Chris Shanahan: Canberra’s spring brews

What’s new

Canberra’s brewers generally greet spring with a slew of new brews.

BentSpoke, Braddon, offers Farrer’s Wheat, its first wheat beer, and Reflector, a malty, hoppy beer made by a bunch of dads on Father’s day.

The Wig and Pen, Llewellyn Hall, offers Aviator Bock, a strong beer for heroes, alongside mid-strength Aqua Amandi wheat ale for the lunch crowd; English Brown Ale and London Porter for cooler days; and Grassy Eider, a hand-pumped, high alcohol (6.6 per cent) variant of Irish red ale.

Pact Beer Co is launching 42.2 Summer Ale at the Old Canberra Inn on 5 November, as part of Canberra Beer Week. “It’s a refreshing lawn-mowing beer with enough hops to keep the beer nerds happy”, says brewer Kevin Hingston.

Christoph Zierholz offers Old Fashioned Bohemian Lager and a Burragorang Bock, both contract brewed for George IV Inn, Picton, but available also at Zierholz Fyshwick and Canberra University outlets.

Beer reviews

Green King Abbot Ale 500ml $7.99
Suffolk-based Greene King brews beer runs pubs, restaurants and hotels across the UK. Their mid-amber coloured Abbot Ale offers fruity and malty aromas and flavours on a generous, warm palate. After a few sips, a refreshing bitterness begins to build, offsetting the malt sweetness delciously.

Konig Ludwig Weissbier 330ml $4.90
Konig Ludwig, an outstanding example of the Bavarian, bottle-conditioned wheat style, comes from the Warsteiner brewery. Be seduced by its cloudy, pale golden colour; abundant white head; sweet, fruity aroma and rich, creamy palate with a zesty, ultra-fresh finish.