# 81 - Schofferhofer Hefeweizen

Beer 81 - Schofferhofer Hefeweizen.

Pours pale and cloudy with a colour verging on orange. It has a rediculously fluffy white head (in a good way) that last as long as the beer itself. This is unquestionably the fruitiest wheat beer I've stumbled across so far. The aroma is of fresh apples and pears. While it is a standard full strength 5%, it is surprisingly light and fresh on the palate. It does still produce a mild bitter hop finish - subtle though evident.

Perhaps most interesting, the ex-pat German I spoke of yesterday described his favourite beer as what I felt I was experiencing in drinking this one......tried this brew Jurgen??

My rating.......5

Thought for the day........Sometimes we take out our frustrations on the wrong people! Note to self - "Think....think....think....re-assess....speak.....maybe think again first?"

Ahhhh - the joys of being human!!!

# 80 - Weihenstephaner Dunkel

Beer 80 - Weihenstephaner Traditional Bayrisch Dunkel.
Had the pleasure of drinking this one in the company of an ex-pat German. He gave me the translation off the label on the back of the stubby. So you could say it doubled as a history lesson too! From the north of Germany, and conveniently a University town, the Weihenstephan Abbey lays claims to being the oldest continuously operating brewery in the world. Be hard to argue, with its license officially granted back in 1040 AD.
A dark Bavarian beer as expected. It was very easy drinking, with the roast malts obvious - but not overbearing. Typical of its style, the bitterness is understated but balanced nicely. Perhaps this is one of the better Dunkel's I've tried......or maybe I really like this style?
My rating......5

Thought for the Day....Got to hand it to the Germans - they love structure, control and perfection. Perhaps one of their best outcomes has been the Beer Purity Laws that have set the benchmark globally for breweries.....for hundreds of years now!!

# 79 - YOUNGS Special London Ale

Beer 79 - Youngs Special London Ale.
A real fruity/floral aroma. Pours a deep copper hue. Minimal head although it has nice retention and lacing. Offers a full malt flavour with a very mild hop finish. Poured this one from a 500ml bottle at 6.4%.  I wouldn't have picked it but am starting to feel it as I near the end of the glass. Love it. 
My rating.......5

# 78 - Stone & Wood Pacific Ale

Beer 78 - Stone & Wood Pacific Ale.

This brew is from Byron Bay. Pours slightly cloudy and very pale, almost straw perhaps. Nice layer of sediment in the bottom of stubby. Lot of carbonation going on with a 3 finger head. Bold fruity aroma and flavour. My research tells me it has a mix of barley and wheat malts and galaxy hops. Crisp and refreshing with a mild bitter finish.
My rating......4

# 77 - Timmerans Lambic Kriek

Beer 77 - Timmerans Lambic Kriek.

My first lambic. Fascinating really. Immediately dominated by an aroma, and followed closely by the flavour of cherry. Great head retention and lacing. It's got to artificially sweetened. Easy enough to drink if you've got a sweet tooth. But as beers go it doesn't quite hit the spot.

My rating......3

# 76 - Gage Roads Sleeping Giant IPA

Beer 76 - Gage Roads Sleeping Giant IPA.

Pours a deep copper colour. This one is mildly carbonated but with nice head retention. It does have some of the fruity aspects of a pale ale, combined with a lightly roasted taste of crystal malt. I'd probably like a bit more bitterness, to be up with my favourite IPA's. I do think it's the best of the Gage Roads range I've tried just the same.

My rating......4

# 75 - BREW DOG There Is No Santa

Beer 75 - BREW DOG There Is No Santa
But there is a GOD!! Just what I needed to follow up that CLEANSKIN!! A bold spicey aroma that falls somewhere between Christmas Pudding and a Gingerbread House. It pours a very dark ale, although the flavour is more spicey than  that of roast malts. It has a mild hop finish with the bitterness somewhat subdued.
Unfortunately only a festive season promo - but again worth buying for the witty Brew Dog label!! Would be a worthy addition to any Christmas gathering....anywhere in the World!
My rating......4

Thought for the Day......Why not a 5?? I couldn't do it - with my little boy still working on his list for Santa!! It was certainly close! I will be picking up another couple of stubbys for the big day.