The late 80's Aust beer steps out....

Wheatman · Post by **Wheatman** » Wednesday Sep 07, 2005 7:25 pm

Brewers,

While looking at some of the posts I my memory was nocked into gear on seeing the name Matilda Bay. Does anyone who reads this forum remember the selection of beers available during the late 80's from the Brewer Matilda Bay? I'm not entirely sure but I believe I had a thing going for a while for Shark Bay lager, at least I think it was lager. Does anyone know the story behind these beers and what became of them? And does anyone remember enjoying one?

Wheatman

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Wednesday Sep 07, 2005 9:24 pm

Give their website http://www.matildabay.com.au/ a try. Good details of thier current range, which has also had some discussion on this forum in various posts.

Cheers,

Greg

Smabb · Post by **Smabb** » Saturday Sep 10, 2005 2:11 pm

Yes,

Lots of stuff (sledging mostly it must be said) about Matilda Bay on this forum. Why?

Well back in those halcyon days you refer to, Matilda Bay was about the first microbrewery to set up in this country with a view to sell beyond just the pub in which it was based. It was the start of a mini micro brewery boom, which I thought fizzled out but seems to be shooting ahead now again.

The brewery was in the Sail and Anchor hotel in Fremantle. The beer I can remember is Redback (my favourite) and Dogbolter. These were also sold at the Top End Hotel in Darwin (Smith St?, down the end, almost in Larrakeyah), which is where I became acquainted with them.

All this was wonderful however the mighty Fosters group bought them out and well you can guess the rest. Rumour has it they are now free to produce quality beer again after running down the product in the name of cheap overheads.

Anyway I certainly do recall with pleasure knocking back a few of those Redbacks whilst on break in Darwin and later on a holiday to Freo, happily drinking the saintly priced (you can bet that went at takeover time!) tap version at the S&A. Great days that I hope to revisit with my very own Wheat beer in a few weeks!

Post by **Oliver** » Saturday Sep 10, 2005 2:21 pm

Smabb wrote:... Lots of stuff (sledging mostly it must be said) about Matilda Bay on this forum. Why? ...

Really?

What sort of things have been said?

Oliver

Smabb · Post by **Smabb** » Saturday Sep 10, 2005 2:27 pm

Oliver wrote:
Smabb wrote:... Lots of stuff (sledging mostly it must be said) about Matilda Bay on this forum. Why? ...
Really? What sort of things have been said?

Oliver

Well one "Oliver" (if thats his real name!) has been quite critical of their products up until recently, for instance.

(Might need to chill out a bit dude - the takeover attempt of the beloved brewery, the clowns flogging their cheap drugs and Port making the finals must be rattling you- time to relax with a coldy or 4)

Cheers

Post by **Oliver** » Saturday Sep 10, 2005 2:41 pm

Yeah, I guess I was critical. I wouldn't call it sledging, though.

It wasn't like I was the only one (including professional beer reviewers) who thought that Matilda Bay's products, particularly Redback, was more like commercial swill than the wheat beer it is supposed to be and used to be.

See http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/reviewsf ... dback.html

Go Crows!

Cheers,

Oliver

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Saturday Sep 10, 2005 4:20 pm

Smabb,

Not all comment of Matilday Bay brews have been sledges. A number of posts re: Rooftop Red and Bohemian Pilzner have been quite complimentary.

Beez Neez has copped a fair bit of flack. I think it is a bit of an acquired taste.

Redback has faced the challenge of being compared to how it used to be.

Cheers,

Greg

Smabb · Post by **Smabb** » Saturday Sep 10, 2005 5:29 pm

Might need to explain myself better guys- I actually pretty much agree with Oliver et al about their beer (or at least what I've tasted)

In Smabb-speak "sledging" is just critical assessment given without fear or favour- and the critical assessment was that (in the early 1990s) in order to maximise profit for their new owners MB down graded their product.

The favourable reviews they get now are due to their new direction in focussing once again on a quality product rather than expensive rubbish.

So yes they make good beer again now -thank goodness!

anti-fsck · Post by **anti-fsck** » Sunday Sep 11, 2005 5:17 pm

Smabb wrote:So yes they make good beer again now -thank goodness!

Except for the Rooftop. Way too bitter, if you ask me. But you didn't.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Monday Sep 12, 2005 8:55 am

anti-fsck wrote:
Smabb wrote:So yes they make good beer again now -thank goodness!
Except for the Rooftop. Way too bitter, if you ask me. But you didn't.

bitter?!

Tyberious Funk · Post by **Tyberious Funk** » Monday Sep 12, 2005 4:32 pm

gregb wrote:Smabb,

Not all comment of Matilday Bay brews have been sledges. A number of posts re: Rooftop Red and Bohemian Pilzner have been quite complimentary.

Had some Roofies the other day and was mightily impressed. Beautiful colour and body. And the bohemian pilzner is one of the better domesitc beers going around.

Post by **Oliver** » Monday Sep 12, 2005 8:34 pm

Tyberious Funk wrote:Had some Roofies the other day and was mightily impressed. Beautiful colour and body. And the bohemian pilzner is one of the better domesitc beers going around.

I agree. Very nice drop it is.

Oliver

Pyssedas Heavy Industrial · Wednesday Sep 14, 2005 9:53 pm

Although how we can discuss Matilda Bay without considering Dogbolter is another matter entirely - if maison Pyssedas was allowed only one commerical beer this would be what we would choose