A Beer In Review - Ekim's Viking IPA

Disclaimer 1: I've never really drank a lot of IPA's and the ones I've had, haven't really set the world on fire for me. So keep in mind that the IPA factor may sway my final score.

Disclaimer 2: I really like vikings. The 13th Warrior is one of my favourite movies. It doesn't really make sense, there seems to have been some confusion in the costume department with some of the characters, I don't particularly care for Antonio Banderas (there's no reason, I just don't), but still I make time to watch it at least couple of times a month. Purely for the vikings. So keep in mind that the viking factor may sway my final score.

Name: Viking IPA

Alcohol Content: 6% (1.6 standard drinks)

Bottle Date: 17-10-13

Served: Chilled, straight from the 330ml bottle to my mouth

What it says-

"A full-frontal assault of American hops met with a barrage of sweet malt, creating an ale with intense floral and fruity aromas & flavours balanced with mellowing caramel malts. A surprisingly refreshing medium-bodied ale with a clean finish. All Ekim beers are unfiltered and unpasteurised. They are made in small batches with only malt, hops, yeast & rebellion against mass produced brews."

What I says-

First glance: Congratulations, it's a boy! Cracked it open to a gushing overflow of head.

Flavour: Upfront it is full of the characteristic bitterness I associate with an IPA. The aftertaste, while still full of flavour, is less bitter and more fruity.

Verdict: In between the surge of head upon opening, the brutal bitterness and the 6% ABV, any skepticism I had about the vikingliness of this beer (I mean there isn't even a beard on the label) was well and truly put to bed. A dozen of these would most assuredly send me berserkering across any dance floor. A very full flavoured beer, I probably wouldn't buy a case ever (definitely not a session beer for me), but if someone wanted to split a six pack I'd go for that, a nice little starter. If you're into IPA's, then I guess it could be worth checking out.

Score: 3 bottle caps

For more info: www.eskimbrewing.com.au

Join me next week for Feral's 'Sly Fox Summer Ale'.

A Beer In Review - Cricketers Arms Lager

This Christmas past I was bestowed with a gift of 12 different bottles of beer. One for each day of Christmas as per the song? I didn't think to ask at the time and I feel as though the moment has passed to pose the question. Feeling it wasn't right just to drink the beers straight up I put them aside and was about my business. Now that the New Year has well and truly been rung in I have reached the point whereby a decision on the beer must be made, and after much pondering, I decided that once a week I will select one bottle to try. I'll waffle on about each beer for a time, then I'll give them a score out of five.

From next week on I anticipate changing this to Thursdays. Allowing you the opportunity to go out and Friday and source some of these beers for yourself, should you like the sound of them.

As this is my first of beer review, I'm not really sure how to format this so I'll just be making it up as I go.

Name: Cricketers Arms Lager

Alcohol Content: 4.6% (1.2 standard drinks)

Served: Chilled, straight from the 330ml bottle to my mouth

What it says-

"Cricketers Arms Lager is brewed longer to deliver an extra dry taste. Made with sun dried Australian malt and infused with Amarillo hops which impart an intriguing citrus character to the aroma and flavour. Best enjoyed icy cold."

What I says-

First glance: I thought I'd start with a lager, usually a simple no nonsense style of beer and the initial impression is that Cricketers Arms does not disappoint in this regard, very easy to drink.

Flavour: Enjoyable but weak. I'll take the bottles word for it about the citrus character or whatever.

Verdict: A non offensive larger. It seems like it would be a good session beer. With the weak flavour it didn't knock my socks off, but if it was cheap I'd definitely consider picking a box up to enjoy chilled on a hot summer's day (probably with the cricket on the telly).

Score: 2.5 bottle caps

For more info CricketersArmsBrewing.com

Join me next week for Ekim Brewing Co's 'Viking IPA'

The Go Between

I struggled with this for a long time. I'm still not sure if I'm happy with it, but I am calling it finished, well, for now at least.

The Go Between

On these wide stinking streets,

I join the ceaseless flow.

Swimming through the humid heat,

slithering together, sluggish and slow.

Afloat the solid swells of bitumen.

I retrace familiar lanes,

glancing the hazy, far off peaks.

All concrete and glass panes.

There is a span looming,

almost impossibly across the sky.

I see three in a row traversing it,

in the seething mass I pass them by.

I leave them to their journey,

continuing on with my own.

There is no two by my side,

I make the migrations alone.

Leaving the open stretches,

to navigate the estuaries and bays.

These places once were alien to me,

I begin to learn their ways.

How to beat the heat,

out-rush the crush,

and head to the places in between.

The ones I yearn to find,

a stopover from the journey,

somewhere to escape the daily grind.

With sprawling shade, cool beer,

and a familiar, friendly face.

A place to belong,

and forget about the rat race.