With a heritage that includes the Black Giraffe Coffee Lager, Figjam IPA and Hassle Hop, if there's one thing that can be said for Burleigh's Bit on the Side range it's that they're worth checking out. Latest to leave the Gold Coast in longneck form and march across the land is Dream Date, a beer that, like Fanny Gertude's Anzac Bickie Beer (remember her?), has a rather sweeter inspiration than the others. Specifically: dates. And even more specifically: "Hundreds of kilos of them" added to the brew. The brewers' minds were sparked by a chance encounter with a "seriously smooth, sticky date liqueur" that got them wondering how to recreate it in beer form. The result is Dream Date, a "dark date ale". And it's quite a surprising affair. For one, it's not as dark as we'd expected it might be, nor as sticky (they are masters of balance, after all). Along with the dates, there's a hefty addition of Burleigh's beloved aromatic hops so, when poured chilled, it's those hop aromas that initially arrest your attention. As it warms, raisin like aromas join the party, while the rich, fruity caramelised flavours reminiscent of British old / strong ales gently sidle into the room and begin to wiggle their booty too before the 5.7 percent ale wraps up with a firm, drying bitterness.
Published June 25, 2014 2014-06-25 00:00:00
