John Boston's Mill Pale Ale, New South Wales

Name - John Boston's Mill Pale Ale
Type - Pale Ale
Vol. 4.9%, 330mL crown sealed bottle, but consumed on tap
Brewer - John Boston
Origin - Sydney, New South Wales

Importer - N/A

 

Verdict - It was a bit acrid on the nose, the middle taste a little sour, then it finished softly.  Given it was a tap, and it was the KB Hotel, it probably warrants another go just to check if the lines played a part. On the first taste it was nothing special in an increasingly tight Australian market for sweet, sweet pale ale.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Massachusetts, United States

Name - Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Type - Lager
Vol. 4.8%, 355mL crown sealed bottle
Brewer - Samuel Adams
Origin - Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Importer - ?

 

Verdict - Look, it's nice for an American beer, a breed that has been very unfairly maligned by the likes of Coors and Budweiser, but I don't think I'd stay on it all night. It finishes slightly sour, but if you're at a seppo do, and it's this or the aforementioned watery, gassy garbage, this will make you a very happy man.

Kooinda Pale Ale,Victoria, Australia

Name - Kooinda Pale Ale
Type - Pale Ale
Vol. 4.7%, 330mL crown sealed bottle
Brewer - Kooinda Boutique Brewery
Origin - Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Importer - N/A

Verdict - A sweet, aromatic pale ale. They quite clearly know what they're doing when it comes to this style. Crisp and less cloudy than most, and stood up on the second drink, meaning it should be sought out where possible.

Satan Red Ale, Flanders, Belgium

Name - Satan Red
Type - Ale
Vol. 8%, 330mL crown sealed bottle
Brewer - De Block
Origin - Peizegem, Boschkant, Brabant, Flanders

Importer - ?

Verdict - A great drinker for the alcohol volume - the fresh, soft, pear nose was a massive surprise, and the taste is of an aromatic and fruity red ale. Very enjoyable. Hail Satan!

Monteith's Black Beer, Stout, New Zealand

Name - Monteith's Black Beer
Type - Stout
Vol. 5.2%, 330mL crown sealed bottle
Brewer - Monteith's
Origin - Greymouth (SI), New Zealand

Importer - N/A

Verdict - Horrid name. Sure, we call it 'black' after a few so you don't get punted out under responsible service legislation, but it's just such a dull label for a brand that normally just says what variety they've brewed. Call it a stout - embrace it. It's not a high selling variety, but just own it if you're going to brew it.

 

Lacks for bitterness, and avoids that burnt taste that some stouts can carry. It is biscuity, as dumb as that sounds, and finishes like a chocolate dessert with a bit of booze splashed in it. A stout for those that can tend to be discouraged by the variety.

Monteith's Doppelbock Winter Ale, New Zealand

Name - Monteith's Doppelbock Winter Ale
Type - Dark Ale
Vol. 6%, 330mL crown sealed bottle
Brewer - Monteith's
Origin - Greymouth (SI), New Zealand
Importer - N/A
Verdict - Two in, in separate sittings, and still unconvinced. It's robust and (for want of a better term) beefy. Not particularly round in the mouth, though. Perhaps I've been drinking too many Belgian Darks, which really have some roundness and length in the finish. A littlle disappointing from Monteith's. Winter ale? Maybe an Autumn Ale. Needs a higher alcohol content to drag the flavour along, but that's just not in the brewing culture down here, outside of a few micros.

Velkopopovicky Kozel, Lager, Czech Republic

Name - Velkopopovicky Kozel
Type - Lager
Vol. 4.8%, 500mL crown sealed bottle
Brewer - Velkopopovicky Kozel
Origin - Velké Popovicke, Central Bohemia, Czech Republic
Importer - Armik Group, Dandenong, Victoria
Verdict - Mild but hoppy, easy drinker. Long and strong head. Greatly enjoyed by goats, according to the label. Enjoyable and refreshing, but that bit less crisp.