Quaffers: Canberra brewers spring into action

Canberra's brewers generally greet spring with a slew of new brews.

BentSpoke, Braddon, offers Farrer's Wheat, its first wheat beer, and Reflector, a malty, hoppy beer made by a bunch of dads on Father's Day.

The Wig and Pen, Llewellyn Hall, offers Aviator Bock, a strong beer for heroes, alongside mid-strength Aqua Amandi wheat ale for the lunch crowd; English Brown Ale and London Porter for cooler days; and Grassy Eider, a hand-pumped, high alcohol (6.6 per cent) variant of Irish red ale.

Pact Beer Co is launching 42.2 Summer Ale at the Old Canberra Inn on November 5, as part of Canberra Beer Week. "It's a refreshing lawn-mowing beer with enough hops to keep the beer nerds happy," says brewer Kevin Hingston.

Christoph Zierholz offers Old Fashioned Bohemian Lager and a Burragorang Bock, both contract brewed for George IV Inn, Picton, but available also at Zierholz Fyshwick and Canberra University outlets.

Greene King Abbot Ale 500ml
★★★★
$7.99

Suffolk-based Greene King brews beer and runs pubs, restaurants and hotels across the UK. Its mid-amber coloured Abbot Ale offers fruity and malty aromas and flavours on a generous, warm palate. After a few sips, a refreshing bitterness begins to build, offsetting the malt sweetness deliciously.

Konig Ludwig Weissbier 330ml
★★★★½
$4.90

Konig Ludwig, an outstanding example of the Bavarian, bottle-conditioned wheat style, comes from the Warsteiner​ brewery. Be seduced by its cloudy, pale golden colour; abundant white head, sweet, fruity aroma and rich, creamy palate with a zesty, ultra-fresh finish.