Beer, with the possibility of more beer to come.

Aside from music, which has become a full time career for me, beer (specifically imported and boutique beer) is the only other man-made product that fills me with the same level of excitement. Possibly more, except if we're talking about CCR, The Beatles or Bob Dylan. Then again, it's really a mutually beneficial relationship; I recently danced in a puddle outside my house to Down On The Corner after a long afternoon of drinking.

Now - I can't really write about music anymore like I once did, due to reasons involving annoying buzz words like "conflict" and "interest" which is all a load of horseshit really, and I could just write about it anonymously anyway, but at least with beer I can talk about it openly with no fear of repercussion, except possible ongoing concern about the depth of my alcoholism, but who wants to worry about silly things like that. Even if a doctor recently told me - as recent as a month ago - to change my lifestyle. Bare in mind I'm in my 27th year too, so the fact my interest has peaked in relation to booze and booze related products in what has become to be known as "the death year" is interesting...

Anyway, enough about music and the obligatory back story... we're here, we're clear, we want to talk about beer.

I like to purchase around six new samples each bottle store visit, or find the most appropriate pubs around Melbourne that seem to know their shit about beer and spend a good afternoon there. Like the Local Taphouse in St Kilda, which taps more than 180 different beers a year, as well as providing a beer tasting platter with matching cheese, and stocking Timothy Taylor's Landlord Strong Pale Ale, which you can see in the photo, but we'll get to that in a minute.

Let's take it from the top;

Bluebottle Pale Ale (NSW)
I was in Sydney on a business trip and before heading off to the airport to catch a flight home, went to the local to grab a six pack - I need to have sunk at least a couple before catching any flight, this is critical in dealing with the impending invasion of personal space. I was greeted by a friendly stocky man who was offering taste tests of his boutique brewery's new products. Lo and behold, the Bluebottle Pale Ale was one of them. A smooth light pale that doesn't linger on the palette, making it a refreshing accompaniment to any meal since it doesn't run the risk of interfering with the flavours from your food. The actual intention of the brewery was to create a beer that could compliment a wide variety of occasions. Hence I recommend drinking this whilst enjoying a good curry dinner or afternoon fish and chips meal (in fact seafood in general, it's no surprise the name actually means something), and warn that this is definitely not for those after bolder flavours.

Epic Pale Ale (NZ)
The store clerk maybe exaggerated a little on this one. I was told that it was the most intense pale I would ever try and that it would "blow the back of my head out". Ok, now it is a bold drop, rich in fruity flavour, very thick, full bodied and with a long lingering aftertaste - it doesn't mess around, it's almost arrogant in its delivery, and relishes the opportunity to stamp its authority. But here's the thing - I don't like my pale's being overly fruity. To me, this relegates them immediately to merely an appetiser or dessert brew, since it's impossible to sit there and drink more than a couple in a sitting. It amazes me that Little Creatures Pale Ale (WA) is held in high regard for this very reason and can only assume that despite the fact I smoke a bajillion cigarettes, I have more than just a semblance of a palette that excels far above any Little Creatures binge drinker. And this also has nothing to do with not being able to handle having my face "blown off", it's just that perfectly balanced flavours have a far greater impact - not those that heavily favour the sweet side.

Duvel (Belgium)
Meaning Devil, it's no surprise that this is such a popular import. The most interesting thing about this beer is how overpowering the smell is - like taking a deep breath in a fruit-filled orchid during the spring while possums dance in the light and butterflies flutter and birds sing and you get the idea - but the taste being somewhat more restrained in comparison to the aroma. Now don't get the wrong idea here, the full-bodied flavour is most definitely a major characteristic but I'm saying that its smell is somewhat misleading in regards to the taste. That's sort of essential to its appeal too, because it holds back from being entirely decadent, allowing the possibility of being able to enjoy it on a regular basis. It still leans towards the heavier side of the spectrum so you just need to be watchful of the impact. Like the time I attempted to drink an entire case of Hoegaarden Witbier (Belgium) and didn't see the proverbial steam train smash me in the face.

Timothy Taylor's Landlord Strong Pale Ale (UK)
With the kids gone, now we can have a serious talk about head-blowing properties. Without a doubt, this pale ale is the best I've come across to date. Yes, it outranks Duvel, and that's a massive ask of any beer. It's the perfect balance of flavour, smell and colour that allows this beer to rise above the pack. Liquid gold with equal parts fruit and bitterness - a smooth texture from a well-balanced brew that rolls straight down the middle of the battle between light and full bodied. You know that they must drink this stuff in heaven, or hell, or whichever one you believe is the actual heaven.

Unfortunately, here is where my memory fails me. Remember the time I took a home beer making course and forgot how to drive? Yeah, a little like that. Being the first blog, I've used a photo from a selection of beer that was sampled a good six months or so ago as opposed to the most recent, which I'll get to in the coming days. And when you try six new beers fairly quickly in one sitting, the fifth and six become a bit of a blur. I remember both the Marsdon's Old Empire India Pale Ale (UK) and the Ambar 1900 Pale Ale (Spain) being high-quality drops that were pleasing even after the overload of goodness from the Duvel and Landlord (what am I saying, I could have been drinking the beer spilt into the ashtray at that point and it would have been pleasing), but I haven't sampled them since. I was particularly impressed with the Old Empire, but I'll have to write about that sometime in the future.