Mayor4Unley

I was delighted to be asked to join a beer tasting panel on a trip to the Yorke Peninsula. Our destination was the Watsacowie brewery in Minlaton. It's a relatively new brewery and the beers had to be tasted and rated. Our host was brewer Andrew Coleman. A huge range, from light coloured to dark; and some interesting experimental brews. We put them all on the tasting bench and went at them. A superb range. One was infused with ginger. Absolutely wonderful (if you imagined it wasn't a beer). By the end of the session we were all frothing at the mouth. The big test was what to select to take home. That's the best test to apply. I chose 2 beers: Watsacowie S.Y.P. Ale, Pale Ale , 5% alcohol Watsacowie Jazzy Red Ale, Indian Red Ale , 6% alcohol Both are drinking well at home; at the end of the day. But what surprised me was their apple cider called ' Beached Apple Cider '. I don't normally enjoy cider, but this was superb; the best ever. It taste...

A big crowd #onKWR last night at the #UnleyGala in #Unley for the #TDU. Sturt Double Blues supporters were there in force. Long time Sturt supporter Cr Mike Hudson lined up for a photo with Sue and Jason from Sturt FC. I've never seen Mike so happy.

Fantastic news about John Opie bakery on Unley Road intending to stay open later to 10pm. The menu will stay the same with beer and wine available if a liquor licence is approved. Great for locals wanting a low cost night out with a decent pie or pasty (or Danish apple). For a late night pie it will save a long trip to 24x7 Cafe de Vili's at Mile-End. Read more ...

My favourite beer is Pirate Life. It's new on the Adelaide scene and it is local, brewed at Hindmarsh. It's only been on the market for a few years, but it's going gang busters; hugely popular. A great range of beers and only in cans; and on tap in some pubs. My best fav is the Pale Ale Tip: drink slowly as the alcohol content is high. Another tip: avoid the Golden Era Golden Ale . I don't know why they make it. Amongst my Pirate Life drinking mates, no-one will touch it. The brewery is frequently reviewed with glowing reports. Here's a link to a conversation with chief brewer Lewis Maschmedt @ Pirate Life. Click here

The food trucks are coming in huge numbers to Goodwood. Starting next year the initiative (known as the Food Truck Movement) will see dozens of food trucks setup inside Goydner Plaza (at the Showground) on Thursday to Sunday, 11am to midnight. This will be a weekly event. A liquor licence will help to lure people to consume the burgers. Goydner Plaza holds 800 people so it will be huge. The plan is to have live music or family-themed days with children’s activities. No Council permit or licence is required. It will be great to pop in late at night for that burger or other food truck delight on the way home from a big night out; at a time when other food joints are closed. This initiative has happened due to the State Government recently declaring that there be no limit to food trucks. Read the story ...

Eggplants; one of the most versatile fruit in the garden (and no it's not a vegetable). If I were a vegetarian then it would be at the top of the list with field mushrooms. As a meat eater, the eggplant is at the top of my list as an accompaniment; an accessory to meat. Cook it Afghan style and you're in heaven. There's so much you can do with eggplant. A recent discovery (and joy) was thinly sliced eggplant fritters. As a meal or snack whilst watching State of Origin rugby or as a side dish with red meat. Give it a try 😍 Here's the recipe

There has always been debate about a glass being with half full or half empty. Which is correct? Researcher Malcolm Smith has recently completed research with many half full glasses of water and beer. His finding was that when people were left alone in a room with just half a glass of water for hours on end, they drank the water. In 90% of cases the result was an empty glass and he saw a pattern. He claims that "you're far more likely to drink half a glass of water than you are to refill it". Smith claimed over another beer that his research proved that a half filled glass is considered to be half empty. Despite this claim it will probably not truly settle the question of a glass being half full or half empty. He does deserve credit for his dedicated research.

Last week I was up at Andamooka for a few days. Took my son to noodle for opals. On the way up, it rained for 60 seconds just south of Pimba. 15km from Andamooka we slowed because of a mob of emus beside the road. Dad emu was going walkabout with 10 large chicks (20-30cm high). And then, the serenity of the outback was shattered. There in front of us, on a sign warning of kangaroos was an election poster. I was devastated. I had gone bush to escape city life and take a break and unwind after the recent Council election. There was no mobile phone connection, very few amenities and yet on a sign post on a hot wind swept plain was an election poster. I took a photo and headed for town and a cold beer.