Tales From The Bunt's Side

Right E O! Bunt’s beer review is back and I’ve got the hangover to prove it. 

Over the past couple of days I’ve been hanging out with some Tasmanian mates and when it comes to beer, they’re the fiercely loyal to their island home state and all the worldly goods it has to offer.

One such offering is James Boag’s Draught. Boag’s has a few products available including Boag’s Premium and Boag’s St George. Boag’s Draught is the company’s generic beer that is the equivalent to VB, Carlton Draught or NEW.

When I worked out at the Yacht club we used Boag’s Draught for beer batter and makes for a great fish and chips. I remember we used to keep a case in the cool room. It eventually got to the point where we had to keep the beer at room temperature because we found ourselves drinking more of it than we were using it for it’s intended purpose.

I hadn’t been back to Boag’s since I left the club, so last night was a chance to get re acquainted with the old Tazzy staple.

I was surprised to find a mellow, easy drinking beer. Smooth. I was expecting a harsh flavour that I usually find with the generic brown bottled beers. One thing that I don’t like is that beery, dry aftertaste I get with most beers. Not with Boag’s. It’s really crisp and clean and the best part is that it’s completely unpretentious. It looks, smells and tastes like beer! Nothing more. Nothing less. And forget fancy labelling and the low carb revolution. James Boag’s Draught is the real deal and if you haven’t tried it go and grab a 6 pack. It’s always good to mix it up and try new beers. 

Boag’s is available on tap in certain pubs and clubs, but I haven’t tried it. If I see it out and about today, I’ll go above and beyond the call of duty and try it, but I’m not sure if it will be the same as it is in the bottle.

I’m not going to bother giving it a rating because let’s face it. If it’s beer I’ll drink it.

I heart beer.

I’m confused.

Really, really confused.

I’m the owner of a rather large dog. She’s cute and funny. She loves us and our friends. She chases cats and barks at the postman, and, just like every other dog, she shits in the back yard. But one skill my dog has that is greater than any of these things is the skill to bury her head into her food bowl and inhale.

She doesn’t have the best table manners, that’s why her bowl is out by the back steps with her big, red water bucket. When she guzzles water, she’ll leave a trail of saliva and water all across the yard. But, when all is said and done, she’s just a big old dog and that’s just what dogs do. They’re smelly, hairy and they lick their own bums.

So why would you want your dog to sit at the table and have dinner with the family?

While on a break from work yesterday, I was sitting with apprentice and he found an Ikea ad for HUNDSTOL in a Sydney newspaper. HUNDSTOL is obviously Swedish for “Doggy Highchair”. I stood and scratched my head and laughed and then the laughter turned to curiosity and the curiosity lead me to where I am now….confused.

As I tried to refocus on work, my mind kept wandering back to Hundstol and the type of people that would actually shell out the $59 asking price to have their dog sit and slobber all over the place at the table. I do regard the dog as a member of the family, and I understand and respect that not all couples can have children, but this is just stupid! What next, doggy rocking cradle? 

I’ve always had a beef with IKEA. I think their products are crap and flimsy. My main peeve is the rubber x and o shaped ice cube trays. They’re completely impractical, but the doggy “Hundstol” Highchair is the icing on the cake! 

I could imagine picking up my heavy set dog and placing her in her high chair, with her bib. Oh how humiliated she would be. Not to mention confused. I would sit with her. We would have a nice home cooked meal and she would have her horrible can of jellied casserole wafting over the table making everyone nauseous.

Yep. Doggy highchair sounds like a great idea! Well done Ikea!

As you may well be aware, I took a trip to Sydney on Monday night to catch the Motorhead show at Luna Park Big Top.

It was a killer show and one of the loudest (actually, all the shows that I’ve been to are loud, It’s just that the Motorhead shows have that extra decibel thrown in there for good luck)

The show was great but it was a bit of a sausage fest. The merch was very expensive ($50 for a shirt, $20 for a stubby holder…ouch!) but it was the booze that really took the wind out of my wallet…$10 for a can of second rate McKenna bourbon and coke…in a plastic cup!….I mean, surely they could leave it the can!? Anyway, it matters not. 

Here are some more photos from the show. I almost didn’t get any shots. As I was waiting in line at the bar, having a conversation with another punter, a large security guard approached me to see if I had a media pass because my camera is deemed to be “Professional Equipment”. Any camera that has a detachable lense was prohibited in the venue. He escorted me to the coat check desk and ordered me to check it in. I did, unwillingly. I made it back to the bar, ordered a drink, then went back to the coat check, got my camera back out and smuggled it under my jacket. I was a little paranoid about getting busted, so some of the photos were taken without too much care, but I managed to get a few good shots.

Enjoy!