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IT'S appropriate that the latest offering from the Malt Shovel Brewery is named after Australia's highest mountain because it has come out on top at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show Beer Competition.

Kosciuszko Pale Ale isn't as pronounced a pale ale as some in the market but it brings all the qualities, fragrance, flavour and sessionability together in a very enjoyable fashion.

A BIG cold thirst needs a big cold beer but sometimes you might like something not quite as "robust" as VB.

With that in mind, Carlton United Breweries has released Victoria Pale Lager, a good thirst-quencher on a hot day.

You shouldn't think this is a pale ale but it is brewed with pale malts and the result is a beer that is more "polished" than its better-known cousin VB.

In fact I'm sure there will be plenty of people comparing it to VB and the two are quite distinct.

WITH everyone trying to take the moral high ground when it comes to being carbon neutral, Tasmanian brewer Cascade has jumped on board with its Pure lager.

The beer has ``originated'' in Tassie, a state renowned for the purity of its water, air and produce, so it's no surprise that Cascade continues to cash in on this, especially in emphasising that the brewing process is all natural.

I have found in the past that some of the "carbon neutral, enviro friendly, organic/natural brews" can be flavour neutral and boring but Pure presents a drop which delivers a great alternative.

YOU COULD be forgiven for thinking this column is about anything but beer considering I am talking about 150 Lashes and Dirty Granny.

The 150 Lashes is the name of the latest in the range of James Squire beers and is a subtle pale ale ideally suited for the warmer months.

For those familiar with the James Squire beers, 150 Lashes offers a little more complexity than the Sundowner and is in keeping with pale ale styles.

This pale ale is slightly cloudy with a good tight white head and offers up a subtle fruity aroma which has passionfruit and citrus notes.

FROM previous experiences, I have found that "novelty"' beers tend to have a high joke factor and a low flavour factor, so why should Duff Beer be any different.

It's not the first time I've seen Duff but I thought lawsuits from the people behind The Simpsons had put an end to any future brews.

Hence when I saw the beer in a local pub, I did a double take.

As a fan of The Simpsons, I found it hard to resist buying a six pack.

Mind you, I didn't expect it to be any good but was pleasantly surprised when I finally cracked open one of Homer's favourite brews.

ON of the simple pleasures about beer is that you can travel the world without having to
go too far from your fridge.

The beer journey sees us venture to South East Asia and Beerlao.

From country of the same name (except the country isn’t called Beerlao– just Laos), this
lager has all the qualities you might be familiar with when it comes to Asian beers.

It is a clear straw coloured drop with a good white head and a subtle barley aroma. These
are all trademark qualities of many Asian beers which are based on European brews.

IT’S surprising what you can discover right under your nose.

While venturing around Tweed Heads recently, I came across the Coast’s newest
brewery, the Pickled Pig Brewery.

Located in the site of the former Tweed Heads South U-Brew-It franchise, the Pickled Pig Brewery utilizes the equipment and facilities but has a different structure commercially and the brews that come out of it are also more varied than the previous operation.

The man behind the Pickled Pig is Paul Brewer (I kid you not), a South African who decided on a career change having settled on the Gold Coast.

TAKEN for granted and often overlooked as being too ‘high end’, I finally decided to
indulge in a Carlsberg.

Mind you it had plenty to do with the new promo push which is virtually taking Carlsberg off the top shelf and placing firmly in the middle rack of the beer fridge.

I use to think (and rightly so) that Carlsberg was for those considering themselves well
above the mainstream beer and having a point to prove.

IF there’s one thing to be said of Brenna and Peta Fielding from the Burleigh Brewing Company, it’s that they are never satisfied with producing your run-of –the mill beers.

Brennan is prepared to venture down paths not normally taken by many beer brewers and Peta has a happy knack of coming up with names which suits Brennan’s creations.

The latest offering from the Burleigh Brewing is Fanny Gertrude’s Bickie Beer.

It’s an unusual name for an intriguing beer which has been inspired by, of all things, anzac biscuits.