Murrays Anniversary Ale 1

Brewed by Murrays Brewing Co.
Style: Barley Wine
Taylors Arm, NSW, Australia

Had this several times over the last two years but never in conditions that were conducive to rating or indeed coherent thought. I was curious to see if it showed much evidence of evolution in the bottle. Two years on, I’m not absolutely convinced it’s developing well. The first few bottles I sampled had a nice "green" hop character that predictably has faded. The malts are more dominant now but it tastes like there’s less to carry the fusel alcohols, raising their prominence. It will be interesting to take another look in a few years. It still looks very fine: Flanders mud with a ruby tint when held to the light, and the sort of fat head that endures and laces well. The aroma holds a nice spicy promise - ginger and coriander, plus gula melaka, over-ripe peaches and turpentine. The 10% abv is evident but not intrusive. There’s arguably a medicinal taint but it’s too faint to be a major flaw. All in all, it’s quite a Christmasy aroma package for the style, with some echoes of Redoak’s Christmas Cheer. Beautifully creamy palate - just divine. The alcohol is a lot more aggressive in the mouth, with some fairly raw acetone fusels running riot. Oodles of ripe summer fruits, sticky toffee pudding, bitter orange chocolate and a strong woody note. Massive warming finish. My earlier ratings would have been a couple of points higher. Despite the caveats, the mere fact that an Australian brewer has the courage to make this style is a great leap forward for brewing in the region. I’ll be back for more. (750ml caged bottle from Liquor on Parade, Kingsford. No. 1 2006 vintage)

Caramel and spice nose, pours with a big creamy head and a amber orange body. Flavour is hard to pinpoint, there are roast malts, stong bitterness with a long finish. Most impressive though is the way it conceals the 10% alcohol. In fact i think it is the most pleasent >10% beer i’ve had. Impressive stuff.

Bottled at RBESG 2007. An amber beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is sweet with primary notes of over ripe fruits - especially peaches, and so is the flavor.

Supposed to be a weisswine. Cloudy copper pour topped by a fair off-white head. Spicy (nutmeg) and very yeasty (bready) nose where coriander-like spiciness blends into strong toasty, caramel malt flavours. Potent alcohol warming all through, but still quite drinkable for its strength and thus heady. Sweet and very fruity palate with peaches, litchi and apricot nuances. Quite good.

Bottled. RBESG. Hazy amber colour with low head. Great aroma, with flowers, oranges and chocolate. Edgy, bitter alcohol in flavour, with oranges. Very tasty.

Botteld at RBESG ’07 Hazy amber, small head. Caramelly nose. Sweet and woody with full body. Salty and intense, somewhat fruity. Warming malty beer with long bitter finish. Really good!

Bottle, RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting. Hazy brown colour. Very nice aroma, fruits, farmhouse, hints of oak. Malty and VERY sweet flavour, warming mouthfeel, alcoholic.

Full malty beer, liquorice, faintly medical. This could have done with some more bitterness.