The Beers of the South Pacific

Cascade is Australia's oldest brewery - and the most beautiful. It has been around since 1824 making it Australia's oldest manufacturing enterprise. It is the pride of Tasmania, Australia's smallest state in land area but definitely not in beer heritage.

In 1858 Rosenberg &Co started the North Melbourne Brewery at Bouverie St, Carlton. It failed within the year. John Bellman bought the operation and failed even quicker. His creditors forced a sale in 1864. One of those who attended the sherriff's auction was Edward Latham a recent immigrant from Liverpool, England. He bought the brewery, renamed it the "Carlton Brewery" and immediately expanded its premises and production. In 1884, Latham sold the Carlton Brewery to the Melbourne Brewing and Malting Company. In 1907 Carlton Breweries combine with McCracken, Victoria, Shamrock, Foster's and Castlemaine breweries to form Carlton United Breweries (CUB).

Tooheys New Draught is a mild drinking beer and as such can go with most foods. Great with all pub foods such as steak, burgers, fish&chips and salads. A great thirst quencher during the a curry, chilli salad or spicy Asian cuisine. Tooheys new goes with just about anything on a warm afternoon at a BBQ, at the Pub.

Tooheys have been brewing this grand old black ale since 1869 and as such they have had time to perfect this robust beer. They started bottling the dark ale in 1970. Many believe this to be a dark ale in the style of British brewing, while Tooheys disagrees describing OLD as more like the German "Alt" beers. I like to think of Tooheys Old as a great Australian dark ale. Like so many dark ales brewed in Australia, Tooheys OLD doesn't make the mistake of overpowering the palate with roasted malty flavor.

This beer is a robust beer with sweet molasses overtones and as such should not be drunk in great quantity, rather enjoyed on its own or with sweet and flavoursome foods. Full Sail would be the perfect accompaniment to cheese platters with dried fruit, especially strong cheese like Dutch cheeses (edams), Wensleydale and most blue cheeses. Full Sail's sweet character also lends towards servings of apple tarts, dried fruits and dates.

Taste wise XXXX Gold provides a similar flavor to its big brother XXXX. It has a mild hoppy taste with a subtle sweet flavour. Unlike a lot of reduced alcohol beers it maintains a solid body and texture. It is an excellent beer for those long lunches. Complementing salads, cold platters and breads. With its mild aroma and robust texture it accompanies most unsauced seafood such as natural oysters and grilled fish.

This beer was designed for the youth market and as such anything goes. Try Thirsty Dog with a chupa chup next time you visit your favourite club or to wash down the taste of the last shot of tequila. Thirsty Dog would also be a perfect breakfast beer or hair of the dog. For the rest, Thirsty Dog is a light tasting wheat beer and as such would be a great starter at a restaurant with the breads or for the opening round at lunch.