Around The World In 80 Beers episode 155: Toohey's Old

It's been far too long since I've done one of these.



Pours a very dark brown with a medium head.

First Sip: Mid- to dark-roasted malt, with a faint bitter chocolate and coffee flavour. Very mild but long lasting hops bitterness on the back of the tongue. Mouth feel is medium with a mild astringent after-taste. Mild carbonation tingle on the tongue. Nice beer burp.

This is my brew of choice at pubs. It has more flavour than the macrobrew lagers everyone drinks, it's not too fizzy, and you can drink it even if it goes a little warm in the glass. One of the old chaps at the RSL* - the sort with a chest full of medals and who talks about sticking it to the Japs at Kokoda in New Guinea in 1942 - used to talk about going to bush pubs in the days before refrigeration arrived. Casks of Old would be on the bar, kept slightly cooler than the atmosphere by being draped in a wet bag. And it is still drinkable at room temperatures.

Old is called "old" because it's brewed in the old lager style, as opposed to the newer lagering process favoured today to force-brew beers. Old was first brewed in 1869, and hasn't changed much.

So if it's your shout, I'll have a middy** of Old.

*Returned Serviceman's League

**middy = half a pint (10fl oz)
Which remindes me of an old Irregular Webcomic strip:
Hobbit: What's that?
Ranger: A pint. What do Hobbits usually drink?
Hobbit: Gallons.

Toohey's Old
Toohey's Brewery (Part of Lion Nathan)
4.4% alc/vol
375ml bottle



Same again, sir? What a silly question. Yes!