Tasting- Les 3 Brasseurs

Finishing up our home brew day, Nitch grabbed the car keys and took a grey day drive to a location recommended by a friend: Les 3 Brasseurs. It being out of the way and an international chain restaurant wards craft beer geeks away, but pacing the same kitchen area for over four hours (and using the same wash sink more times then countable) will inspire a need for a change of view and something to gurgle while viewing it.

"Our mission is simple – to share with our patrons our passion for beer"

Tasting Location- Les 3 Brasseurs

Upon arrival one is greeted by a massive outdoor seating area that the French so require for restauranting and pubbing. What made this one so delightful was the hop laced fencing- beauty and functionality!

The entrance is guarded by a shiny copper brew kettle that gleams in it's darkly lit euro pub style restaurant. The ceilings have pho-newspaper coverings and beer related paraphernalia is spread tastefully about, reminding one of a beer'ed up Shenanigans. "A stunning authentic microbrewery installation and European décor mixed in with some local flavour makes the atmosphere inimitable."   Although I wouldn't go so far as to agree with the website's "inimitable" (since it's likely that all the locations are immitations of each other), I did instantly feel like I was in a place where a beer lover could geek out and not feel awkward.

Which of course- I was completely wrong. As the partons stared at my picture taking and constant note scratching/beer sniffing and the extravagant why that I held beers up to the light and exclaimed things like, "oh my, hello cascade!" These things might have not only fasinated the dining families but also be the reason why one of the older servers came with two extra tastings: the local brew. La Belle Province is made with all local ingredients and I was immediatly drawn into another bout of, "Ooo! Smell that goodness," while shoving the petite glass as far under my nose as possible without looking like a beer addicted Scarface.

Menus are freakishly well designed with mouth watering pictures creating hunger stirrings through already full bellies.

They have beer cocktails- some are blue- let's discover more about those next time.

Today We Tasted 6 Les 3 Brasseurs Bières

Blond

A: Bright hay to sunflower color with a head that isn't there.

S: Banana ester, later yeast, mild earthy hop

T: Traditional lager style with spice, light farmhouse tastes with a delicate hop finish

M: Oily but dry

O: The French Man feels like it is an overly hopped lager, but I disagree and attribute his messed up tasting abilities to him having hovered over the home brew brew kettle for hours. There is for sure a hop element that sticks out, but it feels more like a home brewed IPA lover's lager then a normal French blond.

Ambre

A: No carbonation again, but that will be a pattern, as sampling platters nearly always seem headless and lacking proper carbonation.

S: Belgian spices with clove, coriander, caramel and bread yeast

T: Bitter in the front with a roasted sweet backing that finishes rather bland.

M: Medium body

O: Meh.

Brune

A: Amber almost violet colors when helt to the light, but mainly a deep earthy brown.

S: Toffee and coffe softly, softly

T: Almost creamy on the palate but cut directly with a bitter coffee finish.

M: more bubbles then the other beers, which means it has a medium carbonation. I'm wondering now if there is either something wrong with the beer or the taps. Have to look into that at my next visit.

O: He has that cold, stale coffee direction in sight but turns just before cliffing into gross. As the beer warmed slightly the caramel came to stand out and wrapped the whole beer better together.

"It's so hoppy I feel like I'm smoking weed"

The French Man hates all these beers so far.

The Queen

A: Golden yellow with small motionless bubbles

S: Lager

T: Slightly bitter, so mild. Malty finish. Not displeasing but nothing great. Session style. I don't think the Queen would enjoy this beer but some of her people might.

M: Moving on

Cherry Cuvee

A: Valentine's day red, fading to pink around the edges

S: Smells like juicy juice red flavor.

T: All cherry, maybe strawberry. Oh NO! Vicks Nyquil.

M: Pass

La Belle Provence- Special Local Brew

A: Rose tinted sun rays in a glass

S: The smell knocked my hop loving socks off! Honey hops and apple blossoms. I want to burry my face in it's sweet and tangy head, but am aware of the public location, so I take pictures for later beerporn referral and hope that the olfactory senses will be recreated by my imagination appropriately.

T: There is a great fruit sweetness, like a hard cider with the tartness of the fruit skin substituted with floral hops. There might be cherry juice in there but no matter what, the balance between fruit, floral, sweet and bitter is delightful.

M: Juicy and refreshing, light body

O: I feel like the beer would like more bubbles, but maybe that would turn it directly into more of a cider style. Not with standing this finishing treat is something I'm going to return for and inquire more about. Local huh?

Although I wouldn't call it craft beer and I wouldn't say it's something to seek out, Les 3 Brasseurs is better then nothing.

Les 3 Brasseurs is massive international company (including locations throughout France, Quebec, Tahiti, Réunion, and New Caledonia) but that doesn't mean they can't be spreading the baby step understanding of what beer culture invites. Many'a Joe has stated that their first "craft" beer was Blue Moon. Baby steps, as feeble as they are, begin consumers in the right direction toward freedom. Beer Freedom!

 

 

Tasting Location- Paris, France- Brewberry

Bonjour Paris Craft Beer Scene!

Tasting Nitch is rockin'n rollin in the streets of Paris once again, flowing with trendy suds and beautiful people that groove with the artesian beat.

Brewberry is located in the #5 sector of the snail shaped Paris, know for it's latin culture, clubbing and ancient architecture. Coming off the metro into a business district, the beer hunter need only find a bearded man and follow him until you hear the clicks of the tourists cameras. The streets between buildings modified by generations of inhabitants, without cars and intimately close, open into a market place of people. Tucked between the rustic buildings and a few stone masoned churches, a small delicately winding alley lures you into the street of pubs and laughter. Brewberry pops out from a low hanging wall between pub & clubs rimmed with security preparing for the night's fiesta. It's miniature outdoor seating is easily walked past and our tall friends will have to be aware of hobbit sized entrance. Size not withstanding the Brewerry is beautifully smooshed into a musky cave at the base of a building likely to have been cut from the earth around the time of Caesar. 

[caption id="attachment_758" align="alignleft" width="300"] Wall to wall in glass and labeling beauty[/caption]

Based on the basic concept of a beer cave, Brewerry is femme powered and it shows. Clean and welcoming with a sophisticated taste that beckons the beer advocate to make a nest for the evening. The decor is low lit, the music is subtle and the walls are lined in the colors and textures of a beer heaven. Organized by country of origin, The United States boasts a full shelf to themselves- literally causing Nitch to squeal with joy seeing San Diego's Green Flash with a Saison Diego- delightful!

Not only is there a double wall for Belgium  separate sections of south ameria, ukraine and mixes around the world, but France itself gets a half shelf area. We picked up as many take home bottles as we could safely manage on the metro, ordered a few tastings and swagged ourselves out with the latest in beer fashion.

Brewberry snippets:

Opened around November 2010

3 staff total, including the owner Cécile.

Cécile tipped Tasting Nitch in to a tasting event they would be having with Mikkeller in September that might *wink, wink* have some interesting surprise guests and announcements.

With about 25% of the clientele English speaking, Cécile is fluent in her English and welcomes guests in the smoothest, sweetest manner imaginable. Although there are people from around the world seeking the Brewberry, with it's international appeal, locals in Paris make up the largest part of the business.

Represents craft beer in France at many festivals and celebrations

2nd collaboration will be with Dutch brewery De Molen whom they recently hosted a tasting event with.

Lets get our lips on something other then gossip!

1st Brewberry collaboration, made specifically for the biere cave, by Mikkeller's beer mafia member Thomas- Merci beaucoup and we'll order two!

MIKKELLER- Brewberry Beer, sold on pression No draft available, as you can see from the picture, it was served in bottle. TY ABGiP 9% abv

A: Bright rosey hues wave and sparkle like a field of roasted malt. Tan, full head with heavy lacing.

S: Giant hops burst from the glass with red berries and fresh cut grass hiding little hints of pear.

T: Simcoe refreshment and a solid malty backbone with a finish that is tart like a cherry pie.

M: Soft and balanced bubbles, lacking the distinct sticky taste that follows highly hopped bears.

O: With a color that makes you take it to the light and blink a few times, a face melting smell and eye closing taste, this collaboration is bliss. The high alcohol slips by unnoticed, what a fiendishly charming beer. "Like the spring orgasim of beers," in the words of The French Man. We both battled over the last sips and debated ordered another dozen.

On limited time we maximized our palates and ordered a different beer that promised another hoppy adventure. 

ROOIE DOP Chica American IPA

A: Ruby read and tawny with bright orange tints and a full haze.

S: Cologned spice and over ripe fruit

T: Bitter in a bay way, over saturated hops and candy sweet breads.

M: Smooth with light bubbles that have a hard time cutting the hop resins.

O: Our sense of adventure was doused like a late night camp fire. We both regretted not staying with the safety of Mikkeller. Although drinkable, Chica American IPA should not be bearing the name "America" until has got its hop times correct. Nitch finished the tangy, glob of fizz with grace while The French Man declined further imbibing for fear of Rooie Dop repeat.

[caption id="attachment_763" align="alignleft" width="278"] Beer List[/caption]

The food was not exciting, but reasionable prices and simplicy outweighed the gastronomical desire. Cumin gouda and sausage for €4 plus a full menu of tasting accompaniments. Check out Brewberry.com for a full menu!

If you are making your way to Paris and have any soul for beer at all, then you will find yourself in the out door seating section of Brewberry. There is nothing more honest, then a small but educated and passionate staff, intimate building that smells like a monastery and bottled beers show casing the love of craft from around the world. Down to earth, welcoming and options for all, this tasting location is a five star salute to the upward movement of beer culture in France.

[caption id="attachment_776" align="alignright" width="224"] Mikkeler Brewberry Beer Fashion item[/caption]

Santé!

XOXO

Brazilian Beer Day!

Incase you didn't know (and I assume you don't because I have the mind of a three year old and fail the false belief test every darn time) it was Brazilian Beer Day six days ago!

Better late then never.

To be honest, this holiday for 196.7 million of our fellow humanoid almost slipped through the Tasting Nitch cracks. Obrigado <Thank you> to Factoid for tapping me on the shoulder and informing me that the BBC (Brazilian Bloggers Convention) is a pretty big deal on the net.

And so it is!

I've added a heap of Brazilian blogs to my newsblur and am looking forward to watching the beer culture rise up and flourish like a Ipê-amarelo flower in the sun.

[caption id="attachment_742" align="alignright" width="300"] Ipê-amarelo- Brazil's national flower[/caption]

For references an general beering informations, check out Cerveja e Brasil, who is high up on the "official big heads of Brazilian beer" list, being ran by Sindicerv (National Union Beer Industry) and  FGV (Fundação Getúlio Vargas). Not exactly the movers and shakers of the scene but a great place to start.

Next, get a look at Confraria do Lupulo and it's pretty web lay out for mass beer newsing.

It wouldn't be a country with out a beer club!

"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of football team or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer." -Frank Zappa

[caption id="attachment_744" align="alignleft" width="272"] I had a Brazilian friend bring brigadeiros to a Thanksgiving party a few years ago- YUM![/caption]

I confess that I drink.

Oh what? No, that is the name of my next blog suggestion! I would never confess to something that is so blatantly part of my living organism that its akin to breathing. I confess that I'm alive and that if you are looking a Brazilian beer blog with a nice rounded touch and home town feel, then here it is.

[caption id="attachment_745" align="alignright" width="254"] Absurdly awesome beer and girly-ness logo[/caption]

Beer glaze is like the chocolate sprinkles on the brigadeiros, with a gift shop full of beer baskets and beer cupcakes for order, a blog ran by a cute and cheery chick who gets more attractive as the videos get newer and an event section for checking out what is hot in the Brazil beer world. The lady behind all the beer craze seems like a trendy presenter, although there aren't subtitles on all the videos. Esmalte can also be translated as enamel so the title might be Beer and Enamel, but seeing the word malt in the middle seems to bring the coolness full circle no matter the translation.

Lastly, my top pick out the of blogs presented by the BBC (because I'm sure there are more being made every day or some that are late to the party) for all around coolness and earthy read-ability is: Beer? Like yes! And no, it's not just because it has the coolest beer blog name I've seen to date or because it has hardcore sexy flashes beer porn like a Vivid producer (NSFW) but because the layout is simple, the tasting notes are comprehensive and the links are genuinely things I haven't seen on other blogs. The cover photo with the counter top stash of beers is like watching someone dipping their toes into a whirlpool of addiction. A current I've been been swimming against for years: beer hoarding.

[caption id="attachment_743" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Poor guy has no idea where this addiction will lead[/caption]

So if you are handy with google translate or reverso, get your samba on and check out some Brazilian beer blogs from the BBC to celebrate the almost missed (basically totally missed, but better late then never) holiday of Brazilian beer! 05.06.13

Until next year! (which we will be on time for) Saúde!

 

 

Micro brewery in Chandres, France

La Microbrasserie de Chandres aka L'Eurelienne

The brewery goes by both names 

since they are the only brewers town.

French people haven't attached themselves to the life boat of beer loving just yet.

They drink a lot of wine

They are raising beer taxation a wapping 160% after January 2013

This French Micro brewery, was discovered by my partner and I while at a Food & Wine Festival in Orleans, France. Here is a bit of a vid that popped up on youtube shortly after the Festival. If you don't speak French then you get to see the head of the Brew Master and if you speak French, then you can learn a bit about the brewery!

Just before christmas we decided to take a slick stroll over to Chandres to get the grand tour.

 

http://youtu.be/iKcQBd24H6M


L'Eurelienne is located in Chandres, which is outside of Chartes but actually in a smaller area called Sours. Took me weeks to realize that my web searching was telling me about the brewery location, not the beer flavor. They do not make sours. 

Brune***Brown

Ambrèe Myrtle***Amber Wild Blueberry

Blanche***White

Blonde***Blond

Rousse***Red

Cuvee de Noël***Christmas Cuvee

 

L'Eurelienne isn't too keen on accessibility for reality handicapped people and haven't got much on the web to show off.

Facebook is a flop

.com is non existant

and searches come out with weak tourist sites, 

make sure your google translate is on

 

Thus, a pop video of me and the French man hitting up the brewery

 

Flashy box? That's guna cost ya

Tasting Location: Frog Pubs- Paris, France

[caption id="attachment_1268" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Frog Pubs Bercy Location- big, shiny and packed full of the regular type of people[/caption]

Frog Pubs, Paris have seven locations and each one is a mockery of the craft brew pub.

'FrogPubs began life as an MBA project researching the potential for an English pub & micro-brewery in central Paris. The project was a success & since 1993 FrogPubs has been brewing, serving & selling beer. We started out by creating pubs for all the British expats in Paris to meet up in. Today FrogPubs attracts a much wider variety of people and pretty much anyone who wants to have a good time will be well looked after.'

[caption id="attachment_1267" align="alignleft" width="346"] Pretty tap handles[/caption]

What we have here is a case of copy cat research gone viral.

I found that Tale of Ale had been to the Frog Pubs January 2012, giving almost exactly a year separation in opinion: Frog Pubs are all marketing and no soul. Although Tale of Ale had more time to visit more Frog locations and more guts to continue drinking, we were mostly there to feed my visiting American friend, 'chicken wings 'n things'. She was fed up with delicate french portions and I was (as always) seeking a craft beer. Internet told us that our happy ground would be the Frog Pubs.

Alas, you see tourists and locals downing massive pints of multi colored brews with little regard as to the flavor or quality. Better then nothing but with nothing you still have your imagination. The Frog Pub was cram packed busy and served us up fried dishes that my American visitor was more then happy to consume while noting the lack of ranch dressing- disappointing.

I was focused on the beer. Well, I was focused on the beer after I finished half the pint, thus way my excitement in having a beer other then macro lager. I didn't' take tasting notes- no need, beers were blah.

[caption id="attachment_1266" align="alignright" width="300"] Color coded for less confusion in ordering[/caption]

As usual I ordered the darkest thing possible:

Frog Pub Dark de Triomphe 5.0% abv

'Our very own 'pint of the black stuff'. A dry, full-bodied stout, served cold with a thick and creamy head. 'Dark' has slightly more bitterness than some other dark beers you may know, due to our roasted barley, chocolate malts, and English Challenger hops. Goes great with one of our juicy Frog Cheeseburgers!"

 

Ya know what else goes great with juicy Frog Cheeseburgers- a discount. Places like this give 'microbrewery' a bad name. 

 

Tasting- Little Creatures

"Starting life sometime around the "turn of the century", Little Creatures Brewing was born out of the love of great beer shared by some friends that had all worked together in breweries at some time or other in the past…in particular it was a love affair for a style of beer that we all wanted to drink, that of a hop driven pale ale."

Little Creatures is likely one of the better known Australian craft brewers. Hailing from Fremantle (Perth area) and widely distributed, they claim to have great roots in the beer culture, but have a commercial birth. Established in 2000 by Matilda bay brewing Comany, currenlty owned by a chain: Little world beverages, owned by Lion Nathan, owned by Kirin, owned by Mitsubishi. If you have a chain, then ya ain't got freedom! But, I'm sure that Mitsubishi car moguls don't have too much say in how the beer is made, so lets stick to the important things and put away our posters and paints. For now...

LITTLE CREATURES- Bright Ale 4.5%

[caption id="attachment_1010" align="alignright" width="214"] Bright Ale outta the ol' wine glass[/caption]

A: Mild yellow, little head that quickly disappeared

S: Sweet, floral, hoppy

T: Thin bubbles, not bitter

M: Sticky

O: Well rounded, very drinkable

My next run in with the Little Creatures creations was in Byron Bay at the Balcony Bar, whom (as I've stated before for another tasting) served me off tasting oysters and served nothing in the way of apologies.  If beer didn't exist then I'd be blogging about oysters, so I'm sure I snob about that as well. The servers were rude about the whole ordeal and I left feeling gastronomically abused. Beer is the important thing, this time around, so Nitch will bitch less and beer more.

LITTLE CREATURES- Roger’s Beer “midi” 3.8% 568ml $9.5

A: red, brown with tawny highlights. Bright tan head

S: light hop smell, green, light toasted

T: not much, roasted a bit, bitter in the middle

M: grassy, sticky feel

O” a typical “midi” range Aussie beer. The look doesn’t match with flavor. It’s a filler

Tasting- Byron Bay Brewing

In the beginning of craft beer revolutions the sparks of creativity are flying around every which way and it's hard to make the dry bits of beach rubbish you've jumbled together get a'blazin. When in doubt, go simple- buy lighter fluid. Byron Bay Brewery is just at that point. They aren't excatly boy scouts but they realize that the community is cold and if they have a fire, it would be a BonFire Party!

[caption id="attachment_939" align="alignright" width="300"] Bonfires drawn in lost souls like "free beer" signs.[/caption]

Byron Bay Brewery is attached to the Buddha bar which is attached to The Arts Factory- the head bone 's connected to the neck etc.

"The Arts Factory Lodge was founded by a man named Dan Doepel from California, he was a surfer who loved rock music. Him and his mates tried to find a place in Byron Bay to put on a gig, at that time the RSL was the only place in Byron Bay where you could hear live music, the RSL turned them down and that’s how the very first gig happened at The Buddha Bar now Byron Bay Premium Brewery.

The Byron Bay Brewery has been a major part of Byron Bays history, it was once an art gallery. Approximately 20 artists used to create sculptures and art works there, lots of the artists stayed at the Arts Factory Lodge the others were mainly Byron Bay locals. The Art Gallery was then open to the public every Saturday to view the artists work there was also an Arts and crafts market. It has also been a sand depot and a pig slaughter house and is well known to locals as “The Piggery”."

For more Arts Factory information, lineage to the Brewery and fun facts (like the first Blues Fest was helt at the Byron Bay Brewery back in 1990, the Arts Factor holds the Guines world record for most people spinning fire and the volunteer veggie garden) check out the website.

Most importantly

Byron Bay Brewery Beer Sampling!

[caption id="attachment_942" align="alignleft" width="300"] Buddha Bar Entrence[/caption]

Pilsner 5%

A: Very light, watery yellow with nearly not there head

S: lager yeast

T: Lingering soft bitter with a tangy sweet in the front.

M: All in the middle front of the tongue then stick in the back of the throat. Makes you drink more.

L: a strong bitternes holds on from an otherwise clean and dry beer. Goes good with something to eat to help wash down the beer.

Because they are still the only ones doing it, they can blow on the embers of the idea and simply name the beers the styles.

[caption id="attachment_943" align="alignright" width="470"] Byron Bay Brewery[/caption]

Premium 4.6%

A: Nearly clear with fast moving bubbles and a yellowish head

S: Floral sweetness and fresh cut grass.

T: Not as much bitter as the Pilsner, more floral hops

M: Fizziness!

O: An higher priced session style beer. Goes well with whatever you are doing because it does intrude on your sense.

Blonde 4.8%

A: Blonde. Okay a mellow yellow but still nearly as clear as a blonde's brain.

S: Citrus fruits and tangy hops, a super light touch of pear

T: Not bitter at all, but softly sweet from the fruits and light malt

M: Dry

O: She might not be the smartest head in the bar but she goes down well enouge

Pale Ale 4.5%

[caption id="attachment_944" align="alignleft" width="276"] Live venue and out door seating in the back/ front of The Arts Factory[/caption]

A: Mid chill haze makes it hard to see, but a dark mustard to tan with a darker tinted head.

S: We have hops here folks!

T: Exotic fruits and green hops balance on both sides of the mouth with a lightly roasted malt.

M: A slight coating that is cut by high carbonation

O: A traditional pale ale example with extra galaxy hops added

And then someone stepped in and said, "hey, why don't we throw some of these dried leaves on the bonfire?" and there was creativity in naming, randomly and short lived.

Billy Goat Dark Lager 5.2% 

A: Black like a goats back side with a white top like snow.

[caption id="attachment_945" align="alignright" width="420"] I can't find my pictures from that day, so we are stuck with net collected things. I didn't even know they had bottles[/caption]

S: Lager yeast, toasted sugars

T: Candy sweet and tart with a roasted finished

M: Dry but not bone dry

O: Best display of black lagering I've seen on this side of the planet. (which really isn't saying much) but I couldn't imagine ordering another unless I was drunk.

La piece de resistance, was this little sample of an IPA that the bartender smuggled me from a small cask. Their not yet released IPA which turns out to be an APA, I don't find out until months later in a highly comical scenario I talk about in another blog session. At this tasting though, I was still under the impression I was sampling an IPA.

IPA

A: Reddish brown, mid darkness with bright highlights. A ginger.

S: Sweet red fruits, no malt presence

T: Like the nose suggested there are heaps of sweet fruit taste and a touch of hops but mostly a dried, caramelized fruit taste. Not bitter at all, more like a pale ale.

M: Smooth

O: Like a pale ale but less finishing hops, which is really confusing because the pale ale had more hops then this one. This new brewer either hasn't sampled what is out yet and trying to lay a weak version of a pale ale on the locals while calling it an imperial pale ale or the beer didn't turn out the way it was supposed to and they are running with it. No wonder it is hidden in the back still. Ugh.

Oh the bitching of Nitch! It is funny to re-read one's notes after a while and chuckle at one's own snobbery. I was so excited to be having a hop bomb that anything less then a Stone Ruination IPA was bound to disappoint in the end. See back later for the embarrassing, "uhh, whad'ya say" moment when I finally figure out that they've been saying American Pale Ale the whole time. And then whiteness my notes on the beer be humbled and then more confused, because I still don't like it.

 

XOXO

Tasting- Stone & Wood

 

On another cruise through Byron Bay Nitch bacame eye locked by a menus item that was before over looked: Stone & Wood "Pacific" ale.

[caption id="attachment_930" align="alignright" width="300"] Topless servers and planking on beer cans- Australia?[/caption]

First stop is the beach and what better place to visit the beach then at a pub. The beach itself being too sandy, of course, The Beach Hotel offers clean feet on green grass and pints in hand. Being an icon of the city, The Beach Hotel has a massive live performance area, walk around bar and funky murals to enlighten the tourists on local customs. The only missing in this slice of perfection is a craft beer as angelic. Enter "Pacific" ale.

 

STONE & WOOD- Pacific Ale $16 AUD for two pints 4.4%



A:  Bright and tawny with a massive white head that retains well through the heat

S: Passion fruit, NZ hops and heaps of more fruity hop notes

T: Fruity hops are going down the pipe and there is nothing stopping it but froth and tonsils.

M: Light body with great tickling bubbles and a clean finish

O: Sweet and tart, very well balanced and refreshing with a great hoppy burst that melts into a highly drinkable pale ale. Sessionable.

[caption id="attachment_931" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beach Nitch selfishly hoarding TWO pints of beer[/caption]

From the beach to the bus as we wait to hitch a ride home, we grab some drinks at the Railway Station, kicking coins into the juke box just to annoy the patrons with constant Pink Floyding.

STONE & WOOD- Jasper ale on draught. 

A: Brown with reddish tink, white thin head

S: Sweet breads and maybe licorice

T: Toasted sweet with light hopping for balance. Heavy on the meaty, malt but edged off with the dry hops.

M: Medium body and a light sticky mouth feel.

O: Mild smells leads to shocking bitter that melts into a malty toasted pop. The bitter lingers almost like an English brown. Same color and character as Newcastle but not as nutty and with a bigger hop character.

Burleigh Brewery in the Head

It's Friday and a day of much joy and great confusion, as Friday's usually are, with drinking, dancing, chatting and beer in little plastic cups. My first trip to an official Australian Brewery party!

The Burleigh brewery is located about a 30 min bike ride south of us in the beautiful and cozy, family oriented but still hip and trendy, Burleigh, QLD. Skys are as clear as our heads as we make our way to the monthly Friday session at the cleverly named Burleigh Brewing for some much needed foam attention.

Massively open and concrete encased like a war base, the brewery grew slowly less desolate as the night bumped on. Children welcomed to run, cheer, play provided instruments and groove along with the live band, sipping juice next to mums who only drink wine.

A brewery gathering the serves wine, like a vegetarian restaurant that makes a beef soup, my mind couldn't wrap around it.

"What's your favorite Burleigh beer?" I start a round of questing to the people sitting next to us.

"Ah.. Ha... the 28 is my favorite," fumbles an older woman under my quizzical gaze.

"Oh! And why is that?" I burst with interest.

"Ah.. Ha... I don't really drink beer. That is what my husband likes." She grins with mirth that isn't at all distracted by embarrassment. Oh Fail and Joy.

 

 

28 Pale Ale 4.8%

A: Golden/copper,med bubbles, quick falling, off white head

S: Soft malted caramel, grassy banana sweet hops and a flint of citrus

T: Bitter strike to the palate, sweetness, then orange blossom with faded finish. Not much after taste, mild, not too sweet and no acid

M: Medium body, well balanced.

O: A bitchin' wave of impressively balanced pale ale showing a wicked grasp of American hop use, with a mind for the Aussie consumer in it's dry, mild finish. The bogus effect of the fruit scents throw me slightly, wishing that the citrus wasn't so gnarly but all together a tubular APA. Check the web site for some equating grinds.

The other Flag ship of the brewery is an interesting note: AUSTRALIA's FIRST NO CARB BEER!

All together our hands down favorite was the Hef. Balanced, fresh and an ample amount of fruity hops, breakfast of champions and great with a pretezel.The tear away adhesive mustaches might have had something to do with its visible effect on the crowd.

The staff were friendly with no hesitation to move around stock with a smile, often stopping to share a laugh with a regular or check up on the public bathrooms for quality control. They make beer and refill the TP, dedication to the craft.

The brewery itself has a shining beauty like mechanical stalagmites, lit above like the heavens, it's inner workings a mystery to all but the Master. Brennan the Brewmaster was a difficult deity to corner and avoided all questions in favor of pouring beers for dads with circling broods of children. Prior to opening his brewery on the Gold Coast in 2006, Mr.Fielding worked with such names as Gordan Biersch (USA), Shinano Brewery (Japan), Brew Moon (Hawaii) and Oxford Brewing Co. (Brisbane), adorning him with multiple brewing awards and over two decades of stupendous beer work.

His wife Peta, sweet as morning hops, blessed the upper area with her fluid management of tap handling and shirt sales.

To enchant the locals with flavour, provide refuge for the traveling thirsty or platform marketing for a contract with the Hilton Hotels, the Burleigh Brewing ship sails onward with Brennon and Peta heading the helm confidently. While the beers aren't the best, they are superior innovation by Australian standards. Even if the advertising is starchy and over bearing, they are giving craft beer a foothold. Although they serve wine, they are honoring the profession with the age old act of drunken revery.

IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA, DROP BY FOR A LOOK, A TAKE HOME PACK, A SHIRT OR A DANCE WITH THE LOCALS!

The band played on into the stars as families, beers and grilling sausages mixed into the sensory festival.

Mt. Tamborine Brewery

"I don't need some water, I need water and fudge!"

Says the french man as we leave the beer sampling and head out to experience more rainy day delights presented by Australia's Tamborine Mountain.

So far Australia has done nothing to stimulate my beerophile senses. In fact my beer snobbery has turned me into a wine drinker. I simply cannot let beer pass my lips that possibly had more flavor when it was water.

We rent a car and head to Mt Tamborine Brewery for a much needed beer vacation.

Because it is a rainy day there is no one at the brewery or adjoining restaurant and cheese shop. We freely roamed the area like matriarchs watching over our brood of bustling servants, each avoiding eye contact with us unless we make a direct request or gesture their way. Although we wouldn't dare the patio areas due to the spontaneous waterfalls from the sky, the building still displayed is beautiful design. With an open and welcoming flow.

 

When things became serious I was doomed to disappointment. Not only did they not have the rich stout that was featured on their web site but they, in fact, had nothing that was cold weather worthy. After taking a moment to remember that something is better then nothing, we continued with the sampling.

7 beers were sampled between me and my mate. 4 samples for $10 and a dash of water in the middle for those to need to remember what beer was before it was magically transformed. Following are the descriptions as presented by the brewery and then our own tasting notes:

We blind tasted and read the brewery notes after we sampled everything

Rainforest Lager

Style: Lager 

Abv: 4.3%

A premium lager, with a refreshing clean finish. Made with German barley and Saaz hops in a accordance with Reinheitsgebot.

A: Very pale, darkish yellow, foggy with still, large bubbles, chill haze abundant. 

S: sweet fruit/citrus, cooked corn 

T: not bitter, citrus but for sure an over cooked grain of some kind 

M: light body, no much feel 

O: basic lager with touches of sweet and an abundance of citrus nose with a light body that seems to be lacking in a clarifier. There is also a missing presence of the Saaz hops.

Czech Mate Pils

Style: Pilsener

Abv: 4.3%

A traditional Bohemian style lager brewed with no expense spared via a decoction mash and long maturation. The aroma is herbaceous and floral and is followed in the mouth by fresh bread flavors and a carefully balanced bitterness.

A: thin bubbles, medium haze, mustard color, thick white head

S: nothing at first, possible light herb/fruit notes

T: Shy fruit, light spice/herb with malt finish

M: yeast/bread

O: delicate and smooth but lacking in distinction.

Sonntag

Style: Kolsch

Abv: 5.0%

A straw colored beer inspired by the Kolsch beers of Cologne, Germany. An aroma of mown grass with hints of strawberry over flavors of fresh bread with a dry finish.

A: light yellow, thin bubbles with lots of movement, nice close laced head with little retention
S: hay/grass, sweet roasted malt
T: sweet fruit flavor maybe strawberry/raspberry with a bitter finish that returns to a bread taste in the back of the mouth
M: soft dryness with yeast coating
O: A fuller bodied kolsch with more ambition then normal, delivering a drinkable summer mix that is middle range all around with sweeping sweetness.

St. Bridget

Style: Belgian Dubbel

Abv: 7.2%

This beer is in the style of those made by the trappist monks of Belgium. It is rusty red/brown color with a dense and creamy head. The aroma is of ripe plum and light caramel and is followed by a medium bodied beer with similar flavors.
A: dense rusty, thick cream head with great retention 
S: distinct belgian aroma with thick hay/grass and an underlaying caramel 
T: strong forward pop of bitterness followed by honey/caramel and dried fruit sweetness 
M: warm and bubbly with a creamy finish 
O: love the name tribute to top lady but wish the beer could do more then be a great beer to cook with. She features a range of flavors that most Australians would find overpowering and undrinkable, which makes it one of my favorites since being in the country but she isn't exactly true to her roots.

0909 Cuvee Blonde

Style: Belgian Blonde

Abv: 5.2%

This prestige batch of a pale Belgian style ale carries supple raisin and citric notes whilst the body is soft and affords more yeast and hop derived fruit notes. 
A: light leather colored pour lacking in shine with white head that falls quickly
S: floral, citrus and coriander 
T: Australian hops with some exotic fruit but very citrus, more sweet then usual pale ale but a nice spice and strong malt.  
M: medium body, high carbonation, light yeast feel with fresh dry finish 
O: not a traditional Belgian pale but good in its own right. Drinkable dryness as long as it is kept cold. Too sweet for me and doesn't match its finish with its intention.

Black Cockatoo

Style: Schwarzbier

Abv: 4.3%

A German style black lager with a ruby black color. The aroma is a balance of roasted caramel and noble hops whilst in the mouth it shows a delicate bitterness that holds in check malt flavours of caramel and chocolate.
A: thick beige head on a coffee black body with a ruby tint when held to the light
S: coffee, herb spice with a definite smoked malt
T: smoked meaty flavor holds the house together while caramel runs around outside screaming that is loves coffee. The milk chocolate popins in for a second but is hit in the face by the strong coffee bean door man the finish is wanting 
M: no bubbles, very light cream but ends dry
O: Black lagers just aren't my thing, they look so hardy and beautiful then seem to fizzle out. This lager does much the same although it's super strong coffee punch could carry it along as a breakfast beer. Light in body and abv but also off balance.

Yippy IPA

Style: IPA

Abv: unknown

Yippy is a Classic British IPA with lots of Marmalade, Kumquat & other citrus flavours supported by a big malt backbone and plenty of bitterness.
A: caramel to tan with a medium haze and mid level bubbles an nice lacing 
S: red fruit possibly strawberry and a sweet citrus 
T: a mild bitterness that rolls from front to back with its progessive flavors of toffee, spice, roasted fruit 
M: dry, light body with lots of fizz 
O: an average Ipa with odd flavors and hoppy but sweet kick. Says it is a Classic British IPA which gave me the idea to let it rest and warm a bit from the frozen tap status, this idea opened the senses to more the sugar element that had evidently been added but still didn't shake the thing back to what it once was. From reading on the net I gather that back in 2009 it was an APA. The strange change of face and total inability to show any character makes the beer a total flop. 


We took a break to cruise the location and took a few notes of the restaurant:

Cliche modern style, screaming about Ikea and hippies with money, "I'm simple and organic" feel. The dining area is too big, but that could also have been becuase we were the only people there. The menue as simple and classy but for the prices nothing stuck out to us besides the sweet potato frittes with whipped triple cream blue cheese and chive dipping sauce. My partner would have rolled in the sauce if they had put out a tub of it. 


The blend of dining, cheese shop and beer is bliss. Fine dining is nice but beer and burgers are soul mates.

We heard that they would soon be having a new head brewer in from Germany. Leaving us drooling to know what the brewery will be presenting next. Keeping in mind that Australia is by far and large, not a beer connoisseur's paradise. We were reminded of our reality when we tried to purchase a take home pack. They only had the Lager and the Kolsch available. I mean, of course, because I don't think people really drink anything else! Mike, the bar man, was sympathetic enough to find us a few St. Bridget and Ipa without labels that we were able to purchase. He also took time from his busy schedule of inventory checking to answer my chatty, beerophile questions:

-Yes, they HAD a stout but that was a many months ago. Hopefully one of the staff will get around to updating the website. 
-No, he doesn't know where the water comes from but he knows they have a filtration system. So it doesn't matter.
-He thinks there are about 4 people that do all the brewing but mostly only sees one.
-Yes, when the sun is out they are much more busy.
-And yes, the owners frequent the location but he doesn't know what their favorite beers are- if they drink it at all.

 

My partner rubs my cheek and calls me his beautiful pinkie. Do we need to turn down the space heater or the abv? 

Fudge- here we come!