This is another wonderful product from Australia's best beer producer.

Before I start on the beer I would like to make a couple of comments about the new labels on all the James Squire range...

Why did you change the old labels? Why would you mess with something which has worked so well for so long. Anyway I don't want to dwell but I hope you did not pay the marketing people too much money.

So about the beer. It is not the type of pale ale we are used to. It is not a Little Creatures Pale, it is not a Alpha Pale, it is not a Coopers Pale. The Fifty Lashes Pale (which I am going to call Squire Pale) is a much more approachable beer than the one I have previously mentioned. Not approachable in a good way or a bad way, just approachable.

Approachable because I like Pale Ale to be a little confronting. I like a bit of herbaceous lift and citric acidity, some genuinely sour hop flavour. It is like all the edges have been softened. Still, it is very good. I am judging this beer harshly because it comes form Squire, I have come to expect perfection. For some (the majority) this will be perfection in a Pale Ale and I am enjoying mine right now however I would like to see it a touch more dirty, a bit more grippy.

Either way I am sure this will be another successful product and I am going to pour myself another.

Dan

Coopers Extra Strong Vintage ale 2011

Coopers.... How good is Coopers.....  We have, in the past reviewed a few of these and this is one of the best vintages I have tried as a young beer.

As usual the head is off white, has big bubbles and disappears pretty quickly. This leads to a smooth rich, lean mouth feel. Normally I find the coopers vintage to have a strong vegemite bitterness when young, this beer is different, its softer.

There are hints of apricot and caramel which are so smooth that it feels like this beer could be a couple of years old already and almost no bitterness, it tastes developed and there is more than average sediment for a young beer.

As I drink it I am reminded that the alc volume is 7.5%, not because of overpowering fruit flavour, but because I am feeling a bit pissed and I have only had about half the beer (how fantastic to realise I have the other half to go...).

This is exceptional. All the flavours are so subtle, it is just so easy to drink.

Graham, if your out there, could you put a box of this vintage aside so we can try it in a few years? If I try that it will only last the rest of the week.

Dan

Coney Island Mermaid Pilsner

I love good packaging and Coney Island Brewing/Schmalz Brewing Company have the funky retro labels down pat!!
But as we all know labels don't make a beer...

When I first smell this pils it has an almost tinny character that is quickly replaced by a nice gentle herbal smell. A small spicy/ginger note too, which is kind of nice.

On the palate its a but clean and simple with gentle spicy finish that may come from the rye that they use to brew this.

Pretty good, one to look out for as I think it'll be a bit of a limited beer for now.

$6 - 355ml
5% abv

Graham

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La Baladin Isaac

What a fantastic beer, the nose is floral citrus and a gentle sweetness akin to peaches.

The palate is much the same, great palate weight, and lovely orange blossom sweetness. The only criticism is a lack of bitterness on the finish that I feel would balance the beer.

Fantastic!

5% alc vol.
$9 - 250ml

Graham

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Little Creatures Single Batch "The Dreadnaught"

The Dreadnaught is the newest single batch from Little Creatures and it's a belter!

It pours dark as you can imagine with a golden brown head, the nose is all roasted malt and a slight bitter edge. It has a beautiful velvety mouthfeel and seems very balanced, not too heavy and gluggy.

All in all a fantastic effort from the boys at Little
Creatures! Look out for it as there isn't much around.

7.4% alc vol.
$6.50 - 500ml

Graham


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Location:Stewart Rd,Ashgrove,Australia

Red Oak Organic Pale Ale

The first sip is bad. Its like a bitter lemon shandy.

The second sip is better and i can see what they are trying to do but the lemon tart lacks herbaceous astringency, it is thin and just a bit dull.

It is a classic part of Pale Ale that the drinker gets a 'green' astringent flavour. Often, this comes from American hops and can be found in the Rouge 'Yellow Snow' or a 'Little Creatures' Pale, it is best delivered in recent times through the Cascade First Harvest, but this is all wrong.

I understand that this beer is meant to represent an english style pale but i have never tasted one like this.

I am glad it is organic, i am glad they make 20 different 'craft beers' at Redoak, but i can't help thinking it would be better if they just made half a dozen good beers (and made them a little cheaper...)

Thankfully i have a Squire Pilsener ready to get the flavour if bitter lemon out of my mouth.

Dan

Cascade First Harvest 2011

So I drop into my in-laws the other day. My father-in-law (Mike) is not there, but he has left a bottle of current vintage First Harvest on the table for me with a note attached which reads...

Drink before other beers - Hoppy nose - Starts like a larger, middle tastes like an amber, ends like an American Pale with a very bitter aftertaste....... I loved it!

And i will say no more.....

Dan

Music Club Beer Selection

Here we are after a little hiatus and Dan, myself and a few of the boys got together for a music club and we drank some very very good craft beers, I'll list them now and review them later and try and get this blog back up and running.

Moo Brew Pilsner
Moo Brew Hefeweisen
Southern Tier 2XIPA
Southern Tier Matt & Phins
Tuatara APA
8 Wired Hopwired IPA
Eggenberger Urbock 23
Eggenberger Hopfen Konig
White Rabbit White Ale

There might be a few more but I can't remember them at the moment, anyway this will be a good start to get the blog back on track.

Graham