Cooper's Sparkling Ale

[G.M. Gillman]

This is an old favourite of mine, one I first read about in Michael Jackson's earliest books.

Rarely have I had it as fresh as this current sample, whose best-by date is way over into July, 2011. It tastes like it was brewed about a month ago.

It is a light ale to be sure, sessionable, with a fresh malty taste and notable yeasty character. Being unfiltered, it pours with a cloudy appearance. While I would prefer more hops, the yeast bitter partly makes up for it. In style one can recognise a kinship with Canadian sparkling ale (truly sparkling in this case) such as Molson Ex and Keith's IPA although the unfiltered Aussie beer gets more points in my book. Really it is an ale counterpart to the excellent Creemore kellerbier.

A classic Aussie taste, stretching back in lineage to the days when English ales - many of them - were notably pale and not excessively bitter. (This is ale in other words, not pale ale or IPA).

A fine quaff both of history and on its own merits.

Gary

[Bobsy]

Rarely have I had it as fresh as this current sample, whose best-by date is way over into July, 2011. It tastes like it was brewed about a month ago.

Thanks for the heads up on the freshness of the current stock. I've only had this when its had a bit of LCBO-aided age on it, and I don't remember it being too graceful. It will be good to have some relatively fresh!

[Ukie]

New batch just being put out in my local store, best before Oct 2011.

[pootz]

I love this stuff but as has been stated earlier, I had a few less than prime samples the last 2 years due to handling. I finally convinced one local BO manager to put it all in the cooler whenever he gets it in and I have never had a stale or off one since. I think that these bottle conditioned beers really react poorly to heat or room temp storage.

[Ukie]

Tried it last nite and it is really smooth. They were just putting it out so I grabbed 2 sixes although it is sold in singles at $2.15 and 5.8% ABV. I was going to share with friends but I don't know about that unless I make another stop, only 1 store in my area has it.

[Rosko]

Good to know. My first experience with Cooper's was very positive, but since then it has been brutal. The last time I bought it, there was guck floating around in the glass and it tasted like Ex.

Will definitely grab some fresh ones.

[mintjellie]

Good to know. My first experience with Cooper's was very positive, but since then it has been brutal. The last time I bought it, there was guck floating around in the glass and it tasted like Ex.

Will definitely grab some fresh ones.

It's a bottle conditioned ale. That guck was the yeast the beer is conditioned on. It wont hurt you. If it bothers you that much then let it sit long enough for it all to settle and compact on the bottom, then pour it carefully so as not to disturb it.

[SteelbackGuy]

That's how you put hair on your chest.

[Ukie]

That's how you put hair on your chest.

And get a yeast infection!