Beer Review Jamieson Pale Ale.
Dear diary….. this beer review represents the first of several “non birthday beer reviews”…..
For those new to FortyBeers.com, the whole premise around this website is that I received 40 individually wrapped beers for my birthday a while ago. I have been opening and reviewing these beers here, and enjoying them immensley. However, today I have broken away from this tradition, and have tapped in to some unauthorised-non-birthday-beers.
As unauthorised at they are, I realise that there are more beers out there than just those Forty Beers given to me for my 40th birthday by my good friends Simon, Phoebe and Chris.
So much so, that here I am on a little get-away on this Australia Day Weekend in a beautiful little town called Jamieson. Jamieson is near Mansfield, near Mount Buller in central Victoria, about 3 hours drive north-east from Melbourne, Australia. Steeped in goldrush history, it is a beautiful bush town surrounded by Aussie bush, rivers, trees, birds, sounds, scents, scenery and serenity.
I love my father-in-laws holiday house (thanks Noel) – staying here is very relaxing, and we don’t do it often enough. This time, however, I find myself sitting by a river with my lovely wife and two beautiful daughters, and with my good friend Simon, his lovely wife and his two beautiful daughters as well.
“Do you need a beer ?”, Simon asked as we watched our children spash in the water.
“Yes,……yes I do” I replied.
(note – Simon and I have been known to share several/many/lots of beers together over the last 22 years…..)
So – first on our local sampling list was Jamieson Pale Ale.
Unfortunately, it was a quite a hot day in Jamieson – late January being the middle of Summer here in Australia – and the Jamieson Pale Ale did not stay as cold as we would have liked in the walk from the ‘fridge to the river setting. Having said that, both Simon and I were pleased that we had carried it the 500 meters or so from the house to the river.
Once we had set up the video camera, and established that our children were safe and not drowning in the river, it was down to business. Not having brought any glasses to the river with us, it was a bit difficult to tell if the Jamieson Pale Ale was, in fact, pale or not. It certainly did not taste pale – in fact it tasted quite strong….. hops, malt, and a slight bitter twinge.
The yellow label, complete with Rainbow trout logo, was very apt given our setting. “Brewed Mountain Fresh in the High Country” was also appropriate. What I love about Jamieson is the fresh air, fresh water, the calmness and the unhurried relaxed atmosphere of this small town. During the Australian Gold rush of the 1850′s, Jamieson boasted 11 pubs. Now, 110 years later, there are only two – one of which has their own micro-brewery, the Lakeside Hotel, that produced the Jamieson Pale Ale sampled today.
(another note – the Lakeside Hotel in Jamieson has been known to serve great country pub meals, and is well worth the visit should you be passing by).
Simon and I had made our purchase a little earlier in the day from the Lakeside Hotel / Jamieson Brewery, where many a good beer and meal have been consumed.
We both enjoyed our Jamieson Pale Ale, and I was pleased to see that Simon appeared to be quite comfortable and confident in front of the video camera – even with bemused children, wives and passing strangers watching.
Overall, I would suggest that this Jamieson Pale Ale is a worthy 7 out of 10 on the Forty Beers Cheers-O-Meter. Several points were lost on the temperature of the beer… but that was our fault, and certainly no reflection on the brewer, nor the beer. Neither Simon nor I were sure we would like to consume multiple bottles of this beer in one sitting, but we were both very pleased to have tasted this one.
“Save water – drink beer” so says the label. And I must agree.
We purchased several of the Jamieson Brewerys offerings…. which will undoubtedly be mentioned in another “non birthday” beer review…..or two….
Thanks,
Matthew,
with Special Guest - Simon.
Tags: Ale, Australian Beer, Beer Review
