March started off, from a beer perspective, rather unceremoniously at a conference in Bangkok. Had more Tigers than I’d care to mention, but once back on home soil, things picked up. So here’s a run down of beers I had in March that I thought were worth a damn.
Green Flash Hop Head Red and West Coast IPA.
Unassuming looking, this duo for hop fiends everywhere were two great, no nonsense American hoppy beers. The Hop Head Red had a lovely caramel malt backbone and a nice upfront piney hop punch. Likewise the West Coast IPA, not overdone like so many US hop-bombs, nicely balanced and a great example of the style. Honourable mention goes to their Double Stout too, which is probably the hoppiest stout I’ve ever had.
Mad Brewers Hoppy Hefe
The Malt Shovel’s Mad Brewers label has been on a bit of a roll recently; their liquorice stout Noir, was a very interesting look at the style, and their Scribbly Gum lager was perhaps the smokiest a mainstream Australian brewer has ever got. The Hoppy Hefe is a style that basically takes a German Hefeweizen and ramps up the hops. I’m left a little wanting after a hefe sometimes and this is the solution: just chuck more hops in there, and bang! A mate of mine commented that they're the tastiest burps he’s ever had. Now that’s saying something. Murray’s Whale Ale is another, albeit lower alcohol, example of the style.
Moa Breakfast
Gee am I glad these Kiwi guys have relaunched their beers. Until recently a rarity on our shores, Moa have made a push into the Australian market and we’re all luckier for it. Their Imperial Stout and Five Hop ESB are standouts, but the gong goes to the controversially named Breakfast. A fruit lager, with a light spritziness and a sweet, almost artificial cherry taste. Not sure if they use real cherries, or an extract, but it somehow works. Will definitely be having one with my bacon and eggs soon.
Mornington Peninsula Imperial IPA
Had this one after an unofficial brown ale / porter tasting at a mates house recently. The MPIIPA trumped them all. I don’t think Mornington make a bad beer and their IIPA is perhaps their best. Stoked that they’ve started bottling it. Interestingly, they’ve just released a new seasonal, perhaps Australia’s first White IPA. A Belgian Witbier with the American hop treatment. Can’t wait to get down there to try that one!
Fullers ESB
The beer that gave birth to the ESB (Extra Special Bitter) and a beer made for a Melbourne autumn. An extremely well made beer and an English bitter that actually translates pretty well in the bottle. Lots of earthy hop notes from the English varieties. Gently spicy and a beer that makes sit back and wonder how they do it. Later in the month I had their London Porter, but the ESB is the standout in the range.
Renaissance Tribute Barleywine
Talked about this beer in an earlier post, the poor little bugger only made it to late March before being scoffed. Now, at 11%, scoffed is probably the wrong word as this beer took me over 45mins to drink, but what a pleasure. Rich, plum pudding, whiskey notes, sweet, but not too so. A massive beer from one of my favourite breweries. Dang these Kiwis can brew.
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