SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS - HOP HARVEST & DDC EDITION!

Well, its that time of year. The much awaited, limited-release hop harvest ales have just hit the shelves! The reason for the excitement is that the use of fresh hops enables the brewer to get the optimum amount of aromatics & flavour from them & packed into their delicious brew! Additionally & certainly not to be outdone is the much anticipated arrival of one of Canada’s most outstanding breweries, Dieu Du Ciel!

FEATURE BEERS
RED HILL (VIC) Hop Harvest Ale 330ml $5.50
This brew really does encapsulate everything that Red Hill is all about! Styled as an english special bitter (ESB), this beer is packed with flavour, however like every red hill brew has a great degree of finesse as well. The use of their very own, estate grown willamette & goldings hops gives this ESB those trademark earthy, resiny/peppery hop notes, while rich toffee & marmalade notes are attributed by the malt. A classic style & probably the best locally produced example of it!

BRIDGE RD BREWERS (VIC) The Harvest Ale 330ml $4.70
Ben up at Beechworth has been rather tight-lipped as to what hop varieties have actually gone into this brew. What is known is that they are an experimental variety from the local Rostrevor research hop garden. Ben has used his Aussie ale as a base for this brew, enabling the unique hop character to be the star of the show. As mentioned, the hop variety is unknown & whilst not speculating to me it seemed to have galaxy-esque traits: citrus, tropical fruit notes & some grassy bitterness on the finish. Great beer & perfect for this abnormally warm April!

FEATURE BREWERIES
DIEU DU CIEL (CAN)
Since news got out some time ago of Unibroue’s plans to cease exports, a number of people were down in the dumps & rightly so as their beers are brilliant. However with the arrival of Dieu du Ciel comes a renewed excitement for Canadian beer & in my opinion these are a more than worthy replacement!

Peche Mortel 341ml $8.50
Péché Mortel (French for "Mortal Sin") is an intensely black and dense beer with very pronounced roasted flavours. Fair trade coffee is infused during the brewing process, intensifying the bitterness of the beer and giving it a powerful coffee taste. Péché mortel is brewed to be savored; we invite you to drink it in moderation. 9.5% abv

Aphrodisiaque 341ml $8.00
Black ale with aromas and flavours of vanilla, dark chocolate, bourbon and roasted malt. The vanilla and cocoa marry nicely, without out-competing each other, to produce a surprisingly well balanced beer. This beer is mildly hoppy, but the cocoa introduces a touch of bitterness. Its colour may be intimidating, but it is a very smooth beer within reach of most beer drinkers. This highly appreciated dessert beer is brewed with organic fair-trade cocoa and first rate vanilla beans. 6.5% abv

Corne du Diable 341ml $7.50
Corne du diable (French for "Horn of the devil") is a contemporary interpretation of the classic English India Pale Ale. This new style, born on the west coast of North America, is characterized by stronger and hoppier beers. The result is a red ale expressing caramel flavours coming from the malt, sharp bitterness and powerful hop aromas, thanks to dry hopping. 6.5% abv

Dernier Volonte 341ml $7.50
Dernière volonté (French for "Last Will") is a mix of Belgian and English brewing traditions. Complex flavours of hop flowers and spicy, fruity esters from our belgian yeast are perfectly balanced with the robust flavours and aromas of malt. The finish is commandeered by an assertive aroma from dry-hopping. 6.5% abv

Route des Espices 341ml $6.50
Routes des épices (French for "Spice Route") is a rye beer brewed with both black and green peppercorns. Initially, the beer reveals flavours of fresh grain and malt, which give it notes of chocolate, caramel, and fruit. The pepper flavour and aroma is fully revealed in the finish, which leaves a pleasant, spicy, tingling sensation on the tongue. 5% abv

Rosee d’hibiscus 341ml $7.00
Rosée d’Hibiscus is a soft spoken wheat beer. The rose colour comes from the hibiscus flowers added during the brewing process. The aromas and flavour of this tropical flower are very prominent in the beer, giving it a slight acidity and a very agreeable fragrance. It is the perfect thirst quencher on a hot summer day. 5% abv

TEMPLE BREWING (VIC)
The guys at Temple have been busy beavers as of late & as a result their beer has been pretty hard to get hold of. Reason being is that they are gearing up to open a brewery/bar in East Brunswick! Not having an actual brewery to brew in obviously makes things pretty difficult but Ron & Renata have persevered, having been able to nick up to Jamieson every now & then to brew a batch to try to keep up with demand. With a new brewery comes new beers, so keep an eye out for plenty of Temple related news over the next few months!

Saison 330ml $3.90
I personally think that this is the best, locally-produced saison around. Plenty of earthy, spicy hops & that trademark yeast character that attributes a very subtle & thirst quenching dry, tartness on the finish. The use of orange peel, coriander & pepper gives this beer added complexity & appeal (not that it needed it!).

Pale Ale 330ml $3.90
To my mind has some subtle English traits but ultimately a US style pale ale. The use of Magnum, Crystal, Amarillo & Cascade hop varieties means this has plenty of citrussy, floral appeal. The use of the unique hop back system also means this has some spicy notes as well.

Special Bitter 330ml $3.90
Another cracker from these guys! They truly don’t make a bad beer. This employs the use of crystal malt to add palate weight & richness as well as a host of traditional English hop varieties attributing spicy, fruity notes to support the strong malt backbone.