Intertnational Brewing Awards

[Richard English]

These are interesting. Although the competition was held last month I have only just recently managed to find the results. Bear in mind, as you browse through, that they are judging the mega-brewery fizz as well as the good stuff - hence the strange situation of having Castlemaine 6X as a prizewinner!

Go to http://www.brewingawards.org/site/UNI/2004-winners/2004-announcements-W.htm

[chazwicke]

Interesting. The Aussies just do not seem to brew many decent beers (at least for export). Maybe a couple of the Coopers beers and I used to like the Tooth's Sheath Stout. I'm not sure if any of them make it to the States with any regularity. Back in the 1970s when I collected Beer cans, I had an arrangement with a SGT. Humphries of the Australian Embassy staff to save cans from their weekly Friday afternoon happy hour in the embassy. I would pick up bags of them every Saturday morning. (Many of the Embassies import beer from their home countries and the British Embassy even has its own pub which I was invited to on occasion.) Anyway, The Australian Embassy is right around the corner from the famed Brickskeller and after a particularly long Friday evening session there I figured I would just save myself a trip the next morning back to pick up the cans. So I staggered to the Embassy and asked the Guard for SGT. Humphries. I was told he was not in at this very late hour. I explained to the guard that Humphries always saved a bag of cans for me and could he just get the bag and I would be on my way. Well the guard proceeded to look for the bag and when he could not find it he called Sgt. Humphries at home to ask where it was. Needless to say, at being awakened at 2 in the morning over some silly beer cans, Humphries was not a happy camper. So that was the end of my connection for the Australian cans. I was able to secure cans from the wife of the Canadian Ambassador as well as full beers and cans from New Zealand for some time afterwards. Anyway, it was funny at the time I guess.

[Richard English]

Australia is a beer desert that rivals the USA in the 1970s. The only decent beer that I have ever found is Coopers (bottle-conditioned) and the steam brewery in Perth (whose name escapes me for the moment - but their beer is rather like Anchor Steam).

Everything else I have ever tried is chemical fizz.

Incidentally, I see that the world's second largest brewer seems to be conspicuously absent from the awards.

[ZataGuy]

To anyone:
I am in Minnesota, USA. Some say a beer desert as well. I have found an "Irish Pub," called Claddugh. It serves the typical UK brews, Boddington's, Guinness, Speckled Hen, etc. One of their new offerings is Smithwick's. Can anyone tell me a bit more about this brew?

I have found it better as it warms to near room temperature, as I do with most beers/ales I like. It seems smooth and of little bite. Nearly no after taste. Good by itself and with foods.

Thanks for any information. Feel free to E-mail or post here. I'll keep an eye out.

Kevin L. ;-)

[chazwicke]

Welcome to the board. I believe that this beer has been discussed on the board before. Try doing a seach with the name. Incidentally, we have a few other Minnesotans on the board.