Arctic Fox English Pale Ale

Oh dear.

This is a diplomatic nightmare.

An Australian brewer has produced 2 Ales, one of American heritage and the other of English. The English beer is significantly more watery and tame than the American. This is likely to cause major offence, enough to even have us excommunicated from the Commonwealth.

Well, maybe it's not so bad after all then.

This is really disappointing. Imagine a 4 year old in the front row of a Wiggles gig after a full set, with 3 encores, and STILL no Wake Up Jeff. This is my face right now, while drinking this beer.

There are some malty, toffee like flavours in here but all in all it's a very watery, bland affair. It doesn't make sense.

Watery, clean beers are not supposed to be English Ales. It's kind of like someones crushed up some biscuits and toffee into a Eastern European Pilsner.

4/10

Arctic Fox American Pale Ale

This is the first beer I have sampled from Victoria's Arctic Fox Brewery. I have seen the beers around before but never gone for one as the label always looked a bit tacky. 'Arctic Fox' kinda sounds like the name of a cheap pre-mixer company that puts out artificially flavoured Passionfruit Vodkas, made with 'vodka' that a homeless Russian man would even turn his nose at.

The label states that there is 'nothing subtle about this beer and refers to everything in it as 'big'. Big floral, big malt, big hops. So the dog barks quite loudly from the yard. Those new to the area would still most likely get a surprise, like your mate who always tries one of your 'weird' beers and pulls a strange face and then asks "Do you have a Draughtie or something?". However those familiar with the territory will peep over the fence to discover a small Pomeranian with a big pair of lungs.

To cut a story short, there is more bark than bite.

The floral and citrus tones are there, moderately. It's the malt and hops that don't bang down the door like they do in other American Pale's. The bitter aftertaste comes on strong, but just doesn't go the distance. It's the depth and presence that this beer lacks compared to it's counterparts.

Good beer, but it's more shadowboxing than hitting the button.

6/10

Lobethal Bierhaus American Pale Ale

Bravo Lobethal Bierhaus. Folks we have here another World Class Australian micro brewery. This is the second of their stable that I've taken out on the track and both are winners.

Like the Pilsner, this is darker and cloudier than the normal make of its class. Almost like an ominous storm is brewing inside your glass. There are different beads of colour floating around inside, like you get with Chimay beers.

It's heavy and highly bitter with some sweet malty tones to it. It differs from the Pilsner in that it is thicker in flavour and less refreshing. Not as sessionable but great on it's own. Some of the better American Pale Ale's I've had are light and vibrant, whereas this is more grizzly.

If this American Pale Ale were a person it would be one of those dudes with the giant beards on the Gettysburg movie poster.

8.5/10

Lobethal Bierhaus Bohemian Philsner

The Pilsner game done changed.

Take everything you knew about the European Pilsner and throw it out the window.

Maybe I've been sleeping under a rock and this is just the style, but this 'Bohemian' Pilsner (named Phil-sner after one of the brewers) is from another planet.

It's body is dense and far from watery. It has a sweet maltyness to it, somewhat reminscent of a Belgian Trappist beer, before a bitter Lager hop finish.

I'm not sure if I've had a Bohemian Pilsner before, none that have openly advertised it anyway. I've had Czech Pilsners, the modern incarnation of the term 'Bohemian', but nothing has matched this South Australian interpretation. This is my type of Pilsner. This is awesome. It's deep and spicy and everything a normal Pilsner isn't.

A new world has been discovered. As others before me... like those who deserted their homeland for the pursuit of new riches, the Columbuses, Cooks, and Abletts.

The Bohemian Pilsner.

Win.

8.5/10

William's Organic Pale Ale

This is a 'certified organic' pale ale from the William Bull Brewery who also brought us the Red Angus Pilsner, which I sampled earlier in the challenge.

This is one of those citrusy ales that sometimes get labelled with 'Golden'. It's maybe a touch misleading, even though you do get citrusy style pale ales, there are some elements lacking in this one. There is no layer of malt to thicken the flavour, so it ends up weak and flimsy, and unlike a boxing kangaroo, there is also no hoppy punch.

It just isn't MY type of Pale Ale when it comes down to it. 'Pale' isn't just referring to the colour, in this instance it refers to the entire experience. Thin, pale, weak. This beer needs to go outside and live a little more.

I suppose we will start seeing more of this though. Typical 'craft' styles of beer become watered down to draw the average punter away from his Draught or Euro Lager.

5/10

Sierra Nevada Porter

Order has it's chaos. Superman has his kryptonite. The Richmond Football Club has it's september.

We all have chinks in our armour somewhere. I will readily admit that Porters and Stouts are an area where I have seldom ventured. It's one of those once bitten twice shy things. As a youngster, when it was more about forcing beers down for the after effect rather than enjoyment, I really didn't like my first Porter or Stout.

But there comes a time when we must move past these prior experiences and launch head first into a new world. And what a better way to do it than with a Sierra Nevada.

Bare with me, as I'm new to this, but the whole feel to this beer is 'burnt' if that makes sense. The malts taste charred, the toffee/cocoa seared... and the hops are also well cooked to form a bitter finish. But like a scorched snag on a hot summers day, it still feels right.

Sierra Nevada beers all have this amazing refreshing feel to them, as if they were brewed with water melted from an untouched Antarctic Iceberg that was then blessed by a monk.

Good beer. Deep, purposeful, refreshing.

7.5/10

Doss Blockos Pale Lager

This beer actually comes with individual brown paper bags to help you avoid the po-po, a humorous and interesting touch where packaging comes in. I like it. Packaging and branding is an area where the craft brewing crowd could do with a little more creativity. I'm by no means tarring them all with the same brush, but there are many bland, uncreative and let's admit - outdated- labels to be found.

Within the brown paper bag lies an interesting wrap around the bottle. There is a european street art style image that looks almost like a brunette being spanked by a blonde whose hand is on fire. I imagine even the German porn industry would struggle with that one. The label on this beer also tells a strange story about squatters in New York. It's too long to recap here, but out of left field nonetheless.

The beer itself is simple. Pale malts and cascade hops. The body is light, the carbonation fast but sharp. Nothing that really sounds that exciting on paper but where this beer excels is in the execution. The bullets are small, but with the aim of Tom Berenger in Snipers.

It's very easy to drink, and has more body than you normally get with your average Pilsner. It doesn't wow and excite and stand out like an Alfa Romeo, but rather be reliable and steadfast like a Toyota.

Solid beer.

7/10