Reviewed: Stone Beer and Moon Dancer

Byron Bay brewery Stone & Wood have launched a unique limited edition beer that’s selling out fast. Here’s why you should try to get your hands on it.

THE good people at Stone & Wood have gone back to the ‘stone age’ again this year to deliver the 2020 edition of Stone Beer.

This once a year delight uses old school methods of caramelising the malts to produce a truly unique brew and each batch tends to be slightly different form the previous year.

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The 2020 version has a delicious roasted malt nose, is the colour of carbon and has a coffee cream tight head.

Stone Beer for beer column.

The roasted malts and blending have combined to deliver a slightly smokey flavour and plenty of body with the first mouthful. That flavour lingers along after the mouthful has gone and offers a hint of bitterness in the aftertaste.

This is a very smooth drop, based on a porter and while it is heavier than many porters and olds, it doesn’t make you feel bloated and gives a very pleasant warming glow, very welcome at this time of year.

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It is a strong brew at 6.6 per cent, so it’s definitely not one to sit down and have session on but it is a perfect drop for the end of the evening and relaxing in front of a fire.

It would go well with a decadent rich chocolate dessert or a quality port.

Like all Stone Beers from the Northern Rivers brewer, the limited batch will go quickly so it will be well worth your while to see if your local bottle shop can acquire some.

This is one Stone that is on a roll.

MY TIP: Definitely serve this in a tulip or balloon shape glass to fully appreciate this drop. Like so many quality dark brews, allow this to ‘breathe’ a little as the characteristics change very subtly as it warms. Being a limited release, expect to pay a premium but I feel it is worth it at between $22-$26 per 330ml four pack. To find out where you can get it, contact the brewery on 02 66855173

Black Hops Moon Dancer for beer column

NEW IPA GIVES A WARM GLOW

IN keeping with limited releases, Gold Coast brewer Black Hops has come out with winter warmer called Moon Dancer Hazy IPA.

To put this mildly, this is an IPA with ‘guts’ – packing plenty of flavour and body but with a twist.

As the name implies, this is a very hazy IPA (I would say cloudy) with a distinct hop nose but just with a hint of malt as well.

From the aroma, you might expect this to be one of those America IPA hop ‘overloads’ but the Black Hops boys have managed to offer a well-balanced blend of hops and malts to produce a smooth, slightly creamy IPA which isn’t quite as ‘fruity’ as you might expect.

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There’s the initial hop flavour which gives way to the malts, before leaving the palate with enough bitterness to have you scrunching your mouth to get all the drops.

It’s not gassy and is heavier than regular IPAs and at 7 per cent, gives you a warm glow going down.

Surprisingly, this is an easy beer to drink and that could be ‘dangerous’ given the alcohol content but you don’t feel like you are drinking a strong beer.

Being winter, it could go well with an Indian or Asian veggie curry or even a decent sweet and sour dish.

The recommendation on the attractive looking can says to enjoy it on a starry night or at the end of a long day with Van Morrison in the background for effect.

MY TIP: Black Hops Moon Dancer is best enjoyed in a glass to appreciate the sensory offerings both visual and aroma-wise. Serve cold but not chilled. Being a limited release, it is a premium craft brew at $26 per 375ml four pack.