Comet Pale Ale
Frenchies Bistro & Brewery

Frenchies Bistro & Brewery is a new one for me, and it’s primarily a Bistro that brews beer as well. Owned and run by 2 French nationals (the eponymous “Frenchies”) they appear to have bought their Parisian palate with them to Australia. Comet Pale Ale, a beer I’ve tried before and enjoyed because of its lack of style rigidity, is brewed with the lesser-known wild American hop: Comet. There are big things coming from these guys, including a couple of Bière de Gardes (one of my all-time favourite styles) that I will be reviewing with great relish as I’ve never had an Aussie Bière de Garde before. But enough future-self-talk let’s crack open this Comet Pale Ale and see what it’s like [spoiler: it’s good stuff].

Poured from a 330ml can into a Duvel tulip.

A: Hazed SAE Amber body with a big 2 centimetre white soap-bubble head that soon drops back to numerous bubbles on top and leaving a reasonable amount of lace inside the glass. Not the greatest looking Pale Ale, though looks can deceive. 7/10.

S: Floral/piney/earthy and spicy hops pervade this decent hoppy aroma. There’s plenty to like here: firstly it’s hop-forward as any good APA should be, the uniqueness of the Comet hops provides an intriguing counterpoint in the seemingly endless sea of APAs, there’s a nice crisp dry cracker malt base and a touch of musty Saison yeast in there as well adding to the individual character of this brew. Touch of vinous dry white wine character in there as well – this is ace! 8/10.

T: A great deal smoother (read: lighter) in the flavour than the aroma would suggest. Flavour profile includes: the above noted floral/piney/earthy hops, hint of pepper spice in the background, dry cracker malt base, a light citrus/stone-fruit note (more white nectarine than peach), and that vinous dry white wine character as well. Finishes slightly dry with a floral/piney medium hop bitterness. Overall this is a flavour profile that would suit refined French cuisine well. 7/10.

M: Mid to light bodied, a tad bit under-carbonated with a light carbonation, I remember this beer being better… oh well. 6/10.

D: Hmmm, nostalgia in a beer? Perhaps it was a case of amber-tinted glasses shaped like beer-filled steins but I do recall this being a bit more exciting than it has been this time. Don’t get me wrong though – this is a solid and well-rounded APA with a spin having an obscure hop in it, but it’s nothing to crow to heavily over, it’s just a half-decent Pale Ale that’ll go good with a gourmet pizza. 7/10.

Food match: I think I already answered this question, but also add “French cuisine”.