeover. From London to North Wales, the creative spans a huge array of locations and cultures across the country to show that for every type of person and occasion there is a matching beer style. Beer and food pairings will appear prominently throughout the ad as a voiceover notes “There’s a beer for that”.

The real reason I am blogging about this is because they are also making a push into social media - a real-time Mindshare-developed “BeerMatch” Twitter service is to launch in the coming weeks that will recommend beers, expertly picked by beer sommeliers, for particular dishes every time someone tweets @theresabeerforthat.

If spaghetti Bolognese is tweeted, for example, the person will be recommended a Belgian-style blonde ale. An algorithm has been coded to match over 1,000 beers with the top 1,000 foods consumed in the UK, while those requests not on the list will be answered directly by the social media team. It is a reimaging of the brand’s food pairing website last year. 
Additionally, weekly discussions on beer styles such as porters, pilsners and stouts will be held on Facebook and Twitter. 

I think this is a great idea and it shouldn't be just used in the UK - this should go global in my opinion so I am spreading the message!

I reckon I will give it a go and see what they come up with!

Neil

Pop up!

So Aussies seem to love "pop ups" - generally shops but the recent trend has got into bars as well. Asahi have gotten into the act and opened a pop up on Bligh Street in Sydney CBD (next to Frankies). 

OK, I know Asahi isn't craft and a pop up isn't a good pub either, but it's a fun thing that's happening in the beer scene so it's still worth writing about in my eyes!

The pop up serves 2 beers - Asahi Black and Asahi Extra Dry and some cocktails - but who goes to an Asahi pop up for a cocktail? A black and an Extra Dry came in at $17.5.

Cold serving Asahi

Asahi Black

The dark was really surprising - its light bodied and sweet like a normal Asahi Extra Dry but the head was of a Guinness and there was a malty smell to it. I drank it all night long and it was fantastic - a really nice, and unusual, black lager. 

Normal Asahi

As you can see, it is very male dominated - and very after work suits. My friend was one of three girls which maybe shows that beer is still a male drink.

Asian style small bites work as it lets you graze, drink and chat...

We had Edamame, Gyoza and fish tacos; perfect to graze on.  

Their website shows the advert as giving punters the chance to dry Asahi at its super cold best - and I would agree, it was awesome but... often Asahi here in Aus isn't at its best therefore after this promotion what's the plan to inform us punters where it will be served at its best (also where to get Asahi Black from!)? That's the tough part - how to keep us drinking the stuff?

If you are in and around the CBD in the next month or so, you should 'pop in' to the 'pop up' (hehe) for one after work (it's apparently dead on Saturdays like all of that end of town) and you should definitely try an Asahi Black. 

Daves brewery tour

So I was really lucky this year, for my birthday I was given tickets to Daves Inner West Brewery Tour - Hipsters and Hops.

You meet at Central Station and Dave is there to sign you in and Ben is in the van ready to drive you around the inner west. 

Dave and Ben are really nice, friendly and have incredible knowledge on the craft beer scene. They made me realise how little I knew about craft beer, which is actually exciting as their love of it all makes me want to know more.

We were a group of 8 - me and the wife, a group of 3 (2 brothers and sister), a couple and a girl from the US of A. The American girl knew her craft beers, and one of the girls was a micro biologist so knew in the ins and outs of making beer and the rest of us just liked beer which made it for a fun dynamic.

We started in Young Henrys where we had an in depth 'walk and talk' around the brewery and the techniques used by the team and got the privilage to sample a fair few of their beers - one thing I noticed is that this isn't your usual tiny pour. The sizes are good sized in every venue. The 'Newtowner' is just a great session beer and is almost a good enough reason just to come to Newtown for. 

Having a chat at Young Henrys

After there, we headed to the Henson for some food and to share a few jugs of Stone and Wood Pacific Ale. The food portions were massive and really tasty. We then had the privilege of been driven to Batch Brewery (I think the inner west light rail should get a stop outside of this place as it isn't the easiest place to get too). I like Batch (East Village Hotel in Balmain often have their beers) as they produce big American style Ales and I think their American Black Ale was my favourite beer of the day. I tried their summer farmhouse ale and I am starting to get a bit of a taste to Saison beer. The slightly bitter finish with the upfront typical summer ale floral tastes and light body gives it a really odd but nice and refreshing taste.

The Black Ale is brewed in an IPA style but with more malty hops through it. While I am not too much of a fan of malty beers, I liked the balance that Batch have produced - the upfront malty taste is nice while there is a sweetness to the beer to take the edge of the malty bittery finish that you normally find with malty beers. 

The owner is so American that he wears his cap backwards.

I thought the photo was in focus, maybe my focus was starting to blur!

Afterwards we met the guys behind Willy the Boatman but as they don't have a licence to brew / serve we couldn't try their beers. We were given one of their golden ales to take home and it was awesome, a bit like a James Squire in that it has a lot of flavour though it but more medium bodied and less hops through it - so we will be back to chat to these guys (they are really funny) and try more of their stuff once they have a licence. If you are in or around Marrickville, you have to pop into see these guys. 

We finished the trip in the Rocks Brewery. I think when you go to all these smaller, more local style breweries, the Rocks looks more like a mass scale production... Anyway, we had fun drinking the Hangman, the ISA and the Belgian Ale (a real crowd pleaser in our group) and chatting. Both the wife and I ranked the Belgian Ale as the top beer of the Rocks and a few in the group thought it was their favourite beer of the day.

Overall, this was a great day chatting to Ben and Dave and our group, meeting brewers, owners, craft beer nuts and the like. I have to say, if you like beer, this is a great day out. 

There are plenty of more photos here - https://www.facebook.com/davesbrewerytours 

Drygate, Glasgow

I was back in Glasgow for one of my best friends wedding, so a few days before the wedding, the boys had to get together and catch up / share a few jokes at his expense. Somehow it seemed to end up to me to decide where - yes me who lives in Australia and hasn't lived in Glasgow for nearly 10 years now... 

So my search criteria was "great beer" "good for groups" (there was around 12 of us). The thing about Glasgow is that it is full of pubs, so that just narrowed my search to the hundreds... so I added "brewery bar" and a few hours later I ended up choosing Drygate. 

It is the old entrance to Tennent's factory and you an tell - it is a weird layout with the roof bar, side entrance etc but it just adds to its uniqueness to be honest. Glasgow City Council might try to tell you it's Merchant City but it's a good 5 - 10 minute walk to get into Merchant City.  

Thats where my beer was brewed!

Thats a lot of taps!

What is cool about this place is that it not only serves it's own beers, but also a long list of other beers. This makes it a great place for groups to go, as everyone was trying different beers and having great fun. It is full of big tables which again made it easy for groups.

Most people in our group eat in the bar and the menu was big and caters for all.  It all seemed to go down well.

Lots of big tables to suit groups

For drinks, I started with the Gladeye IPA, it was big in hops and good flavour. They advertise it as an AIPA, butI don' think they use American hops as it didn't have the big hoppy citrus aroma you expect with an AIPA, but never the less it was a good beer with a nice golden coloured body.

My one criticism of this place is that when I was asking about the beers, and telling the staff my preferences, "big in hops", "not a lot of bitterness", "strong citrus flavours through it" etc the staff struggled to convert that into recommendations. I get the feeling craft beer is still a new thing for Glasgow so the staff etc are really learning at the same time as the punters that are on the other side of the bar. I think Australia has made me think that everyone gets craft beer etc where it is a new to the mass market. 

Anyway, the benefit was I just picked at random and that is fun as well. I am really gutted as I ended up drinking a Saison beer and I have lost my notes on it to tell you it's name - it was an awesome and unique tasting beer, quite hazy and full of sweeter fruits like peach and grapes etc. It's so good to find a beer that really is quite unique and memorable. 

Overall, I struggle to find the controversy of Drygate, yes it is owned by a big brewery, but so what? It is a great bar for friends to meet up and try new and exciting beers, some brewed onsite and others from small breweries. Great work guys, you have created a unique experience in the Glasgow pub scene.   

The Queens Arms, Victoria London UK

I used to drink in this pub when I worked in Victoria, London years ago, and I had fond memories of it so when back in the UK I met some friends here for a few beers over lunch.

It hasn't changed over the years in appearance but the beer list has widened and there is a lot more crafty beers available. It is a pub that most people eat at opposed to just coming for drinks and has a nice, friendly relaxed atmosphere to it. It also had a lot of groups so it seems to cater well for them, which is a surprise as it is quite a small place but they seem to manage the space well.

One thing I would also say is the bar staff were really good, just friendly and efficient. Men being men, order drinks at the bar then nip off to the 'loo' (great British word that!), the bar staff just dropped the drinks of at our table and made a few recommendations on beers to try etc - like I said, just really efficient and helpful and that's what you want... 

A bright and airy pub

Big bar area, but as you can see, it isn't very big which helps the atmosphere of the place

So... I found a new brewery (for me) that I had to give a massive shout out to - Meantime Brewery. I know it's not that new, but I haven't lived in the UK for years... I tried a few bottles of Meantime Red Ale ( it is one of the coolest bottles I have seen in a long time!) at a friends house and in the Queens Arms I tried my first pint of Meantime Pale Ale. Man it's a good beer.

Great colour for a pale ale, in a cool glass

The head stays with the beer.

It has that lovely golden, nearly rusty, look to it. It has a nice medium body that keeps the flavour locked in and on the nose it has citrus flavours to it. I wouldn't say that the beer has massive citrus flavours through it, it is more of  subtle flavour throughout the body. I thought the beer had a bit of malt in it as there is a bitterness to the beer but from a bit of googling it seems that it is just some of the hops they use that gives it the gentle bitter taste. I really enjoyed this beer.   

After a few Meantimes, I thought I should try something else and went for the Camden lager. It is a really light lager when comparing with the Estralla Dam that my friend was drinking. The head was really small but as you can see, it stays with the beer - I hate it when the head disappears. I reckon the light body and gentle flavours would work on a hot day or at summer BBQ as it isn't in your face with high alcohol or big malty flavours etc. 

Overall, if you are in Victoria, or change at Victoria station, pop out of the tube and head here and if you can find a Meantime Pale Ale (in any bar), go for it - it's awesome! Right, my friend has just called "next bar" - I think today is becoming a bit of a Victoria Pub Crawl! The joys of coming back to the UK and catching up with friends!

The Kernel American Pale Ale - London

So as we carry on our world tour of a holiday, we stayed at one of our many great friends in London. He bought a selection of crafty beers and this was a standout! I always slightly worry that an English ale is going to be cask - flat and like cold tea but this sure wasn't!

It has a small head but as you can see in the pictures, the head stays and doesn't disappear, the nose slightly deceives- when I think American Pale Ale I think big big hoppy citrus smells and a solid medium to full body. When I smelt the Kernel, it didn't have a huge hoppy hit but the taste sure did! It has a hit of citrus in the body which is smooth and flavoursome. I wouldn't say it has a big body but I think australian beers are bigger to suit the taste of Aussies... It also doesn't leave a big hoppy aftertaste either, but rather a hint of citrus flavour remain in your mouth which is really enjoyable and you could sure have a few of these beers!

Great beer guys!

Argentina, the craft beer scene is around, but you have to dig for it!

So think food and drinks of Argentina, you think steak and red wine, and to be honest, that is a fair view of the scene here (apart from in patagonia where it would be lamb). 

The beer scene here isn't so good, but before I talk about it I wanted to share this picture- 

The relevance is around the size of the bottle of beer, here in Argentina, beer is generally served from a bottle and in 1 litre size. The point of this is to share with friends, and I really like the concept, I watched many groups, couples, families order a beer, drink from coffee cup sized glasses and sit and talk - so sociable and really cool.

Quilmes is the famous beer and is terrible, the most common is 'cristal' and it's like bad flavoured water. Bock is also quite common. Most places have a wide range of beers on their menu but often don't stock them. "No tengo cervesa x" (I don't have that beer) was the most common phrase I heard - to start with I thought the bar maid was asking me to dance!!!

Because the beer is so bad, brew houses are becoming more popular, in Palermo in Beunos Aires there was a great one on Ave Paraguay and in El Chaltran and El Calafate (both v small towns in the south of the country) they had great German style brew bars (there were a lot of German settlers here after World War One). Below is a few pictures of the beer house in El Calafate-

I was drinking the IPA, it was a bit to bitterly hoppy at the end so I switched to the golden ale and that was great.

But the real star was these two below (bought from a store on the way home) the Otto Mundo Golden Ale and the Antares Kolsch. The golden was so easy drinking it was scary and the Kolsch had a lovely smooth crisp taste to it. As you can see, a beer froma store cost $3 due to the blue market (they offer double the amount for US dollars than the official rate).

If you get the chance, try the Calafate Beer. Calafate in Spanish means blueberry and the town is named after the blueberry bush which is very common there. Calafate beer is blueberry beer! It is a IPA with bluebeeries added to it. It is nice but the sweet finish means you can only have one or two at a time.

Overall, the craft beer scene is very small and tricky to find, maybe do what I have done and buy a few beers from a store to taste and head to brew houses for good beer, otherwise stick to the amazing red wine!

Neil

Hopscotch, Canberra

So we had a night out in Braddon, the newest hipster area of Canberra and we started the night in Hopscotch on Lonsdale Street.

You can tell it is a new joint, and there is a real buzz about this place. As you walk past the courtyard and into the place it is obvious that this is a "hip" crowd which is unusual for a place that promotes its crafty beers on tap!  

Some brave people sitting outside in the Canberra winter...

It is a mix of groups, couples, a bit of everything really which makes this a cool vibe.

The place has been really well designed and the paintings etc give it a cool American, NYC warehouse sort of a look and the mix of people drinking and eating carries on this "is it a bar, is it a bistro?" American sort of a feel.

As you walk up to the bar, the line up of whiskies is impressive and the 3 craft beers on tap is written on the blackboards. Ignore the 2 on the left, Carlton and Peroni, they aren't very crafty.

Whisky or Craft beer, my sort of a bar.

I ended up drinking the Illawarra Pale Ale, man it is a great beer. I would rank this as one of the best Pale Ales available. It is typical of Illawarra Brewing CO - a full flavoured beer. It is quite dark for a Pale Ale, small head, which does disappear very quickly. The nose doesn't do the citrus flavours justice and the taste was a [very good] surprise. Probably the biggest compliment I can pay this beer is that I normally jump around, trying different beers etc, but I stayed on this beer as it was so good. I still haven't visited the brewhouse, but it is on the list.

A pint of Illawarra Pale Ale, happy days!

I picked this bar as I thought it would be cool and also because I wanted to see what craft beers they had on tap, but it was that cool a place, my wife thought I chose it because she would like it. That's the best way to think of this place - its a great venue for guys and a great venue for girls, no compromise... great work! 

The clever captions above the TV "Sport ->" etc, it is just a well designed and executed bar

It is a shame for the Aussies that were watching the TV, they watched their team being smashed by the All Blacks... oh well, the world cup is next year...

"Hopscotch" I think that's what this place is called...

We didn't order any food, as we were booked into eightysix just up the road, but it loked impressive and when I wandered past the kitchen, the BBQ pit looked awesome. So good, all vegetarians should have to watch this and really test their resolve...  

Nice touch - this place has been well designed...

Crafty Beer in Chile!

When you think about South American beer, I am sure you are like me in thinking Light lager, like that from Mexico (yes I know it is Central America opposed to South) or Brazil. Well Chile definitely doesn't fit that mold! With a history of British (costal shipping towns) and German (Southern farming areas) the range of beers, ales and the like are so impressive!

So the way it works is that there are a number of bars but also a number of coffee shops turn into beer bars (I.e. All they sell is beer) like the pictures below- 

But in Valparisio we found a brew bar selling an Irish red, an American pale ale, a porter and a lager. I have a real soft spot for American Pale Ales so I tried that, it was nice, but the aroma from the hops wasn't very strong and it did lack that fruity hit you find from a APA, when chatting to the bar man in a mixture of Scottish, English and Spanish the hops were grew in Chile which may explain the difference. 

Back in the hotel I drank a few of these, yes it is called "Kunstmann" but it is actually Chilean (from the south where a large German settlement occurred after WW1 and it was a mix of a larger and a pale ale, I would say more of a big flavoured lager, but very enjoyable... 

Overall, what a great surprise to find great beers in such a great country - great wine, great beer, great seafood - it sounds just like Aus! I can't wait to come back here...