den: (Default)
Mudgee Brewing Company Pale Ale

Pours a clear, pale gold with a large foamy head. The head fades away slowly into a thick surface head. Lots of carbonation.

First sip: Very mild biscuity malt, with a mild hops bitterness that fades quickly. Mouth-feel is thin and watery with a lot of fizzy tingle on the tongue.

This ale is nice enough, but there isn't a lot happening on the flavour front. It's very easy to drink, and I expect on a hot day I could smash it down real fast. It is most definitely a summer ale. I've had other brews from Mudgee Brewery and they were exceptional. This one isn't exceptional, but it is still yummy. Now I feel like eating cheese for some reason.

Summer Pale Ale
Mudgee Brewing Company
4.2% Alc/Vol
375ml can

Mudgee Brewing Company Pale Ale

Same again sir? Yes! And cheddar!
den: (Default)
Moa Original Lager

Pours a slightly cloudy amber colour with a medium head. There is a small amount of carbonation visible.

First Sip: Mild, bready malt with a little citrus. Hops is medium-strength and fades away very quickly.

This is yet another nice brew from Moa. A little light on taste - it is a lager, after all - but still highly drinkable. I could easily smash down a 6-pack of this at a BBQ, or during a meat-smoking session, or even, since it's a brew from NZ, at a hungi. A yummy brew for a nice summer's day of cook-with-fire.

A yummy beer.

Moa Original Lager
Moa Brewing Company
5.0% alc/vol
330ml bottle

Moa Original Lager

Same again, Sir? Yes!
den: (Beer)
4 Pines Nitro Stout

Pours very black and opaque, with a small, tan head of fine bubbles. No carbonation visible

First Sip: Mild malts with a slightly bitter, dark chocolate and coffee flavour. Very mild hops flavour which lingers for ages. Medium mouth-feel, with a slight tingle on the tongue.

This is nice. Highly drinkable, not very gassy, nicely warming in the stomach. You would expect a beer like this to be best for winter, not when it's 31C outside, and you'd be right but it's a Stout and any time is a good time for Stout.

And 4 Pines have worked to make this a beer suitable for space.

SPAAAAAACE! BEEEEER!

Nitro Stout
4 Pines Brewing Co
5.1% alc/vol
330ml Bottle

4 Pines Nitro Stout

Same again, sir? SPAAAAACE!
den: (Default)
Boatrocker Stout

Pours an opaque black with a tan head of fine bubbles, which fades away slowly. No carbonation visible.

First Sip: Thick, sweetish malts, with a mild black coffee flavour. Very mild hops which lingers for ages after the swallow. The mouth-feel is heavy, with a mild carbonation tingle on the tongue.

Okay. This one is going in my regular brews rotation. It's really yummy. Slightly fizzy and very tasty. A great one for cold winter evenings but a good one for all year. Best drunk cool, not cold - the flavours really come out.

Boatrocker Stout
Boatrocker Brewing Co
6.1% alc/vol
375ml can

Boatrocker Stout

Same AgYES!
den: (Beer)
Nun Launcher Pale Ale

Pours a clear, pale yellow with fine carbonation visible. The head is quite large, and fades away slowly.

First Sip: Very mild malt, with a strong citrus, grapefruity flavour. Very mild hops at first, but it lingers for ever after the swallow. Mouth-feel is a little thin, with a mild carbonation tingle on the tongue.

I'm not really a fan of pales - I prefer something darker and malty - but this is nice and refreshing and would make the perfect ale to sit around the bbq on a hot summer's day with mates while you wait for the meats to cook.

But it's late autumn at the moment, and grey, and cool. The fire is going, and I like this beer! It's yummy. And the best part is I live about 1km away from the brewery.

Nun Launcher Pale Ale
Devil's Elbow Brewing Company, Dubbo
4.2% alc/vol
375ml can

Nun Launcher Pale Ale

Same again, sir? Oh yes!
den: (Default)
Monteith's Pointers Pale Ale

Pours a slightly cloudy honey colour with a small head and not much carbonation visible.

First Sip: Mild, bready malt with a faint sweet citrus taste. Very mild hops which lingers for quite a long while. Medium mouth-feel with a nce carbonation tingle on the tongue.

This is supposed to be a pale but it's a bit light on ... well, everything. Don't get me wrong! This is a nice beer and is highly drinkable, and goes down easily. Even the beer burp is nice. I could easily go for a six pack at a bbq. Hmm... there's still some yeasty residue in the bottle. It could have been cloudier.


Pointers Pale Ale
Monteith's Brewing Co. New Zealand.
4.2% Alc/Vvol
330ml bottle

Monteith's Pointers Pale Ale

Same again, sir? Yes.
den: (bloke genes)
Those of you who follow me on faceache would know that in November I went for a medical - blood work and ECG. The blood work says my thyroid, liver, kidneys and prostate are working fine. Cholesterol is above normal but not in the YOU'RE GUNNA DIE range. Nothing some change to diet and a little more exercise can't fix. Blood sugar is above normal but not in the OMG DIABETES! range. My insulin level is a little higher than normal and indicates some insulin resistance. This is possibly weight-related. so a change of diet (less carbs, more fibre and exercise) to reduce the weight a little would help. He suggested a 20 minute fast walk every day at the Mall. The Mall? It's flat, and air conditioned.

The ECG showed a mild, occasional, irregularity in my heart beat; just before the main upwards spike there was a tiny downward dip. My GP said it was probably nothing. He said it's nothing to be concerned about.

But.

So I had an appointment booked with a cardiologist. After getting the ECG resting, he put me on the treadmill.

Him: You're struggling?
Me: Yeah
Him: Chest pains? Shortness of breath?
Me: No. I've been a lazy bastard for four years.
Him: ...
Him: I'll slow it down a little.

Then he looked at my heart via ultrasound (ugh. goo) and examined the ECG. In the end he said "Right! Nothing wrong here. See you in 12 months."

So I am actually quite healthy, apart from being an overweight lazy bastard.
den: (Default)
Nosey Bob Red Ale

Pours a clear, dark red-brown colour. Very fine carbonation visible, with a medium head.

First Sip: A lot of malt, with a lot of coffee and a little dark chocolate flavours. A small amount of hops which lingers for a long time after the swallow. Mild carbonation tingle on the tongue, and a medium mouth-feel.

This is my second favourite ale after Black Horn, from my favourite brewery. Again, I'm not saying this simply because the brewery is just down the road from me. This is a very yummy ale and I'd never say "no" to it, unless the choice was between this and Black Horn. Even then, I'd have to ponder for a while to make up my mind. It is cool and refreshing and very tasty. Even the beer-burp in nice. And the ale is still tasty when it warms a little.

When I bought this 4-pack I get talking with Brendan, the brewer at Devil's Elbow. He invited me back to the off-limits Secret Brewer's Area, where we tasted some of the malt straight from the bag. It was crunchy and tasted of coffee and slightly burnt toast. Devil's Elbow is too small to have a malt-house, but Whoever does their malt does a great job. Then Brendan uses his Secret Brewer's Alchemy and MAGIC, and suddenly it's yummy yummy beer.

Nosey Bob Red Ale
Devil's Elbow Brewery, Dubbo
5.2% alc/vol
375ml can

Nosey Bob Red Ale

Same again. sir? YES! Why do you even ask?
den: (Default)
Cricketers Arms Keeper's Lager

Pours a clear amber colour with a small head. A lot of carbonation is visible in the glass.

First Sip: Very mild malt with a taste of citrus. Mild hops which lingers for quite some time. Strong carbonation tingle on the tongue and yet not too fizzy. Mouth-feel is a little thin.

Lagers really aren't my favourite type of beer, and yet this is a very good session lager. It's a great one to knock back a six pack around a BBQ while you watch the Aussie cricket team enjoy thrashing playing against New Zealand. There's not a real lot of flavours going in in the beer, but it's a lager so you don't expect that. On the other hand, it's a very good lager. This one is a ... keeper.

Cricketers Arms
(owned by Asahi)
4.8% alc/vol
330ml bottle

Cricketers Arms Keepers Lager

Same again, sir? Yes.
den: (Default)
Longstocking Brewery Autumn Ale

Pours a moderately cloudy, mid brown colour. No carbonation visible but a very large head (Pour fail!)

First Sip: moderately malty and a bit bready, with a little light citrus flavour. Mild hops which linger for quite some time. Nice carbonation tingle on the tongue. Medium mouth-feel.

So I had a major pour fail: the bottle fizzed when I opened it and I lost a bit of beer. I did an emergency pour into the glass, and filled it up with 99% head. It settled down and I could pour it properly, but I only got 4/5ths of the glass full.

This ale goes down very well. It's quite yummy, but a little too warming for a mid-Summer drink. But it *does* say "Autumn Ale" on the label, so no real complaints. I would love to try this one in cool weather but I didn't want to wait 6 months for that to happen.

Autumn Ale
Longstocking Brewery, Pambula, NSW
4.8% alc/vol
330ml bottle

Longstocking Brewery Autumn Ale

Same again, sir? Yes!
den: (Default)
Black Horn Dark Ale

Pours a very dark, almost opaque brown, with a small head. Some carbonation is visible in the glass. Light passing through the ale comes out a deep red-brown.

First sip: Quite a lot of malt flavours, with caramel (mostly) and a little coffee and dark chocolate. There is a small amount of hops bitterness which lingers on the back of the tongue for ages. Medium mouth-feel, with a lot of carbonation tingle.

This ale is highly drinkable and very yummy. I'm not saying that just because the brewery is just down the road from me. But the brewery is just down the road from me. Occasionally the in-house bakery makes a left-over brew malt bread, but I haven't had a chance to try it. In my head I imagine it to be yummy, like this ale. I am really enjoying the lovely warming feeling the ale leaves in my stomach even though it's 44C (111F) outside and I'm under the AC as I write. It would be a great winters-day-by-the-fire ale, but I will be drinking it at any time no matter what the weather. I will never say No to this beer.

Yes, they have an in-house bakery. And an in-house coffee shop where they roast their own beans. And they make their own pizzas. And their food is very nice.

Black Horn Dark Ale
Devil's Elbow Brewery, Dubbo
4.8% alc/vol
375ml can

Black Horn Dark Ale

Same again, Sir? YES! Oh so very yes!
den: (Default)
Lonstocking Brewery Amber Ale

Pours a clear, dark amber with a large head. Plenty of carbonation visible.

First sip: Lovely mid-strength malts with a slight fruity flavour. Very mild hops, with a very, very mild hoppy bitterness which lingers for a short while. Mild carbonation tingle on the tongue. Medium mouth-feel.

This is a tasty, yummy beer. Maybe it's because it's a hot day, or maybe it's because I don't enjoy being smashed on the mouth by a load of hops, but I am really enjoying drinking this. It's one for a Summer's BBQ, or even stilling in front of the fire after a Winter's day. Even the beer burp is nice.

This is a yummy beer.

Amber Ale
Longstocking Brewery, Pambula, NSW
4.8% alc/vol
330ml bottle

Lonstocking Brewery Amber Ale

Same again. sir? Oh very yes please!
den: (Beer)
Longstocking Brewery Australian Weisse

Pours a pale, clear amber with almost no head (maybe a glass fault.) Some carbonation visible in the glass.

First sip: Mild, biscuity malts, with a very mild but long lasting hops on the back of the tongue. Mild carbonation tingle on the tongue.

This is a very mild beer, not outstanding but good enough that I'd never say "No" to a six-pack, and I'm not really a fan of weissebier. This one goes down easily and is very refreshing - the sort of beer you'd want for a BBQ on a Summer's day. Rehydration AND beer! It's not as good as German Weissebier, but I'm drinking it in late Winter and enjoying it.

Australian Weisse
Longstocking Brewery, Pambula, NSW
4.8% alc/vol
330ml bottle

Longstocking Brewery Australian Weisse

Same again, sir? Yes.
den: (Default)
Mudgee Mud Imperial Stout

Pours a deep, opaque black. The head is large, tan, and made up of very fine foam. No carbonation visible.

First sip: Sweet, strong dark malts, with a little dark chocolate. Very mild hops which linger on the back of the tongue for ages. Fine carbonation tingle on the tongue. Very warming in the belly.

Ooh I do love this stout! Like many English beers, this one does taste better when allowed to warm a little in the glass. It does not need to be chilled to be enjoyable. It is very much a "cold winter nights in front of the fire" beer, but I would drink it any time. Oh hey look at the time! It's winter, almost night, it's a bit chilly, and I have a fire. Excellent.

Mudgee Mud Imperial Ale
Mudgee Brewing Co, Mudgee, NSW
8% alc/vol
750ml bottle (= 5 standard drinks)

Mudgee Mud Imperial Stout

Same again, sir? Oh so very yes!
den: (Default)
The first cortisone shot 6 weeks ago was into the bicep ligament and went rather well and was largely painless. Yesterday's shot was into the gap between the ball and socket. i.e into the joint itself. This was not largely painless.

The procedure had to be done in the CT Scanner with me lying still. The tech put a target patch in my shoulder, sent me into the scanner, then returned and marked a spot on my back. This was okay.

The Doc entered the room, administered a local, and said "Okay, this might still hurt a little." He explained that he would put the needle in, pump in some saline, then put me through the scanner to see if he had the needle in the correct place. "Don't move!" he added.

I said "Aargh!" as the needle went in. And "AAAARRRRGH!" as the saline was injected. Then the doc removed the syringe but left the needle in place FOREVER while I was pushed through the scanner again. He'd hit the right place which meant he didn't have to removed the needle and start again. Which was nice.

"Okay, I'm going to inject more anesthetic before the cortisone, but it might still hurt a little."

It did. I said "aargh!" then "MMMMMMPH!" into the foam supports holding me in place.

'All done!"

And it was over. 20 minutes was all it took. It hurt a lot at the time but that pain quickly subsided into a sort of dull, constant ache I've felt for the last 24 hours. It's about a 2 to 3 on the 1 to 10 pain index. I didn't sleep well because the pain woke me when I moved and stressed the shoulder, and I'm feeling a little wrecked today.

The 3rd and final shot is in 6 weeks, and after that I'll know if I need an operation.
den: (Beer)
Longstocking Brewery Dark Ale

Pours a deep, almost opaque red. Very little carbonation visible and a very small head.

First sip: Strong malt, with chocolate, coffee flavours up front. Very little hops - enough to put a very mild woody bitterness on the swallow. None of the flavours last long. Mild carbonation tingle on the tongue. Quite warming in the belly.

I know it sounds a little insipid, but this is a very drinkable beer. It goes down well, maybe a little too fast, and leaves you wanting another sip as soon as you finish the last. The dark maltiness wants me to linger over the brew, but I find myself halfway through the glass in no time at all. This is a yummy beer which leaves you warm in the belly.

Make that 2/3 of the way through the glass.

Longstocking Brewery Dark Ale

Dark Ale
Longstocking Brewery, Pambula, NSW
4.8% alc/vol
330ml bottle

Same again, sir? Yes please! (bugger. Finished this one already.)
den: (Dr Death)
Good news! It's not urgent! I can have the operation here in Dubbo as day-surgery. I see the orthopedic surgeon in April to work out dates etc.

Bad news: it's not urgent, so I go on a queue that will exceed a 12 month wait. I can dip into my private insurance to reduce the wait time but I'll take a financial hit with premiums. Or I can get it done free under Medicare but have to wait on the long queue. Either way, I will have to put up with the dodgy shoulder for some time.
den: (Default)
The results of the MRI are in. It's not bursitis. I have a tear in the socket cartilage which runs from the 11 o'clock position to 1 o'clock - a SLAP tear - plus a little "subacromal subdeltoid bursal inflammation." I will have to spend a day at Royal North Shore for a short operation to fix this on a date to be determined.
den: (Default)
Longstocking Kolsch Lager

Pours a clear amber with a smallish head. Some carbonation visible in the glass.

First sip: mild malts up front with a very mild grapefruity after-taste. A small amount of hops which is barely noticeable at first but lingers on the back of the tongue long after the swallow. Medium mouth-feel with a tingly carbonation on the tongue. Nice beer burp.

Technically it shouldn't be called a kolsch because it wasn't brewed in Cologne. Never mind - this is a very yummy brew. It goes down very easily and is warming in the stomach afterwards. Highly drinkable, and best enjoyed ... well, anywhere really. At the brewery on oyster night would be best, but at home in front of the PC playing Kerbal Space Program is great, or watching telly, or at a BBQ would be fine.

Longstocking Kolsch Lager

Kolsch Lager
Longstocking Brewery, Pambula, NSW
4.6% alc/vol
330ml bottle

Same again, sir? Oh yes!
den: (Default)
I spent the day having my shoulder MRI'd.

Step 1: dye injection. I lay in front of the CT scanner so they could see where they needed to inject the dye because it had to go right into the joint. The nurse stuck a grid pattern on my back. Then, after some moving in and out of the scanner, she returned and put a tiny mark on my back. Then the doctor came in and explained what would happen.

He would give me a local, then he'd inject the dye,then he'd inject some saline. The local stung a little for a few seconds.

"You won't feel a thing, said the doctor lying to the patient," said the doctor, (actual words by doctor)
Oh?
"Actually, you'll feel a tinge. But first I have to make sure the needle is in the joint," he added.

So he stuck the needle in - I didn't feel anything - and he put a lead-lined hazmat apron so the nurses could move me back into the scanner and scan. Apparently he got it in.

"Good. Now I'll inject the dye. Tell me if you feel the tinge."
After a few seconds I felt the pain tingle in my shoulder. "Tinge!" I said.
"Good!"
"Good that it's going in the right place? Or good that it hurts?"
"Both!" he said happily.
I could really feel the dye going in now. "Tinge! Tinge! Tingetingetingetinge!"
"Hmm... you really shouldn't feel that." After a few seconds he said "All done! Now I'll inject some saline. It'll feel like someone is pushing a tennis ball into your back.

He was right - it did!

Step 2: MRI. I had to put in some high-density foam earplugs and head phones, then lie on the table and relax completely and stay still while the techs pack foam pieces around me so that I wouldn't move. My shoulder was clamped in a shoulder... clamping... thingy. A panic button was given to me to squeeze if I panicked. Because nothing metal could be in the scanner, the panic button was an air bulb connected to a tube that lead to a sensor outside the room. Music was piped to the headphones the same way. And then into the narrow tunnel for the MRI. The music in the headphones was barely audible over the noise of the MRI. I closed my eyes and spent 20 minutes trying to stay absolutely still. It's very difficult, even clamped in foam and shoved into a long tube.

And then it was over. In the end I was given a DVDR of the scans, and went home.

Medicare covered it all because it wasn't for workplace injury insurance. Which was nice.

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