Chris Shanahan: Beer review – Bridge Road Brewery and Boatrocker

Bridge Road Brewery Beechworth Pale Ale 330ml 6-pack $23
A visit to Ben Kraus’s brewery should be on every to-do list for Beechworth visitors. Beer always tastes best where it’s brewed. And it’s a bonus when top-notch craft brewers are also available widely through retailers. Kraus’s pale ale delivers rich, smooth, malty flavour, seasoned from aroma to finish with mouth-watering hops.

Boatrocker Alpha Queen 330ml $4
First impression: here we go with another uber-hoppy ale. But the plush, creamy head softened our scepticism; and the smooth, ultra-fresh, well-balanced palate won us over. This is a beer with the body and richness (and a unique dryness) to handle a great deal of hops bitterness and flavour.