Fuzzy Duck

I thought coming to Australia was going to be a second coming on the beer front but most of the piss here tastes like, well, piss.

The couple of good ales I have come across are James Squires and Tooheys old.

What do you drink? Is homebrew an option? Am I alome in my dislike for Aussie piss?

Amazulu

As Monty Python said, Australian beer is like making love in a canoe. It's *****ing close to water.

biggy

I agree its total piss...I am on the cider now

JackTheLad

Homebrew is definitely an option. You'll notice in the supermarkets they all have a homebrew section with lots of different kits, and special sugars for brewing, and its cheap as anything once you get set up. Its a major hobby here:

http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/

http://www.countrybrewer.com.au/forum/

http://www.grumpys.com.au/

http://www.brewcraft.com.au

It works out about 25 cents a pint.

There are also alot of homebrew shops where you can get all the speciality stuff if you get really serious about it.

Disclaimer: As with all home brew, the odd batch turns out tasting like sweaty socks. But I've only been brewing in Oz for 6 months and had 6 or 7 good batches and only one rancid one (and I still drank it ).


Cheers,
JTL

worzel

Can you get Guinness easily in Australia? It seems to be available everywhere else I have been but I can't remember if I saw it in Aus or not?

JackTheLad

Yes, and the afficiandoes tell me some of it (the cans I think) are actually brewed in Ireland.

Can't stand the stuff myself, its like drinking warm tar

And I'm Irish (sort of)

Cheers,
JTL

worzel

Its got to be better than gassy lager!

djdutts

Carlton Premium. One of the best lagers in the world.

kiwichild

Most standard Aussie beer is shite as you say. James Squire Pilsner, matilda bay plisner, crown lager, james boags, hahn premium (not the light shit), are premium quality as far as commercial brewery style beers in OZ.

Thing is though for around the same price you can buy imported beers that are very good as well, often better.

Homebrew takes a lot of fiddling around and experimentation with ingredients, temp, etc to get what you like. For tips and info check out:

www.beerlovers.com.au

Some places exist where you can brew your own on their premises (their equipment and ingredients). Some of these turn out very good, and you can make a range of ales, beers, lagers, pilsners.

kiwichild

You can get genuine guiness in tall cans and stubbies(widely available). Check the label to ensure its genuine and not the crap imitation brewed here.

smood

I had a pint of the black necter whilst in the NT last year. I was the worst pint of it I ever had and I was charged $7.50 for the privilage. I moving out in 2 weeks from Belfast and wont be drinking it when I arrive. It will be top of the list of things that I know I will miss.

I dont mind Aussie piss at all and I found Coopers to be my personal favourite. Crown lager was a nice drop but a bit dear.

wmoore

$7.50 I had some Guinness in Brisbane last year - was $5-6.00 I think. Didn't taste like proper Guinness though

worzel

I got off the Ghan train 2 years ago and the taxi dropped me off in Alice at the same hotel that Bill Bryson stayed at and next door to an Irish bar serving Murphys. Thousands of miles from anywhere but nearly at home at the same time (Oh, and Alice town centre reminded me of Kings Lynn)

Perthforme

Well i can get Hoegaarden in perth on tap and thats as good as it gets in my book

romniox789

Can you get Little Creature's beers' where you are? Try some of their brews - straight outta Freemantle, you can go for a beer (or six) and a good meal at the brewery itself Their Pale Ale is good, there are a couple of others too you might like.

I hadn't seen it for nearly 18 months then found it in an 'around the world' beer selection in Sainsburies - felt like a message from above!

www.littlecreatures.com.au

If it's seriously hot and there's a real cold one in the fridge, Carlton Cold isn't a bad drop either.

Enjoy!