Coopers Sparkling Ale

The Coopers brewery is the sole remaining family owned brewery in Australia. The brewer claims that this is the ale by which all others should be measured. First brewed in 1862 it has not changed much since this day. One of the great points of differentiation for Coopers is that their beers contain no additives or preservatives.

Origin: Leabrook, Australia

Alcohol/vol: 5.8%

Style: Ale

Average Rating: 8.50 

Nectar of the gods

Craig’s tasting

I will come straight out and tell you this is a cloudy ale. I am sure many Australians have had the pleasure of getting acquainted with this fantastic offering.

Now I have the technicalities out of the way, let me do what I do best and talk about my first experience with this beer. The year was 2001, I was a Uni student. Every Wednesday I would head to the Uni bar as soon as my 9.00 am lecture finished. I would order my usual and get ready for the band to start at 12.00 pm. One day, one of my more artistic friends said to me, “hey Craigo try one of these, no preservatives! it won’t give you hangover”. I responded very quickly to him. “I’m sorry but I don’t drink those girly boutique beers”. “Take your man loving, girly palate and get out of my sight”.

After some lobbying from my good friend I finally gave in and tried his alternative beer. I did not know then but my life would never be the same again. Its cloudy, mellow taste made me weak at the knees, with a tear in my eye I turned and thanked my awesome friend.

As the day rolled on we laughed together, we sang together, we fell over together and eventually...... that bastard pashed on with my girlfriend!

Now the anger has subsided I have come to the conclusion that everything happens for a reason.

My slimy, backstabbing mate and my over friendly ex girlfriend had to go. They had to be out of my life so I could make way for the love affair that had just blossomed. There is no way I could love them like I loved this beer. It was the best thing for everyone and in a way I was cheating on her also.

Coopers Sparkling Ale “you complete me”

Danny’s tasting

Coopers Sparkling (with the Red Label) and Pale Ale (in the green label) have been around for a while. When it first came out Coopers were one of the smaller style brewery's (compared to CUB and Lion Nathan etc) to offer us with an alternative to the mainstream brews of the day. And thank god they did. I have a high opinion of just about all their product range.

The Sparkling ale has their renowned cloudy sediment with a distinctive fruity flavour. Not fruity like a Belgium fruit beer. Much more subtle than that. (It's good to see bar staff now rolling the stubby to mix up the sediment before serving it for the full experience by the by)

I don't know what more to say about this beer.

It's a Coopers, it's Australian, it's great. Drink it damn it!