BEER
BOTTOMS UP! PROST! YUM SING! CHEERS! Summertime is beer time
WORDS: Krista Hall, Certified Cicerone PHOTOGRAPHY Kaboompics @pexels.com
After a wet spring, another summer is upon us. Which means we are in the middle of beer-drinking season. It’s a dangerous time to be a beer when the sun is shining and the water is so welcoming! Whether you’re in the garden mowing lawns, surfing and sunbaking or chilling by the pool with some friends, a beer is the perfect beverage to accompany the summer months. Here are a few of the go-to beers I have been enjoying lately on their own or paired with a BBQ or snacks to enjoy this silly season.
Stone & Wood Hinterland Hazy Pale Ale.
This beer was brewed to pay homage to the beautiful hops Australia grows. Featuring all Australian hops (Victoria Secret, Eclipse and Galaxy Hops) this ale is bursting with juicy tropical fruit notes and aromas. It smells like Aussie summer: think mangos, peaches, pineapple. It is hops driven but not an IPA so low bitterness. It’s a great example of an Australian pale ale with a golden haze and full body. This beer is perfect for any occasion, but I would suggest pairing it with BBQ chicken skewers, a green salad with mango or peaches and a vinaigrette dressing.
Black Hops Rice Lager
New to the Black Hops range, this beer is easy drinking. Brewed with a blend of malt, rice and hops, this low-carb Japanese Lager is a clean, crisp beer that is both light in colour and body. It is a delicate blend with low bitterness and showcases subtle citrus and spice. This beer has been brewed to sit alongside the ‘low carb’ drinks that are hitting the shelves everywhere as ‘better for you’ when a more balanced lifestyle is on the rise. I’d suggest pairing this with any Asian-style dishes, especially those with some heat. It pairs perfectly with a gyoza and chilli sauce.
Brouhaha Raspberry Rhubarb Sour
Heading to the Sunny Coast any time soon? This has always been one of my go-to favourite sours and so happy it is still part of the Brouhaha core range. The sour is perfectly balanced with a slight sweetness from the fruit with the tang of the sour; it finishes on the palate so clean that it leaves you wanting more. Unlike some sours where the body can be ‘thick,’ this beer is medium-bodied showcasing a beautiful pink colour. I could drink this beer all day, pairing it with a charcuterie board with sheep’s milk hard cheese and seeded crackers.
Precinct Ginger Beer
Ginger beer is a category that is going from strength to strength. Every brand has a ginger beer in their range now and we are lucky on the coast to have a couple of great examples on our doorstep. Precinct Brewery located in Miami brews an easy-drinking ginger beer that is not too sweet and not too ginger spicy. It is 4% and perfect for the summer heat. The addition of lime, a sprinkling of salt and a pinch of oil rounds out this ginger beer, and stands out from the rest. I love a ginger beer after a day of drinking vino or beers to change it up, or after an active morning in the sunshine when you just need that little bit of a sweet kick to rehydrate. Ginger beer can be paired with just about anything, but nothing beats fish and chips on the beach paired with this brew. The ginger cleanses the palate and cuts through the oil… and the sweetness balances the salt to leave you wanting another bite and sip.
Head over to your favourite bottleshop or head to these breweries at our doorstep and stock up for your summer thirst.