Beer 3 Ravens USB (Uber Special Bitter)

On the night of the 2014 Australian International Beer Awards, shortly after 3 Ravens head brewer Adrian McNulty had collected the trophy for Champion Small Australian Brewery, we asked one of his colleagues: "Does this mean Adrian will be allowed to brew USB again?" The beer ' essentially a souped up version of their English Ale ' was always a favourite at Crafty Towers but, when the brewery was taken over by Mash in 2013 the brewing of all limited release beers was put on hiatus to focus on the core range. "We just brewed it!" came the reply. And, thus, they departed the evening happy, laden down with trophies, and we departed happy in the knowledge that our favourite Ravens beer was coming back. It's back in the larger, old-fashioned bottles those who remember the old Uber range from the brewery will recall and, barring a minor tweak to the label and the hops (because they couldn't lay their hands on one variety in particular), it's the same as before: a rich, layered, deep amber coloured beer dominated by hearty toffee malts. The change in hops gives it a more citrusy aroma then we recall from the past, but the raisiny dark fruit and spicy characteristics remain in what's a fine beer to be supping on these cold, winter evenings.