4 Pines Brewing Keller Door Hoppy Doppelbock $11/500ml

Dark brown-black colour with a creamy white head; roasted malt and attractive hoppy aromas predominate. A full-bodied beer, loaded with flavour and character. The roasted malt aftertaste lingers on and on. There are floral and herbal notes and it entertains to the last drop. (Crown cap)

Score: 95 ★★★★★

Alcohol: 7.5%

Ageing: No

Food: Salty smoked almonds

Stockists: 4 Pines Brewing Company – Email richard@4pinesbeer.com.au; Camperdown Cellars (NSW); McCoppins, Fitzroy (Vic.)

Coopers Sparkling Ale, Adelaide $4.29 or $54.95 per case of 24

The colour is medium to light amber in hue, with a distinctive cloudy appearance. The bouquet is wheaty and malty, and it’s the same on the palate, where it’s full-bodied and grainy tasting, with a cleansing hop bitterness on the finish and aftertaste. A familiar Aussie beer of body and character. (Crown cap)

Score: 93 ★★★★½

Alcohol: 5.8%

Stockists: Dan Murphy’s nationwide (AU); Glengarry Wines, Auckland & Wellington (NZ)

Young Henry’s Real Ale, AUD $8.20 (640ml)

This dark amber-coloured ale is full-bodied and richly flavoured, with strong roasted malt flavours and notable hops. Chocolate and malt flavours abound, and the finish has a distinctive bitterness. A character-filled beer with a heap of flavour at modest alcohol. (4 per cent alcohol; crown cap)

Score 93 ★★★★½

Stockists: Annandale Cellars (NSW); McCoppins Fitzroy and Abbotsford (Vic.); shop@younghenrys.com.

Lord Nelson Brewery Seasonal Ale, Double Nelson IPA $7.50/500ml or $60 a case of 12.

This American IPA has double the normal hops of the regular Lord Nelson pale ales. It has a deep, slightly cloudy amber hue and a big fruity, citrusy, floral aroma. The taste is big and intense, strongly hopped with substantial bitterness and a rich, hearty mid-palate to balance. Satisfying body, flavour and long finish. (5.4 per cent alcohol; crown cap)

Score: 93 ★★★★½

Stockists: Vintage Cellars, Australia-wide.

Mead blended with ginger and other spices including clove and cinnamon, as well as stone fruits and citrus. The aroma is very gingery and spicy with obvious clove notes. It’s a little vermouth-like, gently sparkling and lightly sweet. The finish is clean. It’s a delicious drink that would appeal to ginger beer drinkers. (8 per cent alcohol; crown cap.)

Score: 90 ★★★★

Aging; Drink now.

Food: Best as an aperitif or thirst-quencher.

Stockists: Cellar door and online: www.maxwellwines.com.au $99 a dozen freight-free to Vic., NSW and SA.

This has a cloudy, light straw appearance; the bouquet and flavour are big on fresh, vibrant ginger and the palate is intense and penetrating. Sweetness is there but not excessive, well balanced by the spicy effect of the ginger, which lingers satisfyingly long. A refreshing drink for the hot weather. (3.5 per cent alcohol; crown cap).

Stockists: Camperdown Cellars, Darlinghurst (NSW); Psarakos Liquor, Thornbury (Vic.)

A good session beer in the English brown ale style, with a full reddish honey colour and aromas of caramel, toffee and malt, some bready notes and mild hoppiness. It tastes soft and gentle, possibly lightly carbonated, with lots of malty, toffee flavours and very mild bitterness. (4.1 per cent alcohol; crown seal.)

Score: 91 ★★★★

Food: Devils on horseback.

Stockists: First Choice and Vintage Cellars stores; Plonk Bottleshop, Canberra & Waterdale Cellars, Ivanhoe (Vic.)

The appearance is medium to full amber, with a thick, creamy head, and the bouquet is strongly hopped and full of character. Intense and mouth-filling, the flavour is well-hopped at first then roasted malt on the finish, which is clean and refreshing with plentiful but balanced bitterness. (4.8 per cent alcohol.) Score: 92 ★★★★

Stockists: Blackhearts and Sparrows, Fitzroy (Vic.); Vine Providore, Redfern (NSW)

This is a black beer with the appearance of a stout, but not as heavy or as strongly malted. It has a discreetly chocolaty aroma with some malt and there are some subtle hops on the finish, which add a cleansing bitterness. A hearty beer with a rich middle and a long and satisfying palate. (5.1 per cent alcohol; crown cap) Score: 92 ★★★★

Food idea: Barbecued beef ribs and plum sauce.

Stockists: Prince Wine and Spirits, Essendon (Vic.); Prince Wine Store, Zetland (NSW)

With a dark amber colour and a rich roasted malt, chocolate and vanilla bouquet, this ale is full-bodied, smooth and round, with a cleansing hoppy bitterness to the finish. Not simple, but quite complex and holds my interest. Deep, lingering flavour; an excellent beer. (7.5 per cent alcohol; crown seal.) Score 93 ★★★★½

Stockists: Camperdown Cellars and Kemeny’s (NSW); Purvis Cellars and McCoppin’s (Vic.)