What's wetting the whistle?

Only 5 more hours until Feral time!

Then I, along with Mr Dansmcd, Mr Hopswiller and many others, will be drinking all of the Feral range. Hurray!

P.S It just dawned on me (and I know I'm jeopardising my lift but...) Dan, does the 'smcd' stand for Sado-masochist, cross dresser? Or have I been hanging around the wrong circles for far too long?

 

Soon to be Young Henrys Fresh 6 ...

 

Had the Red Duck / Kissmeyer Hop Bach yesterday. What a mess that beer is.

Today is better. The Nogne O brewed India Saison. Slightly more delicate than the Bridge Road version and just a touch nicer. Maybe it is the slight amount of age on it that smoothed it outbut I like it more.

 

de Cam Oude Gueuze, which was super solid, then an old RR Temptation from the depths of my cellar...infected...totally spewing.

Now on to my last Liberty C!tra, which has dulled somewhat since I bought it 2 months ago, but still a riot.

 

Is that meant to be good, or bad?" Cleanest brewery I have ever been to ... with the dirtiest beer ... how does that happen?

 

I liked the Red Duck/ Kiss beer quite a lot. The Red Duck/ Beer Here Ragnarok a fair bit less, although it was not a disaster area. I like Red Duck. Full of surprises, emphasis on character. Also enjoyed Murray's Heart of Darkness on tap for the first time at Healesville Hotel after skulking about some car parks for wife's work. One more: Forrest Untamed Turkey was a pretty good IPA.

 

It was massively sweet and extremely thick on the palate. There were some decent hop flavours in there but they struggled to get to the fore due to the over use of thick, syrupy caramel malts. There was also some phenolic character which was off putting and shouldn't have been there. I'm not saying the brewery itself isn't clean, just that the beer isn't great. Dare I call it a waste of malt and hops?

 

I used to really like Red Duck but I've moved on. I find most of their beers too sweet though those which should be sweeter are enjoyable (Golden Dragon, The Ox, etc.) I haven't liked their stuff as much recently particularly the IPA and Pale Ale and some newer stuff just hasnt hit the mark (White Garden).

 

Got ma drink awn down at the Sail and anchor, loved mikkeler us alive, dould not stand the Troll sherry barleywine, or the donker coffee stout, hop hog was very good, stone beer from S&W very nice also
ACME pale at norfolk was horrid, and bootleg black ipa delicious

 

Yeah, there have been plenty of their beers I haven't liked much, White Garden amongst them. But it's the sense that they're off on a frolic of their own that I like: I don't think they are trying to make beers that people like me will like. They're just doing as they please. So I have a couple of beers of theirs sitting downstairs I have no idea about. Most other Australian brewers I think "if they're not too timid and don't stuff it up, I'll like this about this much", but a hopless imperial Egyptian bread beer? Could be disgusting, we'll see. A waiting adventure.

On topic: LCPA (lovely as ever), He'brew Manna IPA (pretty good, but made me think of the 4.8% Bridge Rd Stella), Temple Saison de Miel (a second try, again impressed).

 

Oh I went to the Taphouse last night. They had sold out of American Dream and unfortunately the 4 Pines DIPA which I wanted to try, but I still managed to try a fair range of stuff. The place seems to have a classier menu and bottle list now but the taplist is still erratic (still listing beers they had sold out of yesterday).

 

According to the Taphouse in their infinite experience and wisdom, they've landed three of the most "limited, rare and elusive" beers in this arm of the galaxy:

http://thelocaltaphouse.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/elusive-limiteds-land-in-darlo.html

Not saying for a minute that the Taphouse are in the habit of talking themselves up or anything.

 

Moo Brew: 2,500 bottles that don't sell out each year that I can order from the convenience of my telephone. That's definitely elusive, rare & limited:-)

I guess its better than hearing about a special silent cinema screening of Bounce...

 

They have 'Beerista's now?!? Wow. And I thought we were the beer wankers...

 

The Beerista thing has been about since they opened ...

 

Add to that the fact that the Hop Bach is interesting at best (my comments above cover most of what I would say) and the Wookiee IPA is just strange. As for the Tasmanian Oak Bomb, at least it is a well made beer, I just don't really care for that particular barrel treatment.

In any case, all three were available off the shelf at my local good beer store. Maybe limited, hardly elusive or rare and certainly not all that good.

 

HaandBryggeriet Sundland Kreosot last night which was quite good. Have been having stouts lately and haven't had the more hop focused beers so it was nice to have a change.

 

Fun: I learnt yesterday that The Norfolk in Fremantle has Rasputin on tap. This is where I will be tomorrow. So hopefully in 24hrs I can post an inane, poorly spelt message of how I've had many pints of it. Not 'whetting the whistle' per se, more of what will whet the whistle. Andrew feel free to join, this could be your chance to steal my keys to the pub... As also, the invitation to Mr's Lukie, Dansmcd, Hopswiller, Foles etc is there as well. If not, I will have the writings of Antony Beevor to tide me over, quite possibly the best modern day writer of history. Do yourself a favour and purchase his books. Stalingrad and Berlin are the two standouts. They go really well with stouts as well.

More on topic now, just had some Brew Fist X-Ray porter. I like it but the change in taste in only a week is remarkable. To my mind a lot less bitter and more chocolate sweetness coming through then before.

Business: Mr K and Mr Parrotshake, I havent had a day off this week to get to the posting office, but I have organised time tomorrow to do it. This time it will be done. Damn work and anything else that gets in my way! It has however given me more time to find 'extras' for your packs however, so silver lining and all that, I guess.

 

1000ibu dampening the whistle - a good one to bring to friends house due to its limited sharing interest from others (a temptress donated to appease the masses)

Brenden i had old rasputin at norfolk last nite so tomorrow morning will be at your venue and the monk for their coconut stout. Good to see u advertising your competitor though

 

Pretty easy tonight with Cascade Stout. Has taken the edge off after pulling up rusty due to too much Elijah Craig last night.