DISTANT COUSIN IS LIKE A TWIN

It is funny how you can drink beers from opposite ends of the world and conclude they are not particularly different.

That is the miracle of beer. Four basic ingredients can be turned into an absolute myriad of styles from the light to the dark; the sweet to the sour; the fruity to the malty.

Hugh the Neighbour and I experienced this with beers from the Cotswolds in England and a six pack from South Australia.

Two weekends ago we tried the Haymaker Strong Ale from Hook Norton Brewery, where they have been brewing since 1849.

Haymaker is a pleasant, mildly fruity, traditional style ale at 5 per cent ABV that pours a clear amber in the glass with a medium creamy white head.

It had fairly low carbonation but was still enjoyable on a warm Sunday afternoon.

We contrasted this to the lager from Mismatch Brewing Company, where they started brewing in Adelaide in 2013.

Inspired by the German Helles style, this is a medium carbonation hazy beer that neither HTN nor I could get to hold a head at all.

A pleasant enough drop – some fruit, some malt – but nothing to make it stand out.

When we were on to our second can each, Hugh said it was quite similar to the Haymaker from the week prior, and I have to say he is right.

Hard to find two breweries more distant geographically with two different styles tasting remarkably close to one another.

This is the wonder of the brewer’s art that keeps us coming back every weekend.

Be confident in giving either of them a try.