James Squire Swindler Tropical Pale

It was my birthday recently. For a present I received a 6-pack of James Squire Tropical Pale, they must have known me very well. I hadn’t sampled this product yet but being a James Squire beer, I knew it would be fantastic.

James Squire boasts an ambitious range of beers and now have one with summer in mind, with tropical, citrus and melon flavours felt in every sip I have enjoyed each of these beers.

I have covered a James Squire beer before and plan to do more so I won’t go into the brewery’s story every time, but I just want to remind you that James Squire is a company that acknowledges Australia’s convict heritage and claims the original James Squire was the first real beer brewer in the colony, going from convict to beer tycoon.

This beer is a perfect thing to have in your hand over the summer with a set of thongs in the other as you turn over the sausages on the sizzling BBQ.

A great birthday present

A good but frustrating thing about this large-scale craft beer company is that they have so many different and interesting beers that when it comes time to choose one I can’t decide on just one.

On a Melbourne trip I was heading from Bar A to Bar B and stumbled upon an actual James Squire bar, with each of their main beers on tap… I stayed for one and vowed I would return one day.

Go ahead, enjoy summer and try another fine beer by James Squire.

Cheers,

Dave

Boags: A Trip Down Memory Lane

Recently I noticed in a picture on Facebook someone drinking a can of Boag’s Draught, except the can was white. They have been green for as long as I’ve been drinking so I guessed that the person has had it somewhere for 30 years and finally decided to drink it.

But on a recent visit to the Boag’s Centre for Beer Lovers I discovered that Boag’s is actually remaking the old-style cans for limited release.

Available in 24 packs and 30 blocks you can have the chance to collect a piece of Boag’s history.

I’ve tried to collect information about the style and history of the old can design but haven’t come up with anything yet.

Back when the cans did have this simple design they were yet to know of the great success they would have in the early 2000’s winning many international awards.

Boag’s Draught has undergone changes in recent years, mainly to lower the alcohol content to make it cheaper and another change to lower the sugar content.

Cheers,

Dave

A beer from a different time

100th Post

When I started this blog, I had no idea that it would run for this long let alone reach 100 posts.

I didn’t realise I had so much about beer to share and still have a lot more to talk about.

We have looked at beers from all over the world, including mainstream, craft and even ones that barely earn the name beer.

BeerFest continues to be my #1 event!

I’ve challenged myself to compare similar types, drink unusual quantities and keep you up to date on new beers that hit the market.

Some of my most memorable highlights have been the Christmas advent calendars and visiting the growing number of beer festivals in my local area.

A fun lead up to Christmas

The VB challenge didn't go to plan...

A bottleshop attendant recently told me that I should claim my beer purchases on tax, I wish I had thought of that a long time ago…

I will never forget my time in the land of the rising sun

I plan to keep doing Dave’s Beers of the World, one day soon I would even like to have some unique merchandise to give to my followers, all two of you.

Sometimes the boot needs to come out!

Anyway, I didn’t just write this to inflate my ego any more than it needs, I stumbled upon an early Christmas beer that I wanted to share with you.

Christmas has come early for me with Brewdog’s Hoppy Christmas, a festive IPA from Scotland.

Merry Christmas!

“Sitting at 7.2% this festive pale ale is an ode to one of our favourite hops. May hope flakes deck the halls and carpet the streets with the tangy sweet citrus aroma of papaya and pineapple. Hoppy Christmas is a single hop simcoe IPA, with a toasty caramel malt backbone, big tropical aromas, and a bitterness that lasts ‘til new year.”

Hopefully I can find a few more of these by December.

Cheers,

Dave

We made it to 100 posts!

Scary October Beers

October would have to be one of my most exciting months for beer, first you have Oktoberfest then if you can survive that, Halloween, not that it quite feels like it has taken off in Australia yet – I’m still looking for pumpkin beer – there is still the scary vibe that comes with it and luckily some spooky ales in the local bottleo’s.

First up is Rogue’s Dead Guy Ale, the name is morbid enough to classify for the scary category. For a 6.8% beer this had a rich taste, unlike anything I’ve ever had before.

This is a crazy tasting beer!

The description on the can read “Dead Guy Ale is a maibock style ale with a robust malt profile and a sweetness that is balanced by the liberal use of bittering hops.”

I’m sure a can of this could bring the dead to life.

To top it off I also got a Heretic’s Evil Cousin, an 8% double IPA.

Worth it!

I really liked this one, it had flavour and character, it reminds me of a joke about Tasmanian's where other Australian’s think we have two heads…

The can describes it as a resiny citrus and pine joy with an easy drinking malt character.

Both of these American craft beers were just two of many that I am starting to see pop up.

I’ll find some more scary ones to show you sometime soon.

Until then,

Cheers,

Dave