The BeerDex

"His eyes smouldering, he drained his tankard, smacked his lips and observed that ale was more nourishing than meat for a starving man” - Frans G. Bengtsson ‘The Long Ships’

An enjoyment of craft beer has been a part of my adult life pretty much from the time I turned eighteen. Though I wouldn't consider myself a big drinker, I have certainly inherited my Dad's love for this marvelous beverage. For me, tasting craft beer is as much about getting a glimpse into the artistry and creativity that goes into brewing as it is about enjoying the taste. Naming it after a Pokedex was my cousin's idea that goes back to our childhood trying to 'catch em all.' This is me trying to 'taste em all' and record them within a very simple 5-point system;
1. Aroma, 2. Taste, 3. Appearence, 4. Feel, 5. Overall Enjoyment.

Last updated 2024-12-31

American Beers
Australian Beers
New Zealand Beers
GABS Beers

American Beers

Bells Brewery

Kalamazoo, MI

Two Hearted IPA

At 7% alcohol and 55 IBU, Two Hearted IPA holds a 3.94/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Hoppy, piney, citrusy, and juicy. But hard to discern which of these is the more obvious of aromas.
2. Taste: HOPS! I’ve had hoppier, but they’re there! Interestingly, there’s not much for the tongue to account for the juicy, ‘citrusiness’ that is on olfactory offer.
3. Appearance: A perfect fossilised tree sap kind of amber.
4. Feel: Quite heavy – IPAs often are. But it’s not so heavy as to be rendered unenjoyable (I’ve certainly had heavier that just weren’t worth the effort).
5. Overall Enjoyment: It’s an excellent ‘sometimes’ beer. When I’m in the mood for it, nothing else will suffice. But I can look over it in favour of something different when I’m simply exploring the ‘beer isle’.

Foothills Brewing

Durham, NC

Festival Express Juicy IPA

At 5.7% alcohol and 35 IBU, Festival Express holds a 3.74/5 rating on Untappd. I love the artwork on the can.

1. Aroma: Very fruity. Hard to tell if citrus or not, though.
2. Taste: Mango right off the bat. But it gives way to the hops pretty quickly (especially after a good swirl around the mouth).
3. Appearance: Rich orangey-gold. Like a glass of sparkling fruit juice. Very inviting.
4. Feel: Very tropical and juicy. Not too heavy like some juicy / hazy IPAs. Very high refreshment factor.
5. Overall Enjoyment: One of my go-to's in the US. A wonderful recommendation from my father-in-law. Definitely a summer beer for me and goes down a treat every time.

Highland Brewing

Asheville, NC

Gaelic Ale

At 5.5% alcohol percentage and 30 IBU, Highland Brewing’s Gaelic Ale hold a 3.62/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Malty for sure. But also toffee and caramel? they’re delicate, but they’re there.
2. Taste: The subtle sweetness on the nose has escaped my taste buds. Instead, after a good swirl, I find what seems like a perfect balance of hops and malts, with neither seeming to dominate the sip.
3. Appearance: This is one of the best looking beers (once it’s poured in a glass) that I think I’ve drunk. It’s a beautiful caramel browny-red.
4. Feel: Mild in carbonation. The head settles quickly and there is no trace of foam sticking to the glass as I near the bottom. It's very, very smooth.
5. Overall Enjoyment: This should be North Carolina's flagship beer. Maybe it already is. It's in my top three favourite US beers. I'm biased towards favouring red ales, but this one is something else.

Lonerider Brewery

Raleigh, NC

Sweet Josie Brown Ale

At 6.1% alcohol percentage and 26 IBU, Lonerider Brewery's Sweet Josie Brown holds a 3.67/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Bit smokey. Bit malty. Hints of coffee.
2. Taste: Definitely malty while not being the smoothest brown ale I've tried. Good balance of hops - perhaps that's what's making it less smooth. It is quite a high alc % too.
3. Appearance: Very dark for a brown ale. Looks more like a porter or stout. Even when held to the light.
4. Feel: Balanced. I went in expecting it to be smoother and the bitter hops are a bit startling at first, but not unwelcome. Some swigs around the mouth and you really get a complete package. Nice lacing on the glass too.
5. Overall Enjoyment: A great cold weather beer that paired really nicely with some slow-cooked pulled pork.

Lynnwood Brewing Concern

Bad Leroy Brown Ale

At 5% alcohol and 26 IBU, Lynnwood Brewing concern's Bad Leroy holds a 3.55/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Chocolate and coffee.
2. Taste: Malty, but less so than I expected. No obvious taste of chocolate or coffee though.
3. Appearance: A rich, dark caramel brown.
4. Feel: Smooooth.
5. Overall Enjoyment: A bit too chilled out of the tap. 1 or 2 degrees warmer and it would have been perfect. A great cold weather beer.

Australian Beers

4 Pines

Manly, NSW

4 Pines Pale Ale

At 5.1% alcohol and 35 IBU, 4 Pines' Pale Ale holds a 3.59/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Quite hoppy, but not IPA level hops. Bit citrusy, but you have to look for it.
2. Taste: Definitely hoppy - nothing too over the top, though. Mildly citrusy serving as a nice compliment to the hops which are certainly the star of the show.
3. Appearance: A nice dark gold in colour. Could almost be fooled for an amber ale.
4. Feel: Pretty smooth given the lack of malts. Nice lacing on the glass.
5. Overall Enjoyment: A very well rounded beer. An excellent example of an Australian take on an American pale ale. Getting up there in alc %, so wouldn't want to get careless, but one easily could, it's very tasty.

Bodriggy Brewing

Abbotsford, VIC

Utropia Pale Ale

At 4.8% alcohol and 46 IBU, Utropia Pale Ale holds a 3.55/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Lovely and piney - only subtly though - nothing too intense. There's a bit of fruity zing as well.
2. Taste: Perfect amount of piney goodness. Really notice it on the back of the tongue like a true Australian take on an American pale ale.
3. Appearance: Pale gold, like a lager. Minimal head and lacing on the glass. I wonder to the extent that temperature has interfered. This pour from the can is a fraction too warm.
4. Feel: Highly sessionable. The Goldilocks 'just right' between too hoppy and too 'summery'.
5. Overall Enjoyment: A favourite of my father-in-law's when he was staying with us while visiting from the US. Despite only being down the road in Abbotsford, I'd not warmed to Bodriggy when I was living in Melbourne previously. That'll change now. This is up there with Stomping Ground's Gipps Street as my favourite American-style pale ale.

Bonehead Brewing

Kensington, VIC

Revered Red Ale

At 4.7% alcohol (with an unknown IBU), Revered Red Ale holds a 3.63/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Lovely and malty on the nose. There's a decent whiff of hops here too.
2. Taste: The malts are definitely the star of the show. If my eyes were closed I'd actually assume that I was drinking a porter. With each sip I can detect hints of additional sweetness like toffee and caramel.
3. Appearance: A stunning maple brown with good, solid lacing on the glass and a firm head.
4. Feel: It feels a bit heaver than it looks (and than I expected it to be). It's also not as smooth as I expected based on the inviting appearance. But it feels very nicely balanced.
5. Overall Enjoyment: This is a great beer. I'm biased towards red ales, they're among my favourites, and while this doesn't quite taste as I expected, it's still excellent.

Kaiju! Beer

Huntingdale, VIC

CTHULHU On the Moon Black IPA

At 6.5% with a 60 IBU, CTHULHU on the Moon Black IPA holds a 3.7/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Very piney and hoppy with hints of tropical fruit.
2. Taste: Definite hops and pine. If the fruit flavours are there, they're overpowered by hops and pine.
3. Appearance: Pitch black with a heavy head and good lacing.
4. Feel: Much lighter than I expected it to be based on how it looks. The alcohol percentage is also deceptive. I expected something more aggressive.
5. Overall Enjoyment: I'm pleasantly surprised by this one. I've never had a black IPA before. If my eyes were closed, I'd have been certain I was simply sipping a normal IPA. It's a big as to get through a full can on a Sunday evening though.

Mountain Goat Brewing

Richmond, VIC

Tasty Pale Ale

At 4.4% alcohol and 35 IBU, Tasty Pale Ale holds a 3.44/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Bit fruity, but not much to smell. Very mild citrus and hops.
2. Taste: Hoppy, but without much citrus (or any fruit). Kind of like a lager.
3. Appearance: A wonderful 'beary' amber.
4. Feel: Quite zesty despite the lack of citrus, and very refreshing. Good lacing on the glass - again, quite 'lagery.'
5. Overall Enjoyment: A new one for me by Mountain Goat that I either hadn’t tried or it hadn’t been released before I left for the US. It’s a great mid-week beer. Doesn’t try to be anything other than a stock standard pale ale.

Very Enjoyable Beer

At 4.2% alcohol and 22 IBU, Very Enjoyable Beer holds a 3.31/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Mildly citrusy and a bit piney with a bit of zing. Very tropical.
2. Taste: Tropical for sure. A bit sweet, but balanced with piney hops.
3. Appearance: Pale gold.
4. Feel: Very crisp, light and refreshing. Not much in the way of head or lacing on the glass.
5. Overall Enjoyment: A perfect post-run beer on a Friday. Very sessionable. Great warm weather beer. I've consumed many a Very Enjoyable while sitting in the sun chewing the fat with friends.

Sailors Grave Brewing

Orbost, VIC

Lighthouse Oatmeal Stout

At 5% alcohol (with an unknown IBU), Lighthouse Oatmeal Stout holds a 3.59/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: The first whiff offers up what smells like roasted chocolate. It's very inviting.
2. Taste: A delightful hybrid of roasted malts with a hint of chocolate.
3. Appearance: Jet black. Very dark. The darkest beer I've seen in a long time in fact.
4. Feel: Minimal head and lacing - it's too smooth - just slides down the glass. Very smooth on the mouthfeel too.
5. Overall Enjoyment: I'm not a big stout kind of operator, but I like this one. Especially in this moment while it's pouring rain and very windy outside. A very comforting beer. I only have one on hand. I wish I had another.

Sea Bird Coastal Hazy Pale Ale

At 5.2% alcohol (with an unknown IBU), Sea Bird Coastal Hazy Pale Ale holds a 3.7/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Smells very tropical with some piney notes as well.
2. Taste: The fruits giving off the aroma are less obvious on the tongue. It's dry and crisp. Not what I was expecting, but it's very refreshing and tasty.
3. Appearance: Not as cloudy as I thought it might be. It's very pale, like a lemonade.
4. Feel: Dry and crisp. Nothing like the juicy feel of a typical hazy. Not much in the way of head or lacing on the glass.
5. Overall Enjoyment: This has taken me by surprise in a good way. I was expecting something juicy and heavy like a stock standard east coast IPA. Instead it's crisp and very refreshing. I like it a lot.

Zserbó Festive Stout

At 6% alcohol (with an unknown IBU), Zserbó Festive Stout holds a 3.69/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Very malty, but there's a whiff of fruit as well.
2. Taste: Smokey, malty and a bit of a fruity zing.
3. Appearance: Very dark with a solid head.
4. Feel: Not as smooth as I would have expected. It's the taste of fruit (apricot according to the can) that's throwing me off.
5. Overall Enjoyment: One can is plenty. It's a bit too adventurous for me.

Stomping Ground Brewery

Collingwood, VIC

Gipps St Pale Ale

At 5.2% alcohol (with an unknown IBU), Gipps Street Pale Ale holds a 3.63/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Citrusy and passion fruit. No obvious hops on the nose.
2. Taste: Very passion fruity with the hops nicely hitting the back of both sides of the tongue. But they're nicely balanced and don't over do it.
3. Appearance: Rich golden amber.
4. Feel: Great Carbonation. Not heavy at all, but probably not all that sessionable either.
5. Overall Enjoyment: One of Australia’s best pale ales. Certainly one of my favourites. An absolutely delightful beer.

Stone & Wood Brewing Co.

Byron, NSW

Pacific Ale

At 4.4% alcohol with 30 IBU, Pacific Ale holds a 3.64/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Light, fruity and tropical.
2. Taste: Very slight notes of hops and very slight indication of fruit.
3. Appearance: Cloudy and pale.
4. Feel: Very light, but heavy on the refreshment and sessionable factor.
5. Overall Enjoyment: A hard beer to objectively review for a couple of reasons. First, I've had it more times than I could possibly count (although I do remember just about being knocked off my socks when I had it the first time). Second, it's probably my favourite beer - one of Australia's finest. Some might say Stone & Wood 'sold out,' but I don't care. I'm sipping this one while celebrating my son's first birthday. No other beer would have sufficed for such an occasion.

Hinterland Big Pale Ale

At 5.6% alcohol (with an unknown IBU), Hinterland Big Pale Ale holds a 3.74/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Passion fruit and hops right out the gate. Smells very tropical.
2. Taste: Very juicy. Just like a hazy IPA, but with less intense hops. Can definitely taste the passion fruit too.
3. Appearance: Doesn't look like a hazy in the glass, but it is cloudy. Not much in the head, but the lacing is pronounced.
4. Feel: It looks headache-inducing - the kind of beer where simply one will do, but is deceptively lighter than I expected. That's not to say it's completely light on the feel though.
5. Overall Enjoyment: I've never heard of a big pale ale before. Based on this though, I would say it's half way between a pale ale and a hazy IPA, so maybe that's what a big pale ale is. Winter is perhaps not the best time to be sampling this beer, but as it's from Byron Bay, where it's always sunny, perhaps it is appropriate for winter. I like it. But I don't love it.

White Rabbit

Geelong, VIC

Dark Ale

At 4.9% alcohol and 27 IBU, White Rabbit's Dark Ale holds a 3.61/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Malty and a bit chocolatey.
2. Taste: Quite strong with very obvious malts. The chocolate might have been an illusion.
3. Appearance: Almost jet black. Not much in the way of head once poured in the glass.
4. Feel: Smooth and nowhere near as heavy as it looks despite a strong flavour.
5. Overall Enjoyment: A great dark beer - one of my favourites. It's especially good on a cold afternoon watching the Olympic Marathon while my son tries to crawl.

New Zealand Beers

Garage Project Brewing

Wellington, NZ

Ghost Light Hazy IPA

At 5% alcohol (with an unknown IBU), Ghost Light Hazy IPA holds a 3.77/5 rating on Untappd.

1. Aroma: Piney with very subtle notes of tropical fruits.
2. Taste: I can't quite work out what the fruits are. It's got a bit of a zest to it, but the hops are most noticeable.
3. Appearance: Cloudy and hazy, just like a typical New England Hazy.
4. Feel: Zesty. Also quite light for an IPA. Minimal head and lacing.
5. Overall Enjoyment: Not my favourite of the IPAs I've tried. I tend to lean more towards west coast IPAs anyway. I do like that it's light and only 5% alcohol on account of the few headache-inducing east coast IPAs I've had over the years.

GABS Beers

2024 Festival Beers