A lot of factors go into choosing the right beer, and if you get the choice wrong you might end up with the misguided impression that you don’t enjoy any beers at all, when in fact there’s a tasty lager just waiting to become your go-to schooner.
These days you can usually find a wide range of different beers in any venue you visit; there are lagers and pale ales, beers from around the country as well as local drops from boutique breweries, and even non-beers like cider and ginger beer.
Just to complicate things further, you might be in the mood for a particular beer one day, but your palate has other ideas a week later! It can all depend on the situation you’re in, your mood, and even external factors such as the weather or season.
With all that in mind, and knowing that someone’s taste in beer can change quicker than Ricky Stuart’s temperament during a Raiders match, we have put together some tips to help you make an informed vote when you’re putting in your beer-ballot at the bar.
You’re the only expert worth listening to
In matters of science, health advice, or technology, we recommend listening to (and believing) the experts who have studied their chosen field for years. But beer experts? Surely the more ‘research’ these guys do, the less we should believe them, right?
Taste is a subjective experience, and if you’re someone who enjoys a crisp and refreshing cloudy apple cider on a summer’s day, nothing should hold you back from ordering a couple of 5 Seeds Crisp Apple Ciders for a bit of well-balanced tartness with a fresh and fruity finish.
Likewise, there should be no stigma in ordering a full-flavoured, mid-strength beer like XXXX Gold. It’s Australia’s third most popular beer and 9.2% of the Australian population couldn’t be wrong, could they?
Don’t let someone else tell you what kind of beers you should enjoy.
Mid-strength beer isn’t just for old boys
There are many reasons you could be counting your drinks: it could be that you’re the designated driver, you might be planning an extended late-night session, or maybe you’ve got to get up early for work in the morning. Depending on the kind of day or night you’re planning, mid-strength or light beers can be your best friend.
If you’re spending extended hours out on the sunny greens, you might really enjoy the refreshing drinkability of our 3.5% alcohol Iron Jacks or XXXX Golds.
Flavour is king
What kind of flavour are you after? If you want a bit of rich maltiness with a fruity/hoppy finish, try the Kosciusko Pale Ale. For something a bit crisper and drier, as the name implies, go for a Hahn SuperDry.
If you’ve already had a beer and the flavour just wasn’t strong or sweet enough for you, we recommend you give the Brookvale Union Ginger Beer a try; it’s spicy yet mild, dry but wet, smooth but sharp, tight but loose, and if you think we’re exaggerating, try one before you tell us that we’re wrong!
The RUC also offers Aperol on tap, so if you’re looking for something a bit different, we would definitely recommend giving it a try.
Conscious about what you’re putting in your body?
If you’re the type of person that likes to keep track of everything you’re putting into your body, you might be interested in a schooner of Cooper’s Pale Ale. This beer is naturally conditioned in the keg with no additives, preservatives or added sugar, so you know this one won’t mess with your health.
If this list didn’t help you narrow your options, maybe you’d like a recommendation from our Secretary Manager Jeremy?
The Secretary Manager of the RUC likes: “Furphy Crisp Lager because it tastes fantastic, isn’t too hoppy or bitter, and has a very clean finish. It’s really a great beer.”
So ‘hop’ to it and seek out the right beer for you. Our new drinks menu includes great beer specials – $4 for a schooner of Coopers Pale Ale on Friday afternoons, $5.90 for a schooner of Tooheys new all day every day, and $5 basics from 4pm to 5pm happy hour each day. Cheers to beers!
It is an offence to supply alcohol to a person under the age of 18 year. Penalties apply.