Originally Posted by NJJ

Someone asked about a year ago if they can get stella in Australia and this is what I reckoned:

You can get Stella in a lot of bars in the major cities, although to me the taste is quite a let down from the equivalent in the UK. I have found that drinkers in each state are quite loyal to their local brews - however bad it tastes! There is one exception to this rule which is Victoria Bitter, which is generally sold all over the country. The beer in SA is quite possibly the worst of all, although there is also one exception to this (called Coopers Sparkling I think) which is quite palatable. the Victorian people's favourite premium lager is Carlton Crown Lager, although I think this is overrated. The Carlton Cold did not used to be too bad, but the recipe was changed and the alcohol percentage was reduced by about 0.5% a while ago and it lost a lot of it's kick. The same applies for Carlton Draught, which on my first visit to Australia four years ago or so was a nice drink - which has now been ruined. In perth, Swan Lager is the go and I think it tasted ok but I cannot remember entirely how is tastes as I only had about two pints when I was over there. You say you have tried the XXXX so I'll skip over this, with only a mention to see if you tried the XXXX Gold or XXXX Bitter. XXXXGold tastes awful but the XXXX Bitter is the best of a bad bunch up there in Qld. In Sydney/most of NSW (except Broken Hill which is more SA influenced) Tooheys is the go. Tooheys New is not a bad drop, but it MUST be served ice cold otherwise it is ruined. A lot of people rave on about the Tasmanian beers - Cascade or James Boag's, but I failed to see what all the fuss was about on my visit to Tassie. They are nothing special. The best beer of all though for the premium beer drinker is Melbourne Bitter. A sterling 4.9% brew for me stands head & shoulders above any other Australian beer I have tried. Overlooked by many Australian Beer drinkers for beers such as VB, Carlton Draught or Crown Lager, Melbourne Bitter is definitely Australia's most underrated beer. Unfortunately though, this means that not many pubs have the Melbourne Bitter on tap. The only place I have found it was at a small pub/hotel/pizza restaraunt place near the centre of Hobart.

I have not mentioned Light beer as I personally wouldn't touch the stuff, but my missus who likes the odd light beer now + again reccommends Cascade Light as the top light beer.

Also, as a side note, Real Ale drinkers prepare to be disappointed. VERY disappointed at that. I like the odd real ale over in blighty and have a hard time finding any decent ones in oz. The only one that vaguely satisfied my desire for an ale was the local IPA at the James Squire brewhouse in melbourne, which I think is on Russell Street. Some of the "British Pubs" say they sell Greene King's Abott Ale, which is my very favourite cask ale but beware that this is a very different brew than the superb ale sold in the UK. They have managed to turn into a sort of extra-strength clone of John Smith's Smooth.


regards
NJJ

Originally Posted by NJJ

Someone asked about a year ago if they can get stella in Australia and this is what I reckoned:

You can get Stella in a lot of bars in the major cities, although to me the taste is quite a let down from the equivalent in the UK. I have found that ....

regards
NJJ

Originally Posted by Badge

I drank lager until I was 18, then bitter until my late 20s when I first arrived in Australia. Now I never touch the bitter, I've come full circle.

I remember lining up every tinny in the NT one night and trying them all.
Melbourne Bitter looked just like VB but in a different coloured can(?!) XXX was the worst. Got pissed with the bar maid, and we had this thing going where I punted all the empties across the bar in to her bin, she then gave me the score lol. She loved the old footy. Jesus..

I will drink anything, but like the Tooheys Dry best, and Cascade is nice. Carlton Cold and VB is good for the bar fridge for your guests to drink.

Badge

Originally Posted by mr mover

Yeah one of your , i,ve been here . I got the tee shirt posts , WE are discussing Aust beer , Get with the PROGRAMME, ................ mm

Originally Posted by biggy

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

Originally Posted by mr mover

Yeah one of your , i,ve been here . I got the tee shirt posts , WE are discussing Aust beer , Get with the PROGRAMME, ................ mm

Originally Posted by Bordy

That reminds me, did anyone see the new series on ABC this week from UK called "Grumpy old men" ?

Originally Posted by maggy

were you on it doll lol

sent u pm

xxx

Originally Posted by Bordy

Got your pm, what did you mean about Leather & whips??? :scared:

Originally Posted by wmoore

Isn't that why the P in PM stands for private?

Originally Posted by wmoore

What's your problem exactly?