On 24 August I visited Fortitude Brewing Company in Eagle Heights, Tamborine Mountain, Queensland. They were established in 2012 and have a great venue up in the Gold Coast Hinterland. The beers that I sampled were:
1. Fortitude Pacer, 2.8% abv, this is a light Ale that is a golden colour with a citrus and tropical fruit aroma. It is full flavoured with a nice initial malt taste and then a fruity strong hop bitterness on a crisp finish. This is an excellent light beer and very sessionable.
2. Fortitude Charger Lager, 4.4% abv, this is a straw coloured Australian Lager with a subtle sweet aroma. It is made using cascade hops and has a good sweet malt flavour on a gentle hop bitter finish.
3. Fortitude Drifter, 4.4% abv, this is an unfiltered Australian Pale Ale that has a golden colour and a sweet citrus hop aroma. It has a well balanced flavour of sweet malt and citrus fruit on a mild hop bitterness.
4. Fortitude Roots and Leaves, 3.5% abv, this is a ginger beer with a cloudy straw colour and a strong, spicy ginger aroma. It has a strong, sweet ginger flavour and is quite refreshing. It is made from 100% gluten free products.
5. Fortitude Dry Irish Stout, 4.0% abv, this is a black coloured stout with an aroma of roasted malt and coffee. It gives a wonderful full mouth feel with a malty flavour with strong hints of espresso on a good bitter finish.
6. Golden Ale, 4.4% abv, this is a golden straw colour with a strong tropical fruit aroma. It has a beautiful tropical taste and then transitions smoothly into a solid hop bitterness on the finish.
7. Interceptor Pale Ale, 5.5% abv, this is an American style Pale Ale that has a golden colour and a nice floral aroma. It has a great, sweet fruity initial taste and then a generous, lingering bitter finish. Very good!
8. Motown Brown, 5.0% abv, this is an American Brown Ale with a dark amber colour and a fruity hop aroma. It has a well balanced flavour of sweet maltiness at the start and then a strong, lingering hop bitter finish.
9. Master Blaster, 6.0% abv, this is a Caribbean Extra Stout that is dark brown in colour with a roasted coffee malt aroma. It has a wonderful full malt flavour with hints of dark chocolate and coffee on a silky full mouth feel. Excellent!!
I really enjoyed all of the beers that I sampled at Fortitude Brewing Company and would like to thank the brewer, Bill and Craig, behind the bar, for their hospitality and time. They really made me feel welcome and were very helpful. I strongly recommend this brewery, it is well worth visiting.