Good stuff

Several great beers and ciders have been tried over the past few days so kicking off with the best...

- Unibroue La Fin Du Monde (CAN) - They say this golden ale is similar to the Triple Karmeliet when comparing it to other triple fermented beers, though when it comes to taste it reminds me a lot of Delirium Tremens (Belgium). If you don't know much about this particular beer, it's pretty much one that is raved about worldwide, has topped a number of beer lists and won competitions around the globe. It's also named after a medical condition related to alcohol withdrawal, and is packaged in a white bottle with a blue wrapping featuring a pink elephant. All of this is fucking hilarious - the beer itself is pretty full on, at 9% and with an overpowering hit of vanilla. Personally I think it's too over the top, which is where the La Fin Du Monde comes in - working with the flavours of the Delirium Tremens but presenting them in a much more subtle manner. Really delicious brew - though be aware that Unibroue no longer export from Canada as the demand is outgrowing the supply and the brewery is not in a position to expand its operation at this time. So if you see anything from Unibroue floating around, grab it and try it before you can't any longer. Though you'll be ok for awhile, since the word about Unibroue no longer exporting went out a year ago and their beers are still pretty easy to find. Try and get any of their seasonal products before you hit up the La Fin Du Monde and others that are produced year round, since obviously the seasonal ones will be the first to become extinct - or just put all your money on the table and buy anything with a Unibroue label because seriously, this brewery is sensational - they're doing some really interesting things, getting involved with some interesting & complex mixtures (I just tried an ale fused with apple and coriander) and executing them so well. I'll be talking more about Unibroue in the future. Check out their website in the meantime - www.unibroue.com - how fucking inspiring is that shit! (photo above is taken from the Ale section).

- Blanche De Namur (Belgium) - This won the best wheat beer in the world in some competition I can't remember (it's on the label) and you can see why but for me, it lacks excitement. It's a super smooth wheat beer, good balance of fruity flavour and smell. It does the job, but I don't feel like it satisfies all aspects of the palette completely. Yes, I am a wanker.

- 3 Ravens The Ravenator Bock (VIC) - just another quality product from a seriously great Australian microbrewery. I can't believe I've only stumbled across them recently. Ok, so I don't know enough to know exactly what a Bock is without some research (talk to me about Pale Ales and I'm all over that shit) but apparently this beer is lighter than the name suggests it should be... blah blah blah whatever (see, not such a wanker sometimes). It's fucking great, that's all you need to know.

- Kingston Press Dry Apple (UK) from the Aston Manor brewery is a crisp, light cider lacking in sweetness, with a flavour that decays rapidly. Meaning it's ridiculously easy to drink, which is a good thing or a bad thing depending on the circumstance. In complete contrast to this...

- Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel! Rigor Mortis Abbey-style Brown Ale (CAN) - I had to google the name of this beer and look at it about 5 times before I spelt it properly. With such an extravagant name, you know you're in for something pretty full on, and this Brown Ale delivers. 10.5%, so you can never drink more than one, and very slowly might I add... tasting like very rich dark chocolate. Sweet beginning, bitter ending. So this literally would be amazing with some dark chocolate and if you were in a completely decadent headspace, but just like any extravagant dessert, you really can only have this once in awhile.