Boags Honey Porter

[Conrad]

Have managed to find a place selling the new batch of Boags Honey Porter (Duncans in Mentone) and was wondering is it worth spending the hard earned on a 6 pack (or more)!?!?

What are peoples thoughts on this brew and how would it compare to say the James Squire Porter (which I really enjoy).

Cheers,

Conrad

[Beer Krout]

Google hasn't been my friend here and neither is the Boags web site.

Anybody know of other places in Melbourne that are selling it.

[gregb]

Conrad,

Going on the previous batch, I would say grab a six pack.

I'll have to do a bottlo run myself if there is a new batch on the market, thanks for the heads up.

Greg.

[db]

gregb - chinatown cellars is the only place i've seen it

i got a 6er on monday. totally different to js porter.. sweeter.. lighter in colour. & tastes very boagsy.. maybe the yeast?. i didn't really enjoy it as much as i thought i would. but its ok

[Oliver]

I tasted it many beers ago, but I seem to recall it being a bit flimsy, if that's a word one can use to describe a beer.

Cheers,

Oliver

[triumph]

I was glad to see this topic on the forum, as i have just purchased a slab only this very afternoon! I bought a 6 pack after work last saturday. This was despatched fairly quickly, but was good enough to warrant the $58 purchase of a slab at Dan Murphys in Forest Hill. It is a bit sweet to be a session beer, but as an after dinner beer, or simply one to savour, it is lovely. Needs to be drunk from a proper glass to allow the hop aroma to come through. Am I alone on this one?

[Hrundi V Bakshi]

I think this batch is a lot less attenuated than 2003, or the Van Dieman hops are lower Alpha Acid or both. It is not a bad beer, much sweeter than a JS Porter. The Boags I think is a brown porter as opposed to the JS which is being Robust. Tooheys Old is squarely in between.

I admire breweries trying styles like this and would like to see more from other breweries, in fact from all. Even yours. Porter can be a very interesting style in this season...

[Beer Krout]

Found it at the Forest Hill Dan Murphies (thanks Triumph)
Near the checkout in the promotions area.
Bought a six pack for $16-17.

Tried one last night.
Ruby Red Brown. Certainly not as dark as the James Squire Porter.
I has a smooth honey malty start, then the special “Van Diemen” hops bitterness kicks in.
Never heard of these hops before. They are pretty harsh bittering, maybe more so than Pride Of Ringwood.
It seemed an odd combination at the start of the beer. Was getting used to it by the end.

Interesting beer non-the-less. Not like anything I’ve tasted before.

[Dogger Dan]

Hey

Sorry for this dumb question but, what does a bottle of Coopers Sparkling go for over there?

Ta

Dogger

[Evo]

Generally other bottles of Coopers Sparkling Ale, but cross breeding has been known.

If you fail to attract one, you can always buy em. About $15 a six pack in a bottlo or a bit over $4 each in a pub (Sydney prices). I believe they give them to you free in Adelaide.

Oh, and I think Mr Bakshi was refering to hops grown in Tassie. Not any particular variety.

[Beer Krout]

Dogger.
The Coopers Sparkling is quite inexpensive for a premium beer. About $15 per 6-pack. Which isn't bad considering its 5.8%. Higher the alcohol %, higher the tax included.
http://www.internationalbeershop.com.au/products.asp?product_id=364

Evo.
On the bottle of the BHP and on the original web site press release. They state

... new Tasmanian Van Diemen hop variety... combined with the first ever use of the Van Diemen hop grown at Gunns Plains in Tasmania by Australian Hop Marketers

http://www.boags.com.au/Files/00229_BoagsHoneyPorter.asp?flash=true&

[Evo]

Well I'll be. I thought it was Hrundi speak. It can only be a good thing that Australia be known for something other than POR hops.

And that sucks @ss about the higher tax on higher alcohol beers. I remember when Carlton Draught dropped their alcohol content for that very reason. I think that's when I stopped drinking it out of principle.

[Hrundi V Bakshi]

Well I'll be. I thought it was Hrundi speak. It can only be a good thing that Australia be known for something other than POR hops.

The Van Dieman Hop is being at least a cultivar of POR I am understanding. I don't think it holds a candle to either European or North American hops, but I have only ever been tasting it in the Boag's Honey Porter.

[Wimmig]

Found it at the Forest Hill Dan Murphies (thanks Triumph)
Near the checkout in the promotions area.
Bought a six pack for $16-17.

Tried one last night.
Ruby Red Brown. Certainly not as dark as the James Squire Porter.
I has a smooth honey malty start, then the special “Van Diemen” hops bitterness kicks in.
Never heard of these hops before. They are pretty harsh bittering, maybe more so than Pride Of Ringwood.
It seemed an odd combination at the start of the beer. Was getting used to it by the end.

Interesting beer non-the-less. Not like anything I’ve tasted before.

The hops are far to bitter in my world, much more so than POR's. The leatherwood honey is not helping either and it's harsh human manufactor shows right through.

Anyway glad we only got in a couple of cases to move on, by the time people buy it because it's "limited edition" it will be gone.

[gregb]

My local Dan Murphy's has sold out already.

I didn't think it was as good as the last lot.

I did note though that its best before date was 12 months hence. Most other commercial offerings are usually 6 or even 3 months. My impression was that it is a bit young. The previous edition I cellared for 6 months and it was became something quite good.

And by the way a Coopers Classic Olde Dark Ale makes a great base kit to start from for any porters you may want to attempt.

Cheers,

Greg.

[triumph]

Interesting point with the ageing gregb. will be doing this as the beer is so bloody rich, and anyway need to save some for a mate coming out from Canada in December. It may build some complexity by then. Will be a good excuse to hang on to some anyway!

[stevem]

Tried one tonight. Was impressed. Have classified it in the "will definetly drink it again" category.

[Anzac Cookies]

As i understand it Van Diemen Hops = Tasmanian Hallertau Hops

[MrDave]

Not too bad at all, but not anything near what I expected.
The colour's beautiful. Nose is pretty earthy. Quite well balanced.
Works well with chocolate

[damonpeyo]

Haven't tired them, they in every single bottlo here.