In the early years of The Crafty Pint, while they weren't exactly common, it wasn't unusual to find local brewers releasing English and Belgian pale ales. Roll forward to 2023 and while you can argue there's never been greater diversity in the offering for Aussie beer drinkers, you can easily jot down many styles that have all but disappeared here.
Beer Fontaine are one of a small number of breweries aiming to reclaim some of the marketplace for such old world classics via beers such as Eight Zero Eight Eight. It pours a remarkable gleaming copper colour with a cloud like head, and the Vienna, Voodoo and Munich specialty malts star from the off, conjuring distinctive honeycomb / toffee aromas and flavours. It reminds me of the sort of rich sauce you’d find swirled through a quality ice cream.
Indeed, the malts are so key to this beer they very much keep the Ardennes yeast, Styrian Goldings and Riwaka hops, and coriander additions hidden away, other than in its drying, spicy bitterness.
James Smith
