Perth International Beer Festival in 2010 - Update 3

One of my jobs in the next week and a half is to speak to the organisers to try and organise some free tickets. I'm aiming to get four (4) tickets for the Saturday.

Anyway, some more beers have been added to the list.

Apple Bocq
Badget
Fursty Ferret Ale
Tanglefoot Ale
Cuvee Des Trois
Floreffe (it should be noted that this was already listed, however, there appears to be multiple beer types)
Double
Blonde
Meilleur
Guilden Draak
Karmelite Tripel
La Chouffe (see my note above on Floreffe)
Mc Chouffe
Palm

I've also noted the Entertainment section of the website. There will be bands on the "Main Stage" and dance music at the "DJ Stage". Check the website for details.

Brew Dog and Stone Brewing Company's Bashah Double Black Belgian India Pale Ale

This is the third beer of the six pack my brother kindly purchased me.


Tasting notes, according to the bottle(r): I actually struggled to find notes from the actual brewers on this one, possibly because it was a collaboration of two different brewing companies. The side of the bottle did not say anything useful, but did give an amusing aside as to what happens when that sort of information is put on the side of the bottle.

My opinion: For a start, this beer is 8.6% alcohol and has a hell of a kick to it. I find it similar to Dogbolter Dark Lager (from Matilda Bay Brewing Company). It's got a strong hoppy nose, with a subtle smoked tone to it. It pours very dark, almost black with a beautiful light brown head. It tastes strangely has a mix of sweet, savoury AND bitter flavours to it, and is oddly refreshing.

My rating: As much as I would look to drink this for much of a night, at 8.6%, it's not something you could spend a whole night on. I do recommend it for fans of IPA who want to try something different

Perth International Beer Festival in 2010 - Update 2

I'm keeping a close eye on what is going on with the Perth International Beer Festival, and saw the first TV commercial last night. I was disappointed by the ad, which looks like it's been knocked up by a fourteen year old that has been playing with Flash.

It is still, unfortunately, being billed as a family event, so I'm not sure how that will play out.

Anyway, I'm adding the beers that have been added to the list of beers that will apparently be for sale on the day.

Banks
Bitter
Original Ale
Marston's
Pedigree Ale
Smooth Ale
Murphy's
Murphy's Irish Stout
Newcastle Brown Ale
Wells and Young's
Bombardier Premium Bitter
Crest Super Lage
Double Chocolate Stout
Kestrel Super Lager
Wychwood Brewery
Hobgoblin Ale

Not the most impressive set of additions to the list, but I'm hopeful of further improvements. I would like to see American and Canadian microbreweries turning up before the beginning of the festival.

I plan to contact the organisers in the next couple of weeks to organise some complimentary passes for Saturday 20th February, due to travelling on Sunday 21st.

Dorset Brewing Company Chesil Traditional Pilsner

This is the second beer of the six pack I received for Christmas.

Tasting notes, according to the bottle(r): Brewed from lager and Caragold barley malt, Sovereign and Lubelski hops, Sutton Poyntz spring water and fermented using DBC's own distinctive special strain of yeast. Chesil is a melt in the mouth straw blonde pilsner real ale with a refreshing citrus and floral aroma and taste.

My opinion: For a start, this comes in a 500mL bottle, which is always a good start. The head holds well when poured into a glass and does a good job of holding the floral aromas, although I can't smell any of the citrus aromas. It is a somewhat cloudy beer (although not obvious, it could have been a glass that wasn't properly cleaned). It is a straw blonde colour and there are slight citrus flavours to the beer.

My opinion: Look, it's a nice beer but I can't see myself spending all night on it. My guess is that it would be better as something different, and I would be interested to see what this tastes like off the tap rather than out of a bottle.

Rogue Ale Santa's Private Reserve

Welcome to the new year :) My brother kindly purchased me a 6 pack of beers from breweries all over the world that I have never tasted before, so I'll be reviewing them over the nextfew weeks. This is the first one of the six.

Tasting Notes according to the bottle(r): A double-hopped Red, reddish in colour, with a roasty, malty flavourand a hoppy spruce finish.

(These notes can be found at the extremely informative Rogue Ale website, http://www.rogue.com/)

My own opinion: To be honest, I was a little disappointed when I first tasted it. I was hoping for a richer beer with hints of Christmas pudding, which is what I expect from some of the English Christmas ales. Having said that though, this beer pours well and forms a good head that holds its bouquet well. It is a very red beer but it doesn't really hold much of a flavour. There is a slight spicy flavour on the middle of the palatte, but almost nothing on the back of it.

My rating: A couple of pints tops...I can't see myself firing up for a night on this beer.