What are you drinking now?

[Oliver]

Kooinda here in Melbourne brews some absolutely tremendous beers. I am sorry to say that the Hop Transfusion is not one I am enjoying. At all. I had some bloody bitter beers last year in the US but none were anything compared to this. It is just way too over the top for me. Too bitter to be enjoyable, in my books anyway.

[emnpaul]

Nice head on pouring. Sticks around a while. Smells like yeast esters, a hint of hops and perhaps a bit of minerals. Can you smell minerals? I think I can anyway. Combination of yeast, minerals and hops on the palette. Some crystal malt sweetness in the aftertaste, well balanced by bitterness in the finish and like the label suggests, tangy hops. Fuggles get a mention on the label too but I think there's something else in there too, perhaps EKG or Styrians. Dry finish that leaves you keen for another sip.

Well crafted, a nice beer. Verging on excellent.

[bullfrog]

One of my favourites, Paul. I built my house ESB recipe off Bombardier and Bishops Finger - my two favourite English beers.

[Tipsy]

Quadrupel! Get out of town.

Didn't know there was such a thing. Please post some notes. Please.

I must admit I thought all three were forgettable, but I think that was my fault not the beer.

I was very tired and my taste buds were probably overwhelmed with other things.
I should have put the tasting off for another night but I have no patience sometimes.

So anyway I've come home from a day at the local footy, drinking CD's all afternoon to find this in my fridge


And even though I'm in no condition to critique it with justice I'm still going to drink it

[Oliver]

Sheaf Stout in a hotel room in Canberra. Astoundingly "rummy", much more so than I remember from the last time I tried it years ago. OK, but not great. Doesn't stack up to some seriously good hand-pulled beers I had earlier at the Wig and Pen.

Has the Sheaf always been 5.7%?

[emnpaul]

As far as I can recall, yes.

A bit surprised by the impression of rumminess. I always thought of Sheaf as a batch of VB with a sack of roast barley thrown in as an after thought. Perhaps it's time I revisited?

[Oliver]

A bit surprised by the impression of rumminess. I always thought of Sheaf as a batch of VB with a sack of roast barley thrown in as an after thought.

That's how I remember it, too. But it was nothing like I remember. It was actually too much for me. Most of the longneck went down the sink, and I'm not the sort of guy who usually tips out beer! It reminded me a bit of a beer I brewed once with a whole lot of dark brown sugar. Except mine was nice.

Oliver

[drsmurto]

A coopers dark ale attempt. Too dark but very tasty so a winner in my book.

[earle]

My Fancy Pants Amber Ale inspired brew. Mmmmmm. I'm planning on posting your lotto winnings next week emnpaul, there'll be a bottle of this in there.

[Mattrox]

Little Creatures Shepherd's Delight single batch....

Verrrry hoppy nice.

[Guru]

My first tasting paddle at the beer spectapular. Some good beers here.

[Guru]

Black heart brewery, the full English. An English ipa, very nice.

[Guru]

Bard brewing, dadai pale ale.

[Guru]

Kooinda brewery mosaic apa

[Mattrox]

Kooinda brewery mosaic apa

I had the Red English last night. Great Brew.

[earle]

Holgate millennium falcon. Finished up my current job today so a nice beer to celebrate.

[drsmurto]

Victoria secret rye golden ale.

End of the keg (I think) but still tasting sublime.

Very interested to see if this hop gets taken commercially to the same level as galaxy.

[Guru]

Thunder road pale lager at the pump house hotel Carlton. A refreshing brew.

[RuddyCrazy]

Still the bog standard Coopers pale ale and after weekends woes with smart phones who can blame a guy from having a brew or several

[Oliver]

Sierra Nevada Stout at Flemington-Kensington Bowling Club. Magnificent beer. It's never too early for a stout.

Oliver