Wheaty Pilgrims

Australia 209-4
close on Day 1

Second Ashes Test

Played at Adelaide

Saturday 2 December 2017

425 Australian Beer Ticks

I need to amend that score to read Australia 209-4, after being put in. So, that's not really gone to plan for England. It must have been difficult for Root after calling correctly. It was cold, overcast, rain forecast. And, the Pink Ball Reputation of hooping once the lights come on. It looked to me like they bowled too short. Constant rain breaks won't have helped. They can't have the toss again & rewind. So, they've just got to stay in it. I think that'll be it for us now. Just try & stay in games. And, capitalise. If the chance crops up.

A big South Australia beer round up will help the mood.

The Wheatsheaf in Thebarton, Adelaide is essentially where Aus Beer “began” for me. It was one of the first pubs I can remember going in, where the Beer Board had lots of interesting beers on from different South Australian brewers. So, visits seem a bit of a pilgrimage.

Much hasn't changed. The in my opinion poxy retro furniture & 1970s low sofas. Very, very knowledgeable bar staff. But, much has changed. Mainly, mainly, mainly that they now have their own brewing arm. The Wheaty Brewing Corps. Seven on the board were in-house or Collabs. Five pukka Australian guests & one NZ guest. I get it. But, hands up high. I prefer the old, SA micro guests packing the boards approach.

Wheaty Brewing Corps, Cutlet, Oat Pale on keg at 4.5%.
Wheaty Brewing Corps, 8 Wired Brewing, Naparbier, Screwdriver, Imperial IPA on keg at 8.5%.
Grapefruit. Maybe a whole grove of 'em. Very citrus. Blood orange, the lot. I loved it.

Fixation Brewing The Fix, Double IPA on keg at 8.2%. But, that was even better. Glorious. Citrus to smell. Hop forward in the gullet. Throat grabbing bitterness. Long finish.

When we arrived at Adelaide airport, we jumped straight into the hire car & set off for the Barossa Valley. We hit a bit of traffic. And, some major roadworks. SatNav was in charge. At one major junction, we needed to orientate. Strike me. As I fired up Google Maps, we realised Pirate Life Brewing was right there, just across the junction. So, we hit a side street, parked up & had a nose in. Sourced the cans for later Supping. A footnote to history is that the next morning, it was announced Pirate Life had sold the jewels to fucking Evil Empire Carlton United / AB Inbev.

Pirate Life Brewing, Hopco PTY Ltd, NZ Pale Ale from a tin at 4.8%.
Pirate Life Brewing, Imperial IPA from a tin at 8.8%.
Lovely. Thick, rich, chewy. Bitterness grows & grows. Against a nice whack of left over sugar.

But, the best to date was
Pirate Life Brewing, Mosaic IPA from a tin at 7%
A right old Hop Bomber that one. Fairy Liquid smell. Deep & citrus. Bitter comes at you through a grapefruit ruck. Stays forever. Superb.

We called into Barossa Valley Brewing. Great set up. Their full range on keg. And, well stocked fridges for their tins.

Barossa Valley Brewing, Canis Major IIPA on keg at 8%.
They claim "more hops than any other commercially available beer in Australia". I'll take their word for it. But, for me, barely climbed into Hop Bomber territory.
Barossa Valley Brewing, Hop Heaven Easy IPA from a tin at 4.8%.
Lime citrus off the hops. Nice, lingering bitter finish.
Barossa Valley Brewing, Indian Summer Session Ale from a tin at 3.5%.
Gentle sweetness. Full of flavour. Tangy finish just gets there.

The Rest….

Fox Hat Brewing, Red Pelt, India Red Ale from a tin at 7.8%.
What a Beauty. Serious alcohol belt. Against some butterscotch sweetness. Great hop bitterness running with it.

Prancing Pony, Sunshine Ale from a bottle at 4.8%.
Suits the weather. Hops producing a lovely marmalade richness rather than bitterness. Flavour bursts & stays.
Prancing Pony, Amber Ale from a bottle at 5%.
Great beer. Sort of a "Summer Amber". Nothing overdone. Nice & refreshing. Even a bit of lime off the hops.
Prancing Pony, India Red Ale from a bottle at 7.9%
Nicely balanced. I got more of the Red than the India if I'm honest. But, it's lovely & malty.

568/1201