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| The Jersey Bar |
I was talking to a friend who grew up around Toowoomba recently and she was mildly horrified to hear me extolling the virtues of one of my latest beer experiences which took place in Toowoomba. She is by no means against a drop or two of any brew but couldn’t understand how I could possibly enjoy a drink in a pub that was in her experience (from at least 10 years ago) a ‘dive’ filled with country blokes who had only one thing on their mind.
This may be a misconception that is widely held by a number of ex-Toowoombanians who have failed to return to their fair country town to relish what is now a fabulous pub which has retained its country feel while delving into the exciting world of Australian and European beers. The Jersey Bar in the Spotted Cow boasts a range of approximately 70 different beers with over a dozen on tap at any time and has a keen army of bar staff ready to make the experience as easy for customers as possible. A highlight is the expert guidance of Ian Watson who aptly assists old hands and newly discovered beer lovers through what could otherwise be an overwhelming selection.
While the European beer selection was tempting I was engaged in the name of Australian beer and found that there was no lack of choice. As a cleansing starter I was surprised and delighted with the delicacy of Matilda Bay’s Crema, although I realise that many connoisseurs are dismayed at the thought of adding anything to flavour a beer let alone roasted coffee beans. The RedOak on tap is an old favourite and the Cow generally has one variety on the go at any time in addition to one of the widest ranges of bottled RedOak in Queensland. As per usual the Honey Ale did not disappoint particularly due to its freshness. The absolute standout of the evening though was the Red Duck Porter: I had not previously experienced any of the Red Duck range and savouring 1 or 2 porters was the perfect way to end an evening.
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| Jill's RedOak |
The Cow has definitely pulled its spotted socks up since my friend’s less enjoyable experiences and should be the yardstick against which specialist beer establishments measure themselves. As the available beers can change regularly I recommend having a chat with Ian about their current range before embarking on your Australian beer journey at The Spotted Cow.
Beers: 9
Staff: 8 (one young gentleman took 10 minutes to find a particular variety
of beer after Ian had called it a night)
Premises: 8 (comfortable and not at all pretentious)
Food: N/A (I was there for the beer)
ooOOoo
Jill Penridge is a well known wine drinker in Queensland who has recently been turning her mind to beer. She is particularly fond of Red Duck porter.