The 4 Pines Brewery in Manly has been operating for 3 years now, and like most good breweries has a bar attached to it and a plethora of beers to choose from. You could literally bathe in the atmosphere as soon as you walk in, with suntanned locals sipping pilsners at the timber tables outside and tourists at the bar getting the lowdown on the beers from the friendly bar staff we knew this was somewhere special. There was a message board beside the bar featuring news articles about 4 Pines and right next to that behind a glass wall was the brewery itself.
When we reached the bar Dan and I were both a little surprised by the number of brews 4 Pines had to offer - 8 craft beers (5 house beers and 3 specialties) and 1 cider, this was going to be a long day! The house beers on offer were Hefeweizen, Kolsch, Pale Ale, Extra Special Bitter (ESB), and a Stout. The three specialty taps were German Pilz, Dunkelweisen, and a Porter. They also have a great take away service in the form of "growlers", essentially a 2 litre jug of tap beer you can take with you!
We also noticed a handpump behind the bar, but unfortunately it was out of action for the day.
There was a slight debate about whether a tasting rack ($15.00 a rack consisting of the 5 house beers) was in order, or whether we could/would drink pints (all pints were $9.50 and halves $6.50)... we chose the pints... with a little help from our friends.
Let's get to it.
Dan: We have had a few different Hefeweizen's lately and this is definitely one I would order more than once. It has the texture and cloudiness of a typical Hef but a little lighter than the others I've had. I would put this up there with the Burleigh Hef that was on tap at Harts, pleasantly surprised and drinkable in warmer weather. How did you rate this one Karl?
Karl: I think the true test for this Hefeweizen was my brother. He is a connoisseur of Hefeweizen's and he loved this one. I attend to agree with him (it's not often I agree with my brother). This Hef has a lovely pale colour with a soft floral aroma and finishes with a slightly complex fruity flavour. At 5.2% ABV this is easily drinkable on a cold winters or a hot summers day. So what are your thoughts on the Kolsch?
Kolsch
Dan: One thing is for sure, the 4 Pines Kolsch has been popping up at a couple of pubs and bars around Sydney so that can only be a good thing. Is it a lager or is it an ale though? Who cares at the end of the day, if this is on tap at my local I would drink it.
Karl: I was a little surprised by the Kolsch to be honest. Being a cross between a lager and an ale I wasn't sure what to expect and if this is a beer to go by I have to say I like it. For anyone out there trying to work out how to get your mainstream beer drinkers away from their favourites, this is the one. Also at 4.7% they probably won't get unruly doing it.
Pale Ale
Dan: Ah hello old friend, where have you been all this time? This is a classic Pale Ale which has a lot going for it. Whilst it is not too hoppy (which makes a nice change) the Pale has an extremely pleasant aroma and an aftertaste which makes you want to keep coming back for more. Quite frankly Karl this is one of the best Pale Ales I've had on tap (takes Karl's Growler and heads straight to the bar).
Karl: I have to agree. When I first got the hoppy aroma from this beer I was thinking this was going to be an intense Pale Ale, but not the case. The mild hoppiness really endears this beer to be drunk in large quantities and with a moderate ABV of 5.1% this can be done. This one is definitely "back of the net".
Extra Special Bitter
Karl: Okay Dan this is my cheeky little number. As you know I LOVE English Bitters and this is a perfect example of an ESB. With a mild hoppy aroma and its malty undertones I really didn't want to have to move to another beer... I feel a growler coming on Dan!
Dan: As one person summed this beer up "It is like licking rust off a corrugated iron roof". But in a good way of course. The 4 Pines ESB is a classic bitter with lovely caramel undertones, a nice body and a perfect finish making it my standout favourite. It is a shame the handpump ran out of this when we got there, but I heard they may be replenishing it soon! A classic English Bitter and the strongest of the bunch at 5.6%.
Stout
Dan: The 4 Pines "Space" Stout is a wonderful, velvety and creamy invention. This Growler friendly Stout goes down really well and would be a perfect finisher for a drinking session. At 5.1% it is not too heavy and real stout fans are going to enjoy this one.
Karl: Come on Dan, who doesn't like a Stout... well not many people, but I think this one could change their minds. This Stout has all the chocolate and caramel flavours you would expect, without the heaviness. I think everyone should try this one.
Dan: Well you know the saying Karl "If in doubt have a Stout". Oh, it is called the Space Stout as it is the first beer to be served on a zero gravity flight. For more information click here.
Specialty #1 - German Pilz
Karl: On such a hot day this light and thirst quenching German Pilz hits the spot. A soft hoppy aroma and refreshing taste makes this a great summer beer. With an ABV of 5.3% you can definitely knock back a few of these. Were you as thirsty as I was Dan?
Dan: Sitting out on the 4 Pines balcony appreciating the sunny vista with one of these in my hand is how this is meant to be drunk. This is a robust session pilsner and on a nice day I could easily have a lot more of these, but unfortunately we had a job to do here.
Specialty #2 - Dunkelweisen
Karl: That's right Dan there is work to be done, so I moved to the Dunkelweisen. This is an unusual Dunkel in the respect that it's not a heavy beer. With light chocolate and caramel undertones this beer has a great flavour which can be enjoyed all year round.
Dan: The specialty Dunkelweisen goes down too smoothly in my opinion and it comes across as more of a dark lager. Karl is right about the chocolate undertones and one of the stand outs of the bunch, with an ABV of 4.7%.
Specialty #3 - Porter
Dan: Onto the porter then. As you know I like Porters. I really like them. Just by smelling this beer I knew what I was in for. Smokey flavours straight off the top, almost in the style of a German Rauchbier (but with less smokey pork) and an aftertaste that lingers briefly on the palette. A winter warmer but not a summer slinger. What say you Karl?
Karl: You're right Dan, my first smell of this Porter reminded me of an open fire. Then when it came to the taste, I was blown away. The smokiness, although intense, really sets this beer off. I can definitely see myself drinking a few of these next winter, especially on a cold day... if only it snowed in Sydney. The ABV on this is 4.2%, so perfect in front of an open fire.
After a thorough tasting of the beers we were keen to investigate the Growler option. Growlers have been around for quite some time and they are a great way of taking home your favourite beers straight from the tap. The 4 Pines charge $15.00 for a custom Growler (which is reusable) and $20.00 for each refill, considering you get nearly 2 litres of beer this is a really good deal and something which more pubs and bars should consider. Just remember to clean the Growler before you take it back or they wont fill it. Karl opted for a Growler of the ESB and I had a feeling it wasn't going to last long......
Drifting back slowly on the ferry towards Circular Quay, we reflected on our day of drinking at the 4 Pines. We met some really cool locals, drank Space beer, had some fantastic food and found a bar that sells Growlers, does it get any better than this?......
Until next time.
4 Pines Brewing Company
29/43-45 East Esplanade, Manly
For updates from the 4 Pines (and beer in general) join their beer club - click here.
Dan: Sitting out on the 4 Pines balcony appreciating the sunny vista with one of these in my hand is how this is meant to be drunk. This is a robust session pilsner and on a nice day I could easily have a lot more of these, but unfortunately we had a job to do here.
Specialty #2 - Dunkelweisen
Karl: That's right Dan there is work to be done, so I moved to the Dunkelweisen. This is an unusual Dunkel in the respect that it's not a heavy beer. With light chocolate and caramel undertones this beer has a great flavour which can be enjoyed all year round.
Dan: The specialty Dunkelweisen goes down too smoothly in my opinion and it comes across as more of a dark lager. Karl is right about the chocolate undertones and one of the stand outs of the bunch, with an ABV of 4.7%.
Specialty #3 - Porter
Dan: Onto the porter then. As you know I like Porters. I really like them. Just by smelling this beer I knew what I was in for. Smokey flavours straight off the top, almost in the style of a German Rauchbier (but with less smokey pork) and an aftertaste that lingers briefly on the palette. A winter warmer but not a summer slinger. What say you Karl?
Karl: You're right Dan, my first smell of this Porter reminded me of an open fire. Then when it came to the taste, I was blown away. The smokiness, although intense, really sets this beer off. I can definitely see myself drinking a few of these next winter, especially on a cold day... if only it snowed in Sydney. The ABV on this is 4.2%, so perfect in front of an open fire.
Until next time.
4 Pines Brewing Company
29/43-45 East Esplanade, Manly
For updates from the 4 Pines (and beer in general) join their beer club - click here.
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'Goes down too smoothly' - is this sentance written in English?
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog and have become a follower- I went to the East Village and enjoyed the my visit, the food and especially the beer and chat with the Licensee.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the East Village Ray, there seems to be so many new bars/pubs popping up now, it is hard to keep track! One thing in common with a lot of them though is the quality of the beer and the passion of the staff behind the bar.
DeleteCheers,
Dan