New Years Wines, Beers 2020-2021 Edition
This didn't feel like a normal NYE. But with a toddler, what counts a 'normal' NYE anyway? More importantly, who cares about New Years? Regardless, I opened plenty of tasty drinks …
This didn't feel like a normal NYE. But with a toddler, what counts a 'normal' NYE anyway? More importantly, who cares about New Years? Regardless, I opened plenty of tasty drinks …
Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Joyous Festivus (take your pick of chosen intro). This has been a very weird Christmas for us. Here, situated in the only part of Australia in lockdown, Christmas …
BEER: Modus Operandi Cascadian Howl Black IPA Nailing the black IPA style is harder than you’d think. Too often, the bias tends towards toasted grain rather than hoppy bitterness and it’s not …
BEER: Modus Operandi Dream Weaver Unfiltered IPA 'I have the IPA' That was the message I sent to my long-suffering partner Jacqui at 10am Saturday morning, just on 24hrs after this beer …
Modus Operandi Zoo Feeder IPA This is my early contender for Beer of The Year. The 500ml silver cans of Modus Operandi are commonly found in the Graham household fridge, with their …
I've been engrossed in moving house this month so less wine than usual. Will be rectifying that this week. Eden Road The Long Road Canberra Pinot Gris 2016 A 'ramato' style skin contact …
I like the 'wit IPA' concept but it often produces middling beers, almost like the quest for balance is too hard. Numbers: 42 IBU. This Lord Nelson Backburner IPA has the …
Feral War Hog American IPA I've come a little late to the War Hog party, but I'm all in now! Up until a few weeks ago it was Pirate Life IPA that …
Modus Operandi Sonic Prayer IPA I've been a bit quiet on the beer reviewing front lately, but with the potential for a big year in beer on the cards for 2017, …
Newstead Brewing Co. Two to the Valley IPA Features West Coast USA hops, though in a format that is probably closer to a hoppy English IPA. Lots of caramel malt character …
'Hops take the stage' with this Exit Brewing IPA. Interestingly, there's a Belgian abbey style tripel element to the nose here which I can't quite pin-down. It's almost an aldehyde character, …
This Quiet Deeds White IPA comes in a proper full-size 375ml can. More decent cans like this please. A sessionable white IPA style, this is a mix of Cascade, Centennial and …
BEER: Dainton Family Brewing Co. Insane Uncle IPA This comes with a lengthy story about how insane it is. Fun, but the beer isn't that wild at all. A blend of Warrior, …
Founders Centennial IPA I'm not convinced this was the most representative can (a little advanced), and v. keen to try another. Almost medicinal bitterness here, with a hint of sultana like sweetness …
BEER: Hop Nation Brewing Co. The Fiend Australian IPA A 'session IPA' made with all Aussie hops, complete with a grassy pineapple nose (Galaxy hops?) and some malt richnesss on the …
I've had two of these Little Brewing Company Citra IPA now and both have looked flat, and even more dramatically than the other single hop IPA from Little Brewing Co. …
BEER: Little Brewing Co. Galaxy IPA Single hop IPA from the Little Brewing Co. I've had two of these now with similar results. Light golden, this has a delicate pineapple citrus nose …
I've had four bottles of these Fixation IPA now; enough to know that this is right up my alley. Fixation is an offshoot of Stone & Wood, with a focus purely …
Great packaging and in a can. Garage Project Garagista IPA for the double win! Double hopped too, with this utilising NZ, Aussie and American hops. Lightly aromatic, the big and strongly …
There's a sense celebration here at Graham HQ this weekend, as I had my stitches removed on Wednesday (after this happened) and followed it up with a (seriously slow) ride this afternoon. …
At 18, I started working in a small suburban bottleshop, largely to buy cheap beer. It was my first year of university, slogging through physics and chemistry, so a liquor shop seemed like fun. Needless to say, I discovered wine, and my life evolved with a unique dual focus - wine and environment.
Twenty years later and I spend my days wearing many (wine) hats, mostly as a writer, presenter and marketer.
I now judge at wine shows around the world, sit on the Australian Wine List of the Year awards panel and was once a Wine Journalism Young Gun (but baby that was years ago).
Currently, I write features for a variety of publications including National Liquor News, Gourmet Traveller WINE and the RAS, plus I'm a former Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert.
In 2019 and 2020 I was voted in the Top 30 Best Wine Critics in The World, and in my spare time, I'm a sucker for punishment and run trail ultra marathons, much to the delight of my long-suffering family. Read more about me here or get in touch to book your next wine event with me here