Tooheys Old Black Ale
Launched all the way back in 1869, Tooheys Old is a top fermented black ale with black malt giving it the dark colour. The beer only hit the tap market in 1970 and has since become a staple tap offering for most bars and pubs across NSW, ACT and the SA.
Origin: Lidcombe, Australia
Alcohol/vol: 4.4%
Style: Ale
Average Rating: 8.75
Nectar of the gods
Craig’s tasting
I think it is very safe to say that Tooheys Old is not a favourite for most Australian drinkers. In fact, I would suggest that most Aussie’s probably think this is a drink reserved only for the 80 and over age group. For some reason we just can’t fully accept that a black beer can be a legitimate member of the beer community.
For anyone who likes a drop of Old, I am sure you have heard something like “oh my grandfather used to drink that beer” or “my husband has a friend who drinks that beer”. Don’t deny it, you know what I am talking about. On the other hand I can’t ever remember anyone making a comment about my beer while I have been drinking something of the amber variety.
So where does this beer fit into the market? If it has been on tap since 1970 it obviously empties out of its kegs quick enough that its owners choose to keep filling them up. It is a solid tap beer but I am hard pressed to find anyone who drinks it? Not many beers (light excluded) remain on tap unless they have a good following. Quite simply I believe one the main reasons this beer is on tap and is going to stay on tap is that it has no worthy opponent, they have come and gone but none have been able to take that big step towards entering the tap poured elite.
So I challenge every single person on the planet to get to their local RSL and ask for an Old. Your $5.00 schnitzel and salad will never taste the same again.
Danny’s tasting
"Schooner of black thanks"
If I had a dollar for every time I've said that in my life I could pay cash for my next liver and a sizeable deposit on a new kidney.
Tooheys Old. Is there anything better I ask you?
This dark Aussie ale has been around for ever but has rarely been challenged. Reschs Smooth Black Ale attempted to, but hasn't been sighted in a long time and Carlton Black has had a go but hasn't been able to match T.O for taste. Bring on the challengers I say but you've got your work cut out.
The moment you take a sip of Old a cone of silence descends. You can see people moving their lips but no sound, no street noise can be heard (if you wanted to lip read they are probably saying "your lunch break finished 1 hour ago, put the drink down and get back to the office"). As the taste subsides the room noise comes back. It's almost as if a hypnotist has said "at the count of 3 you will be back in the room, refreshed, satisfied and without a care".
Whilst Tooheys Old holds a place of honour in the beer drinking community I wondered what its peers thought of it. To find out, we at "the smoko" went to the streets and interviewed its competitors. After taking a taste test almost 1 in 3 beers wanted to change over to the dark side. As this was "off the record" I can't mention names except to say that 3 well known Pilseners especially loved it and wished they were made of it. A Cascade Blonde couldn't understand the question and a Becks sat in the corner with a dunce cap on trying to work out what the word Bier meant.
There you have it folks, even beers are envious of Tooheys Old.
As the saying goes "once you try black you never go back" (I'm pretty sure that's what that expression means)
