Oakham Ales – Citra

Oakham Ales – Citra

You know that when the bigger bottle shops in Brisbane aren’t helping the Craft Beer movement! I found out when I traveled 450klm north and got an almighty surprise when I walked into the same bottle shop and found about 30 craft beers that you don’t see in the Brisbane stores. Thankfully the smaller independent bottle shops are leading the way here.

One of the ‘said’ beers was this one (yes I’ve seen it before in Brisbane), from Pommie brewer Oakham Ales, a single hop American Pale Ale. It poured a slightly cloudy light yellow colour with a average head that fell away to a thin film. Sweet aroma with fresh fruity citrus hoppy aroma on the nose – grapefruit, lemon. Nice fruity sweet malt flavours, light bodied with a nice bitter hop kick.

Clean nicely built beer.

ABV – 4.6%
Style – American Pale Ale
Sourced – Dan Murphy’s Bundaberg
Brewery – Oakham Ales

BrewDog – Dead Pony Club

BrewDog – Dead Pony Club

Slightly hazy amber colour with nice carbonation and head retention in the glass. The aroma hits you straight from the bottle when pouring, the fruity citrus smell of pine, passion fruit, lemon and grapefruit sweetness radiates from this low alcohol hop driven beer.

Come across as a full strength pale ale with nice flavours, starting with sweet malts then followed by the fruitiness of the hops and modest bitterness.

Overall a great low alcohol beer, very sessional with good flavours.

ABV – 3.8%
Style – American Pale Ale
Sourced from – The Wine Emporium
Brewery – BrewDog

Bridge Road Brewers – The Harvest Fresh Hop Ale 2014

Bridge Road Brewers – The Harvest Fresh Hop Ale 2014

In the glass (using a Spiegelau IPA glass from Bridge Road) this beer is a clear golden colour with a light white head. Has a beautiful sweet strong hoppy aroma, a nice choice of 2 new hops gives this blend a fruity nose. This ale has a real bitter finish and not overly flavorsome although some fruitiness is evident. Still a smooth drinking beer that I’d have again, maybe from on tap!

ABV – 4.4%
Style – American Pale Ale
Sourced from – The Vine Liquor Mart Cleveland
Brewery – Bridge Road Brewers