Day 6 – Tuesday, March 26
Qantas flight 52, an Airbus 300, not as comfortable as the Airbus 800 which brought us to Singapore, but better than any domestic flight. The Beef & Noodles wasn’t so tasty either. And apart from wine with dinner, no other drinks offered. Another overnight flight, at least it saves on accommodation. The crew wanted the lights out as soon as they could get away with it. Yes, we were due to arrive early morning Brisbane, but many of us were still adjusting to Singapore time. Seven hours, again we would arrive early, but not before Hector had spent the entire journey writing up – Singapore. No in-flight entertainment for the scribe, seen the best bits already.
Clearing immigration was straightforward. Marg got a – well done – as she handed over her landing card and the printout from the automated passport scanner. No passport stamps yet on this trip, Hector’s passport may fight on to the end of the year. Meanwhile, a chap was given a hard time for using his phone during the processing.
Due in at 05.10, try waking people up at 04.30. Ryan finally acknowledged our arrival, a Quantas pilot, even he was impressed. Beverley, Marg’s niece, drove the short distance from Nundah to collect us. Check-in at Ibis Styles Elizabeth was booked for 09.00, too early to take us there.
Sunrise in Brisbane, the light, the smell of the damp vegetation, took me back to winter 1980 in Emek Hayarden. Have I mentioned it was raining? May do so again, and again. Hector believed that with the sun now north of the Equator, the ITCZ would have shifted upwards, no such luck. On seeing a weather map, a classic tropical rainstorm is scheduled to last for days.
Is Brisbane a catholic city? – I asked Ryno as I looked at opening times for nearby breweries.
The coming Friday and Sunday could be a washout in another use of the term. Something to do with paying staff overtime – was the explanation. We shall see, we can’t go hungry. A day or two of – Temperance – may be in keeping with the motto printed on Hector’s polo shirts.
Who is he, and why is he here? – was the general consensus of the two children.
Two hours in Brisbane, I had seen the BBQ, but it wasn’t lit yet.
The programme for the week was discussed, Hector wouldn’t see the family again until Friday. Marg has something arranged for tomorrow from which I can escape.
Ryno drove us to Brisbane City, Doris at check-in was as dozy as us. Oh, you have paid for early check-in – when she tried to charge another A£30.00. Floor 26, wtf? With the glass windows from ceiling to floor, not so good. The view was non-existent anyway, clouds, haze, just like Scotland. Did I mention it was raining? Those are huge buildings opposite, I’ll post a photo when it clears, if ever, the forecast does not look good.
After a few hours sleep we emerged into the downpour. Downtown Brisbane has a grid street pattern, at an angle. Streets named after female British Royalty run NE-SW. Streets named after male British Royalty run NW-SW. Should be straightforward, it isn’t.
Google’s blue dot was not coping with being in the Southern Hemisphere, it kept going in the wrong direction, so therefore did Hector, despite his instinct, or in-built compass.
With heads under umbrellas, we both failed to take in our surroundings. As the afternoon became evening, we found ourselves covering the same few blocks time and time again, no sense was being made. With the tilted grid pattern, north and south were meaningless anyway, and as for the Sun, where was it?
Getting Australian SIM cards was expected to be the first order of the day. It was therefore a huge surprise when the Singapore SIMBA card burst into life on landing. Ryno had also picked up two Woolworth’s SIMs for us. There was no point changing SIMs, yet.
Marg had a highly rated coffee shop looked out. Sugar ‘N Spice Cafe had worthy coffee, but was way too small to relax in.
Marg had her diary to update, Hector had many words still to write for Bier-Traveller, and this is going to be a major feature of this trip, like it or not.
The array of clocks on the wall felt fitting. We moved on. Next choice of venue had no wi-fi, move on.
Brew Cafe & Wine Bar was just what we needed. Located in a lane just off Queen St., another miracle piece of navigation.
The Ginger Beer here was way cheaper than when I bought the same in Ashton Lane (Glasgow, Scotland) at a dinner. We settled down, then after an hour became unsettled. Is (c)rap music designed to make a stay shorter than planned?
Back at the hotel, floor 1 has the bar/restaurant. Wait to be seated – ?
We are resident. With a power socket, slow wi-fi and A$5.00 soft drinks, at least we were out of the rain.
Around 20.00 it was dinner time. Most of the eateries we had passed this afternoon were Asian. Done that. Burger and Pizza is the food of the last resort. We had passed a Nando’s earlier, it was on the street parallel to our hotel, simples.
Whilst the menu was similar, the food was not. The Chicken had a definite BBQ flavour to it which it does not in the UK. The reason became obvious, the sauces are significantly different, here was the root of the BBQ. No way as good.
An hour to go before curfew. Everything seems to shut at 22.00 in Brisbane. With umbrella in one hand and the struggling Oppo in the other, we located some promising bars, closed, closed. The only one open had so average a range of Bier, nope.
Intemperance in moderation – today was a day of – temperance.
Bar, restaurant and cafe visited today:
Sugar ‘N Spice Cafe – 210 Adelaide St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Brew Cafe & Wine Bar – Lower Burnett Ln, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Nando’s – Festival Towers, Shop 6/108 Albert St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Day 7 – Wednesday, March 27
Sleep remains sporadic in the same way that the continuing downpour does not. Once again there was an interrupted sleep meaning three more small hours were devoted to these writings. Marg went out for her morning constitutional run/jog and returned slightly late for her the train to her planned activity this afternoon.
Despite seeing where Central Station is on the map, and having passed it yesterday, the Hector still managed to head off in the wrong direction. Something is seriously wrong with the inbuilt navigation. Marg tried to enter shops, twice, believing them to be Central Station.
Nundah is where Marg was heading, however, the train she took did not stop there. Google decided at the last moment that Northgate was just as good. Apparently it was, and this train was an express. Having seen Marg on to her train, here was the opperchancity to purchase the Queensland Translink Card. A$10.00 for the card, a A$20.00 top up. Whilst one can tap on/off with a bank card on the train, buses require the Translink to achieve the same method.
This left the Hector to his own devices for the afternoon. First there had to be Curry, Punjabi Rasoi behind Central Station as great value for money. If I have a cheaper dinner on this trip, I look forward to it too. It was dry inside back at Ibis Styles Elizabeth where refuge was enjoyed until late afternoon.
Bus 60 took me from Adelaide Street the four stops to Range Brewing. Range opened at 16.00, it was after 17.00 when I arrived. Where does time go?
This brewery was brought to my attention in Manchester earlier this year when visiting Track Brewery. The chap who served me at Range did not recognise Larissa, nor had he heard of her. So it goes.
Sat at the corner table facing the bar, Dreams, a Hazy IPA at 6.4% hit the spot. This was followed by Roam, another Hazy IPA at 6.8%. For full tasting notes use the links to the Range Brewery page.
Still Hector was typing away when Marg phoned to say that – the Easter bonnet parade – was over, she was coming back to town, and no way was she traveling any further. In fact she would be back before I left Range.
A meeting point near Central Station was required. I checked out Criterion last night and bought nothing. I was confident we could both find it again. The rain had abated when I left Range. There’s hope.
Marg was waiting at Criterion with a glass of Ginger Beer, non-alcoholic.
The Bier at Criterion still did not impress, a 4.0% Ginger Beer (Brookvale Union, Australia) was seemingly the best choice.
Ginger Beer, I brewed this in my youth, the only brew of mine I considered to be drinkable.
Now where?
Across the bridge in Brisbane South lies both a Curry House on the radar, and a bar apparently serving the style of Beer the Hector desires. Saccharomyces Beer Cafe was found with relative ease. Behold the – muriel (sic).
Hop Haze (Six String Brewing, Erina, NSW, Australia) a NEIPA at 6.2% was exactly what the Hector required to follow the Bier at Range. At IBU-10, this was a smooth as… Full on juiciness, the full milkshake haze, a classic NEIPA featuring: Idaho 7 Cryo, Nectaron, YHC701 hops.
Having started small, I went larger to a schooner. Suddenly we were advised it was last orders. Closing at 22.00?
The Hector was last out.
Marg led me to the bright lights of Brisbane where she had jogged this morning.
Surely there was somewhere open later and near the hotel? Frog’s Hollow Saloon was on the street parallel to ours, and seemingly for Brisbane, open well late.
A CAN of Boozy Fruit (Big Shed Brewing, Royal Park, South Australia) a NEIPA at 6.2% was better than anything on draft. With lactose declared, this full on milkshake took a moment to adjust to. Galaxy, Wai-Iti, Ekuanot and Mosaic hops featured, quite an array.
Meanwhile Marg was getting into the spirit of things. There was an impressive number of bottles on the gantry. Marg had her usual cola contaminated with a white spirit, twice.
We were not last out of Frog’s Hollow.
Brewery, Bars, Restaurant visited today:
Range Brewing – 4 Byres St, Newstead, Brisbane QLD 4006
Saccharomyces Beer Cafe – Fish Ln, South Brisbane QLD 4101
Frog’s Hollow Saloon – 26 Charlotte St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Criterion – 239 George St., Brisbane City QLD 4000
Punjabi Rasoi – 401 Edward St, Spring Hill QLD 4000
Day 8 – Thursday, March 28
The sleep pattern continues, awake in the middle of the night, a couple of hours of blogging, then back to bed for a deeper sleep. Meanwhile, Marg is out for her exercise ritual, and returns with news of something different: the rain has stopped, sandals and shorts restored.
Before leaving the hotel the view from the 26th floor was finally worth photographing. Don’t look down.
I saw Queens Gardens for the first time without the gloom, and the historic buildings on its perimeter. Historic, remember, this is Australia. A quick visit was required.
And so we headed towards the southeastern tip tip of the peninsula and Brisbane City Botanic Gardens.
With the high-rise construction all round, the sense of being anywhere but a city is lost.
The open areas are classic parkland, flowerbeds etc., then there’s the more daunting – forested paths. Marg did spot a spider’s web, the Hector kept his distance.
Across the Brisbane River the cliff is called – Kangaroo Point, the eroded debris of an ash flow dating back some 220 million years. Australia has no active volcanoes, one less thing to worry about on this trip.
Three days in Australia and we haven’t seen kangaroos crossing the road. Maybe they don’t like the rain. The plan was to take a ferry across to the South Bank Parklands, but hey-ho, the Goodwill Bridge has popped up, one of three in this stretch that does not feature on Google Maps. Maybe someone should tell them?
Ibis – they’re everywhere, Brisbane’s equivalent of gulls, and with similar opportunist behaviour.
The view back across to – our side – showed Brisbane 2024 in all its glory. The 26 storey Ibis hotel was dwarfed.
The – Brisbane Sign – in daylight, useful for a Blogger.
Lunch was calling, the first venues were dismissed, too posh for this time of day. Marg already had an encounter at an outdoor cafe at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre where a woman gave her the dirtiest of looks for daring to choose a particular table.
Marg gave way, international incident avoided, a peaceful morning coffee.
The much praised Sigapore-SIMBA SIM card had decided that the Hector had roamed enough. The top-up fees were prohibitive. It was time to install Ryno’s courtesy SIM, but to do so required t’Internet.
The Charming Squire, adjacent to South Bank Station, a microbrewery serving – James Squire – Bier was nearby.
Too early for Bier, but when might the opperchancity present itself again? I studied the taps, nothing of interest. A mature chap was cleaning a line, all the wee girlie staff were surrounding him with glee. I felt in the way being a potential customer. Marg fetched the Wi-Fi code, a chit was provided. Hector studied the food menu, the usual Aussie/American fayre which turns the stomach at the very though of it.
The Wi-Fi wouldn’t connect:
It’s not reliable – said a spokesperson for The Charming Squire.
We walked.
Italian food, Marg’s favourite. Julius Pizzeria was adjacent to the SE Busway. Seafood Pasta, for Hector, a Salad with Potatoes on the side for Marg. The Seafood was a departure from the European Mussels and Prawns, this was Squid-based. Different, but it’s all about the sauce, which was tasty. Expensive lunch.
By using Marg’s Oppo as a hotspot, so the Woolworth’s SIM was installed in Hector’s. Or so I thought. With no Australian landline of postcode, the app wasn’t happy. Who designs these things? Can they not think through all eventualities?
After lunch we made a beeline to the Uptown Mall adjacent to our hotel. There, a patient chap took minutes to confirm that I had set up the SIM successfully, it just took a while to become active. Could the app not have sent a message to inform thus?
I installed Marg’s new SIM, same story. Still, we thank the chap at – Phone Mania Brisbane. In a brief wander, we took in some old buildings.
Bier o’clock, and the bus out to Range Brewery.
The chap recognised me, I had said – I’d be back. Our table was reserved at 17.30 for – Trivia. Before then the serving Doris suggested we move, it would become – loud. A new table was provided, Marg bought Hector a birthday present, Hector bought some – Tinnies – of – Dreams – for later in the week.
Ah, the Bier, as with the model I shall hope to maintain, all Brewery tasting notes are linked – thus.
As per yesterday, Dreams was my starting Bier. Excellent. This was followed by Angel Numbers, an 8.0% Oat Cream DIPA.
Straight five – as someone might have said, oft.
Trivia – was underway. A question on Scottish Whiskey nearly had the Hector giving some advice to the Quiz-master.
Left to my on devices, I could have stayed here until the – Angel – became a – Devil. Sense prevailed, and Bus 60 took us across town and over the SE Busway to Punjabi Palace.
A decent Curry, though Marg’s choice did cause confusion all round. Thereafter, Saccharomyces Beer Cafe was matter of metres away. It’s amazing how that happens. En route we passed a hundred people, adults, queuing for ice-cream at Gelato Messina. Come on, it can’t be that good. If it’s that awkward to acquire, we shall never find out.
Hop Haze IPA was still on, a pint, no messing.
Last orders! – they’re having a laugh.
Hector was not last out this evening.
A three Bier day, enough already, back to the hotel.
Being far too early for sleep, and with Aussie TV having near constant adverts, time to watch more of – Michael-TV. Marg and Hector binged on Outlander during Lockdown, the last season and a half moved to an obscure channel, time to catch up.
Brewery, bar and restaurants visited today:
Range Brewing – 4 Byres St, Newstead, Brisbane QLD 4006
Saccharomyces Beer Cafe – Fish Ln, South Brisbane QLD 4101
The Charming Squire – 3/133 Grey St, South Brisbane QLD 4101
Julius Pizzeria – 77 Grey St, South Brisbane QLD 4101
Punjabi Palace – 135 Melbourne St, South Brisbane QLD 4101
Day 9 – Friday, March 29
An uninterrupted night’s sleep! Maybe going to bed with an empty bladder can help. Blue skies at the start of the Holiday Weekend. What’s a – holiday weekend?
G’day – as they say in these parts, little did I know at the start of the day the extent to which the powers that be in Queensland had other ideas.
Today we were due to meet up with Ryno, Beverly and family at Felons Brewing at 15.00. That gave us a few hours. We needed food before going out for afternoon Bier, well the Hector did. Across from the hotel lies Lü Cha Kitchen offering something different from the so-called Chinese fayre which dominates Food Courts, even in Brisbane. It’s as if we hadn’t left Singapore, and the number of Asian here is – significant.
Marg had her usual Sweet & Sour Pork, for Hector: Wok Fried Ramen with Beef. Ramen – is noodles, I had checked.
The Sweet & Sour was standard fayre, the Ramen went on forever. A huge portion, mostly Noodles but with an uncomfortable monotonous Flavour. At least it was different from the Chilli Sauce laden meals which otherwise predominate. Give me Soya Sauce, but nobody does.
Less formal than yesterday’s – Italian – in this cafe style eatery, there was a 15% surcharge because today is a holiday. OK, staff have to be paid extra.
We tracked down more – historic – buildings in Brisbane’s city centre. Outside Town Hall we fond our first kangaroos, albeit made of metal. The frontage of Central Station was worthy of note.
ANZAC Square certainly impressed.
This led to the old Post Office and the cathedral.
The 1865 built – Servants Home – now – School of Arts – was the oldest building found on our wanderings.
Felons Brewing is located on the north bank of the Brisbane River south of Fortitude Valley. Being adjacent to Story Bridge was evocative of Newcastle-upon-Tyne’s – By The River – another Brewery.
Bus 199 took us the couple of stops to the top of the bank leading down to the food, drink, entertainment complex on the riverside adjacent to Howard Smith Wharves. Next to the Pirate Ship – was the clue given to locate les autres, who were well punctual. I have never walked into a brewery and had to ask – where is the Pirate Ship? When not there, chasing the odd Ibis around the grassy areas proved to entertain some weans also.
Ryno had a lightly hazed Bier – Galaxy Haze – at 4.4%, a mere Starter. There was a downpour before I secured Bier #1.
Meanwhile Marg was in full – wean entertainment mode – and had gone to play at the Pirate Ship.
Beverley drew my attention to a notice on the table. You couldn’t make this up. Outrageous.
So as not to confuse payment later, I used the QR code to order for Marg and myself. The P-Hs had the service of a chap who was determined to enforce the letter of the law. He was nothing but a nuisance. Even having ordered burgers for the girls, he was persistent. There was food on the table, let it go. Pizza was ordered before his shift ended at 16.00, the girl who replaced him was way more relaxed. Anyway, by retaining the last slice of pizza, who knows who had eaten in the last hour, or hadn’t? An absurd regulation, and only invoked in Queensland.
New World Pale Ale at 5.8% was better than its predecessor, but going – West Coast – became the obvious route, no NEIPAs at Felons.
Felons IPA at 6.2% became our session Bier. One can adjust to the higher IBU when needs must.
As the sun set and the children became tired and had to leave, not an unusual event with The Company back home, so the P-Hs departed.
Cue another downpour and this one was not for letting go either. We took refuge, standing, drinking alcohol, not permitted today under Queensland Rules.
Drinks were finished, back t’Bus Stop.
It was still early – the zone – was still on the horizon. Another tour of Brisbane City venues. Sugar ‘N Spice Cafe, visited on Day 6, appeared to take pleasure informing us about the absurd rules.
No thanks, we have eaten.
Embassy Hotel was still closed, Death and Taxes, a potential new venue for us, also.
Back to the hotel, let them try it on, they didn’t. A reasonably priced bottle of Sparkling Wine was shared.
And so this strangest of days drew to a close, in better spirit.
Brewery and restaurant visited today:
Felons Brewing Co. – 5 Boundary St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Lü Cha Kitchen + Bar – Shop 3/97 Elizabeth St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Day 10 – Saturday, March 30
This was the day Marg was most looking forward to in, Brisbane. Animals, not only that, at 11.30 she was scheduled to cuddle a Koala.
Ryno, Beverley et al were picking us up at 08.30, an early rise, but maybe not given the interrupted sleep patterns of late. Last night, another straight seven hours. Perhaps the body is finally adjusting to places east. The feet aren’t. Two days in sandals has taken its toll, foot the right is suffering. Shoes today.
It was a half hour’s drive to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, it would have taken an hour on the bus. Before we knew it, Koalas were being photographed by the dozen. It’s just as well we live in a digital World, this would have been an expensive day using 35mm film.
One knows when one has captured the image that is going to be posted on every medium. This is it, Hector the Koala:
Then there were the Kangaroos. Smaller than I expected, and tame. Feeding the ‘roos was the order of the day. And getting photos of and with. Fun, even for this old cynic.
Lorakeets, Ryno and Marg were well into this. The hand-held feeders contained a brew which the birds crave, or so we were told. The Lorakeets must have good watches, they appeared right on schedule. Organised, mayhem, but lots more photo opperchancities..
There was a crocodile, but after Crocoparc, Agadir, a single crocodile hardly impresses.
Is it possible to see the much maligned Dingo and not think of Mery Streep?
Cassowary look as though they have come from Jurassic Park, but proved to be somewhat shy.
There were two shows to take in before the important 11.30 event. A sheepdog doing its job was nothing not seen before. Birds of Prey turned out to be two owls plus something else. Owls, not that interesting and try photographing birds on the wing without an SLR.
Reptiles and a frog, not the ones introduced by Bart Simpson, were captured, then finally, Marg’s was on.
A professionally taken photo was part of the deal, but who wants a print? The consequence of this was not having enough time to capture one’s own perfect digital. Still, this was the moment Marg was waiting for, the Koala is called – Howie.
After Lone Pine, Ryno drove us up to the summit of Mount Coot for the definitive view over Brisbane.
Dropped back at the hotel, food was required. Ginger & Garlic Indian Cuisine provided the food, Curry for Hector, Samosa Chat for Marg. The Bread was diabolical, I told them so.
Marg suggested coffee thereafter. Belleza was located in the basement of yet another Brisbane mall. Good coffee spoiled by the cardboard cup. Why do so many places so this?
There was a couple of hours back at the hotel, Blogging does not do itself, before heading out for the evening. The South Bank was the objective, with a view to a third visit to Saccharomyces.
We walked down the CBD peninsula and crossed the Goodwill Bridge once more. This time, the Hector stopped to add it to Google Maps. Surely, the powers that be should be on the case of three missing bridges.
Market stalls had been set up along the main thoroughfare. With numerous cafes and bars long the South Bank, this proved to be a hive of activity. This is where the people were.
Fritzenberger reportedly had a Hazy Bier for Hector. You can’t win them all, a Can had to substitute.
Sunset Haze (Revel Brewing Co., Australia) at 6.5% , a Hazy IPA/ NEIPA was poured, carefully. Only by using the acquired skill was the full haze attained. Tropical, juicy, there was no distinctive hop blast. Strata, El Dorado and Ella were the hops which had not been added in sufficient quantity.
Marg had ordered a Fish Taco to accompany her soft drink. That’s how they make their money.
Ice Cream – Marg’s turn to be indulged. A quick search revealed Max Brenner Chocolate Bar.
Chocolate and ice-cream, behold not a chocolate fountain, but a pond.
Even Marg thought we overdid the creation we ordered. Ice Cream, fruit, crunchy stuff and a side of melted chocolate… mmm.… as The Good Doctor might say.
We left the South Bank and its illuminations and headed to Fish Lane and Saccharomyces, closed.
It’s a Saturday night!
The Hector was not for having a one-Bier-Saturday. Frog Hollow’s Saloon was our best bet, and it’s one block from the accommodation.
There was a chap on the door. We were studied before entering, the oldest swingers at this venue. This time I tried the tap Bier, better than I anticipated.
Bling (Bridge Rd. Brewers, Australia), a 5.0% IPA had the West Coast bitterness. Gold, with a slight haze, the palate adjusted to the powerful hoppy flavours: Vic Secret, Enigma, Galaxy, Citra, Simcoe. Quite a collection, and Marg left me to have another.
Good night.
Bar, restaurant and cafes visited:
Frog’s Hollow Saloon – 26 Charlotte St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Ginger and Garlic Indian Cuisine – 1/168 Adelaide St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Max Brenner Chocolate Bar – South Bank – shop 1.1 & 1, 2 Little Stanley St, South Brisbane QLD 410
Bellezza by BG – 226 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Day 11, Sunday, March 31
All this time time in Australia and still Marg and Hector have not taken part in the great ritual, today was the day. The Barbie was scheduled for late afternoon, before that, the opperchancity to explore a couple of breweries in Northgate.
Ryno texted to suggest we meet up at Aether Brewing at 14.00. A good time to start. Before then there had to be bunkers. Uptown Food Centre was one of few places open this Easter Sunday. Google had Aether closed today, Ryno knew differently. As per the Friday holiday, all financial exchanges in bars, restaurants etc. would have a 15% surcharge. At least – the day of abstinence – and outrageous rules, was past.
Thai food for Hector – Cashew Nut Stir Fry – Pork. It tasted the same as any other Chinese Takeaway. But as I keep writing, if they all buy the same sauces at the same suppliers, what do you expect?
Marg had a bagel and coffee, suddenly my Stir Fry seemed better.
Let me introduce the reader to the plastic cutlery set provided by Beverley. No more wood, and somewhere to house my metal, telescopic straw.
Tap on, Tap off, easy on the trains. This was my first train journey in Australia. For those who like that sort of thing, a photo or two.
Holland Street was outside Northgate Station, home from home. Melton Road is adjacent to Chez Ryno, oh to have a microbrewery that close to home. Marg and Hector were the first customers of the day as we entered Aether Brewing just on 14.00. The serving chap was excellent, not only did he look up the hops, he gave a list of suggested venues for Sydney.
Seltzer, I have seen it on many a menu, but what is it? Marg was brave and took the plunge. Wild Peach Seltzer at 3.5%. It was a weak Sour, if Marg can drink this, she can drink Sour.
With no NEIPA seemingly brewed at Aether, it had to be West Coast IPA at 6.0%. With all these hops, it had to tick the boxes. When Ryno plus a tiddler turned up, there was another.
Marg entertained whilst Ryno and Hector got serious. There was no point not visiting Fick Brewing Co which was minutes away and also open.
Marg plus one headed for the house with the – Tinnies – which Ryno had just purchased plus the Dreams (Range) which Hector strategically acquired earlier in the week.
The chaps strode out, I did inform Ryno that my right foot was still causing problems, but after five minutes it would be normal. He noted:
You’re walking faster towards the brewery than you walked away from one.
A good sign.
Fick had no NEIPA, after the brisk walk, Helles Lager at 4.8% felt a good choice. Cold, yellow and fizzy, it did the job. XPA at 4.2% followed. You’re going down the abv scale, Hector.
It was meant to be hazy – the barman advised. XPA, Extra Pale Ale, had there been time, there would have ben more. A perfectly competent session Bier.
An Über had been mentioned, however, Beverley came to pick us up, well, she had a sitter.
Sitting out back, as opposed to being in the outback, Marg had an ongoing, nay, never ending, Easter Egg Hunt, for those who were not amused by chilled Bier. The much celebrated Dreams I shall miss, I did get the chance to sample another Aether which was a joint brew with another award winning brewery. Who wins awards?
Fusion Celebration DIPA at 8.00% took me back to the days of Rowing Jack (AleBrowar, Polska). A high IBU might take a bit of work after NEIPA, there is no bad thing in keeping the palate ready to accept a variety of styles. More Dreams.
Still daylight the mosquitoes had heard that Hector was in town, Retreat indoors.
Barbie, Marg had watched the movie on the flight here. She was not impressed, I shall await the sequel about Barbie’s uncle Klaus. Ryno, he told me, is a celebrated BBQ Chef. The Spicy sausages impressed, but not as much as the – Lamb Cutlets. I have never had Lamb at a BBQ before today. Chops, with the thin section of Meat removed, stunning.
With the sun down and no sign of the weans settling, it was time to head back to the city. Still Easter Sunday, still the Embassy Hotel was closed. Definitely gone. We had located Death and Taxes on Friday, tonight it was open. A classy joint, the gantry was reminiscent of The Pot Still (Glasgow) but with an array beyond Scotch.
All the bar stools were taken, a strange sight. Marg reckoned it was so that customers could watch the cocktail mixing show.
Marg had to watch the mixing of her – Moonlight – from afar.
The range of tap Bier was naff. The chap at Aether had mentioned Young Henry’s (Newtown, Sydney, Australia). Natural Lager at 4.2% was therefore chosen. An unfiltered Lager, dry with Malt coming across, the hops kept coming. This was a decidedly different Lager, far from the usual blandness. This was the last Bier in Brisbane.
Back at the hotel, I checked the price of an Über to the airport. It was comparable to two train tickets and would save us hauling the bags to Central Station. But what about at 06.00? I decided to wait and see.
Breweries, bar, and food centre visited today:
Aether – 340 Melton Rd., Northgate, Brisbane QLD 4013
Fick Brewing Company – 108 Old Toombul Rd, Northgate Brisbane QLD 4013
Death and Taxes Brisbane – 36 Burnett Ln, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Uptown Food Centre – UPTOWN Brisbane, Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
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