Just Beer! The bottle sort of explains it. A simple, lightly bitter beer, but the motif is much more about the local (New South Wales) heritage grain used to brew this product. Drinks a charm.
Mike Bennie's pick of the best Australian-made drinks
Mike Bennie has nothing but praise for the many innovative Australian brewers, distillers and fermenters honing their craft.
Hurdle Creek Still Pastis, $95
Traditional-style pastis but with Australian botanicals aniseed myrtle and mintbush used in the mix. A remarkable product, landmark in a modern era in Australia, and utterly wonderful to drink. On ice, a splash of water, watch it go.
Sobah Finger Lime Cerveza, $5
From an Aboriginalowned- and-operated company comes this alcohol-free beer. Yes. In an age of moderation it’s an outstanding product, utilising native lime, and wonderfully ‘crafty’ in its feel. So good.
Two Metre Tall Huon Farmhouse Dry Apple Cider, $13.50
An outstanding cider from Australia’s amazing natural ferment brewery in Tasmania. It’s dry, savoury, crunchy and smells, well, wild and slightly feral, but the verity of apples is all there. Delicious.
Demoiselle Distillery Absinthe Amer 2014, $79
From regional New South Wales comes this very clever spirit, Australia’s ‘first’ modern absinthe full of the green herbs, botanical lift, floral characters and punchy alcohol expected. Absurdly good.
Belgrove Distillery Pommeau, $58
Made at Belgrove in collaboration with cider maker Lost Pippin, this is an apple liqueur of great intensity, perfume and general deliciousness. Try alongside a warm pie, preferably apple, and ice cream.