Chris Shanahan: Beer review — Viking and Fullers

Viking 330ml 6-pack $18.99
The latest starter in Australia’s exploding, so-called “premium” beer market uses “glacial water from Iceland”, declares the press release. And the brewers seem to have taken great care not to overwhelm the pristine water with hops and malt flavour – nor with body as it’s a modest 4.4 per cent alcohol.

Fullers Golden Pride Superior Strength Ale 500ml $8.40
Fuller’s luxurious ale carries its 8.5 per cent alcohol with grace and style. High alcohol tends to dominate beer flavour, but here it’s absorbed by the plush maltiness (pale-ale and crystal malts) and balanced by richly flavoured, bitter northdown, challenger and harvest hop varieties. It’s a sumptuous ale to savour with food.