Here's To Beers with Bob Anthony

THERE'S a continuing trend for our major brewers to follow down the "all natural" path, cutting out preservatives and additives.

This is commonplace in Europe and in Germany; the German Beer Purity Law decrees all beers be made naturally.

Carlton Natural is the latest brew to deliver a noadditive, low-carb beer and is aimed at a section of the market looking for something different.

It is a dry lager beer that is light in colour and aroma, clean and crisp across the palate and doesn't sit heavily in the gut.

WHEN it comes to reading about beer, the only think I usually like to read is on the label such as where it’s from and what alcohol percentage it is.

However when the Beer Lovers Guide To Australia came across my desk, I must confess I found it a very hard book to put down.

Most beer drinkers like to think they know plenty about their favourite drop and for those who are happy with their regular brews in life, there’s probably no need to venture further into the world of the amber, brown or black fluid.

PLENTY of people had funny looks on their faces when they heard about Burleigh Brewing Company's latest offering, Black Giraffe black coffee lager.
After all the thought of beer and coffee going together isn't one that usually has you licking your lips in anticipation.

However fellow beer lovers, the taste diversity in the market these days means that almost anything is possible so why be surprised at this combination.

LIQUEUR isn’t a word you normally associate with beer.

The best time to enjoy a liqueur is after a meal and the only time I have enjoy a beer after a meal is as a 'cleanser' something to set me up for more drinking later.

However the clever people at Matilda Bay Brewery have though outside the box and delivered a beer which can be totally enjoyed at the end of the meal on Long Shot Coffee Infused Beer.

YOU don’t hear much about beers from France because you usually associate that country with wines.

However since 1664, Kronenbourg has been delivering a fine lighter style of beer which isn’t light in alcohol content nor appeal.

It has a clean golden appearance with a good tight white head.

There’s a distinct hop smell to the aroma but that is mixed with some subtle citrus scents as well.

THE beer market continues to grow in diversity and the latest drop to tempt the palate comes from Byron Bay's Stone & Wood brewery.

Unlike some beers that are labelled as 'Byron Bay', Stone & Wood's Draught Ale doesn't come from there and in fact, the boys behind it say it is a beer that is reflective of the area.

It is a yellow-golden, cloudy beer with a very distinctive floral aroma.

THE crowded mid-strength beer market has a new player in Crown Gold.

It isn’t so much a new beer but one which has been relaunched in a new shaped bottle, similar to the low alcohol Sterling bottle except with a distinctive Crown Gold label.

Mid strength beers can run the risk of being caught in no man’s land in terms of flavour and body but this Crown doesn’t lack either.

It will draw comparisons to the well-known full strength Crown and the first thing you’ll notice is that the flavour is a little more subtle and not quite as bitter.

FROM the lofty heights of Mt Tamborine comes a delicious drop that goes down really well - Sonntag.

It might have a funny names but this latest offering from the Mt Tamborine Brewery is seriously good, offering up plenty of flavour.

It is very light golden in colour, clear and with a good tight head.

Sonntag has a wonderful floral aroma with hints of fruit which suggests this is far more complex than other light/blonde style of beer.

WITH the cooler weather, I find it’s a perfect time to go for slightly heavier, darker beers so when James Squire brought out their latest limited release, Malt Runner, you could say the timing was perfect.

As the name suggests, this drop from the Malt Shovel Brewery is a delightful blend of malts with some other subtle flavours coming through to intrigue the palate.

It is full bodied, smooth and not too bitter.

Browsing in the bottle recently, I came across an unusual lager called Oranjeboom.
It wasn’t just the name that intrigued me but the price - $14 per six pack.

Naturally I had to try it and for the price I wasn’t expecting too much.

I’m pleased to say that this Dutch beer, which is brewing and produced in Germany under licence for export, is a true surprise packet, offering up plenty of body with good flavour.

It has a good white head with a strong amber/gold clean appearance and isn’t over gassy.