Archive for November, 2008

Three Ravens 55 American Pale Ale

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

Definitely beer weather today: 35° and a north wind. Almost any cold beer would have tasted good today. Though I am a little biased against anything with an American flag on it, I wasn’t tempted by alternatives, and my resolve was rewarded.

Poured into the glass it had a beautiful dark amber colour, slightly cloudy with an even white head. I was already feeling good about this. Getting closer now, a pleasant, clean aroma and on the tongue there was a powerful citrus bitterness – mmmm!

More careful inspection failed to reveal much in the way of floral tones, but there’s a good hard hit of liquorice malt to balance it out. I have always associated American styles with too much sugar and not enough character, so this is either out of character or out of the box. Well worth a try.

They say:

Pale golden appearance, Floral piney aromatics, Five hop flavours, Five species malt blend

The bare facts:

The Three Ravens Brewing Company
1 Theobold Street, Thornbury, Victoria 3071
www.3ravens.com.au

Crackenback Pale Ale : Snowy Mountains Brewery

Sunday, November 9th, 2008

I love the Australian Alps. Fly fishing a crystal clear stream, taking a break for lunch with a cold beer, you wouldn’t be anywhere else in the world. So, I approached this evocatively named beer with some enthusiasm. After all, it’s a Pale Ale, a style which I have come to favour – and a nice label – I’m a sucker for a good design!

I have to say (as I slurp the last of the stubby), that it fails to deliver – at least on my lofty expectations. We have a clean, well balanced Pale Ale. The characteristics are there, but slightly lacking punch. There is the bitterness of citrus peel, but without the fragrance. There is hops, without the bouquet.

A really good beer has a signature – something you recognise like an old friend when you take that first mouthful. Crackenback doesn’t have that.

They say:

Crackenback Pale Ale, our flagship beer, is an award winning pale ale that embodies the classic style of Australian Pale Ale (sic). Brewed with two-row malted barley and lightly kilned specialty malt, giving it a golden to amber colour, the bright perky maltiness is perfectly balanced by a delectable aroma and bitterness from three types of hops. (etc…)

What?!? There was malt in there? hmm, must have been spread a bit thin!

Snowy Mountains Brewery
303/10-12 Clarke St. Crows Nest, NSW 2065
www.snowymountainsbrewery.com.au