Hottest 100 Beers of 2014

[Bribie G]

Shame that Murrays is not doing well, with only one entry.

I love Murray's Whale Ale (or at least when I last tried it) but find their other offerings a bit meh. Kolsch and Pilsner I can take or leave.

And yes I've been to the brewery where I sampled a fair range with Schoey (he was driving) and also to their dedicated pub when it was in Manly.


edit: as to the comment earlier about lack of lagers, I've yet to come across an Aussie Craft brewery that can crank out anything approaching the quality of a German or Czech Pils .. they just don't seem to get it right and I guess with the typical craft equipment, tying up lagering tanks for two months just isn't possible with their business models.
Nearest I've come across was a Balmain lager but even that had a bit of chill haze happening.

edit edit: sorry, yes I'd have to give a gong to the original Bluetooth before Coca Cola got it's hands on it.

 

[Weizguy]

I love Murray's Whale Ale (or at least when I last tried it) but find their other offerings a bit meh. Kolsch and Pilsner I can take or leave.

And yes I've been to the brewery where I sampled a fair range with Schoey (he was driving) and also to their dedicated pub when it was in Manly.


edit: as to the comment earlier about lack of lagers, I've yet to come across an Aussie Craft brewery that can crank out anything approaching the quality of a German or Czech Pils .. they just don't seem to get it right and I guess with the typical craft equipment, tying up lagering tanks for two months just isn't possible with their business models.
Nearest I've come across was a Balmain lager but even that had a bit of chill haze happening.

edit edit: sorry, yes I'd have to give a gong to the original Bluetooth before Coca Cola got it's hands on it.

Bluetongue?

I heard that they changed the yeast, and started using the MGD yeast, as they were brewing it onsite too.

Yes, I liked that Bluetongue Pils, but not at the price. I make my own beer and generally can't come at commercial beer prices. YMMV.

 

[Spiesy]

edit: as to the comment earlier about lack of lagers, I've yet to come across an Aussie Craft brewery that can crank out anything approaching the quality of a German or Czech Pils .. they just don't seem to get it right and I guess with the typical craft equipment, tying up lagering tanks for two months just isn't possible with their business models.
Nearest I've come across was a Balmain lager but even that had a bit of chill haze happening.

I quite like Pike's Pilsner.

 

[Spiesy]

Bluetongue?

I heard that they changed the yeast, and started using the MGD yeast, as they were brewing it onsite too.

Yes, I liked that Bluetongue Pils, but not at the price. I make my own beer and generally can't come at commercial beer prices. YMMV.

I got a case of that for free from the brother in law, and gave it away. Tasted like licking the back of a stamp :blink:

 

[heyhey]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Tasmanian beers. Seven Sheds, Van Diemans, Two Metre Tall etc produce some truly great beers. The problem for them I imagine is being able to get those beers to the capital cities on a regular basis.

Remember it's still a popularity contest.

On a recent tour of Tassie, I had all of those, plus a few more (Launceston Beer Fest was on). Unfortunately, Tassie doesn't produce beer better than other states. They may have good breweries, but they're not great or even top of the range. I rate them around the same as SA (I'm not a fan of Coopers and have had very little SA beer otherwise) down the bottom of my list.

Plus Tassie has that dreadfully rubbish Ironhouse Brewery that shames the state and craft brewing.