Murray's Brewery, Port Stephens

Local bus from Shoal Bay to Murray's Brewery on Nelson Bay Road, Bob's Farm. Doable, but I had to find a u-turn slot on a dual carriageway to walk across. Bit of a schlep. Bus driver very helpful.

Vineyard setting. Nice main building. "Permanent marquees" out in the yard. Superb way to pass a NSW day.

Moonboy 4.6%. Pale Gold in colour. Nothing of note on the nose. Thick, coating mouthfeel. Strong flavour. Some grapefruit. Nice, anaesthetic bittering. Becomes dry on the palate. Maybe some passion fruit in the finish. Honestly, not what I expected from (as billed) Golden Ale. Leans more towards what I think of as a Pale. Lovely beer.

Big Wednesday - on the blackboard at 5.6%, on the tasting notes at 6%, on the pump clip at 6.2%. Sloppy. I asked for a taste. Thought to myself, not much to that, but I'll have it. The fella has pulled it. Half a glass, then it's gone off. So, he's loaded another keg up & filled the half glass. I don't like that. No need. New keg, new glass. Sloppy - in every sense of the word.

So I've got some Big Wednesday cocktail, that I'm already set against.

But, pleasant on the nose & palate. Some sweetness there, but in the background. It's very well balanced. Feels nice & gentle - but there is a hop nudge, rather than kick, there. Tropical fruits, mango.

That's actually a grower. Also beginning to taste the full 6% (or whatever).

That Chili-Salt Squid ain't gonna help my taste buds any. But here goes.

Lamb-Borghini 5.6%. Big bitter hop hit. Strangely grassy & dry straight after. There's a bit of candied fruit sweetness. But, everything is behind the hop bitterness. The slight sweetness puts me a little bit in mind of a stronger, Imperial IPA. The bitterness is tip of tongue numbing. It's got a long, stay there finish - a bit of ginger.

And finally, the high end US North West Hopped American style IPA called Fred. Although only 5.6%. Enticing gold colour, tbh they're all coming in at that. After the bitter hop hit dies down, it's Mango. Indeed, the initial hit has bitter oranges. The scene is set. Hops.

Everything about that is lovely tropical fruit, with a gentle bitter thump. Maybe that's the first one where I can even taste what the yeast is bringing.

It's a nice complex, but not overcomplicated beer. Fair enough, it tastes like a hopped up South Pacific Pale. I'm not a brewer. Needs more malt to be American IPA. Great beer though. Standout of the day.