Wild and (alco) free
Run Wild IPA; Athletic Brewing Co.; 0.5%; $12.99 for a six-pack.
Has Dry July made you rethink your drinking habits? I know I'll be drinking a little more mindfully, finding the right moment to savour a proper drink. So on the days when I just need a cold beer - for me this usually involves mowing the lawn - I'll be looking to such offerings as Athletic Brewery Co.'s Run Wild IPA. Brewed with organic Vienna malt and a blend of five varieties of Northwest hops, the result is piney, citrusy and perfectly balanced. Athletic Brewery Co is the leader in alcohol-free craft beers in the United States and they've just hit Australian shelves. You can find them in selected Woolworths supermarkets. If you're feeling really good after a month of abstinence, check out the Always an Athlete collaboration, where top athletes provide at home workouts on YouTube.
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Karen Hardy
He ain't heavy
Ramon; Brouwerij Roman; Oudenaarde, Belgium; 0.3%; $5.
The man on the can is burly, with thick, powerful hair from the top of his head to the tuft on his chest, not forgetting the dark mane of whisker spread like a heraldic eagle above the top of his top lip. Ramon. Bathed in sunshine, fuelled by steak, and strengthened by steel. This is the way to good health and cheer. No room for beer in this jacked man's mind. Or is there? What about a beer weighing in at only 0.3%? Perhaps, but could such a beer achieve drinkability? Yes ... well, sort of. Ramon is fairly fruity, truth be told; like a mango and citrus soda water lightly hopped for a bit of bitter balance. One is enough before moving onto the real stuff.
Daniel Honan
WA good-value contender
Castle Rock Estate 2018 Great Southern shiraz; $34; 4.5 stars (out of 6).
COVID-19 allowing, the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards will be presented on August 12 in Melbourne and major category finalists have been announced. The awards are winery of the year, best-value winery, dark horse winery, best new winery, winemaker of the year and viticulturist of the year. A best-value winery finalist is the Western Australian maker of this fine shiraz from Great Southern Region's Porongurup area. It has 13.8% alcohol, bright purple hues and forest floor aromas. The front palate has vibrant blackcurrant flavour, the middle Morello cherry, spice, mint chocolate and cedary oak and a ferric tannin finish. At castlerockestate.com.au, the Porongurup winery and wine stores. Ideal with osso bucco and cellar eight years.
John Lewis
Brothers in award final
Longview 2019 Macclesfield Chardonnay; $48; 5 stars.
The viticulturist of the year is a Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2022 newcomer, and Mark and Peter Saturno, who run the 200-ha Adelaide Hills Longview property, with its 70ha of vines, cafe, function centre and accommodation, are among the six finalists. The brothers, from an Adelaide liquor retailing family, took to wine-growing in 2007 after long careers in New York - Mark in theatre, TV and films and Peter in marketing. Their viticultural expertise shows in this classy chardonnay with its straw hues, honeysuckle scents and crisp nectarine front-palate flavour. The middle has pear, guava, gunmetal and coconutty oak and a finish of flinty acid. At longviewvineyard.com.au and Macclesfield winery. Great with paella and cellar seven years.
