Bottle (330ml). Poured clear golden orange with an averaged sized, frothy, off-white head which was mostly diminishing. Sweet aroma with lemon sorbet, bready malts, orange citrus, chives, white pepper and some hoppy notes. Flavor was of sweet bready malts with harsh rusty notes, dried apricots, orange citrus, moderate hop bitterness, light notes of coriander and steal in the aftertaste. Alcohol content is hidden quite well. Medium bodied with lively carbonation, a dry/rusty mouthfeel, somewhat watery texture and a decent finish. The sharp rust and steel notes really killed this brew (for me) and as Dredd pointed out its not bottle conditioned so did they cellar it!

The first thing that struck me about this beer is the fact that it is not bottle conditioned. Makes me wonder why they bothered with aging in the cellar! Putting that to one side, the aroma is a mix of spice, brown sugar and some slight citrus coming through. The appearence is a bit weak for this style, no big foamy head on this one, it pours quite flat with with a thin beige head and amber body. Flavour is a bit one dimensional, there is little in the upfront flavour, a touch of citrus and coriander, this goes through to a harsh acrid bitterness. I am saddened that Malt Shovel didn’t try to go out and bottle condition, I think this could age in to something a bit better.

Australia’s only ’abbey ale’ is a disappointment, IMO. Feels like the Malt Shovel gets it about 85% right but the end result is undermined by shortcuts. They use Belgian yeast and candy sugar but Australian malts. The brewing notes mention Styrian Goldings but it tastes like POR. Golden syrup in colour with a wash of creamy suds showing fair head retention. Quite a sharp, tart aroma of canned peaches and pears, mashed banana and hay-bales. Implies the beer will be very sweet and syrupy. Medium-bodied, with an oily body. Canned fruit again, some bubblegum - initially quite tasty - but then there’s a jarring astringency that I found pretty unpleasant. Whatever the hop, it doesn’t suit this style. Sweet and clumsily alcoholic. Hate to say it, but I’d rather drink a Leffe or one of the stronger Hoegaardens than this. (330ml bottle from Liquor on Parade, Kingsford. BB 29/1/09)

Firstly, what makes this an abbey beer?? The fact that its "cellared" beneath a monastery... Anyway, it pours a golden amber (too dark for the style) and has a crystal clear body. Head is loosely packed and rather fizzy, dissipates in no time. Aromas aren’t too bad, very confectionary like but I suppose they have the general traits about right. Big sherbet notes with quite a substantial amount of spice present, maybe due to the alcohol. (Although, its not that high, compared to genuine Belgians) As far as the palate goes, much of the same really. Some peach maybe pear notes present with a huge clove spice kick from the alcohol. (Rather uncontrolled) Some sweeter malt comes into play but is totally dominated, almost nullified by the alcohol. Its said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery but this just doesn’t do the style justice!

Our first trip to New Norcia was a wonderful day - regardless of whether your religious or not (we’re not!) you can’t help but feel serene and calm about the world when there. Beautiful Spanish influenced buildings form the perfect backdrop for the handful of black-robed, enigmatic monks that call it home. As for the Abbey Ale - well we enjoyed it off the tap (several pots) and took a 6 pack home. As for the rating, my wife rarely likes beer but thought this one to be ’very nice’. Now that’s saying something! I’m going back for a sanctuary weekend soon and to experience the lives of the monks for a few days. But before I depart again, I might just have to visit the hotel...