Beer Travel - Red Oak Boutique Beer Cafe (Sydney)

I make an effort to call into Red Oak every time I'm in Sydney for work. As many are likely aware brewer owner Dave Hollyoak and fellow owner (& sister) Janet craft a number of Australia's finest craft beers. They are also head and shoulders above every other Australian peer with respect to having the courage and skill to brew and wide range of Belgian, Germany and English benchmark styles (Canberra's Wig & Penn being an obvious exception), and nearly always produce successful interpretations.

The beers 'on-premise' aren't cheap - expect to pay at least $4 for a 250ml glass - but that's the price you pay (and justfiably so) for some of Australia's best hand-made brews. At last count some 36 beers have been brewed over time although perhaps 'only' 15 - 18 will be available at the cafe at any one time.

A bunch of considered beer tasting notes can be found at Rate Beer.

Brewery website here and location (via Google Maps) is here. Please make the effort when next in Sydney - these guys need our support.

.....and finally, and for what's it's worth, a couple tasting notes from a visit last week............

Red Oak Kolsch (12/20)
Fluffy creamy pure white head. Tangy fruits on the nose, albeit in a mild fashion, and a hint of chalk and minerals. Palate flavours are subtle. Mild malt weight, rather the beer is all about a crisp and sharp structure (w/ more chalk and mineral notes) that works well on this particularly hot day. Bread / yeast champagne-like flavours on a dry finish.

Red Oak IPA (14/20)
Near identical head to the kolsch - thick creamy, whiter than white. Attractive nose; a well itegrated combo of sweet fruitiness and green nettles from the hops. Very, very similar characters to taste in the front and middle palate. The finish, however, is dominated by quite a fierce hoppy / bitter punch. Resin-like notes linger on the tongue for a long time. Might be a touch aggressive and blocky on the finish but kudos to the brewery for having the guts to deliver a genuinely sharp and hoppy IPA.