An International Beer Journey
August 3, 2017
Beer is the world’s oldest and most popular alcoholic drink and us Aussies sure do love it! So much so, that on average we consume around 72.4 litres per person, each year. Which equates to around 150 pints!
To help you cut through the saturated beer market and to help celebrate International Beer Day this month, we’re going to take a look at our all time favourite foreigners!
1. Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale
Origin: Big Island, Hawaii
Taste: Crisp, refreshing “Hawaiian-style” pale ale. Its signature copper colour results from the unique blend of roasted malts. The pronounced citrus-floral hop aroma comes from the liberal amount of hops added to each brew.
Fun Fact: Kona Brewing Company’s Kailua-Kona Pub on Hawaii’s Big Island used an enormous mahogany log that washed ashore in Kailua Bay as their masterpiece Koa wood bar.
2. Sierra Nevada ‘Tropical’ Torpedo IPA
Origin: California, USA
Taste: Inspired by the island life, it uses a one-of-a-kind hop ‘Torpedo’ to deliver an intense rush of hop flavour and the lush aromas of mango, papaya, and passionfruit with every sip.
Fun Fact: In 1983 they brewed a batch called ‘Bigfoot® Barleywine Style Ale’, a strong blend of malt and hops. At almost 10% alcohol and 100 IBUs, the beer was one of the first examples of “extreme” brewing and has remained a cult-classic ever since.
3. Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier
Origin: Bavaria, Germany
Taste: A natural and elegant beer with a lush white foam. The copper-golden wheat beer unfolds an aromatic scent with harmonious bananas and citrus undertones.
Fun Fact: The first mention of the Franciscan Brewery dates back to 1363 and was named after a monastery which lay directly across the road.
4. Leffe Blonde
Origin: Leuven, Belgium
Taste: An authentic blonde abbey beer with a slight hint of bitterness as well as vanilla and clove infusions.
Fun Fact: Leffe Brewery was founded in 1240 when a group of monks decided to build a brewery. They wanted to make an enjoyable yet ‘healthy’ beverage. At the time the plague was rampant, and the boiling of water during the fermentation process of the Leffe beer killed all germs.
5. Grolsch Lager
Origin: Boekelo, Holland
Taste: A premium lager with an unconventional twist. Using two types of hops, infused at specific times, gives it a vibrant taste and a crisp finish.
Fun Fact: During the first World War, when breweries suffered due to a shortage of ingredients, Grolsch survived by making fizzy drinks! But in 1972, the factory burned down so they decided to return their focus to beer.