You could be forgiven for thinking this Thornbury Lager is new only in the sense of the can design as 3 Ravens invite drinkers to "Get on the tram" – Melbourne's iconic 86 tram, to be precise, which lends its name to the revamped core lineup they debuted ahead of summer 2024/25. The brewers have flitted around with Thornbury Lager and Thornbury Pilsner as names for their year-round lager / pilsner for a while, but there is a change here as they aim for an eminently approachable and affordable offering in straitened times.
In comes classic European pilsner hop Saaz alongside Aussie Enigma, albeit in a restrained manner that means much of what fruitiness you'll pick up comes in the shape of esters from the Bavarian lager yeast. Soft, bready malt flavours sit alongside that gentle fruitiness while the finish is as much dry and cleansing as bitter, there to encourage said finish is swiftly followed by a start on the next can.
James Smith
NB If you're reading this in time, we've got cases of both debut 86 Tram Series beers – other is Ruckers Hill Pale Ale up for grabs for members of our beer club, The Crafty Cabal. Details here.
Published October 14, 2024 2024-10-14 00:00:00
