Beer Cartel Xmas Advent Calendar 2018

I’ve been bragging about it, so I better let you know what’s going on.

This year I chose to go down a different path for the Christmas Countdown, having tried a local carton, an Australian one and one I’ve had made.

This year I chose Beer Cartel, they have a nicely decorated box for the beers and offered a pretty good discount for ordering online early $165 of beers and I paid about $115 – no postage either I don’t think.

Each year their beers are different and there are even tabs for each day, so the others are still a surprise until its time to open them. In the hole for the 24^th there are two cans, one for Christmas eve, the other for Christmas day which means there are 25 beers in this carton.

On top of all that, the Beer Cartel Facebook page each day is promoting which beer is inside – so don’t look until you have opened it already, they have a post with info of the beer and then a video of them drinking it – they are doing my work for me. I was going to drink each beer and update as often as I could but this year, I think I’ll enjoy the beer and share what they have to say.

Apparently, there is a special Christmas beer in here, I’m looking forward to getting to that one.

The carton is currently under the Christmas tree, each morning I get one out and put it in the fridge to enjoy later.

A panel for each day

This would be a good time to point out that ‘Dave’s Beers of the World’ does have a Facebook page – not sure if I ever mentioned that? – with the same name.

Please give it a like because I update it with my new blog posts, share funny beer insights and also keep you updated with what I find out in the world.

In the meantime, its early December and there are Christmas beers soon to be released, happy hunting beer drinkers.

Cheers,

Dave

Christmas is all about Advent Calendars!

World Class Collection 2018

Around this time of the year we start to see mixed packs of beer for sale which make great presents. You can sample a number of different beers in one pack.

One of my favourites has been the around the world pack – someone must have known that because I got one for my birthday.

This one has 12 beers from various parts of the world, from Asia to Europe, the US and of course Australia.

“What’s one of the first things you do when you visit a foreign country? You taste their beer, of course” Around the World Beer Box Passport (2018)

Here is what was inside:

Tiger

Singapore’s addition to the pack, a beer known around the world, smaller bottle at 330mls but stronger at 5%.

Lowenbrau

Germany’s “Lion’s Brew” brewed in Munich, it is one of six beers that can only be served at Oktoberfest which is pretty special – this is a fine example of what is available in Europe.

Molson Canadian

Canada’s flagship beer, as pure as Canada is this smooth beer makes me feel like I want to visit this amazing place and see what else is has to offer, another 5%er.

Chang

Thailand is in the pack with a 5% beer that is meant to pair well with spicy food, a lager at heart.

Coors

This is one of the most popular beers in the United States, I don’t think it’s reputation has quite carried overseas, it reminds me of VB, an iconic beer but is often joked about.

Miller Chill

A weaker beer but with a lime twist, went down way too well, it is low in carbs too so that will help with me trying to lose weight.

Estrella

Brewed in Barcelona since 1876 this beer has some history, they have perfected their brewing methods to produce a fine product to represent Spain.

Dos Equis

Only until recently I learned how to pronounce this properly… apparently it sounds like ‘doseki’ when I was saying something completely different. A refreshing Mexican beer that goes well with tacos and fajitas

Asahi

This is a bit more familiar, a taste of Japan, Asahi is Japan’s #1 selling beer. This pack used to have Sapporo in it as well but that has been replaced, a bit of a shame since Sapporo is close to me (where I used to live anyway).

Hoegaarden

Belgium, you can’t have a world beer pack without a Belgium beer, that would be like making a Star Wars movie and not including R2D2 and C3PO. This beer was first brewed in the 1400’s to survive that long it must be doing something right.

Yenda Crisp

This is Australia’s donation to the pack, I haven’t had much to do with Yenda, it wasn’t a bad beer but I think there are a few other more suited beers that could go in this box.

Vonu

Last of all is Vonu, this is a new introduction to the box and the only one I haven’t had before. A product of Fiji this was a clean and nice tasting beer, made with less gluten and less carbs than most beers, the name means turtle which symbolises peacefulness and longevity.

These beers aren’t in here by accident. They are hand selected by BWS/ Dan Murphy's who use beers that they themselves stock. It even comes with a cool little passport for you to read as you drink your way around the world.

Cheers,

Dave

VB Gold

Well VB has reared its ugly head here again to show its younger brother, VB Gold.

Apparently, people are still drinking this product, so I thought I should share my thoughts with you.

Don’t get me wrong, VB is an iconic Australian beer that has been high in sales for a long time, it’s just not one of my favourites, but when I visit Melbourne, I do have one or two to be part of that ‘when in rome’ type.

VB Gold first up is a mid-strength, right now you would be thinking… wait… isn’t that a bit too close to XXXX Gold… you would be right.

How does VB Gold stack up to XXXX Gold?

XXXX Gold:

Alc %: 3.5

Standard Drinks: 1

Cost: $17.49 (6-pack at Dan Murphy’s)

Tastes like: An acceptable mid strength beer

VB Gold:

Alc %: 3

Standard Drinks: .9

Cost: $16.99 (6-pack at Dan Murphy’s)

Tastes like: VB

The criticism of VB Gold is that CUB dropped the alcohol content without informing its customers (going from 3.5% to 3%) this has enraged the few left that still drink it. Lower alcohol means less tax to pay by the brewery, CUB have done this before with VB and I bet they regretted that decision, after years of backlash they returned to the old recipe.

The choice is yours, if you want to drink a mid-strength then XXXX Gold is at the top of the list for Australian beers, but if you like the taste of VB then go ahead and have a VB Gold.

Cheers,

Dave

(This post is done tongue in cheek, VB is one of those beers that does have a strong following of lovers and not so lovers, it is a beer that is the butt of many jokes and I’m happy to continue that tradition in the interest of healthy beer banter.)

Wakachangi Lager

With all these Australian beers lately, I thought I should venture out a bit.

New Zealand isn’t too far away but I’ve had a good one I want to share.

One on of my many trips to a bottleshop in Tasmania I noticed the packaging of Wakachangi Lagers 6-pack, featuring a scene that looks like its from some crazy kind of movie, a man is holding a lady while trying to fend off a guinea pig? It stood out for me.

The next day I’m on a plane to Melbourne and reading the magazine tucked in the seat and some beer connoisseur recommends this beer.

The signs were starting to fall into place, so when I see one, I get it, I have to try it.

Wakachangi Lager is a nice craft beer that was founded by comedian Leigh Hart, as a bit of a joke there is a comment on the 6-pack and carton saying “With the beast’s razor sharp tusks at his throat, Great Uncle Kenny drew his BBQ mate and slew the rare but ferocious guinea pig, thereby saving his Tinder date (Peru 1936)”

All jokes aside this is a good brew that has fortunately reached Australian shores, check it out and have a laugh while you drink it, you won’t be disappointed.

Cheers,

Dave

The image on the packaging

Frothy

Matilda Bay are well known for their Yak range of beers, I bet this new one will become a staple soon too, Frothy.

In the plainest can of beer I’ve ever seen lies a crafty kind of beer that is quenching thirsts and leaving a frothy moustache.

CUB is behind this ‘simple’ beer to challenge the growing in popularity Furphy (made by Lion), time will tell if it stacks up against it.

Using local ingredients this ‘session ale’ has everything good going for it, at 4.2% it is a little weaker than standard beers – which is where session beers help you drink more.

I’ve had one so far and it was nice.

It's on tap too!

I suggest you have a session of frothy’s for yourself and see what you think.

Cheers,

Dave

Crown Lager Summer Reserve

Crown are once again experimenting with a different flavour, this time releasing a ‘Summer Reserve’ called Crown Pale Lager.

Crown was originally brewed by CUB to commemorate the arrival of the Queen to Australia, I thought it was fitting that they release this beer on my latest trip to Victoria.

At 4.6% it is well rounded and comes in the classic Crown Lager shaped bottle, the label is a nice shade of blue.

I like getting Crowns to celebrate something, this one on first taste had all the hallmarks of Crown, it had a clean malt flavour and went down well.

While doing my research I couldn’t find many positive reviews about it which is unfortunate, most people commenting it lacked flavour.

It is a limited release and I think a good idea from CUB, I suggest you get one before they disappear.

Cheers,

Dave

Carlton Zero

Carlton have now released not one but two new beers to their large collection.

I picked up some Carlton Zero to try.

This beer on first taste had a very distinctive bitter Carlton flavour.

It went down pretty well actually, so well that I drank the whole six-pack really quick.

But there was something different about this beer, something was off…

I had no buzz…

I thought I had built up a pretty good alcohol tolerance over the years, but it turns out the Zero part of Carlton Zero is that it contains no alcohol…

NO ALCOHOL…

What have I done?

It looked like beer, it even tasted like beer… but it wasn’t quite beer.

I can see that there are people out there who would want to drink what looks like beer and still be able to drive and walk in a straight line, but this still gives you beer breath, probably not good if you get pulled over on the way home.

The price point for this product is more than some light beers, I guess time will tell whether it takes off.

Cheers,

Dave

Coopers Session Ale

Session Ales are becoming a thing apparently.

Coopers have jumped on the bandwagon and come up with their own version, I’ve got to say, I think this is their best beer yet!

It has been 14 years since Coopers have released a new beer and staying true to their other proper brews make sure you gently stir up the contents to get the sediment at the bottom swirling around to get the full flavour back.

With a light blue colouring on the cans and stubbies it contains citrus aromas, fruity overtones, mild bitterness and a distinctive Coopers flavours using their traditional yeast.

Session beers are known to be weaker brews that can be consumed in large quantities, often around 3.5%. Coopers Session Ale is 4.2% so it will still be a pretty good session with this crafty beer.

This is one beer you should have a session on.

Cheers

Dave

Carlton Dry Hard Lager

Carlton have gone hard, they have a new version of Carlton Dry, this one stands tall over all their beers.

At 6.5% this beer is two standard drinks, in cans it has hit bottleshops hard and has wowed Carlton fans.

The price increase matches the alcohol content of the beer, at first taste I had forgotten how long it had been since I had drank a ‘dry’ beer, the taste is unlike any other. By the time I had dominated the can I was feeling it. I could only imagine that if you go for a whole 6-pack this will make your day!

Toohey's tried something similar a while back with Toohey's Extra Dry Platinum, a revolution at the time its initial sales were positive and was different in that it was selling in eight packs. After a while and an alcohol percentage drop it disappeared, I wonder how long Carlton Dry Hard will last?

Dry beers are different because the carbs or sugars have been fully broken down during the brewing process, removing any sweet flavours, a unique taste but one that has its own following.

Go hard or go home, be like Carlton and go hard!

Cheers,

Dave

Birra Moretti

Premium Lager Imported from Italy

I knew Italians made beer too, but this is the first one I know I’ve had so far.

A distinctive European feel I was first amazed by the strong beer whiff I got when I popped the lid off.

You can see the globalisation behind the beer industry with the label stating it was imported by Heineken Lion Australia, ties to Holland, Japan and beyond.

I wonder what other treasures Italy has in store?

It’s because of this though that we can get access to gems like this and without there wouldn’t be a Dave’s Beers of the World.

At 4.6% it was a real beer from a company that has been around since 1859.

It has a nice colour and feel to it.

One story behind the moustached man on the label is that the owners saw a man with a moustache sitting at a bar and asked if he could get a picture, the man allowed him on the condition he would be rewarded with beer – a good idea.

It boasts positive reviews online, if you want to sample a real Italian Beer with a proud history of supplying the masses then look for this.

Cheers,

Dave

Feral Brewing Co. Warhog American IPA

It’s time to fix bayonets and jump out of the foxholes!

I wish R Lee Ermey was still around because he would make this sound much more exciting…

Brewed out of Western Australia, this 7.5% American style IPA kicks more than an M16 at full auto.

I especially love the thought put into the beers description on the can:

“Prepare to be tagged and bagged as this Full Metal Jacket of an IPA rains an apocalyptic, resinous hellfire of clustered hops and passionfruit aromas upon the senses. There’s nowhere to hide so gear up, sound off, and blast “Ride of the Valkyries” at full volume, because soldier, you’re at war. We love the taste of IPA in the morning.”

I'm salivating at the thought of having more of these!

Next time you feel in the mood to put a war movie on I highly recommend you have some of these cold ready to go.

Unfortunately its only a batch release so it won’t be around forever.

Check the Drill Sergeant at his best:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZYlXEUo-Lo

Cheers,

Dave

Monteith's The Barber Lager

I’ve known of the Monteith’s for a while but for their cider, a good quality product.

When I saw that they made beer too I jumped at the chance to have one.

New Zealand beer is hard to come by, I haven’t had too many before, so I was curious about what this craft beer had to offer.

A late-hopped West Coast lager which has been made with an interesting choice of NZ, German and US hops.

This is the Dan Murphy’s review for it “Monteith''s Barber Lager is a smooth crafted lager producing citrus hop notes with hints of orange zest and grapefruit with a crisp bitterness. Brewed with selected lager malts, this has a rounded mouthfeel with a refreshing finish.”

It hasn’t been reviewed too nicely online, Rate Beer reviewers have mostly been disappointed, untapped reviewers have been a little kinder.

I did like drinking this one, it went down well, in a craft beer world of Pale Ales, IPA’s, IIPA’s and the like I haven’t come across many lagers.

If you want to taste a good New Zealand craft beer, then get onto this.

Cheers,

Dave

NZ looks like a good place to visit

4 Pines Pale Ale

Here is a fine example of what a love for beer and the environment can produce, based in NSW, 4 

Pines Brewing Company was born from a lack of good local beer.

A father and son after surfing one day got the idea to make their own beer.

The Pale Ale is the first of their beers that I have had the pleasure of sampling, an American style pale ale, it has hop-driven aromas of citrus, pine and grapefruit.

Made with a variety of ‘fruity’ hops, including simcoe, cascade, amarillo and citra it has a lot of flavour.

The four pine trees that are their logo are beside the water according to a picture on their site about the origin story, a picturesque view. They also have an interesting mascot who is creeping around their site, a furry yeti who also features on some of their merchandise.

Their aim is to look after the environment, the pine trees, so that they are around for future generations, they have a Save the Pines campaign to make their production as environmentally safe as possible – through recycling left over biproducts of the brewing process.

Get around this good-natured brewery, I’ll let you know about their other ones when I find them.

Cheers,

Dave

James Boag's Wild Rivers

It has been about eighteen months since we were graced with a new Boag’s Beer, Oscar’s Run, at the Esk Beerfest in 2017.

Oscar didn’t run very far though and wasn’t seen past one of my favourite events of the year.

Boag’s identified a gap in the market so spent seven months coming up with something new, they did have a few gaps fillers a few years ago but went with something completely new.

I present to you Wild Rivers, a new refreshing lager inspired by the wild rivers and waterfalls of Tasmania.

It pours well and has a nice colour

For now, only available at the Centre for Beer Lovers across the road from the brewery before it hits the bottleshops.

Before getting in to sample this I had heard people’s thoughts, is it a remake of Boag’s Pure?

Here’s what I’ve found out:

It does taste like Boag’s Pure but has more of a malt profile.

It has been made with aromatic hops, including cascade.

Only available in stubbies for now, popularity will determine whether it goes to kegs or not.

It will go Australia wide.

It has a very distinctive lager feel to it.

After being one of the first to try it I picked up a six-pack to take home.

Ready for sale

There was a launch yesterday to promote Wild Rivers, my invite must have been lost in the mail.

This is a nice, new, amazing product by Boag’s, I’ll be sure to support it and I hope you like it as I do.

Cheers,

Dave

Hound Dog Lager

A fun trend for venues is to have their own beer, this is something I’m very fond of.

Recently I visited Cataract on Paterson in Launceston because I wanted to sample their own beer and cooking my own steak on a hot stone.

I also wanted to have one of their mega desserts, but I didn’t get that far this time.

Hound Dog Lager is Cataract’s exclusive beer, available on tap and in a stubby.

Brewed by Little Rivers, a well-known Tasmanian Craft Brewer they have produced a fun new beer that is a compliment to the intriguing restaurant.

It has a “straw like colour and a light body that finishes with a delicate bitterness”

If you dine there and enjoy it you can even get takeaways.

I recommend you head to Cataract on Paterson and try some of their unique experiences yourself, including the beer.

Cook your own steak on a hot stone

Cheers,

Dave