Archive for the ‘Bitter’ Category

My Wife’s Bitter

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Another year over, a new one has just begun and what better way to start 2010 than with a review of a limited edition brew.  My Wife’s bitter is proudly produced by the Burleigh Brewing Company which also makes Duke European-Style Premium Lager which I enjoyed and reviewed here.  Burleigh Brew Master Brennan Fielding named this beer after his wife Peta who in return said that “I’d like to think the beer hasn’t been named about me; it has been named for me”.

My Wife's Bitter

Like any decent limited release, this beer is hard to get.  It was limited to 400 cases in the initial release and as for this second release your guess is as good as mine.  Your best bet of finding it is to check your local Vintage Cellars where I found my bottle.  You can also click here for a full list of stockists.  It will cost you about $8 but don’t despair as this brew comes in a 650ml amber bottle.  The bottle itself is enough to make you want to buy it, sporting a red & white colour scheme with a bikinied girl who in my opinion doesn’t look very bitter.   I’m glad this beer was released a second time around because it is delicious and I missed it on the first occasion, as I’m sure many others did.  ***UPDATE*** My Wife’s Bitter is now available year round in 330ml bottles as of July 2011.  A six-pack from Dan Murphy’s costs $18.

My Wife's Bitter Bottle

My Wife’s Bitter is filtered through local lava rock and has Burleigh Brewing’s coastal twist thrown in to mix up the taste of their interpretation of a classic style English bitter.  This bitter pours a clear copper colour with little head which quickly vanishes.  It lacks carbonation but not enough to discourage me from drinking it and it has a sweet floral aroma.  On the palate the beer boasts a roasted full body taste with hints of caramel with a fruity undertone.  Overall it’s a delight to drink.

My advice to whomever may be reading this is to get out off your chair and go grab a bottle of this unique brew before the current limited release runs out, cause you never know it may just be the last time it’s ever made.

Rating (out of five):

Quick Facts: 4.8% alcohol – 650ml amber bottle – Pop top

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Tasman Bitter

Monday, June 30th, 2008

Brewed and bottled in Australia by J. Boag & Son, Tasman Bitter is actually the intellectual property of Coles your local grocery store and it shows. It’s almost as if J. Boag & Son don’t want anyone to know they have a hand in its creation.

Tasman Bitter

No where on the bottles labeling does it mention J. Boag & Son and furthermore the J. Boag & Son website fails to mention the brew at all. The bottle also lacks any brief descriptive details of the beer and its heritage. All you will get from its insignificant labeling is that this bitter is ‘traditionally brewed using fine Tasmanian ingredients’.  Labeling and advertising aside this beer is a cheap purchase. You can currently pick up a carton at 1st Choice for $29.99. A 375ml bottle of Tasman Bitter has a standard drink value of 1.4 which is average for that of an Australian bitter. As for the taste there is an initial tongue tingling bitterness that fades quickly in your mouth. The beer is crisp if served cold and has a sweet floral hops smell. The brews appearance is clear, light and golden with plenty of bubbles and a small amount of head when poured correctly.

Overall this beer is pretty average and for $29.99 a carton I’d rather get myself a carton of Oettinger Pils any day. I’m glad I only bought the one tester this time round.

Rating (out of five):

Quick Facts : 4.6% alcohol – 375ml brown bottle – Twist top

| Posted in Beer Reviews, Bitter | 7 Comments »