Quaffers: Chris Shanahan beer reviews, July 30

Proprietor Lachie McOmish expects to move the Wig and Pen brewpub from its original site in Civic to Llewellyn Hall in September or October.

McOmish says he has to vacate the current premises during September and hopes the pub will be out of action during the move for, “no more than a few weeks”.

He says the bar will be about the same size as it is now, though the brewing area will be a little larger. The brewery will be on the same level as the bar, with a grain mill and storage space downstairs.

Before his departure to set up the BentSpoke brewpub in Braddon, brewer Richard Watkins trained Dr Tom Lillicrap as the Wig’s new brewer.

McOmish says Lillicrap’s winter offerings at the old site include five stouts: Mexican chocolate and chilli, spice and truffle infused, Russian imperial, velvet cream and double chocolate.

Matso’s Lychee Beer
★★★½
330ml $3.42
Matso's brewery, Broome, describe this as a “mixed marriage” derived from the various long-term influences on local culture – “Chinese, Japanese, Koepangers and Ghans”. Slightly reminiscent of the Belgian wheat style, Lychee offers fresh, light, delicate flavours with a little sweet kiss, courtesy no doubt of the lychee and elderflower in the brew.

Tilse’s Pear Cider
★★★½
500ml $6.45
Tilse's cider comes from Beurre Bosc and Williams pears grown in the foothills of Barrington Tops, in the upper Hunter Valley, NSW. The delicate and definitely pear-like aroma leads to a light bodied, delicate, similarly pear-like palate. The delicate acidity gives a freshness to the slightly sweet finish.