Black Wattle Superior Wattle Seed Ale (Baron’s Brewing - Sydney, Australia)

This here’s a wattle, the emblem of our land.
You can put it in a bottle; you can hold it in your hand.
Australia, Australia, Australia!

G’Day, Bruce! Today we’re reviewing an offering from our friends down under: Baron’s Black Wattle Superior Wattle Seed Ale. I picked this up mostly because of the complete novelty value – what in hell is a Wattle, anyway? I don’t know, but I do know that it makes for one very unusual but highly drinkable brew.

BWSWSA (really, like I’m going to keep typing that out? Pfft. That’ll eat into my drinking time) pours out as a lovely clear medium to dark red amber color, and features a small (1/4”) ivory head that dissipates quickly, with no lacing.  Nevermind the look, though, the smell is heavenly. Imagine a sweet, malty biscuit, and a spice cookie, all rolled into one. Grandma’s baking and drinking while she does (and sharing both), it’s that awesome.

The taste matches the aroma, too. This is a malty, sweet caramel ale, with a hint of fruit raisins, or even (dare I say it) a Fig Newton. There is a very very slight hoppy bitterness on the finish, just enough to remind you that this has some alcohol in it, but oh my, how this does go down easy!  BWSWSA is a smooth operator – a medium bodied ale, with a round, rich, creamy smoothness.  Forget Foster’s, mate. Wattle is Australian for beer.

Rating: 4.5 pints