Holgate handcrafted in the beautiful Macedon Ranges
By Rocky | May 4, 2008
The Holgate Brewhouse is a small independent brewery from beautiful Woodend in the Macedon Ranges about 45 minutes drive from Melbourne, Australia. This brewery makes some best full flavoured ales and lagers in the state all brewed traditionally from the finest ingredients. The brewery makes a range of beers they have a very European tasting Pilsner which has a clean malty palette and floral hop aroma, an ale which uses Vienna malt. They have a extra special bitter or ESB which has a special blend of crystal and roasted malts combined with Fuggles and Goldings hops to deliver a lovely copper brew. There’s a white ale or Wit Bier, a very tasty dark winter ale and two new varieties, Big Red Lager which offers a Vienna style lager and a beer called Double Trouble, and the name says it all, this beer has a 8.0% alcohol volume and a real kick, It’s a Belgium style Abbey Ale which is to be sipped not guzzled- very tasty indeed- but be careful it packs a good punch. The brewery has won a host of prestigious medals at the Australian International Beer Awards over the last few years and once you try their delicious brews you will soon see why. The beers are available in bottle form and fresh from the tap from many bottleshops, bars, restaurants and pubs around Victoria or straight from the brewery which is well worth a visit- they have restaurant, conference facilities and even boutique accommodation.
Topics: Australia | No Comments »
Bridge Road Brewers in Ned Kelly Country
By Rocky | May 2, 2008
The town of Beechworth in the high country of Victoria, Australia is known for the courthouse and local prison where one of Australia’s most iconic legends Ned Kelly spent time, and that’s why Ned in his armor plated helmet is featured on Bridge Road Brewerers range of premium microbrewed beers. This small brewery is open to the public and features a small beer garden and some tasty gourmet food including the high country’s best gourmet pizza to enjoy whilst tasting one of the seven rich and tasty beers. Beechworth is one of Victoria’s old gold towns in its hey day there were some 42,000 residents and 61 hotels, today the town is home to only about 3200 but the locals certainly have one of the state’s best beer’s. The brewery started in 2005 and produces a Pale Ale, Bavarian Wheat Ale, Dark Ale, Australian Ale and Celtic Red Ale they also make two extra premium products called the Chevalier range which are sold in 750ml champagne style bottles- a lovely beer for a special occasion. All beers are brewed without any nasty chemicals and the brewery uses traditional bottle conditioning and no pasteurization or filtration so there’s plenty of rich and delicious taste.
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A Thirsty Bear and some great Paella
By Rocky | April 25, 2008
When traveling through San Francisco recently we came across a great little microbrewery and Spanish restaurant which had a magnificent collection of freshly brewed beers many named after bears. The Thirsty Bear Brewing Company make nine varieties including a Polar Bar Lager which is a Munich style golden Pilsner which is very tasty. Then there is the Brown Bear Ale, which is delicious with a bit of a classic English taste and malty aroma. They have a India Pale Ale named after their street Howard Street which is quiet bitter and very crisp while the Kozolv Stout is very smooth and strong just like the Irish love it. All the beers are organic and have no nasty chemicals and all grains etc are sustainable which is not only good for the earth but good for your body. Even their packaging and waste is recycled- these guys not only make good beer but care about our precious world’s resources. The beer is conditioned in cask and if you visit on Tuesday evenings the new batch is tapped and absolutely delicious. We should also mention the great food- they would have to have the best Chorizo sausages in San Francisco- if not the all of USA and the Paella is to die for. If you are ever in Frisco- do your self a flavour and call in.
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Red Duck handcrafted beers
By Rocky | March 12, 2008
Every here and there you try a new beer and it’s got something special well the Red Duck is one of them brewed in a microbrewery in Purrumbete in the Western District of Victoria on Australia’s southern coast Red Duck is made from natural ingredients and rain water. They are naturally carbonated in the bottle giving them a rich yeasty and malt flavor. The small brewery operates out of an old dairy stable and coach house which was built in the 1870’s adding to the charm. They brew several beer styles including a pale ale, an amber ale (our favorite), a bright ale, porter and some special varieties including Honey Porter, Imperial Stout, Strong Bitter and Celtic Ale. You will be pushed to find the beer outside of Victoria, but the effort is well worth it- the beer is one of the states best micro brews. If you are in the region look out for it.
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