Distillerie Bertrand - Fleur de Biere

Now I know this isn't technically a beer but it's distilled from beer so I'm going to review it anyway.

According to the website it's distilled in a copper pot still at warm temperatures to preserve the aromatic qualities of the beer.

Crisp clear colour, a sweet fruity nose, with a touch of aniseed. Lots of anise and alcohol heat on the palate, I'm sure you're meant to drink this absolutely freezing so as to kill off any taste of the actual product. Quite a nice long lasting finish, amazingly light sweetness shines through with a little caramel maltiness on the finish.

This is the second distilled beer I have tried and easily the tastiest, the other being produced by the Chouffe Brewery in Belgium. This one is quite pleasant whlist the other had a horrible faux tequila taste that made me very ill. (it could have been the fact that I drank the whole bottle in one night but I'm sticking with the fact it wasn't very nice tasting)

Bertrand Fleur de Biere

France

alc - 40%

price - approx $80

Grand Ridge Brewery - Hatlifter Stout

I'm not much of a stout drinker, so I thought I'd review something I'm not comfortable with, plus I see we're reviewing a lot of pilsners and lagers.

A really thick stout, the way I like to see it, a few of the Australian stouts I have tried in the past have been a bit watery and not of the thick gluggy guinness mould.

Toasty caramel, burnt chocolate notes on the nose, quite attractive, almost fruit cake. In the mouth it's the same, very thick and rich, with an almost whisky maltiness. Somehow reminds me of a good single malt.

I have to admit I tried this about 6 months ago when I was given it as a gift and I didn't like it, so this bottle was banished to the back of the fridge where it has stayed until now. And I have to admit I like it more second time round. (even if i don't like the name or the label) Why sully the good name of beer by giving every one of your beers an equally ridiculous name, who knows, but I know that when winter comes round again I'll be searching this one out.

Hatlifter Stout

Grand Ridge Brewery, Gippsland, VIC

alc - 4.9%

price - ??

Little Creatures Pilsner

Did anyone know that little creatures made a pilsner? Well..... i knew they made one but with all the attention given to the Pale Ale this little beauty has been forgotten.

This is a good beer . Its a crisp lager, very clean and as the web site states, elegant.

It's not a big chunky style like the squire ( i cant help but compare everything to the squire). They are using Saaz hops which you can really taste. As i am more a fan of the Squire style i find this one a touch light in flavour, but think that's the way its supposed to taste and this is not a criticism. Its just clean.

The little Creatures pilsner is a fresh, crisp mouthful of refreshing beer and i recommend you get into a few. 

So often i hear people say 'its a good beer but you could only have one or two' this is not one of those beers...... i am going to have another couple.

Dan 

Grand Ridge Gippsland Gold, Pale ale

This is a bit of a serious beer. Compared to the other pale ales i have been drinking of late (mostly American and this is more English) the Gippsland Gold is not going to score very high. 

I have a memory of Grand Ridge beers being Quality Australian 'boutique beers'   but i just cant get into this one. I will try some of the others because i know i was into a few of them.

Anyway... to the beer at hand. 

First i get a very strong sweet smell which is not what i was expecting. The head is off white and the colour of the beer is hazy dull orange, doesn't look great. The taste is full (very full) of sweet honey malt and the carbonation is far too bubbly for my liking. Its is unbalanced. What i think should be some sour acid is replaced by a soapy metallic sort of taste which is not enough to balance the sweet fruit. Its just to big and the fruit is all over the place. Certainly does not taste like a 'pale ale'.

Admittedly i did have this beer while eating pizza which is not doing it any favours however i think its safe to say i will not be having another one. I will however track down the rest of the Grand Ridge beers and try them again as i am sure there are a couple to my taste.

Dan