THAT"S a beer..........
Malt Shovel James Squire Original Amber Ale
Origin: New South Wales, Australia
Style: Amber Ale
Alcohol: 5.0% ABV
James Squire, from Kingston near London, was transported as a convict to Botany Bay, Australia, in 1787, and is said to have become the first professional brewer in the then-colony. He had a pub called the Malt Shovel. The brewery now bearing this name was established in Sydney in 1988. It was founded by American brewer Chuck Hahn, who runs it as a part of the Australasian group Lion Nathan. Its amber ale has a light but distinct hoppy aroma and a delicate balance of flavors. It is soft bodied, with clean, creamy, malt flavors; a lightly spicy, dryish, cinnamon-like hop character; and a restrained, melony fruitiness. Very refreshing.
Matilda Bay Redback Original
Origin: Western Australia
Style: South German Wheat Beer
Alcohol: 4.7% ABV
The Redback is a poisonous spider indigenous to Australia. The implication of danger perhaps adds to the youthful appeal of this innocent but refreshingly tasty wheat beer. This beer has undergone some changes over the years, but it remains one of the most distinctive brews in Australia. There are few wheat beers in Australia, and this was the first. It has a vanilla-like aroma; a smooth but definite, oily clove note; and a lemony, crisp, spritzy finish.
Tooheys Old Black Ale
Origin: New South Wales, Australia
Style: Old Ale
Alcohol: 4.4% ABV
Irish-Australian brothers founded the Tooheys brewery in Sydney in the mid 1800's. It became known as the city's "Catholic" brewery and is now a part of the national group Lion Nathan. Tooheys has maintained the tradition of an Old Ale, which was once brewed north of Sydney in the city of Newcastle. Tooheys Old has a modest alcohol content, and a light but smooth body. The flavors are very gentle, but there are touches of bitter chocolate, cream, and oloroso sherry spiciness, nuttiness, and fruitiness. It finishes toasty and dry.
Thomas Cooper was a Methodist preacher from Yorkshire, England, who emigrated to Australia in 1852 and started a brewery in Adelaide. Coopers is the last of Australia's old-established family breweries. It's Sparkling Ale (which, quite cloudy) had a bronze-red color until about 1980. Now, it has a full, golden hue. It is quenching, classic, fruity (with suggestions of apples, pears, and especially bananas), and dry, with a long finish.
