Tontine // Season 2010 starts March 12
The Tontine has a new home at BotF.
Visit the Tontine at BotF by selecting the permanent link in the right hand menu.
How to Play
Select one team you think will win. If they do, you get to tip again next round. If they don’t, you’re out and have to wait until the next Tontine starts. Last man standing is the winner and takes all.
Can’t love Lovells
Back in November, BotF tried a schooner of Lovell’s Lager at the Annandale Hotel. BotF was underwhelmed at the time, but was prepared to give this drop another chance.
Lovell’s Lager was started by a music producer called Matt Lovell, who decided that most beer he drank was crap. He decided to remedy this by brewing his own – and distributing via the pub and indie music scene of the glorious inner west. There was an initial flurry of activity – a blog, newsletters, viral videos, the purchase of a Lovell’s Lager Sandman – but since then things seemed to have quietened down. The last blog entry was almost a year ago, and their newsletter was an Xmas ‘08 issue. So hats off to Matt for getting off his arse in such a demostrable way.
It pains me greatly, then, to say that I just can’t get into Lovell’s Lager. Maybe Matt’s taste is different to my own when it comes to a beer – but there is something just not right with this beer (to my taste). The first swallow is inoffensive, but there is an aftertaste that is reminiscent of stale beer lines that I couldn’t get over. It really was a struggle to get the last drop down. This was one time when a 330ml bottle is welcomed.
I’d be interested in other opinions, because efforts like this should be applauded and supported – but I couldn’t buy a case of this stuff in support
The Last Forlorn Cork
| Session |
Sunday 7 February 2010 |
| Location |
Queenscliff |
| INS |
Aatkin, Tame, Lombok, Oompa |
| Wave height |
6 ft |
| Wind direction |
still |
| Crowd |
6 (400 further sth) |
| Rabbometre |
1.5 stars |
| Water temp |
21 |
| Incidents |
Tame lost at sea |
| Other |
Aatkin challenges bezel record |
At last the God’s were smiling. The lads assembled promptly at Bower Café at 7am with Aatkin having reconnoitered Nth Lloyd prior to arrival – a washing machine at the Lloyd with one out.
The Bower was taunting…..certainly size bashing Sydney sandstone, but not quite the right angle for Bower…certainly the odd wave making it thru but invariably ridden by a biscuit charging from out deep….but mostly fat burgers running out of puff after 20 odd metres…contributing to the lads decision to abandon bower was the setting up of the ocean swim at shelly beach, and the 4 goat boats paddling out from the café….
And so it was that a rare screening of Queensie was undertaken. 4 lads decked out on the beach…4 lads in ragtag formation paddled out, yet only 3 crested the line-up and collapsed wheezing and exhausted on their boards. A moments silence was held for Tame, quickly interrupted by the first rideable set which Oompa took off on.
After some daredevil drops and powerful charging at Nth Steyne through the assembled pack of biscuits the lads spotted a treat of a longboard wave up at far Queensie. Aatkin led the way, frothing. In fact his exuberance almost saw him paddle out and around to Freshie….however he pulled up on the headland with menacing multi lipped waves full of ledges not too dissimilar from Shipsterns….sensibly he faded out another 20 metres to join Lombok and Oompa. It was here that Lombok drove a stake into the ground and declared it his…uncannily powerful charging lefts would seek him out, whereupon he put on a display for the ages.
Tame, previously thought lost at sea, but who in fact had thought we were headed to Sth Steyne on our way out, had spotted the majesty of Lombok keeping the biscuits in awe. In Tame fashion he doubled back from the Corso and made his way ….eventually … to Queensie…in time to see Lombok again sink into a gaping pit, trimming a rail and tucking up for yet another freight train express only to be spat out 100 meters south in a final act of fury by the sea. He was certainly looking pleased to have left his golf clubs at home. The lessons learned in less than a foot at Ekkas had finally been brought to the fore.
Meanwhile, Aakin was last seen still bobbing around like the last forlorn cork – popped in the wee hours with little interest from overindulged partygoers. He appeared determined to establish a new bezelled benchmark. An hour had passed and the sea continued to taunt him with failed furious effort after effort. He avowed to never get his board or watch fixed at Shanes again. Shanes bezel setting he declared to be appalling and would in future attend Dingfix to ensure his bezel be set to better align him with natures rythyms.
To this day, if you’re at the beach, the sun is setting, and the light is just right you may see the ghosts of Aakin checking his watch and of Tame patrolling the Steyne.
Coopers Pale Ale
Botf subscribers will recall that in a recent review I referred to Coopers Sparkling as the ugly sister to this fine young specimen. Whilst Sparkling was commented upon to have great depth of flavour behind her relatively plain and foreplay free exterior, it is Coopers Pale which will seduce you with her strong palate, cloudy brew with ‘bits’, and the art of the delicate roll. In fact, Coopers Pale is a seductive drop. So much so, that I can hear Barry White fading in!
(spoken)
I’ve heard people say that
Too much of anything is not good for you, baby
Oh no
But I don’t know about that
There’s many times that we’ve loved
We’ve shared love and made love
It doesn’t seem to me like it’s enough
There’s just not enough of it
There’s just not enough
Oh oh, babe
[sung]
My darling, I can’t get enough of your love babe
Girl, I don’t know, I don’t know why
Can’t get enough of your love babe
Oh, some things I can’t get used to
No matter how I try
Just like the more you give, the more I want
And baby, that’s no lie
Oh no, babe
Rollercoaster BotF
Awesome trip home. Back of the Ferry was closed – and we had to venture to the front. We were approached by a member of Sydney Ferries staff saying that we would get wet on the journey home – “Do you want to stay here?” Nothing would move us. As we moved through the Turn bar we could see what was going on. Big, big swell through the heads. A bunch of regulars decided to pull the pin and they moved off the bow. A couple of German tourists came down and asked nervously “Vat is going on?” “Test of Aussie manhood, mate” replied a BotF regular. The Germans stayed. Three Chinese also stayed out.
As we neared Sow and Pigs, the Manly Ferries staff came and warned us again. We needed no warning. We were watching the Manly Ferry heading into town get rolled by the swell and digging its nose into troughs coming through the heads. We remained resolute. As we passed South Head the swell hit and the up and downs became greater. Waves breached the front at first but didn’t splash over, but finally the big one hit and many of us got nailed. The Chinese girls giggled hysterically and gloried in their drenching.
The ride home in these conditions is better than Luna Park or DisneyLand, far cheaper and far longer. If you get the chance do it.
James Squire Porter – Prince of Darkness
This BotF correspondent is a big fan of dark beers. First beer ever ordered was Tooheys Old, only because everyone else was ordering Tooheys New. Dark beers are uncommon, but fortunately there continues to be a steady trickle of dark beers released to the market. The James Squire Porter has been around for a while now, and even though this brewer is owned by Lion Nathan, it remains distinctively tasty and is not at all bland. It is consistently strong and roasted and has a good bitter after taste.
Tenuous link to BotF
BotF was sent this link from EBay. The link to the subject matter of BotF and this link is quite tenuous, but there are Bar-B-Qs in the bars we drink at so that is good enough.
What is interesting is Ebay’s decision to terminate the Q&A on the item. It worthwhile reading all the questions & answers – all most deserving of a blog in its own right
Tame Revives his Trademark Scythe
| Session |
Sunday 31 January 2010 |
| Location |
Sth Curly |
| INS |
Abbidge, Eatkeen, Tame, Lombok, Tooher, Oompa |
| Wave height |
2 ft |
| Wind direction |
Light |
| Crowd |
20 |
| Rabbometre |
0.5 stars |
| Water temp |
21 |
| Incidents |
Interferences aplenty |
| Other |
Not too dissimilar from Tuesdays session, though at least today we had the tide on our side.
Whilst the monotony of 2 foot Curly shore-breakers continue to fill most Sundays – better I suppose than the odd no-surf at all which we have also had of late – at least there has been enough swell on offer to keep the lads as sharp as can be expected for the hopefully not too distant future when we will cop something serious.
In the meantime, it seemed as though the lads were almost competing for the worst misdemeanor possible.
- Lombok had a crack at a lidder who had been wallowing in our take-off zone,
- Illiards got bored enough to try and run down Toohers who managed to stay ahead and scoot off further along the wave,
- Tame revived his trademark scythe – woomera like in its simplicity, deadly to those in its arc.
Coopers Sparkling Ale
Coopers Sparkling surprises.
So often left lying on the shelf, in favour of her more glamorous sidekick (Coopers Pale), this oft forgot amber demonstrates great depth of flavour.
Sure, the Pale craves a good tumble. The art of a gentle roll and delicate rub is a heavily discussed subject amongst male and female alike in getting the best from that siren. In comparison the Sparkling requires no such attention. This brew is ready to enjoy without the foreplay. Sparkling may not have the associated trappings of her stablemate, but she knows all the tricks.
So next time you’re at your local, “Go ugly early” and prepare to be surprised.
Kross Golden Ale – Chile Cerveza Independiente
Chile Cerveza Independiente
Unfortunately the Brazilian beer on the menu was unavailable, but the beer list did offer a Chilean bevvy that had not been seen or tried by BotF before. The boys are now big fans of Kross Golden Ale, and would be very keen to sample the remainder of Kross Independent brewery’s range. The Golden Ale was clean and hoppy and was deserving of several more samplings as was required to wash down the salty flesh that kept magically appearing on our plates.
If you can speak Spanish, Kross’ website is probably pretty informative. You’ve got to love any brewer that produces two types of Stout.
