...Now, if at least one of these three men were readers of Beer Reflections, they may have actually deserved the outlandish title of "wise". Thus giving the gifts offered, a bit more substance.
Gold; these days, has hardly the value it would have had two millennia ago.
Frankincense Oil; is a dated and unpopular perfume.
Myrrh resin; is multi purpose but can be replaced by cheaper and less ridiculous ingredients in any circumstance.
"What would Beer Reflections suggest then?" we hear you ask in a nasal and querulous manner.
Simple.
A Golden Ale, Franziskaner, and last but not least, Murphy's Irish Stout.
Beautifully sweet malt aromas suggest that this won't a be your every day, run of the mill golden ale.
Taste this cracker of a beer to realise it ain't no run of the mill golden ale. It's initial sweet and delicate tastes go through a white water rapid ride of transformations ending up at the refined bitter aftertaste. The high alcohol content is hidden wonderfully by such complex distractions.
French style soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert sit in the passenger seat with this fantastic Belgian brew.
This Belgian strong golden ale is a gentleman and a devil. To experience it, it is handsome, polite and thoroughly satisfying. But, forget to notice the amount of standard drinks in a bottle of one of these babies and you'll be sent to bed sooner than planned. Truly great beers like Duvel, will always be seen as the original. The beer that everything is compared to.
330ml Bottles (or 750ml corked bottles and bigger!)
8.5% Alc/Vol
Aud$7-10 Approx
Gently guided into a tall chilled glass, this German wheat beer appears an opaque orange-gold with a big creamy head that holds itself up for the entirety of the consumption period.
The smell is a gentle sweet fruit wave with hints of ripe banana. Wheat beers often smell like this due to the fermenting temperature of around 22`C. A cooler temperature of around 17`C would have produced notes of cloves which this beer does not possess.
The velvety feel of this beer in the mouth is matched well with the slight sweetness. It is a great refreshing warm weather option that hopefully will make you forget about boring tasteless Corona-like beers that are affiliated with summer.
Franziskaner Weissbier (like every German wheat beer) goes great with a big freshly baked pretzel or pizza. But for something different try; crab, oysters or any basic seafood dish. Either way, you have to be outside in the sun with your massive glass of Franziskaner Weissbier.
500ml Bottles (and rarely 5L Kegs)
5% Alc/Vol
Aud$5 Approx.
500ml Bottles (and rarely 5L Kegs)
5% Alc/Vol
Aud$5 Approx.
Poured into a large and fat chilled pint glass, this Irish stout looks almost pitch black with a blonde to light brown and very dense head that will not disappear no matter how long you sit admiring this perfect looking beer.
A beautiful scent of caramel, toast and browned malt somehow passes through the chunky head.
This very dry stout is bitter with chocolate notes as well as being very smooth. Roasted malt is also quite present and surprisingly long lasting.
O.K. So I know you want to know what it is like compared to Guinness. It is a lot more bitter compared to Guinness. Murphy's has also has a lot more burnt-style tastes. Guinness is really a more widely appreciated beer with Murphy's being a more acquired taste.
The only place to properly appreciate Murphy's Irish Stout is in any old traditional pub with a great pub lunch menu. Order lots of gravy with whatever meal you have have chosen and make sure you are with some really good close friends so you don't have to feel awkward about getting drunk at lunch. Just eat up, drink up, and talk crap for hours.
4 x 500ml Cans
4%Alc/Vol
Aud$17 Approx.
