The flight home to Vancouver from Perth is about as long as it gets, a minimum of 24 hours of travel time. It was nice to break up the journey with a stop for the evening in Sydney. We stayed at a hotel that overlooked the runway. I downloaded an app called LiveATC that allows me to listen to the air traffic control for just about any airport. We could listen to the controllers greet each plane with a “g’day” and then watch them land.

Adding to the thrill was an app called FlightRadar24 that allows you to see all the planes’ positions on a map in real time, complete with actual photographs and details about the flight.

It was really fun watching the planes with my son.

For dinner we went to a restaurant called the Terrace Bar and Brasserie at the Sydney International Terminal.

I ordered a Kosciuszco Brewing Pale Ale on tap. I noticed that they had no beer prices posted anywhere on the menu or chalk board. I wasn’t born yesterday, so I know that this usually means that they are going to charge me double if they know I am foreign. All I have to do now is speak with a perfect Australian accent, and figure out how to pronounce “Kosciuszco.”

Incidentally, this is the highest peak in Australia. Nobody knows this, because nobody gives a shit about this mountain, as it is not even as high as Grouse Mountain.
I ordered a “Ko-SHOO-sco”. I also asked the bartender where it was from.

The barkeep, a true blue Aussie of what looked like aboriginal descent said “it’s the highest peak in Australia mate!”

Bringing the drinks back to the table I explained to my wife that I was drinking a “KoSHOOsco” and it was named after the highest peak in Australia.

It’s “Kozzy-OS-co” she said.

And that’s why these pints cost $15 each!

This beer has a summery and fruity aroma, is full bodied and had a good head.

3/5 G1-2

After a nice day at the beach in Dunsborough in South-West Australia, there is nothing better than an ice cold beer… except for a shower… then an ice cold beer.

Rather than brave the lines at the gorgeous Eagle Bay Brewery, it’s nice to be able to grab a six pack and enjoy it in the house, away from the flies. Have I mentioned that I hate the flies?

There were a lot of flies at the beach. It wasn’t balls flies mind you, but there were a lot of flies.

I started with the Eagle Bay Brewing Kolsch. I couldn’t tell this from a lager, really. It had a weak head and very mild aroma. As you can see it is crystal-clear with a straw colour. It has a slight bitter edge, and tastes nice and clean. It has 4.7% alcohol, making its content just 94 percent of par value.

The Eagle Bay Brewing Kolsch receives a grade of 4/5 (G1)

Eagle Bay Brewing Pale Ale is clear with a copper colour. It has a moderate aroma and citrus and floral. The taste has medium intensity and a bitter flavour, with a mild bitter aftertaste. This also receives a grade of 4/5 (G2)

Dec 27 2013

I had the pleasure of visiting Eagle Bay Brewing again a few days ago, and luckily, by arriving right at opening, and with a little luck, we managed to get a table.

I snapped a quick photo of the impeccable setting, with astonishing countryside views, perfect weather, a great playground for the kiddies (including an awesome hill for everyone to roll down) and of course, delicious beer.

This session included a few pints of the Eagle Bay Summer Ale. Yes, it is summer here in Australia, of course.

The Eagle Bay Summer Ale was aptly described by my friend Richard as “dangerously good.”
Dangerously good! It is fresh and mildly fruity with a clean finish. With a 4.7% alcohol, it receives the highest possible rating of 4.7/5.

All we need now is a lovely meal. I had the pork belly. Pork belly is just inch-thick bacon, which is AWESOME!. Of course in South-West Australia, you are going to share your meal with the flies, unless you cover it with a napkin (or “serviette”) like so.

In fact, at the top of the menu there are “share plates” and these are actually meant for you to share with the flies, not your friends.

Anyhoo, then I capped off the meal with a midi (that’s a glass) of Eagle Bay Extra Special Bitter. It brags that it is “not for the faint hearted” but I found it quite a bit more mild than advertised. It is quite a sessionable pale with a moderate caramel flavour and aroma. It loses a mark for false advertising: 4/5