Sunday, January 31st, 2010
I’ve decided to review something a little different this time round but don’t panic, it still requires beer.
Beerbird is a handy little cooking device that is available at your local BCF for $19.95. It will help you cook the most succulent chicken you’ve ever tasted and I can vouch for this. Let’s look at how it works. Firstly you need to buy a whole chicken, and then you need to prepare that chicken. Luckily enough the Beerbird comes with a handy recipe book. If for some reason yours didn’t or you lost it you can download a copy here. There are seven different recipes to choose from in this book and I decided to go with the Italian Beer Chicken. Once you have chosen your recipe and prepared the chicken to your satisfaction you now have reached the hardest part of the Beerbird process, deciding what beer you want to insert in it and yes I said insert. Unfortunately this product requires you to use canned beer and we all know that there aren’t many great beers readily available in that form so I went with a low carbohydrate option, with a 375ml can of Pure Blonde. Ok, now that the hard part is over quench your thirst and drink one third of the beer. Then insert the opened can up the chicken’s ass, shove it right up there, now you’re ready to cook. You have one of two options either to barbeque it or cook it in the oven. I decided on the latter purely due to the fact my BBQ may not have had adequate room to use the Beerbird correctly. The Beerbird must be used upright and this means the rear end of the chicken facing downwards with the head or what’s left of it facing upwards.
The strange thing about the Beerbird is that one would assume it evaporates the beer during the cooking process thus producing a moist succulent chicken but guess what that’s not the case. The recipe book confirms this and so did the can when I removed it after cooking, I was surprised to notice that nearly all of the golden liquid was still there, unfortunately it was just a tad too hot to drink not that I would have after knowing where it had been. Cooking time varies but expect to wait a minimum of two hours before you can start devouring your tasty Beerbird chicken.
My experience with the Beerbird was fantastic. It really did produce a mouth watering, succulent chicken that my family and I enjoyed. It’s also easy to use and non expensive. I highly recommend you try this innovative product and share it with your family like I did. Next time it’s the barbie for my Beerbird!
Rating (out of five):
| Posted in Beer Products, Beer Reviews | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
‘The Original Pilsner’ or so the bottle says. Pilsner Urquell is brewed and bottled in the Czech Republic in a city called Pilsen also known as Plzeň. One is likely to think that a ‘Pilsner’ brewed in a city call ‘Pilsen’ would make for a great beer? Well guess what, it does.
First of all let’s discuss something important to everyone these days, the cost. For a fully imported brew Pilsner Urquell won’t break the bank, the six-pack I bought for this review cost $16.99 from Dan Murphy’s and you can currently pick up a carton of them from BWS for $44.80, but be quick as this price ends on Sunday. Pilsner Urquell means ‘The Pilsner from the original source.’ It was given that name in 1898 as the people of Pilsen did not want it to fall under the generic definition of a Pilsner which is a beer brewed using bottom fermenting yeast. This beer is certainly anything but generic. It pours a medium golden colour leaving a quick disappearing small head. Aroma from this brew is sweet and floral like. The taste is very smooth & pleasant even if it does start off bitter. Pilsner Urquell is very easy to drink. It leaves you refreshed and wanting more.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable Pilsner and can be great value if bought at the right time. It makes for a perfect session beer and I know what I will be drinking this coming Australia Day even if it’s not Australian….but then most likely neither are the clothes or shoes you’ll be wearing come Tuesday!
Rating (out of five):
Quick Facts : 4.4% alcohol – 330ml green bottle – Pop top
| Posted in Beer Reviews, Pilsner | 1 Comment »
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”.
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 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
| Posted in Beer Reviews, Bitter | 2 Comments »