Grolsch Premium Lager is currently brewed and bottled by the Grolsch Brewery (Grolsche Bierbrouwerij), located in the city of Enschede, Netherlands. This brewery is a state of the art facility which has the capacity to produce 4 million hectolitres of beer.  This equates to more than 12,000 330ml bottles!

Most people will know Grolsch for its unique swing top lid pictured above.  I know many people who have happily bought Grolsch just to get their hands on the unique bottle which can be used for many things, from a water bottle to a candle holder.  Unfortunately, the mainstream Grolsch bottles such as the one shown at the top, no longer come with the unique swing top but instead have the standard pop top.  It is my understanding that you can still get the swing top on the 450ml variation of this brew but locating that size may be a mission in itself.  There also was a 1.5L limited edition variation of this brew that had the swing top but unfortunately I haven’t seen that bottle for a while now.  This fully imported lager pours with a full white, bubbly head that disappears quickly to leave specs of lacing on the glass.  The colour is a light gold, that is clear with plenty of carbonated bubbles sticking to the inside of the glass.  It’s smell is noticeable and inoffensive.  There’s a sweet grainy aroma to it.  The taste appears slightly bitter up front followed by a surge of sweetness.  It’s a pleasant brew that has a good balance between malt and hops, though I’m not sure how long I could drink it for, so be careful if you’re planning to use it as a session beer.

Grolsch is a decent lager and one that is still brewed from its original origin, in this case Holland aka, The Netherlands.  I recommend giving it a try for yourself but just bear in mind that it’s not a session beer and if you see the swing top bottles, snap those babies up quickly cause they’re hard to come by.

Rating (out of five):

Grolsch is a premium lager that is brewed and bottled in Holland.  It has 5.0% alcohol per volume and comes in a green pop top bottle.  Read our full review of Grolsch here.

This offer is valid until the 8th August 2010 and you can take advantage of it as often as you like, just remember to have that Woolworths Everyday Rewards Card with you.

Thankfully though, the taste is not the same as old engine oil, not that I have any idea of what that tastes like and nor do I want to.  Old Engine Oil Porter is brewed and bottled by the Harviestoun Brewery in Alva, Scotland.   The Harviestoun Brewery has been producing fine beverages since 1984 and has gone from strength to strength.  It now has a range of bottled brews from Ales to Porters and luckily enough for us most of them have made it to our shores.  Old Engine Oil Porter was given the silver medal in its class in the 2007 Australian Beer Awards and has won many other awards the world over.

This Porter pours with a creamy tan head that quickly disappears leaving the top portion of your glass coated with an even amount of lacing.   It is extremely dark in appearance and lets through hardly any light at all, which again is similar to that of old engine oil.  There is a dark chocolate aroma to this brew along with some roasted malt and an underlying sweetness.   The taste is impressive but overwhelming.  It has strong coffee and chocolate elements that go hand in hand with the hoppy bitterness of this brew.  Each mouthful is filling and has a sweet, sugary ending to it.  I can understand why this Porter would be greatly appreciated in colder countries like Scotland and England and with that said, I am unsure whether the Australian market will come to enjoy its uniqueness.

Oil Engine Oil Porter has the sure makings of a great beer, for example, there’s an excellent malt to hop balance to it but for me personally, this wasn’t a sure favourite.  The taste is overpowering and I can honestly see a lot of drinkers being put off by it.  You can find this beer at selected 1^st Choice stores, so get a bottle and try it for yourself, just remember though, this is a beer that should be savoured and not quaffed.

Rating (out of five):

Before I continue I would like to make it clear that this review is based on the imported Sapporo Draft beer and not the brewed under license alternative that comes from Canada.  Sapporo is said to be ‘Japan’s oldest brand’ with its beginnings being traced back to 1876 when the Kaitakushi Brewery was founded and Sapporo was the first Bavarian-style brewing company in Japan  The company now has five breweries located in Japan along with the Sleeman brewery in Ontario, Canada.  Unfortunately, the majority of Australia’s Sapporo now comes from the Sleeman brewery in Canada and still all this while it is being dubbed as ‘Japan’s premium beer’.  This rice lager is made with the use of two-row barley that was specifically developed by the company itself.  Two-row barley has a lower protein content to that of traditional barley and therefore has a higher fermentable sugar content making it more suited to this brew.   Sapporo Draft pours a decent white fluffy head that is short lasting and it also leaves a small amount of lacing on the glass.  It’s appearance is a clear Straw yellow colour and it has plenty of carbonation with bubbles collecting around the head of the glass.  The aroma is dull and subdued but there is a slight sweet malt smell to it that can be discovered  with further inspection.  Sapporo Draft is easy to drink with a smooth, crisp and refreshing taste but there’s not a lot more to it, taste wise.  It would make for a good thirst quencher, possibly after a hard day of cleaning the home or the like.  Delicate citrus flavours are evident but unfortunately the high carbonation conceals a lot of the taste.

Sapporo may well be Japan’s oldest brand, but unfortunately, time has not made this brew an exceptional  lager.  While it may be appealing to some, others will be left expecting something more from these Japanese Brewers.

Rating (out of five):

The Kronenbourg 1664 we buy here in Australia is brewed under license in Victoria by the Foster’s Group and it is this version that I am reviewing here.  Originally Kronenbourg 1664 came to Australia from the Kronenbourg Brewery in France and the name Kronenbourg comes from the French village of Cronenbourg.  The other part of this beers iconic name came from the year in which the brewery was founded, 1664.  It was originally founded in Strasbourg as the Hatt Brewery but was relocated & renamed in 1850 and is now owned by the Carlsberg Group.  Kronenbourg is the fifth oldest beer brand in the world that is still being used to this day.  You can get your hands on the real imported Kronenbourg 1664 in Australia but don’t count on 1^st Choice or Dan Murphy’s stocking it as I unfortunately made this mistake.  Kronenbourg 1664 is premium lager with an alcohol content of 5% per 330ml volume.  It has a crisp, clean and refreshing taste that presents with an initial bitterness.  It would make for a good season beer.  Neither of the two bottles I consumed poured with any noticeable head but they did leave an even amount of lacing on my glass.  There’s a clear golden hue to this beer and it comes well carbonated, which it quite noticeable with its mouth-feel.  The aroma smells of sweet malts and is generally pleasant all round.  A commendable point about this brand is it’s cap covered labelling and green 1664 embossed bottling.  Both add to the pedigree of this beer making it stand out from the crowd.

Although Kronenbourg 1664 may not be the most amazing lager on the market it does come with high regard in certain circles and its name has every reason to.  If you haven’t tried Kronenbourg 1664 for yourself I suggest you do, and where possible, read the label first and see if it’s the fully imported version.

Rating (out of five):

Beer & Brewer magazine was launched back in 2007 and is currently celebrating its 3^rd birthday with the current issue.  Included in this publication are many interesting articles and amongst them this magazine will (source : www.beerandbrewer.com):

• Help you plan a weekend away involving beer
• Tell you about upcoming events/festivals
• Feature the latest recipes to match to beers & cook with beer
• Show you how to get started in home brewing with tips, how to’s and recipes
• Feature local breweries
• Introduce you to new beers and where to try/buy them
• List all the latest industry news and awards

It also aims to increase the public’s knowledge and awareness of micro/speciality beers.  I only recently picked up my first copy of this loaded publication and it made me wish I had done so sooner.  It has everything a beer lover could want regardless of what you may or may not know about beer.  Unfortunately Beer & Brewer is a seasonal publication, so you can expect only 4 issues a year, but remember this makes them worth the wait.  The current issue is #13 and is the winter 2010 edition.  A copy of this mag will cost you $7.95 ($9.95 for New Zealand) from your local newsagent but that’s if you can find it!  I had to try about four different locations before I did.  Another way to get your hands on a copy is to subscribe to it online at www.beerandbrewer.com I did this myself today, as it works out a lot cheaper than opposed to buying it in store.  There are currently three Australian subscription options with two of them getting you free beer.  Yes, I said free beer:

1 Year Australian Subscription $24.99

2 Year Australian Subscription $52.99 plus two FREE six-packs of Kirin beer

3 Year Australian Subscription $69.99 plus a FREE carton of Kirin beer.

To take advantage of this free Kirin offer you need to subscribe before 10^th August 2010.  The 3 year subscription is the best value in my opinion, plus it comes with a free case of Kirin so why not.

So if you’re after an interesting read or just after a new recipe to go with your latest brew get yourself a copy of this fantastic mag.  There’s certainly no better time to do so!

Beer Stew is an extremely easy meal to prepare and costs very little when feeding a family.  The recipe below should comfortably feed 8 people.  You can use whatever beer you fancy with this recipe.  I chose to use an imported lager for mine, Royal Dutch Post Horn.  There are many ways this meal can be cooked but I highly recommend you use a slow cooker to get the best out of it.  Below is our twist on this classic recipe so feel free to make use of it where you like and alter it where you think necessary.

Ingredients

• 1.5 kg chuck steak (cubed)
• ½ cup plain flour (optional, use to increase thickness)
• 4 large potatoes (peeled and thickly sliced)
• 3 large onions (sliced)
• 2 large carrots (thickly sliced)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper corns (crushed)
• 3 cups of beer – don’t be stingy on it!
• 2 cups beef stock (2 cubes)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 bay leaves
• salt to taste

Method

1. Trim chuck meat of excess fat and cut into 2cm cubes.
2. Prepare all vegetables as mentioned above.
3. Add potatoes to base of slow cooker followed by meat, onions and carrots.
4. Sprinkle on crushed pepper and salt.
5. Pour in beer, beef stock, soy sauce and add bay leave.
6. Allow to slow cook for at least 7 hours and stir once every so often.  Add flour well into the slow cooking process only if stew has not thickened enough.
7. Plate up and serve with fresh crusty bread (French sticks are ideal).

The end product is a warming meal that is full of taste and character.  Provided you have used a slow cooker to prepare this stew and allowed it to cook for at least 7 hours, the meat should melt in your mouth like it did mine.  For those worried about the beer taste being overwhelming I wouldn’t.  My stew had more of a beer smell to it than it did a beer taste – either way is a winner in my books.  So put that beer to good use and go get cooking.  Masterchief eat your heart out!

]]> http://www.beeradvice.com.au/883/beer-stew/feed/ 0 http://www.beeradvice.com.au/878/royal-dutch-post-horn/ http://www.beeradvice.com.au/878/royal-dutch-post-horn/#comments Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:30:01 +0000 Daniel http://www.beeradvice.com.au/?p=878 Royal Dutch Post Horn is premium full strength lager that is fully imported from Holland.

It is brewed by the Posthoorn Brewery which is located in the Dutch city of Breada, Holland.  Post Horn is the English translation of the word Posthoorn and hence is the name of this brew.   Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of information as to the history of this lager but I will give you what information I do know.  Royal Dutch Post Horn comes in a six-pack of green 330ml bottles, each having an alcohol content of 4.7% per volume.  The standard green bottles have ordinary labelling, with white, green, gold and red blended together to try and catch your eye.   You can expect to pay $16 for a six-pack as I did at my local independent bottle store.  It is imported into Australia by ALM Imports in NSW and I have yet to see this beer being sold at 1^st Choice or Dan Murphy’s, so be sure to find your local independent bottle store if you’d like to try it.

This imported lager pours a fluffy white head that leaves small amounts of lacing on the glass.  It has a clear golden yellow hue with plenty of carbonation, some may think it has too much.  There’s a sweet malty aroma but is quite faint.  The mouth feel is creamy while also being a tad watery.  As for the taste  ̶̶̶  it is clean, crisp and dry and on a summer’s day I can see it being rather refreshing.  I found the taste diminished substantially after I had consumed three bottles for some reason and this made me call it quits for the night.

Overall, Royal Dutch Post Horn is not an outstanding  lager by any means, but it is certainly not the worst.  Personally I think this beer is better suited to the hotter, summer months so if you want to give it a try do so then.

Rating (out of five):

Kwak was created by Pauwel Kawk back in the days of Napoleon.  Pauwel was a brewer that lived in Dendermonde Belgium and owner of the ‘De Hoorne’ inn.  The inn was regularly frequented by mail coaches and used as a base of refreshment for them.   At the time, coachmen were not allowed to physically leave their coach or horses,  probably due to theft.  With this mind the ingenious Mr Kwak created the distinctive beer glass you see pictured above.  It enabled the coachmen to carry their Kwak by hanging the glass on the coach while quenching their thirst.  This glass is without a doubt the most unique drinking  vessel I have ever used.  At first glance it reminded me of something I used back in my high school science class but this time round I was actually enjoying using it.  The glass is 25cm in height and has a round bulbous bottom to it.  It sits snugly inside a timber holder and can only be removed by  lifting it upwards and to the left making it a rather sturdy drinking device.  The genuine Kwak glass also has a noticeable glugging noise to it when it’s in use.  I was lucky enough to have a loan of the glass from a fellow beer lover, but if you’d like to purchase one for yourself you may have to do some intense searching around – Ebay might be a good starting point.

Now enough about the glass, let’s get to the beer itself.   The smell has a malty sweetness to it along with fruity undertones and overall is pleasant.  Kwak ale has a cloudy, honey-like appearance with a good amount of carbonation.  It pours a fantastic off-white head that quickly disperses but it doesn’t seem to leave any lacing on the glass.  There’s definite Belgian stylings when it comes to the taste and I noticed some apple flavours in the brew.  Unfortunately there’s one significant downside (or upside in some peoples opinion) to this Belgian ale and that is it doesn’t do particularly well to hide the considerable 8.4% alcohol content and therefore I recommend it to be consumed slowly and in small quantities.  The first bottle I had really knocked me around, in a good way mind you.

Kwak ale makes for an interesting taste experience but unfortunately its inability to hide the alcohol content may be a big turn off for some.   I highly recommend giving this brew a go for yourself and if possible get yourself the unique Kwak glass and I promise it will make for a great talking point at your next drinking event.

Rating (out of five):

Matilda Bay have gotten the head start in this coffee infused race with the recent release of Longshot, a coffee-infused dark ale pictured above.  I recently had the pleasure of trying this brew after buying a 4-pack from Dan Murphy’s.   It was an impressive dark ale to say the least, so expect a full review of it shortly.  The other contender for this niche market is the soon to be released Black Giraffe by Burleigh Brewing Co.  Black Giraffe is a black coffee lager that is due for release this July.   Burleigh Brewing have been expertly assisted in creating this brew by the team at Zarraffa’s Coffee and I for one can’t wait to try it.

With all these new infusions being released of late who knows what the future has in store for beer,  but going off what the market is showcasing now it looks like stimulating times ahead especially for the coffee lovers out there.