The Tip - Friday's Foursome Fix
Long-time beer drinker Ross Lewis gives some ideas on what to consume over the weekend.
Catch up with other beers on The Sip Archive
The weekend is around the corner and it is time to consider what to drink for enjoyment at various events over the coming days.
So The Sip has looked at four circumstances for enjoying a brew and suggested beers that might suit the occasion.
The list will change each week.
Stick with The Sip for news on the brews we choose and remember to consumer your beers responsibly.
Cheers!
Night on the town
Sly Fox
This pleasantly refreshing ale from the clever team at Feral Brewing has been earmarked as a summer beer. But The Sip believes it is also perfect for that Friday evening tipple to celebrate the break and revitalise after a heavy week at work. The low bitterness can serve as a great pick me up. Sly Fox was originally a seasonal brew but eventually forced its way into a permanent place in the Feral stable and is now more easily accessible at shops and bars. It has some similarities to its incredibly popular Hop Hog cousin with a west coast US feel. Sly Fox has a beautiful golden colour and vibrant hoppy aroma.
Alcohol: 4.7 per cent. 1.3 standard drinks.
Watching sport on TV
Mountain Goat IPA
The Citra and Galaxy hops in this drink should give you a lift. Hopefully, it can provide a spiritual boost, too, for your favourite team. This amber brew has plenty of flavour that should satisfy the palate as you watch you’re favourite athletes in action. It, too, was something special, coming from Mountain Goat’s Rare Breed production line. The strong floral aroma, pine and citrus quickly gained traction in the beer market and it became a permanent part of the enterprise. It has a bitter kick but you wouldn’t expect anything else from a great IPA.
Alcohol: 6.2 per cent. 1.6 standard drinks.
For the dinner party
Moon Dog Skunkworks Double IPA
Not sure whether to take a beer or a spirit to the next gathering? The band at Moon Dog in Victoria have solved the problem by combining the two in this radical, but wonderfully flavoursome, brew. In keeping with the variety there are plenty of hops to taste in this beer. But its major point of difference is that the drop is aged in old cognac barrels. The taste of the French brandy is evident but it brilliantly complements the beer. There is a sweet edge to this tipple along with toffee malt. Like a cognac there is splash of warmth at the end. The label will also attract attention.
Alcohol: 9 per cent. 3 standard drinks.
Out to impress
La Sirene Saison
The Belgian farmhouse style of beers is gaining in popularity in Australia. And La Sirene, without a doubt, make one of the best saison brews in this country. This drink has a smorgasbord of flavours. There is the sour that is so traditional for the variety but the yeast also shines through later in the drink. And it finishes with a lemony edge that pleases the palate. This isn’t a hoppy ale. It might take a couple of sips to acclimatise to the taste but it is so rewarding after a few tries. It gives the impression of a Belgian trippel before tantalising the buds. It is worth encouraging someone important to give it a try, too.
Alcohol: 6.5 per cent. 1.7 standard drinks (375ml bottle). Also available in 750ml.
