Comments on: When only the rest will do

By: pat

pat — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 23:32:10 +0000

drink more imperial stouts and life is fine

By: Liam

Liam — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:25:20 +0000

I think it reflects badly on the attitudes of people who are supposedly in the know about beer if lager/pilsner is looked upon as dull. It’s all horses for courses, obviously you’ll struggle to enjoy an imperial stout on a stinking hot day. Doesn’t mean we have to go back to drinking the yellow fizz, when there lots excellent examples of decent craft lagers abound?

I agree with the sentiment broadly, but I just can’t see how a can of XXXX could beat a proper pilsner? Cost and ease of acquisition aside. But I will agree that, push come to shove, the true test of a supposed beer expert is to enjoy those moments when a bottle of whatever is thrust into your hand, and all that matters is the people and refreshment, and not necessarily the contents of the bottle.

By: spicelab

spicelab — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 03:32:39 +0000

I think the big-for-big’s-sake phase has become a bit of a rite of passage for plenty of serious beer drinkers these days.

But I don’t believe that after the novelty wears off one is destined to revert back to 5%-ish easy drinking ales and lagers.

These days I’m finding highest drinkability to be found among quality hoppy ales in the 6–8% range and sours (broadly speaking) in the 5–6% range. These beers have signficantly more flavour and often more balance than many in the aforementioned category, and when brewed well, are no more trying or challenging for the palate.

By: KPax

KPax — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 02:21:59 +0000

Yes, but no.

Don’t get me wrong, if you find a pub with clean taps, even a Carlton Draught can be surprisingly refreshing, but it does bug me when I see people buy slabs of Carlton Cold when an extra $5 can buy you something pretty awesome.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 01:13:58 +0000

I’d have to agree. I think I’m now entering post beer retard stage. I had a mate bring beer over and panicked when at the bottle-o (according to his missus). He ended up buying fat yak (in the bottle, not fresh, but cold and hit the spot). I thanked him for it, and we quaffed away, before I introduced Vale IPA (which isn’t an IPA, but really accessible to non beer nerds).
On the flip side, I do want a hot weather beer, and appreciate a good boh-pils for that. Stefano’s, LC Pils, or Monteith’s Pils hit the spot. I grabbed a can of imported Becks and Heineken the other day, and found the Becks stale, but I still finished it.
I love Stone & Wood Pacific Ale for a good lawnmower beer as well.
Having said that, last year’s Melbourne Cup function for work, they had only Carlton Draught and Mid, or cheap wine on offer. Drinking mineral water and watching the girls get drunk was fun though.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 22:10:00 +0000

Absolutely right.

Never thought I’d want to brew a lager when I started home brewing, but just had the hankering for a Bo Pils during summer. Can’t wait for it to be ready.

By: Andy Graham

Andy Graham — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 02:38:06 +0000

Must agree with you Pete. A mate and I just got back from a 6 day farmhouse ale tour of Belgium. Fabulous beers and Belgian food, but after 3 days we were looking for the odd 5% pils to quench the thirst. Hard to imagine for many I guess, endless supply of superb beers and we just wanted a lager and a hotdog. Would never have entertained those thoughts before the trip. Certainly appreciate my own craft brewed beers even more.
Andy

By: Pete Mitcham

Pete Mitcham — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 07:13:30 +0000

OK. I might have to fire up a bit now. Hahn Super Dry? What about Big Helga, Stone & Wood Lager, Burleigh Duke Premium, Mildura Stephano’s Pilsner, Bohemian Pilsner, Mildura Mallee Bull, Who Have I Forgotten (insert favourite Aus craft lager here)?!!! Matt and I had lunch at Matilda Bay today and had a Port Lager which was just the ticket for a chat and beer. There are plenty of good beers from the Eve side of the family tree out there.

By: Angus

Angus — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 06:40:15 +0000

I understand where you’re coming from, but honestly I just cannot drink Australian lager any more. Maybe Hahn Super Dry, but honestly that’s it. Give me ale or give me death.

That said, I will agree that sometimes a Coopers Green will satisfy where a Sierra Nevada just wouldn’t.

By: Pete Mitcham

Pete Mitcham — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 05:15:42 +0000

Haven't necessarily turned a corner - more a case of me musing at simply needing something 'simple' at the time and then feeling 'odd' that I might be seen to feel that way. If that makes sense!?