Peroni Gran Riserva

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

It is no surprise that Peroni Gran Riserva comes from the same brewery as Peroni Nastro Azzurro but does it rate better than its more well-known sibling?

The Peroni Brewing company (Birra Peroni)  which was founded in 1846 is now owned by brewing giant SAB Miller, the same company that recently took over the Foster’s Group in August this year.  Both this and Peroni Nastro Azzurro thankfully still come from their country of origin, Italy.

Gran Riserva pours clear and a golden yellow in colour with light carbonation.  It starts with a foamy white two-finger thick head that quickly subsides to leave no lacing.  The smell is pleasant and that of sweet grains & malts and is fairly subtle.  It’s funny because the first time I tried this beer I could have sworn I tasted honey but this time round I didn’t whatsoever.  It starts off smooth with biscuit like malts but you soon get hit with an alcohol-like taste midway and left with a lingering herbal hop bitterness.  This beer is very filling and a lot heavier than its more common counterpart Peroni Nastro Azzurro.  It’s readily available at Dan Murphy’s year round for $13 a 3 pack, yes I said 3 pack believe it or not.

I’ll be honest I liked this brew more the first time round but not so much after that.  I can’t make my mind up as to whether or not I prefer this to the normal Peroni Nastro Azzurro.  I know for one thing though and that’s the standard 5.1% Peroni Nastro Azzurro is definitely a more sessionable beer

Rating (out of five):

Quick Facts: 6.6% alcohol – 330ml brown bottle – Pop top

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3 Monts

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

Qu’est-ce que c’est?  Or ‘what is this’ in English were my first thoughts when I looked at the bottle top on this French brew for the first time.

This was the first beer I’ve ever had to open using a pair of pliers so bear this in mind when purchasing a bottle, as a bottle opener will simply not cut it.  3 Monts or otherwise known as Trois Monts is French for ‘3 mountains’ and is a Biére de Garde (beer for keeping) style brew.  It comes from the Brasserie De Saint Sylvestre brewery in Northeast France.   The 3 Monts brand was launched in 1985 and its popularity quickly spread throughout the French countryside and is now exported to many countries worldwide.  3 Monts is brewed using Flemish Hops and is top fermented.  It’s best served between 8-12 °C.

3 Monts has a bright fluffy white head that leaves sporadic lacing down your glass.   It’s well carbonated and a clear light yellow in colour.  The alcohol content of this brew is easily detected on the nose along with some sweet fruit aromas, perhaps a little overpowering for some.  Mouth feel is very similar to champagne!  Bursts full of spicy and alcohol flavours which may be too strong for some in the alcohol department – it seemed that way at first for myself but the more I had the more I wanted.  There’s a very complex taste to it.  It comes across crisp & dry but is ever so moreish and actually is quite refreshing.  For a brew of 8.5% alcohol it’s extremely smooth drinking and has five standard drinks per bottle – come to think of it best I spell-check this review before posting it.  This brew can be found at selective 1st Choice stores for around $12 a 750ml bottle, unfortunately though I haven’t been able to source it from one since, as they appear to be a ‘special order’ only.

This is indeed a special beer, full of complex flavours and yet ever so drinkable.  If you can manage to get your hands on its unique topped bottle I would highly suggest doing so as I truly loved it!

Rating (out of five):

Quick Facts: 8.5% alcohol – 750ml brown bottle – Corked Top

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iBottleopener Giveaway

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

It’s about time we had another giveaway and here it is!

We have a brand new iBottleopener 3G/3GS to giveaway.  What is a iBottleopener?

“The iBottleopener is the world’s first iPhone case with a built-in bottle opener! It is a hard-shell slider case with a soft rubberised finish and a reinforced bottle opener built into the back. It is manufactured to a very high standard and is compatible with the 3G/3Gs and 4G iPhone versions. The iBottleopener is fun, functional and brings life to your iPhone in a way you never thought possible.  Put simply, the iBottleopener has you and your iPhone covered.”

Features of the iBottleopener:

  • Hard Shell Slider Case for Docking Ease
  • Polycarbonate Soft-Touch Finish
  • Reinforced Durable Bottle Opener
  • Moisture Proof Backing
  • Custom Logo & Colour Design Available
  • Versions for all iPhone Models
If you would like more information please head over to the official iBottleopener website.
To be in the running to win you simply have to:
1.  Like BeerAdvice and iBottleopener on Facebook.
2.  Tag yourself somewhere on the iBottleopener picture on the BeerAdvice Facebook page.
3.  Tell us in the pictures comment section what beer you would like to be opening with your own iBottleopener and why.
  • Giveaway is only open to Australian residents.
  • Personal information will only be used for contact purposes of this giveaway.
  • Entries close midnight Friday 30th September 2011 and winners will be contacted via Facebook.
So what are you waiting for… get liking and tagging NOW!  Good luck!
Stay tuned for our full review of the iBottleOpener.

| Posted in Beer News | No Comments »

Broo Premium Lager

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

Another ‘Premium Lager’ for the already saturated Australian market, or is this a bloody Brootiful beer?  Time to find out!

What started as a dream for Kent Grogan founder of Broo Ltd soon became a reality after quite a lot of beer drinking mixed with some serious thinking – not sure if those two really go well together.  Late last year a unique share offer named Live The Dream was offered to the public.  When this offer was first released it offered 10 shares in the company to anyone who purchased a carton of Broo beer online and after that supply was exhausted they then offered 10 shares in the company plus a carton of Broo for $55 which could be applied for via the Broo website.  I myself bought 10 shares through this unique scheme as I’m sure a lot of others did.    After its unique introduction had finished its course the beer was released to liquor stores nationally and since then the brand has grown stronger with the release of the online Broo merchandise shop.  The company is all Australian and this can easily be seen by its branding & marketing.

This is positively another one of those ‘Premium Lagers’ which are so plentifully stocked on the shelves of your local 1st Choice.  Broo Premium Lager clocks in at 4.6% alcohol per 330ml bottle and equates to 1.2 standard drinks.  It pours a straw like yellow that is clear and moderately carbonated.   There is a one finger white head that quickly recedes to leave no lacing.  The smell is similar to all those other ‘Premium Lagers’ and resembles that aroma of your local pub, not real enticing in my books.  The taste is dull and watery and could easily be sessioned if you so desire such a beer.  I personally would take this beer over VB Raw, VB and XXXX but that in itself isn’t saying a whole lot.

I truly believe that what makes this beer special is the marketing and branding associated with it and if I could rate it on that alone it would get 5 out of 5.  Other than that it doesn’t have a whole lot to offer except for perhaps a quaffing beer at your mates backyard pissup, coupled with the fact a carton goes for $45 at most stores.

Rating (out of five):

Quick Facts: 4.6% alcohol – 330ml brown bottle – Twist top

| Posted in Beer Reviews, Lager | No Comments »

Westmalle Dubbel

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

It’s been about four months since I reviewed my last Westmalle and that was the Tripel.  This time round it’s the Dubbel which weighs in at a lighter 7% alcohol per 330ml volume.

Westmalle Dubbel is available year round at selected bottle shops and is slightly cheaper than the Tripel at around $7 a bottle but be wary when purchasing to check the best before date as a lot of these bottles seem to have sat around for a while.  I need to make mention that the bottle I purchased & later reviewed here had a best before date of 24th February 2011 which was unknown to myself and is something I am in the process of chasing up with the supplier.  Fortunately for me though this brew undergoes a secondary fermentation process inside the bottle and like most other Belgium beer does appear to get better with age.  It is also available in 750ml bottles though I have yet to see one and they say it gives the beer ‘a more subtle aftertaste’ not that I found anything wrong with this at all.

It pours a massive flowing cream coloured head with tightly packed bubbles that slowly subsides to leave a lovely consistent coverage of lacing.  The beer is a dark, rich-brown in appearance and allows no light to seep through.  It is perfectly carbonated.  The aroma is woody and almost oak-cask like and has wafts of dark fruit like that of a plum.   The taste is filling and warming.  It’s full of biscuit and toffee malts along with the dark fruit notes which are well blended together.  A very pleasant beer to drink and one that I would like to try more of – though perhaps next time a bottle that hasn’t past its best before date.

Personally I found this brew more enjoyable & drinkable to its stronger relative the Tripel, probably due to the fact it was exceptionally smooth on all the senses.  I highly recommend giving this Belgium a go, you won’t be disappointed – even if your bottled has passed its best before date!

Rating (out of five):

Quick Facts: 7.0% alcohol – 330ml brown bottle – Pop top

| Posted in Beer Reviews, Dubbel | No Comments »

ARMAKEGGON – Craft Beer Extravaganza

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

Archive Beer Boutique is holding the aptly named craft beer extravaganza ARMAKEGGON next Sunday 28th August.  The event costs $13.30 a person and tickets are available through Oztix.  The line-up of craft beers is amazing to say the least – see the image below for more details.  The event kicks off on opening at 11am and Archive is situated on Boundary Street, West End below Uber Nightclub.  Don’t know about you but I can’t wait!

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Brew Masters Season 1 DVD Giveaway

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

BeerAdvice have five copies of the newly released Brew Masters Season 1 DVD to giveaway, worth $24.95 each!

Craft brewing has become a popular past time locally with many Aussies purchasing homebrew kits to create their own drop of beer.  Brew Master Season 1 DVD explores the wonderful world of beer by following US craft brewer Sam Calagione and his team in search of exotic ingredients and ancient techniques to produce beers of astounding quality.  Brew Masters Season 1 DVD has a runtime of approximately 270 minutes, features six episodes and is valued at $24.95.    

All you have to do to win a copy is tell us in 25 words or less what is your favourite craft brew and why?  To be eligible you also have to ‘like’ BeerAdvice on Facebook.  The five most creative answers will win a copy of this fantastic DVD.

To enter simply head to our contact page and submit your answer along with your full name and a valid email address.  Plus don’t forget to ‘like’ BeerAdvice on Facebook, good luck!

  • Giveaway only open to Australian residents
  • Personal information will only be used for contact purposes of this giveaway
  • Entries close midnight Wednesday 17th August 2011 and winners will be contacted via supplied email.
*** Congratulations to our DVD give-away winners: Dan Summers, Ashley Orr, Derek Colgate, Fabian Hoareau and Michael Limbach!  Thank-you to everyone else who entered, stay tuned for more give-aways! ***

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Hopwired IPA

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

There must be something special floating around in the waters of New Zealand cause the brews coming our way from those dedicated Kiwi’s are amazing and this one is no exception!

8 Wired Brewing Co was created in 2008 by self-confessed beer geek, Søren Eriksen.  Søren native to Denmark has a masters in biochemistry and is an assistant brewer for the Renaissance Brewing Company by day, while brewing his own brand 8 Wired during his spare time.  8 Wired currently contract brews all its beer through the Renaissance Brewery in Blenheim and in short this simply means they rent the brewing equipment from them but still produce their own beer.  They currently have 10 different brews on offer including this one, with some only available on tap.  You won’t find this brew at any major liquor outlets so to look for it at the independents like Archive’s Next Door Cellars in West End (QLD).  A 500ml bottle of this delicious IPA (India Pale Ale) will cost you $13 and equates to 2.9 standard drinks.  It comes wrapped in a basic looking leafy green coloured label, so keep an eye out for it as it doesn’t stand out from the crowd.

Hopwired IPA has a beautiful aroma, one that nearly fills up the room once opened.  It’s massively fruity with noticeable notes of Mango along with some citrus tones.  The smell is delightful & fresh and one I could sniff all day….not that a glass full would last anywhere near that long.  It pours a cloudy dark orange with a two fingered cream coloured head that has decent retention and lacing.  This is an exceptionally well balanced brew which comprises of three different types of hops and four different variations of malt.   The bitterness comes on strong after swallowing and makes this beer ever so moorish.  Fruity citrus notes are present on the palette, particularly that of lime and orange.  The taste is smooth & fresh and is highly drinkable for 7.3% alcohol.  It is an absolute pleasure to drink from start to finish.

Yet another amazing brew to come out of New Zealand and I recommend everyone sources themselves a bottle to try.  I look forward to trying more from Søren in the not too distant future, well done 8 Wired!

Rating (out of five):


Quick Facts: 7.3% alcohol – 500ml brown bottle – Pop top

| Posted in Beer Reviews, India Pale Ale | No Comments »

Maredsous Blonde 6

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

Another day another Belgium!

Maredsous Blonde 6 was the Maredsous Abbey’s very first brew.  The Abbey was founded in the late 19th century and the monks who live there follow the traditional rules of St Benedict.  Originally this was brewed on the beautiful grounds of the Maredsous Abbey in Denée, Belgium.  It now comes from the same brewery as one of my all-time favourites Duvel, the Duvel Moortgat Brewery. They also appear to share the same bottle as well.  Maredsous Blonde 6 is actually a Belgian Pale Ale and the 6 stands for 6% alcohol per 330ml volume.  Bottles aren’t easy to come by locally and I ended up buying mine online for $7.

This brew pours a big sticky, long lasting, fluffy white head that leaves lots of consistent lacing down your glass (very similar to that of Duvel) and it has a cloudy golden hue to it.  The aroma is made up of wheat & biscuit malts and there’s a pleasant mild citrus smell with it.  It tastes tart on the tongue and has a drying aftertaste.  The biscuit malts come through to begin with and are followed by a burst of citrus & spice that quickly disappears when swallowed.  It is exceptionally easy to drink but does not leave you wanting more like other Belgians do.

Maredsous Blonde 6 is a smooth, competent beer but unfortunately had nothing exciting to it.  It has all the right aspects in appearance and smell but it needs more in the taste department as to me it seemed quite dull and lifeless.

Rating (out of five):


Quick Facts: 6% alcohol – 330ml brown bottle – Pop top

| Posted in Beer Reviews, Belgian Pale Ale | No Comments »

Moa Five Hop Winter Ale

Friday, July 15th, 2011

Moa Five Hop Winter Ale – A Very Rare Beer From Aotearoa and indeed it is along with the bottle size.

The brainchild of Josh Scott is the Moa Brewing Company which was founded in 2003 after years of brewing experimentation.   It is situated on New Zealand’s South Island in the town of Blenheim, Marlborough.  In case you were wondering the word Aotearoa shown above and on the bottle’s label is Maori for New Zealand.  This brew is a blend of five Malts and Nelson Hops and has an alcohol content of 6.2% per 375ml bottle which will cost you $6.50.  Now 375ml bottles aren’t very common in the beer world, especially this one.  It has an abnormally wide neck adorned by an extra wide cap that my BottleMate wouldn’t fit around – a tragedy I know……well not really.

This beer pours with a mammoth, thick, cream coloured head which was absolutely beautiful and similar in stature to one of my all-time favourites Duvel.  It left random bits of lacing and was toffee like in appearance.  The beer was so murky you could not see light through it.   Its aroma was crisp, made up of citrus notes along with a big hop hit.  Again there was a big earthy hop hit on the palette which was well balanced with sweet caramel tones.   It was well carbonated and had a decent bitterness to it.  This ale was an absolute pleasure to drink.

Again New Zealand has really impressed me especially considering these brews are all coming out of well-known wine making regions.  Moa Five Hop Winter Ale is a must try but as the label states it’s A Very Rare Beer so much so that the Moa website doesn’t even show it for sale in Brisbane – I can vouch for the fact that is in indeed sold here but you may have to look high and low to find it, so go get hunting!

Rating (out of five):


Quick Facts: 6.2% alcohol – 375ml green bottle – Pop top

| Posted in Ale, Beer Reviews | No Comments »

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