Help with the fencing

A Beautiful and Unique Snowflake

Hanna Banero and the Cabbage Kids

"I Was Born On a Pirate Ship"

Pug Dog Origins

Cabinet Reshuffle

Four Left Feet

Who Invited U

The Exotic Beer Mega-Review #1

And now for something completely different…

This week, with your permission, dearest reading several, I’d like to try something a little different. Rather than reviewing one beer, I’m going to review four at the same time. Yes, you heard me right (or rather, read). Every so often I’m going to pick four beers, linked by some common theme, and rank them in order of drinkability.

Mega-Review #1 - Beez Neez, Fat Yak, Big Helga’s, and Redback.

These four beers are conveniently avaliable packaged together in Matilda Bay’s The Big 8 Pack (Available Dan Murphys, $22.99). Matilda Bay is a small brewing company in WA, which produces mainly craft beers from lagers and ales, to ciders and even a raspberry beer.

The theme connecting the beers in this Mega-Review is not tangible; it’s got nothing to do with the beers themselves. Rather, it alludes to a dark time in my past that those who know me well know about, and laugh, about. I won’t say exactly what it is, but suffice it to say that she enjoyed the month far more than I did. So on to the beers.

1. Redback. The Wheat beer.

A flavour I can’t quite place takes over my palate, aggravating me to no end, forcing me to take another sip quickly to try and recapture, and savour the flavour, if you’ll pardon the pun. Is it wheat or oats, or honey, or fruit? The back of the label says citrus, but I don’t know. A very pleasant and sweet beer that definitely requires further investigation and enjoyment.

2. Beez Neez. The Honey Wheat Beer.

Perhaps peanut butter on toast was not the best accompaniment to this beer. All I could taste was peanut butter. Nevertheless I kept drinking, and by the second bottle I was really enjoying the unique sensation. Just a hint of honey works wonders, very crisp and smooth. I enjoyed it so much I might get it tattooed on my knees. That’s cool, right?

3. Fat Yak. The Pale Ale.

After drinking the second beer, I stood around for a while waiting for inspiration to strike. I realised I had just drank two entire beers without tasting so much as a drop. This ['review', I think he means -Ed] needs to be done in private seclusion, not in a party setting. What I remember is a heavier taste, normal for ale. But like a bad relationship, there seemed to be no fun or spontaneity. I’m sure it’s very good, I just can’t say.

4. Big Helga. The Dry Munich Style Lager.

As they say in Germany, this beer is Wunderbar! It seems to be typical of what I suppose is “The Munich Style”. Dry, bitter and heavy, its full-bodied nature means it doesn’t have to rely on subtle fruity after-tastes. Having said that, it goes down as smooth as any other beer. I guess that means appearances can be deceiving. Like when you think a tattoo is cool and ironic, when really it’s frivolous and moronic. Big Helga is quite good, but nothing ground-breaking.

The results: This has been the hardest decision since I had to choose which starter Pok'e'mon to pick. This was a very stiff competition, they were all so good. Still, a winner must be declared, so after much careful deliberation, here are the standings:

Participation Award: Fat Yak. I just don’t remember enjoying it. Shame.

Bronze Medal: Big Helga. Absolutely nothing wrong with this one. It’s just not as good as the rest.

Silver Medal: Redback. Still trying to pick that flavour. Whatever it is, I love it.

Gold Medal: Beez Neez. Despite the silly name, a worthy beer. The honey is a sweet touch (see what I did there?) Very clean and crisp, a beer worth paying a little extra for.

Spirit Sunday - This week Irish Mist Whiskey

This Week – Irish Mist ($55)

I know it's not good form for a reviewer to swoon, but I love Irish Mist Whiskey. I have been apprehensive about reviewing a whiskey because of its purity as a spirit as it's pretty similar to scotch or bourbon. The 'burn' of full spirit, and the fact that far more people drink whiskey meant I was anxious that I wouldn't find enough 'taste' to fill a review, and look like a ignoramus in the process. Thankfully, I couldn't have been more wrong.

Although Irish Mist is almost full proof (35% alcohol) the burn is beautifully mellow. On the nose are fruits, sweet honey and any number of unknown little spices and flavours. It sipped perfectly on ice, and almost as good at room temperature, where it smells the best too.

The trade off between that addition 5% of alcohol required to take it to full-proof and the incredible flavour make it the perfect example of a spiced or flavoured spirit. They haven't just poured a bottle of peach essence into the vat, like the flavoured varieties of Absolut Vodka. The tastes in Irish Mist were formed at the very start of the process, especially the honey.

The only sad bit is the price. It is worth the $50+ you'll spend on it, but that’s not an amount you can generally spend on spirits without an occasion. If your Dad has been exceptionally good this year, he'll love it and you after the first sip.

Irish Mist rates 4.75 stars.

Refraction Dissatisfaction

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