SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS!
Another week arrives with plenty of exciting new releases from some excellent local producers. Despite the constant array of new brews hitting the shelves, I feel this is perhaps one of the best in recent times, given diversity in style & also the fact that they are all locally produced! We also have a classic brew available in growlers, just in time for the weekend!
FEATURE BEERS
FERAL (WA) Hop Hog IPA 330ml $4.50/ $16.50 4pk
Long touted as one of the country’s best breweries, beer lovers all over have been frustrated at the lack of access to their great range. Brendan produces some truly amazing stuff but surely this has to be the most anticipated of them all, with punters desperate for a decent, locally produced hop fix. Between this & next weeks arrival of Murray’s Icon2IPA, I think many of us will have our warmer weather beers settled. Rich malt, citrus fruit & a nice piney bitterness on the finish, what more could you want.
BURLEIGH (QLD) Black Giraffe 650ml $10.50
Next in the “bit on the side” limited release project following My Wife's Bitter. Stylistically this brew is a German schwartzbier or black lager. The use of roasted dark malt imparts natural coffee notes, however the addition of actual coffee beans in the brewing process heightens this further. The use of a bottom fermenting lager yeast, means this has a slightly cleaner, less astringent finish than your normal stout, while still maintaining the bittersweet roast characters.
MOUNTAIN GOAT (VIC) Rare Breed Double Hightail 650ml $9.50
Originally brewed to celebrate the goat’s 10th birthday. Now a few years past & its great to see this in the rare breed range. Apparently this brew is what the regular hightail would be if there were no monetary constraints & also no need to have universal appeal. This is a big beer, plenty of rich caramel & toffee from the malt, while the use of galaxy hops provides a nice fruitiness with an earthy bitterness on the finish. Certainly an amped up, more modern take on an English bitter.
2 BROTHERS (VIC) Voodoo Baltic Porter 330ml $6.00
In my opinion, a severely underrated style. A Baltic porter is actually a lager, despite the original porters of the UK being top fermenting ales. Reason being is that brewers in the Baltic states made utilized the ever so widely used bottom fermenting yeast. Rich dark malt, brings espresso coffee, licorice & a slight raisin note, while the lager yeast provides a cleanliness on the finish.
WINNER OF PREMIERS TROPHY FOR BEST VICTORIAN BEER & GOLD MEDAL AT 2010 AIBA!
3 RAVENS (VIC) Rye Roggenbier 500ml $9.00
Pleasingly, in the ravens boys we have another local brewery sticking with their regular limited releases. Much like the previous versions, this is essentially an evolved, more interesting take on one of their regular beers. To my tastes, this seems to have utilized the white ale as a base, though I could be wrong. A roggenbier is a somewhat obscure German style ale, using a wheat beer yeast & at least 60% rye in the grain bill, which certainly makes for a thick wort! This example has some delicate honey notes on the front & mid palate before the rye adds a nice savory & spicy character. Really cool beer & very unique!
FILLING ON GROWLERS
HARVIESTOUN (SCO) Bitter & Twisted
Surely one of the most iconic UK beers & certainly follows the sessionable ale mantra of CAMRA. The use of traditional European hop varieties for both aroma & bittering enables this brew to have layers of complexity, without screaming at you. Up front there is a delicate floral hop aroma, while the palate has subtle citrus fruit with an earthy, spicy bitterness. This brew is quite complex but with a high degree of drinkability. Easy to see why this is a classic!
We will start filling growlers of it on Friday & continue until the keg is dry! $25 for the fill.
FEATURE BEERS
FERAL (WA) Hop Hog IPA 330ml $4.50/ $16.50 4pk
Long touted as one of the country’s best breweries, beer lovers all over have been frustrated at the lack of access to their great range. Brendan produces some truly amazing stuff but surely this has to be the most anticipated of them all, with punters desperate for a decent, locally produced hop fix. Between this & next weeks arrival of Murray’s Icon2IPA, I think many of us will have our warmer weather beers settled. Rich malt, citrus fruit & a nice piney bitterness on the finish, what more could you want.
BURLEIGH (QLD) Black Giraffe 650ml $10.50
Next in the “bit on the side” limited release project following My Wife's Bitter. Stylistically this brew is a German schwartzbier or black lager. The use of roasted dark malt imparts natural coffee notes, however the addition of actual coffee beans in the brewing process heightens this further. The use of a bottom fermenting lager yeast, means this has a slightly cleaner, less astringent finish than your normal stout, while still maintaining the bittersweet roast characters.
MOUNTAIN GOAT (VIC) Rare Breed Double Hightail 650ml $9.50
Originally brewed to celebrate the goat’s 10th birthday. Now a few years past & its great to see this in the rare breed range. Apparently this brew is what the regular hightail would be if there were no monetary constraints & also no need to have universal appeal. This is a big beer, plenty of rich caramel & toffee from the malt, while the use of galaxy hops provides a nice fruitiness with an earthy bitterness on the finish. Certainly an amped up, more modern take on an English bitter.
2 BROTHERS (VIC) Voodoo Baltic Porter 330ml $6.00
In my opinion, a severely underrated style. A Baltic porter is actually a lager, despite the original porters of the UK being top fermenting ales. Reason being is that brewers in the Baltic states made utilized the ever so widely used bottom fermenting yeast. Rich dark malt, brings espresso coffee, licorice & a slight raisin note, while the lager yeast provides a cleanliness on the finish.
WINNER OF PREMIERS TROPHY FOR BEST VICTORIAN BEER & GOLD MEDAL AT 2010 AIBA!
3 RAVENS (VIC) Rye Roggenbier 500ml $9.00
Pleasingly, in the ravens boys we have another local brewery sticking with their regular limited releases. Much like the previous versions, this is essentially an evolved, more interesting take on one of their regular beers. To my tastes, this seems to have utilized the white ale as a base, though I could be wrong. A roggenbier is a somewhat obscure German style ale, using a wheat beer yeast & at least 60% rye in the grain bill, which certainly makes for a thick wort! This example has some delicate honey notes on the front & mid palate before the rye adds a nice savory & spicy character. Really cool beer & very unique!
FILLING ON GROWLERS
HARVIESTOUN (SCO) Bitter & Twisted
Surely one of the most iconic UK beers & certainly follows the sessionable ale mantra of CAMRA. The use of traditional European hop varieties for both aroma & bittering enables this brew to have layers of complexity, without screaming at you. Up front there is a delicate floral hop aroma, while the palate has subtle citrus fruit with an earthy, spicy bitterness. This brew is quite complex but with a high degree of drinkability. Easy to see why this is a classic!
We will start filling growlers of it on Friday & continue until the keg is dry! $25 for the fill.
NIGHT OF FUNK – CANTILLON SHOWCASE
After the success of our previous sessions, I thought it apt that we push the envelope & challenge beer lovers even more. With this in mind our next tasting will include the following:
Iris – Lambic brewed with 50% fresh hops, as well as being dry hopped ($19.50)
Gueze Lambic Bio – Blend of 1, 2 & 3yo lambic brewed with 100% dried hops & wheat ($17)
Lou Pepe Gueze 2006 – Blend of 2 & 3yo lambic ($28)
Grand Cru Bruocsella – Unblended, specially selected 3yo lambic ($24)
Rose de Gambrinus – Blend of 1, 2 & 3yo lambic brewed with raspberries ($21)
Lou Pepe Framboise 2007 – Blend of 2 & 3yo framboise lambic ($28)
Kriek Lambic Bio – Blend of 1, 2 & 3yo lambic brewed with cherries ($20)
Lou Pepe Kriek 2007 – Blend of 2 & 2yo kriek ($28)
Vigneronne – Lambic brewed with muscat wine grapes ($24)
St Lamvinus – Lambic brewed with cabernet franc & merlot wine grapes + aged in Bordeaux barrels ($28)
When: BOTH Wednesday 13th October 7pm & Sunday 17th October 7pm
Cost: $25.00 to try ALL beers ($235 value!)
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any purchase that night
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND PLEASE LET US KNOW WHICH SESSION, SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS ASAP!
After the success of our previous sessions, I thought it apt that we push the envelope & challenge beer lovers even more. With this in mind our next tasting will include the following:
Iris – Lambic brewed with 50% fresh hops, as well as being dry hopped ($19.50)
Gueze Lambic Bio – Blend of 1, 2 & 3yo lambic brewed with 100% dried hops & wheat ($17)
Lou Pepe Gueze 2006 – Blend of 2 & 3yo lambic ($28)
Grand Cru Bruocsella – Unblended, specially selected 3yo lambic ($24)
Rose de Gambrinus – Blend of 1, 2 & 3yo lambic brewed with raspberries ($21)
Lou Pepe Framboise 2007 – Blend of 2 & 3yo framboise lambic ($28)
Kriek Lambic Bio – Blend of 1, 2 & 3yo lambic brewed with cherries ($20)
Lou Pepe Kriek 2007 – Blend of 2 & 2yo kriek ($28)
Vigneronne – Lambic brewed with muscat wine grapes ($24)
St Lamvinus – Lambic brewed with cabernet franc & merlot wine grapes + aged in Bordeaux barrels ($28)
When: BOTH Wednesday 13th October 7pm & Sunday 17th October 7pm
Cost: $25.00 to try ALL beers ($235 value!)
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any purchase that night
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND PLEASE LET US KNOW WHICH SESSION, SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS ASAP!
Labels: Beer News, New Releases, Recent Tasting Notes
posted by Chris Menichelli at
3:58 pm
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