Four Loko

This blog post is a bit different, for a change it’s not something I’ve tried but something I’ve heard about and really want to try.

Is it a beer though?

From what I’ve learned, Four Loko is a malt alcohol flavoured energy drink (energy beer), basically a beer and a red bull? I don’t know if I should be excited or very scared.

Look at all the colours... drool

The name itself, Loko means crazy in Spanish, does that tell you all you need to know?

Around since 2005 it is from the US after some College guys started making it in their basement before making it for general sale.

Its reputation seems to proceed it, one reddit user once saying, “It’s disgusting, Gets you drunk on one can, Fucked up on two, And by three your rampaging the streets looking like a total joke blacked out.”

There is an Australian Facebook page that sells it, I’m going to try and get a hold of one or two or three. An issue with it being hard to get here being what has been in it, it used to contain Wormwood among other things - the stuff in absinthe that makes you hallucinate. Its potency has made it infamous in the US and beyond. 

It is infamous because of its strength 

 

See how to make it yourself here: https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/03/faux-loko-the-diy-drink-i-really-shouldnt-be-telling-you-about/

Cheers,

Dave

Old Speckled Hen

Another fine UK Beer has made its way to Australia, Old Speckled Hen is labelled as a ‘fine English ale’.

Made with a variety of quality ingredients its aroma and taste have been taken into great consideration to churn out a fine product.

Aroma: Malty, toffee, lightly roasted

Taste: Abundance of malts and distinctive toffee character

This beer came in 1979 about to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the MG Car Factory in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. An MG run-around car that the staff used that got covered in specks of paint over the years was the inspiration of the name behind the beer. According to my source though there could be another story behind the naming of it though.

The ownership of the beer has changed hands since, but it is still being brewed and distributed around the world.

Add caption

In January 1993, Old Speckled Hen was considered the beer of the month by Michael Jackson, an important name in beer drinking (not the moon walking Michael).

At 5% it has some strength along with good flavour, made with a variety of interesting malts (crystal and pale) and hops (Challenger, Pilgrim, First Gold and Goldings) the label recommends drinking it with English roasts, sausages and pies.

If you are looking for a traditional English brew then get your lips around this, I found it at Dan Murphy’s.

Cheers,

Dave

A real Speckled Hen

James Squire New Special Releases

I’m back from my Melbourne trip and have some beer news to share.

James Squire have their own bar, I’ve been there once before, and it wasn’t on purpose.

Coming from a bar after drowning my sorrows from my football team losing a couple of years ago I was heading to another place to meet up with some people.

I was really needing to get rid of some of the beer that was now in my bladder and walked (raced) into a hotel, in too much of a hurry to take much notice as I went in I went straight to the men’s room.

Once I was relieved I was level headed again and feeling bad for using the facilities I thought it would be rude not to have a drink there before moving on.

Going to one of the bars in the hotel I looked at the selection of tap beers and realise there are a lot of James Squire beers available.

Every JS beer on tap!

Usually bars have one or two on tap, but this was crazy, every beer there was James Squire.

Then I realise the name of the Hotel as I look at a menu.

The Crafty Squire.

After having one beer before moving on I made a pact that I would return.

They have a bottle shop too!

On this occasion I got a couple of trips in and was lucky to sample two beers that aren’t going to make it for regular sale around the country.

Pound of Pepper Imperial Pilsner:

Luckily this beer isn’t made with pepper, its how James Squire name their beers, to tell a story of its creator, a convict. James once stole a pound of pepper to make his signature beer. I believe this beer is made at the pub which is special and at 7.1% it had a nice non-peppery bite to it.

Lo Phi Pina Colada Sour:

I’m not sure about the James Squire story behind the name of this beer but it was made for the GABS Beer Festival – I’ll have to do a post on it one day – and some remained to sell at the Crafty Squire. Only at 4% this colourful and tropical beer is inspired by a Pina colada with added coconut and pineapple flavours. I think I’ve said it before but I’m starting to enjoy sour beers now, this is a good one.

I doubt these beers will be seen out of the Crafty Squire so if you are lucky enough to get to Melbourne in the near future go and check the place out and immerse yourself in the world of James Squire.

Cheers,

Dave

Brekeriet Alpha Beta

I haven’t been to Sweden before but luckily Sweden came to me. 

This craft beer is crazy, a Berliner Weisse (cloudy, sour usually weak beer made in Germany since the 16th century). 

Check out the colour!

Get this, the beer has passionfruit, beetroot, lime and vanilla.

Passionfruit and lime have always been good flavours for beer but beetroot and vanilla???

Beetroot is great in hamburgers and I will admit it makes for a good dip?

On the other hand, vanilla goes great with coke and icecream.

This beer was indeed sour, and it had a flavour unlike anything I’ve ever had before.

It wasn’t weak though, at 4.7% it is the strength of a regular beer.

If Swedish brewers can come up with this, I wonder what else they make over there?

I picked this up from Crown Cellars for about $10, it was worth a try!

Cheers,

Dave

Swedish things look good!

I will be on the search for more Swedish beer!

Little Rivers Imperial Darth Lager

Tasmanian Craft Brewers are joining the fray and adding their own touch to Star Wars themed brews.

Yes, I’m writing about another Star Wars beer, no, I’m not over them, haha.

Based in Scottsdale, Tasmania, Little Rivers has many really nice beers churning out to the masses, they already had a European Dark Lager which they increased in strength and used the Dark Side of the force when they bottled it.

Using a variety of European malts this beer has roasted coffee and dark chocolate notes and at 9% is a fun thing to drink while it’s cold here in the deep south.

I found this beer over at Tandy’s Ale House, another Craft Beer Bar in Launceston.

Can you feel it?

The pull to the Dark Side?

Darth Vader is calling…

He wants you to join him…

Cheers,

Dave

James Squire The Wreck Preservation Ale

1797 was a long time ago, but it was the year when the ship, the Sydney Cove, sunk after it failed to navigate Bass Strait.

Fast forward to 2018 and I’m at Saint John Craft Beer drinking The Wreck Preservation Ale, made from yeast recovered from the same wreck of the Sydney Cove.

First of all, it wasn’t the same yeast from the wreck, but yeast engineered to match living yeast that was found underwater 200 years later and used to create a dark porter that brewers believed would be close to what the beer originally tasted like.

An awesome event!

Divers who examined the wreck found bottles of beer intact, in a lab it was found some had seawater inside, but one was found still sealed, with yeast alive inside.

James Squire got the rights to make something with the genetically created yeast and came up with Preservation Ale.

In exclusive tastings around the country, the beer that failed to make it to Sydney reached its destination and many others around the country. So far in a one-off brew of 5000 litres it was made available to beer enthusiasts.

Local craft beer bar, Saint John Craft Beer got eight kegs of this intriguing brew and managed to sell around 220 tickets to a tasting event.

As one of the first inside I was handed a cool little card to exchange for a beer, getting a schooner I examine the glass of dark brew, it smells good, it tastes unlike anything I’ve ever had.

My special card

Once I finish it I feel a bit empty thinking that was my only taste, but I was wrong, you could buy more, as much as you could drink.

Needless to say, I finished the night with quite a few going down very well.

Beer and burgers! yes!

It was an incredible experience, I’m glad I could share it with you.

Cheers,

Dave

Cheers!

Furphy

Definition 

‘a rumour or story, especially one that is untrue or absurd.’

Look at those, I'm drooling just thinking about it

This Victorian beer has been brewed with the heart and soul of Geelong, out of an old mill.

Made with Victorian hops and malt this is a fruity, malty tasting brew that is to be had while spinning a few furphy’s.

This beer has been out for a little while and I’ve been meaning to try it, I think it’s a funny name for a beer but I’m glad I finally got one. 

Not like any regular ale

Furphy is a part of the Little Creatures line up, known for Dog Days and Pale Ale.

It is great that a region has combined its best ingredients to come up with something remarkable and is proud to display a big V on its logo – for Victoria.

Available on tap and in stubbies and cans this is one you must try if you can get a hold of it.

Cheers,

Dave