Lucky Beer
Company info:
‘Imported and distributed under license’ by
Barons Brewing PTY LTD
WOOLLAHRA, N.S.W
Bottle size sampled: 330 mL
Alcohol: 4.8%
Standard drinks: 1.3
Cap type: Non-twist
Cost: I picked this up for AU$3.99
Label info: ‘Imported Beer – Product of China‘
What the label really means: I feel a bit stupid after buying this beer. I read the printed details, ‘Imported Beer – Product of China’ and assumed this is a Chinese beer. Apparently not. I can find no connection to this being brewed, consumed, or even remotely related to China. Instead, those crafty Beer Barons make it. Or is it Australian Independent Brewers? I feel duped. Even their website lists only Barons as the brewers. What makes this revelation harder to swallow is that I have specifically tried not to review more than one beer from any one label until further down the line. Now, here is my review for a second Barons beer. [EDITED 27/01/2010: A clarifying comment has been posted in the comments section, from Barons Brewing]
The Hell-Cat review starts here
Label: While there isn’t exactly a label to review, the beauty of this bottle lies purely in its design. It’s difficult to see from my photo, but the bottle is molded in the shape of a big, fat, smiling, Buddha holding a bowl of goodness above his fat double chinned head. A necklace of extravagance hangs from his portly neck, or perhaps serves as a reminder of his over-indulgent tour of duty serving time in the military. The bottle is something to be marvelled at and helps endorse the myth of this being an imported beer. I’m afraid the whole imported Chinese beer charade lessens my rating of this spectacularly molded bottle.
I give it a label rating of 5.5 out of 10.
AROMA: A very pleasant, citrussy, hoppy aroma.
Taste: GLASS – Lucky Beer pours out a beautiful golden colour with noticeably small bubbles of carbonation. I take a sip and note that it is again another easy to drink, smooth lager. It has a real mild taste, but with a delicious all-mouth bitterness. I put my marketing problems aside and taste a really enjoyable beer.
I give it a beer from glass rating of 7 out of 10.
Taste: BOTTLE – Just as smooth, just as delicious. Lucky Beer loses nothing in taste when consumed from the bottle but gains everything when you feel that cool contoured bottle grasped between your fingers. It really does feel good to hold.
I give it a taste from bottle rating of 7 out of 10.
A word from the wife: “Light and fruity with a tangy after taste”
She gave it a taste rating of 6.5 out of 10.
Accompanying food: Ok, it’s predictable and cliched, and I wrote this review before learning the great Barons charade, but this is a beer that would go down beautifully with Chinese food. I’m thinking the spicier the better. And for my money, when it comes to Asian [inspired] brews, this is far superior to Tsingtao.
Best season to appreciate: This is a great Summer thirst quencher.
All-nighter beer? Without a doubt! I finished this before I knew it and was looking around for another. I had to settle for smashing the empty bottle of my first against a cop shop.
NEXT WEEK: Bee Sting
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