Grand Ridge Yarra Valley Gold 330ml $3.90
Grand Ridge of Mirboo North, Gippsland, dedicates this dark, bottle-conditioned ale to the food of the Yarra Valley. It’s a full-bodied ale, leading with molasses-like malt flavour but cut with intense hops bitterness. The bitterness overrides the sweetness of the malt, creating a savoury, bitter, clean dry finish.
Holgate Brewhouse Pilsner 330ml $3.50
Travelling to or from Melbourne it’s worth the detour to Holgate Brewhouse in Keating’s Hotel, Woodend. The atmosphere and beers, including this pilsner, are excellent. It’s a light golden, mildly malty lager featuring the distinctive aroma, flavour and clean fresh bitterness of Saaz hops – liberally applied but in harmony with the malt.
Copyright © Chris Shanahan 2012
First published 17 October 2012 in The Canberra Times