'shtraya Day

Freshwater Beach - Australia Day

What's more Australian than a BBQ in a mate's backyard by a swimming pool, walking barefoot to the beach with a beer, with the Triple J's Hottest 100 playing over the stereo and the 'wun dayah' (one day cricket match) on the tv on Australia Day?.... hmmmm... maybe actually beating the Poms in the match. That's about all I can come up with.

Although, there seems to be a new force that's quickly becoming part of Australia Day festivities... The Hottest 100 Craft Beers. 6 times more voters than 2 years ago, 500 different beers voted for, it seems Australian craft beer is going strong.

With a few of the top 10 in my esky today and a few others I would've liked to have been in the esky, I only wish that some of the beers in the top 100 had ranked higher *cough*numberthirtyeightandnumberfortytwoforexample*cough* and others off the list all together. But being the people's choice, at least it's good to see the thirsty public is now thinking about what they drink with their taste buds.

How was it in Whistler, Pinky?

Whistler BC - Australia Day - by Mike Taylor

Well, considering that at least half of the transient population in Whistler must hail from Australia, it was pretty impressive! We were also listening to Triple J's Hottest 100, but the pubs and bars were flooded with VB (specially imported for the occasion in fact), so I ended up sticking with local Whistler brew.

What I would have given for a Little Creatures pale ale instead of a Victoria Bitter! However, as one of Whistler's biggest cultural events, it was great to see not only Aussie pride but all of the fundraising efforts for the flood relief in Queensland. And of course, it was even nicer to see everyone on the mountain wearing as little clothing as possible.