Slow Beer

SLOWBEER NEWS - A SMORGASBORD OF GREAT BEER!

2011-10-06T15:21:00.007+11:00

Another bumper week in store with plenty of amazing beers hitting the shelves. As every week passes we get closer to revealing our exciting news, so keep an eye out, not long now! Quite appropriately, as we roll over into October, we have an absolute cracker of a beer on growler fills that we know you will all love. Full details below.

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS

FROM AUSTRALIA
3 Ravens Ale Noir 750ml $18.00 -Pinot Noir barrel aged version of their dark, a German style smoked bock.

Prickly Moses Oktoberfest 330ml $4.50 - Munich style helles. Malty, balanced hop character & clean finish.

Prickly Moses Raconteur IPA 330ml $5.00 - Big , bold US inspired IPA. Caramel & toffee malt with robust herbally bitterness.

Prickly Moses Tailpipe Brown Ale 330ml $5.00 - US inspired brown ale, malt sweetness & roast with significant hop bitterness on the finish.

FROM EASTERN EUROPE
Baltika #6 500ml $6.00 - Arguably the best beer from this somewhat mainstream Russian producer. This Baltic style porter is dark & roasty with great richness.

Grand Imperial Porter 500ml $7.00 - Certainly a quiet achiever, masses of dark roasted malt with caramel fudge & coffee roast. An excellent Baltic style porter.

FROM JAPAN
Baird Yabai Yabai Strong Scotch Ale 633ml $16.50 - Chewy malt profile of molasses & toffee apples with rum & fruit cake esters. Delicious & warming.

Baird Ganko Oyaji Barleywine 633ml $17.50 - A big beer in every sense, rich malt provides the backbone with significant hop character to balance (75IBU).

FROM NETHERLANDS
La Trappe Tripel 330ml $5.00 & 750ml $11.00 - The only non-Belgian trappist brewery, this abbey tripe is brewed with a twist, the addition of coriander seed.

La Trappe Quadruple 330ml $6.00 - The darkest & richest of the range, a palate of brown sugar & dark fruit with some fruit spice on the finish.

FROM SCANDINAVIA
Mikkeller Brewdog & Nogne Black Tokyo Horizon 330ml $35.00 - An epic collaborative brew from arguably Europe’s most renowned cult brewers. This 17%abv imperial stout is an amalgamation of ideas from Mikkeller’s Black, Brewdog’s Tokyo & Nogne O’s Dark Horizon.

FROM UK
Fullers 1845 500ml $8.50 - A rich beer with a fruit cake aroma, spices and nutmeg from malt and hops resulting in a dry, fruity finish.

Fullers Golden Pride 500ml $9.50 - A barleywine style ale, rich malt backbone of sweet bread & toffee with significant hop bitterness to balance.

Fullers Porter 500ml $8.50 - Dark & complex with layers of roasted malt bringing caramel, chocolate & coffee, as well as a touch of dark fruit.

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 12yo 330ml $10.00 - Amazingly complex imperial porter, aided by maturation in the highly acclaimed Highland Park distillery's whisky casks.

Traquair House Ale 330ml $8.50 - Brilliant rich strong ale, with complex malt character & a touch of oak from fermentation vessel.

Traqauir Jacobite Ale 330ml $11.00 - One of our favorites! Complex dark malt, with caramel, toffee, licorice, a touch of herbal tea & fruit spice.

FROM USA
Moylans Tippery Pale Ale 650ml $10.50 - Sitting between English & US style pale ales, supporting malt of honey & caramel with robust hop aroma & bitterness from the use of Simcoe, Ahtanum & Cascade varieties.

Moylans Porter 650ml $10.50 - Rich, robust porter with masses of espresso & bittersweet chocolate notes.

Moylans Nor Cal IPA 650ml $12.50 - Rich, malty palate with significant hop character from the use of Fuggles & Chinook varieties both in the kettle & for dry hopping.

FILLING ON GROWLERS
WEIHENSTEPHAN FESTBIER

A Bavarian institution, Weihensephan is the world's oldest commercial brewery. Their festbier is an okterberfest style lager, meaning it is oh so drinkable! Beautifully delicate & balanced with floral, earthy hop aroma, subtle sweet bread & honey malt on the palate with a cleansing spicy noble hop bitterness on the finish. Couldn't imagine anything better than drinking this by the stein in a beer garden, or even your own garden!

Filling as we speak. If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Weihenstephan Festbier is $25.00

SLOWBEER NEWS - A BEER FILLED WEEKEND AHEAD!

2011-09-29T15:31:00.003+10:00

We are gearing up for a big weekend of beer consumption, responsibly of course! To accommodate the last minute AFL Grand Final beer shoppers, we will be opening bright & early at 10am on Saturday (01/10/11), then closing to watch the game & reopening afterwards. With plenty of new & interesting beers hitting the shelves as well as some cracking beers on growlers, we've got you covered! Full details below.

FROM AUSTRALIA
2 Brothers James Brown 330ml $7.50

This funky little number is back, with masses of chocolate & banana yeast notes.

3 Ravens The Ravenator Bock 500ml $9.00

Rich, dark & malty lager with dark fruity esters & a touch of phenolic yeast spice.

Red Hill Weizenbock 330ml $6.00

A great beer with a nice little following, rich & dark with touches of caramel malt sweetness & dark fruit.

FROM ENGLAND
Wold Top Centenary Way Mild 500ml $8.50

A true mild ale, malty & rich but a very serviceable 3.5%abv.

FROM GERMANY
Schlenkerla Rauchbier Helles 500ml $6.00

A Bamberg regional specialty, this version of a smokebeer is in fact a light & clean lager style.

Weihenstephan Festbier 500ml $5.50

An oktoberfest special, plenty of subtlety & balance, easy to imagine drinking stein after stein of this!

FROM ITALY
Theresianer Coffee Stout 750ml $18.00

Light on the palate with plenty of bittersweet roast from both the dark malt & coffee.

FROM NORWAY
Nogne O Imperial Stout 500ml $12.50

Masses of molasses & choc fudge with some dark fruit & coffee roast to boot.

FROM USA
Coney Island Lager 355ml $6.00

A lager like no other, carefully selected malts provide a rounded palate, while robust hopping from both old world european & modern US varieties.

Coney Island Mermaid Pilsner 355ml $6.00

A dry hopped american rye pilsner, why not? Spicy malt with robust bitterness to compliment.

Coney Island Variety Pack 12x355ml $65.00

Contains: Coney Island Lager, Mermaid Pils, Sword Swallower & Albino Python.

Sierra Nevada Autumn Tumbler Porter 355ml $4.50

Autumn seasonal, rich & malty brown ale with nutty, caramel malt in spades.

Sierra Nevada Ovila Saison 750ml $12.50

Brewed in collaboration with the monks at Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina, California comes this rustic Belgian farmhouse style ale.

FILLING FOR GROWLERS - MIKKELLER KOPPI IPA

In seemingly a mini trend of late, brewers are experimenting with coffee in hoppier styles. Traditionally coffee additions was the domain of darker, roasty styles, however mikkeller is ever the mad scientist! The coffee beans in this brew have been carefully selected for their fruity, earthy qualities & then very lightly roasted, so as not to become astringent. The coffee selection beautifully matches the use of Tomohawk hops. Expect caramel malt with a fruity, earthy aroma & bitterness from both bean & hop. Initially this sounds like quite the crazy concotion, however it comes off as a masterstroke & a delicious hop feast!

Filling as we speak. If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Mikkeller Koppi IPA is $35.00

UP NEXT: WEIHENSTEPHANER OKTOBERFESTBIER

SLOWBEER NEWS - NEW US ARRIVALS!

2011-09-15T16:31:00.002+10:00

We are well & truly back into the swing of things, with plenty of exciting arrivals gracing the shelves, so expect regular updates once more. Some hotly anticipated new US arrivals, as well as some crackers from our Danish friends at Amager & Beer Here. We also have a quirky little number on growler fills, that we know you will love. Full details below.

NEW RELEASES
FROM DENMARK
Amager Drei von Danen 500ml $14.00 - Baltic style porter, robust in its bittersweet dark roasted malt.
Amager Drei von Danen Cognac Barrel 500ml $21.50 - Baltic style porter aged in cognac barrels.
Amager Rated XX 500ml $14.00 - Huge imperial IPA with robust hop bitterness.
Beer Here Karma Citra 500ml $14.00 - US inspired brown ale, brewed solely with citra hop variety.
Beer Here Nordic Rye 500ml $14.50 - Traditional style dark ale brewed with a large proportion of rye in the grain bill.
Beer Here Smokestack Porter 500ml $13.50 - Robust style porter with masses of dark, bittersweet roasted malt.
Beer Here Weed 500ml $13.00 - German inspired pale wheat beer, brewed with smoked malt.

FROM NEW ZEALAND
Ben Middlemiss Nota Bene 330ml $11.00 - Belgian style abbey ale, rich malt with notes of brown sugar & ripe dark fruit, as well as complex yeast spice on the finish.
Kaimai Golden Rye 330ml $6.50 - A delicate & light golden ale, brewed with a large proportion of rye in the grain bill, imparting a spicy rye sourdough character.
Kaimai Pale Ale 500ml $12.00 - Robust style pale ale hopped solely with Southern Cross variety, imparting tropical fruit characters.
Kaimai Porters Rye 330ml $7.00 - Robust style porter with high proportion of rye in the grain bill. Expect dark bittersweet roasted malt, complimented by a subtle spicy rye sourdough character.

FROM USA
Schmaltz He’brew Bittersweet Lenny’s RIPA 355ml $8.50 - A hefty 10% abv rye based ipa. Hopped to the hilt with your favorite US high alpha varieties.
Schmaltz He’brew Genesis Ale 355ml $6.00 - West Coast inspired amber ale, rich caramel & toffee malt with pronounced hop character.
Schmaltz He’brew Messiah Bold 355ml $6.00 - Malty brown ale with notes of caramel & roasted nuts.
Victory Baltic Thunder 650ml $15.50 - Baltic style porter, robust with masses of bittersweet roasted malt
Victory Hop Devil 355ml $6.00 - Robust US IPA, caramel & toffee malt with vibrant hop aroma & bracing bitterness on the finish.
Victory Hop Wallop 355ml $7.00 & 650ml $15.50 - Bigger brother to hop devil, imperial IPA with clean malt profile, allowing the robust hop character to shine.
Victory Prima Pils 355ml $5.50 - Amazing brew that goes above & beyond what you expect of a pils or lager. Vibrant hop aroma, a touch of malt with robust, cleansing bitterness on a clean, light profile.
Victory Storm King 355ml $7.50 - A beast of an imperial stout, masses of dark roasted malt with robust hop bitterness to boot!
Victory V12 750ml $21.50 - Belgian style abbey ale, light honey malt notes allowing the earthy hops & yeast spice to come through nicely.
Victory Yakima Glory 355ml $7.50 - American Black Ale, Black IPA, whatever you call it, this is a cracker! Dark roasted malt with truckloads of hops.

FILLING FOR GROWLERS - HITACHINO NEST JAPANESE CLASSIC ALE
Hitachino is a ripping little Japanese brewery that certainly has quite a following. While the name, Japanese Classic Ale conjures up thoughts of some quirky concotion, to my mind, this is very much an English inspired IPA. Rich caramel & toffee malt, floral hop aroma & robust earthy, spicy hop bitterness. Somewhat typical of hitachino beers, this one has a twist, being that it is aged in cedar casks that previously housed shochu (distilled sake). A great little number that you will love!

Filling as we speak. If you dont already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale is $35.00

UP NEXT: MORNINGTON PENINSULA PORTER

SLOWBEER NEWS - ITS BEEN A WHILE!

2011-09-08T16:31:00.002+10:00

So its been a while! Whats new you ask? Well, we've actually been very busy behind the scenes! As you can probably gather, we are in the process of getting our new website up & running, hence the new look emails if you see them. Its been a long time coming but we are pretty pelase with the result & know you will be too. Additionally, we have some very, very exciting news brewing but can't give too much away just yet. Its big, so keep your eyes & ears at the ready!

General catchup aside, the next few weeks will prove to be some of the busiest for new arrivals in a long time! Plus, the onset of some lovely Spring weather signals a move away from darker growler offerings & into big hop bombs you all love! Full details below.

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS

FROM AUSTRALIA

Bridge Rd Galaxy Single Hop IPA 330ml $5.00

Back again this year & ever growing in popularity. Expect vibrant tropical fruit nose & grassy bitterness on the finish from Oz craft's fav hop.

Bridge Rd Stella Single Hop IPA 330ml $5.00

New release this year & partner to galaxy. Stella is a hop that is starting to gain traction with local brewers given its new world leanings but european noble lineage. Vibrant tropical fruit on the nose with a more herbally, bitter edge than galaxy. Reminded me a little of simcoe, which I love!

Little Creatures Single Batch Dreadnaught 500ml $6.00

The next release in the series & quite possibly the best yet. A foreign export style stout, expect robust bittersweet roasted malt on a light palate with more roast driving the finish. Everything you want from a FES.

Mountain Goat Seedy Goat Coffee IPA 650ml $10.00

Under the guidance of the team at Seven Seeds, comes this experimental brew. Clean & light malt allows the lightly roasted, fruity & earthy coffee bean character to compliment the hop bitterness. Perfect synergy between bean & hop.

FROM NEW ZEALAND

8 Wired Sultan Belgian Quad 500ml $15.00

Soren can seemingly do no wrong with his releases. This is a Belgian style strong dark ale, brewed with an assortment of aromatic sugars & sultanas. Rich & slightly sweet on the palate, this brew is served well by the liverly carbonation of the style. A really great spin on a classic.

FROM NORWAY

Haand Dark Force 500ml $12.50

Bigger brother to good force, this imperial stout is brewed with a high proportion of wheat in the grain bill.

Haand Odins Tipple 500ml $14.50

Big & rich imperial stout fermented with the brewery's wild house yeast for added quirky complexity.

Nogne O Imperial Brown Ale 500ml $11.50

Robust US style brown ale, nutty with caramel malt & a touch of roast & hop bitterness.

Nogne O IPA 500ml $11.50

US inspired IPA, caramel & toffee malt backbone with fruity & piney hop bitterness.

Nogne O #100 500ml $13.50

Amazing hybrid kind of beer, part barleywine, part IPA & a touch of porter.

Nogne O Underlig Jul 500ml $11.50

Festive ale, not too dissimilar to mulled wine. Brewed with all matter of christmas spices.

Nogne O Sunturnbrew 500ml $15.50

Barleywine style ale brewed with rye & bamberg smoked malte.

FROM UK

Adnams Innovation 500ml $8.50

Ripping little ESB/strong ale with rich malt & nice hop character. Very under-rated brew.

Brewdog Abstrakt AB:06 375ml $37.00

The next release in this series, a triple dry hopped black IPA. Slowbeer was lucky enough to score a few samples when Brewdog Martin was in town on a sneaky visit. All kinds of herbally hop awesomeness!

Brewdog Punk IPA Cans 330ml $4.50

Haven't you heard? Cans are the way of the hop fuelled craft beer future. Do ti!

Brewdog Tactical Nucleur Pengui 330ml $150.00

Its back, this 32% abv beauty of a whisky cask aged imprial stout on some serious steroids.

Brewdog Sink the Bismarck 330ml $200.00

Partners in crime, this 42% abv IPA is back too! Crazy is as cray does.

FILLING ON GROWLERS

Mikkeller Green Gold IPA

We've been trying to keep our growler offerings seasonal but a bout of lovely Spring weather coupled with punter's seemingly unquenchable thirst for hop bombs, means this beauty is good to go. Like many Mikkeller IPAs, this is an American style. Exect rich caramel & toffee malt providing the backbone for which grapefruit, bitter citrus rind & piney hop character will keep you hop heads happy!

Filling as we speak. If you don't already have a growler, 2L bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Mikkeller Green Gold IPA is $35.

Up next: Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale

SLOWBEER NEWS - ARRIVALS, GROWLERS & TASTINGS

2011-08-05T14:02:00.001+10:00

A lot has been happening behind the scenes of late, with our brand spanking new website not too far away. As well as the usual influx of exciting brews, most notably a drastic change in pricing of the amazing Mikkeller beers, obviously for the better!

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS
From Australia & New Zealand
Stone & Wood Stone beer 500ml $8.50 – Throwback to traditional brewing, hot stones thrown into wort, caramelized & rich.
Invercargill Men’nskurts 330ml $7.50 – Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy, strong rich & malty with a wee dram of peat smoke.
Invercargill Saison 330ml $7.50 – Kiwi twist on a Belgian Saison, brewed with NZ Rakau & Pacific Gem hops.
Three Boys Pilsner 500ml $10.00 – Floral on the nose with a touch of honey malt, with a dry & clean finish.
Three Boys IPA 500ml $10.00 – English style, rich caramel & toffee malt with floral & resiny hop character to balance.
Three Boys Oyster Stout 500ml $10.00 – A perennial favorite, robust, dark & roasty with a touch of smoke & salty sea spray.
Yeastie Boys Her Majesty 2011 750ml $24.00 – Another Kiwi saison, brewed with NZ Nelson Sauvin & Pacifica hops.
Yeastie Boys Hudawa Strong 330ml $7.00 – Rich & malty red/amber ale but don’t be fooled, this has a hell of a hop kick!
Yeastie Boys Rex Attitude 330ml $8.00 – Brewed with 100% peated whisky malt, smoke, smoke & more smoke...seriously!

From USA & Canada
Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale 710ml $11.50 – Brewed with fresh Kiwi hop varieties.
Dieu du Ciel Charbonniere 355ml $8.00 – German style, brewed with raucbier malt, lending a smoked ham character.
Dieu du Ciel Route des Espices 355ml $7.00 – Rye ale brewed with green & black peppercorns, for a spicy, hot finish.
Les Trois Mousquetaires Doppelbock 750ml $23.00 – Rich, dark & malty with some sweetness lingering on the finish.
Lest Trois Mousquetaires Weizenbock 750ml $23.00 – Rich & malty with dark fruit & spice notes.
St Ambroise Framboise 355ml $5.00 – Light & overtly fruity with a touch of sweetness & tart raspberry finish.
St Ambroise Scotch Ale 355ml $7.00 – Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy, dark, rich & malty with a touch of roast & smoked malt.

From Denmark
Mikkeller Ten IPA 330ml $8.00 – Blend of 10 single hop ipas, a decathlon of hops if you will. Impressive on their own, brilliant together!
Mikkeller Draft Bear 330ml $8.50 – Robust imperial style pilsner, hopped to high heaven & then dry hopped, all with US varieties.
Mikkeller 1000IBU 375ml $21.00 – Theoretical bitterness of 1000, the human palate can only detect around 120IBU, this is hoppy!
Mikkeller Jackie Brown 330ml $8.00 – Robust American style Brown ale, nuts & caramel malt with herbally bitterness.
Mikkeller Koppi IPA 330ml $8.50 – Brewed with Ethiopian coffee, giving an earthy, bitter character to compliment the hops, genius!
Mikkeller Green Gold 330ml $8.00 – A quintessentially US style pale ale, robustly hopped with simcoe, amarillo & cascade varieties.

FILLING FOR GROWLERS
Mikkeller Ten IPA
We all know Mikkel likes to experiment & teach his drinkers a thing or two. Such is his desire that he released a series of Single Hop IPAs, this particular beer is an amalgamation of his favorite 10 single hop releases. Expect an orgiastic hop feast with an onslaught of vibrant fruity hop aroma & resinous hop bitterness on the finish. Get in quick, this will be gone before you know it. Filling as we speak. If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill is $35.00
UP NEXT: Prickly Moses Chocolate Ale

SLOWBEER NEWS - ARRIVALS, GROWLERS & TASTINGS

2011-07-22T12:05:00.003+10:00

Its been a crazy past few weeks with plenty happening both good & bad. Unfortunately our store laptop was stolen a couple of weeks ago, as result a number of email trails have been lost. If you have an order outstanding or general inquiry unanswered please send through a prompt, so that we can get onto it asap. In more positive news, we have plenty of exciting new beers hitting the shelves. Full details below.

BEER & BREWER 2011 AWARDS – WE NEED YOU!
Its back again, after an excellent showing last year, we are hoping to better those results but once again we need your help! We would very much appreciate you taking the time to vote for us. Whether you purchase in store or online please follow the link, choose CATEGORY 8 & show us your support! http://www.beerandbrewer.com/awards

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS
From Australia & New Zealand
2 Brothers Voodoo Baltic Porter 330ml $6.00 - Dark , rich & roasty brewed as a lager, as the Baltic version requires.
3 Ravens Rye Roggenbier 500ml $9.00 – An amped up version of their white with orange, coriander, wheat & spicy rye.
Red Duck Canute The Gruit 330ml $5.00 – Tangy, Medieval style dark ale with hawthorn berry juice & stinging nettles.
Red Duck Belgian Vanilla Porter 330ml $5.50 – Roasty with dark fruit, spice & vanilla notes.
Red Duck The Ox Imperial Stout 330ml $9.00 – A beast by name & nature, big & brash with plenty to like.
Red Duck Queen Bee Honey Porter 330ml $6.00 – Dark & roasty with dry, earthy honey notes.
8 Wired Sauvin Saison 500ml $12.00 – Modern take on the style brewed with Kiwi hops to compliment earthy, fruity Belgian yeast.
Croucher Patriot American Black Ale 500ml $12.00 – Very drinkable, with a touch of roast & plenty of hop character.
Mike’s Imperial Porter 750ml $26.00 – Big & rich with plenty of chocolate fudge & dark fruit notes & bittersweet roast.
Mike’s Coffee Porter 750ml $29.00 – As above with the bittersweet coffee notes more overt.
Renaissance Craftsman Choc Oat Stout 500ml $10.00 – Amazing chocolate character with a creamy, mellow palate. Delicious!

From Japan
Baird Double Dry Imperial Belgian IPA 633ml 18.00 – Double dry hopped with both US & Euro varieties to +100IBU.
Baird Kiwi Strong Pale Ale 633ml $18.00 – We all love Kiwi hops & this is a perfect way to showcase them!
Baird Rainy Season Black Ale 633ml $18.00 – Dark & roasty but with plenty of herbally hop character to balance.

From UK
Brewdog Alice Porter 330ml $7.50 – Reserved by Brewdog standards but excellent nonetheless. Mocha & vanilla notes dominant.
Brewdog Avery Brown Dredge Lager 330ml $11.50 – This Imperial Pilsner was brewed under the guidance of 3 respected beer writers.
Brewdog Three Floyds Btch Please 330ml $21.50 – Collab barleywine brewed with peated malt & aged in Jura Whisky Casks.
Dark Star Espresso Stout 500ml $8.00 – Light & delicate on the palate with robust bittersweet coffee notes.
Harviestoun Ola Dubh 12 330ml $11.00 – The brewery’s famed Old Engine Oil aged in 12yo Highland Park Whisky Casks.
Harviestoun Ola Dubh 16 330ml $12.00 - The brewery’s famed Old Engine Oil aged in 16yo Highland Park Whisky Casks.
Harviestoun Ola Dubh 30 330ml $16.00 - The brewery’s famed Old Engine Oil aged in 30yo Highland Park Whisky Casks.
Harviestoun Ola Dubh 40 330ml $19.00 - The brewery’s famed Old Engine Oil aged in 40yo Highland Park Whisky Casks.
Harvietoun Mr Sno’balls 330ml $5.50 – Essentially an ESB, rich caramel & toffee malt with dark fruit notes.

From Spain
Moritz Epidor 330ml $4.50 - Rich , dark & malty bock style lager.

From USA
Brooklyn Lager 355ml $4.00 – Amber lager, malty yet clean with nice, cleansing hop bitterness. $21.50/$75 (6pk/Case24)
Brooklyn Local 1 750ml $18.50 – Belgian style golden ale brewed with aromatic sugar from Mauritius.
Sam Adams Noble Pils 355ml $3.00 – Exceptional robust, aromatic hop character. $16.50/$60 (6pk/Case24)
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale 355ml $4.00 – The classic we all know & love! $21.50/$75.00 (6pk/Case24)

GROWLER FILL LOYALTY CARDS
As you know we like to lead the pack, being the first retailer in Oz to offer growler fills in store & now the first to discount them, with our growler fill loyalty cards in operation. While most loyalty schemes are exactly that, ours is pretty simple: Next time you come for a fill, you will be issued with a card, be sure to bring it back every time you fill & we stamp it, get 10 stamps, then you receive a FREE fill! This equates to a 10-15% discount, pretty easy & certainly worthwhile. After all, you can’t knock free beer!

FILLING FOR GROWLERS
Doctor’s Orders Pulse Belgian Oatmeal IPA
Many Sydneysiders may be familiar with Doc, as he hosts the Darlinghurst Taphouse Alestar sessions. He has been producing very interesting beers under the Doctor’s Orders brand, many of which are brewed at Potters in the Hunter Valley. This particular release is a Belgian style IPA. Brewed with Kiwi hops that provide a vibrant tropical fruit aroma & grassy bitterness on the palate, that compliments the earthy & slightly citric Belgian yeast, while the oatmeal provides a mellow, creamy palate. Overall a very drinkable hoppy option with a twist. Filling as we speak. If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Pulse Belgian IPA is $25.00
UP NEXT: Brewdog Alice Porter

SLOWBEER NEWS - ARRIVALS, GROWLERS & TASTINGS

2011-07-01T12:29:00.000+10:00

Its here! Arguably the busiest week ever, with seemingly an endless amount of beers hitting the shelves at an almost uncontrollable rate, so much so that its best to get straight into it. Full details below.

BEER & BREWER 2011 AWARDS – WE NEED YOU!
Its back again, after an excellent showing last year, we are hoping to better those results but once again we need your help! We would very much appreciate you taking the time to vote for us. Whether you purchase in store or online please follow the link, choose CATEGORY 8 & show us your support! http://www.beerandbrewer.com/awards

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS
FROM AUSTRALIA
3 Ravens Hell 500ml $7.50 – Munich style Helles lager, malty & slightly sweet with a dry, clean finish.
Cavalier Brown Ale 650ml $12.00 – US style brown ale, robust roasted malt with pronounced hop character.
Cavalier Pale Ale 650ml $12.00 – Brewed with Kiwi Nelson Sauvin hops, overtly fruity with grassy bitterness.
Cavalier Weizen 650ml $12.00 – German style hefeweizen, banana & clove yeast notes.
Feral Golden Ace 330ml $4.50 – Belgian style golden ale brewed with distinct & unique Sorachi Ace hops.
Mornington Peninsula Brown Ale 330ml $3.90 – English style, malty & rich with nut & caramel malt notes.
Mornington Peninsula Pale Ale 330ml $3.90 – US style, robust fruity hop character on nose & palate.
Mornington Peninsula Witbier 330ml $3.90 – Belgian style, brewed with orange peel & coriander seeds.
Mountain Goat Rare Breed Surefoot Stout 650ml $9.50 – Perennial winter favorite, slightly sweet style stout.
Murrays Shawns Fault IBA 330ml $8.00 – One of the country’s first black IPAs, dark malt with plenty of hops.
Red Hill Imperial Stout 330ml $7.50 – Back for another year, arguably the brewery’s most popular seasonal release.

FROM ENGLAND
Crouch Vale Amarillo 500ml $8.00 – English style pale ale with a twist, brewed with fruit driven US amarillo hops.
Dark Star Espresso Stout 500ml $7.50 – Light on the palate but full of bittersweet dark roasted malt & coffee flavour.
Theaksons Old Peculiar 500ml $7.50 – This classic brew is back, rich, dark, smooth & very rewarding.

FROM BELGIUM
Boon Gueuze Marriage Parfait 375ml $11.50 – Amazing blend of the finest gueuze from this producer.
Boon Oude Kriek 375ml $13.00 – Blend of 1,2 & 3 year old kriek.
Bush Prestige 750ml $41.00 – Belgian strong dark ale, aged in Bordeaux wine barrels.
Chouffe Houblon DIPA Tripel 330ml $8.00 – Brilliant American inspired Belgian style IPA
De Dolle Oerbier 330ml $9.00 – Intriguing brew, dark & rich, with brett yeast for earthy, funky character.
Delirium Nocturnum 330ml $8.50 – Strong dark ale & a winter release from this brewery.
De Ranke Guldenberg 330ml $6.00 – Well balanced Belgian pale ale, significant hop character & yeast presence.
De Ranke XX Bitter 330ml $6.00 – Another very hop driven Belgian style pale ale tending to IPA.
Duchesse de Bourgogne 250ml $6.00 – A touch of sweetness, aging in oak vats picks up wild yeast tartness.
Dupont Monks Stout 330ml $5.00 - Full of dark, bittersweet roasted malt with complexity only Belgians can produce.
Dupont Dry Hopped Saison 1500ml $36.00 – Amazing value for a beer that is also truly amazing!
Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor 330ml $7.50 – Exceptionally hop driven Belgian strong golden ale.
Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blue 750ml $18.00 – Unbelievably rich & strong dark ale. Brewed once a year.
Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Red 750ml $18.00 – A strong golden ale. Similar to blue, brewed once a year.
Gouden Carolus Passbier 750ml $18.00 – Easter seasonal brew, strong ale with spices added to the brew.
Grimbergen Optimo Bruno 330ml $8.00 – Strongest & richest dark ale from this iconic brewery.
Liefmans Cuvee Kriek 375ml $10.00 – Blend of 1,2 & 3 year old kriek using oud bruin as base. Similar to kriek lambic.
Liefmans Goudenband 375ml $10.00 – Aged in oak vats, where it picks up a tart wild yeast character.
Lucifer 750ml $16.00 – In the same vein as the classic duvel, a strong golden ale.
Rodenbach Original 250ml $5.00 – Blend of 75% young & 25% old ale.
Rodenbach Grand Cru 330ml $7.00 – Greater proportion of old to young ale in the blend.
Rodenbach Vintage 750ml $29.00 – Specifically selected single vintage ale.

FROM DENMARK
Beer Here Yulewine 500ml $16.50 – Rich barley wine style with slightly sweet chewy malt & balancing bitterness.
Beer Here Jule IPA 500ml $13.50 – Subtle sweet malt with robust US hop character & the addition of orange peel.
Norrebro Bombay Pale Ale 400ml $9.00 – English style IPA, balanced rich malt & robust hop character.
Norrebro Forars Doppelbock 400ml $9.50 – Powerful, full bodied lager, sweet with caramel & raisin notes.
Norrebro Little Korkney Ale 600ml $35.00 – Big & chewy malt profile supporter by aggressive hop character.
Norrebro New York Lager Cans 330ml $5.50 – Robustly hopped with US cascade but a clean, crisp finish.
Norrebro Kings County Brown 400ml $6.00 – Brewed with Garret Oliver from Brooklyn Brewer, robust US style brown ale.

FROM GERMANY & EASTER EUROPE
Andechs Doppelbock 500ml $8.00 – Amazingly rich dark & malty lager.
Andechs Hefeweisse 500ml $7.50 – Unfiltered, pale German wheat beer.
Grand Imperial Porter 500ml $7.00 – Highly acclaimed Baltic style porter with robust dark bittersweet roasted malt.
Hacker Pschorr Animator 500ml $9.00 – Essentially a doppelbock, rich & malty sweet on the palate.

FROM NETHERLANDS
La Trappe Isid’or 750ml $14.00 – Brewed to commemorate the 125 year anniversary of the brewery.
La Trappe Quadruple 750ml $16.00 – Strong & rich ale with dark fruit & spice notes.
La Trappe Tripel 750ml $14.00 – Strong golden trappist ale, aided by the inclusion of coriander seed.

PLUS HEAPS OF GLASSWARE!
Including: Duvel Tulips $11.00, Tripel Karmelite Tulips $15.00, Rochefort Chalices $13.00, Chouffe Tulips $9.00, Delirium Tulips $12.00, Gulden Draak Tulips $11.00, Hommelbier Tulips $9.00, Kwak Wooden Framed Glasses $35.00, Piraat Tulips $11.00, Cuvee des Trolls Tulips $10.00, St Bernardus Chalices $10.00, Cantillon Tumblers $13.00, Hopus Flutes $10.00

GROWLER FILL LOYALTY CARDS
As you know we like to lead the pack, being the first retailer in Oz to offer growler fills in store & now the first to discount them, with our growler fill loyalty cards in operation. While most loyalty schemes are exactly that, ours is pretty simple: Next time you come for a fill, you will be issued with a card, be sure to bring it back every time you fill & we stamp it, get 10 stamps, then you receive a FREE fill! This equates to a 10-15% discount, pretty easy & certainly worthwhile. After all, you can’t knock free beer!

FILLING FOR GROWLERS
VIVEN PORTER
Its not too often that you find young Belgian breweries with the ability to produce both classic & modern styles brilliantly. As you would expect Viven have some great Belgian style brews, however this robust porter is certainly a more modern example. Rich dark roasted malt with a touch of choc fudge sweetness & coffee roast & a nice hit of hop bitterness to balance. Certainly robust but it belies its 7% abv, coming across really drinkable. Filling as we speak. If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Viven Porter is $25.00
UP NEXT: HITACHINO NEST ESPRESSO STOUT

SLOWBEER NEWS - ARRIVALS, GROWLERS & TASTINGS

2011-06-16T12:37:00.001+10:00

Arguably the busiest few weeks in store for some time, with seemingly an endless amount of beers hitting the shelves at an almost uncontrollable rate. Perhaps the most encouraging thing about this influx of new releases is the diversity of styles, particularly from our local micros. No doubt exciting times ahead! Full details below.

BEER & BREWER 2011 AWARDS – WE NEED YOU!
Its back again, after an excellent showing last year, we are hoping to better those results but once again we need your help! We would very much appreciate you taking the time to vote for us. Whether you purchase in store or online please follow the link, choose CATEGORY 8 & show us your support! http://www.beerandbrewer.com/awards

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS
FROM AUSTRALIA
Burleigh Fanny Gertrude’s 650ml 9.50 – Anzac bickie inspired brown ale, brewed with coconut & vanilla.
Bridge Rd 500 Smoky Breakfast Lager 750ml $32.50 – Dark smoked lager, brewed with all matter of breakfast ingredients.
Kooinda Full Nelson Black IPA 750ml $24.00 – Brewed solely with Nelson Sauvin hops & de-husked dark malt.
Murrays Heart of Darkness 330ml $11.50 – Belgian style imperial stout. Rich with chocolate & dark fruit notes.
Murrays Wild Thing imperial Stout 330ml $18.50 – US inspired imperial stout with robust kiwi hop presence.
Otway Estate Black Panther IBA 330ml $4.50 – A touch of roast from dark malt with robust hop bitterness.
Otway Estate Blueberry Hefeweizen 330ml $4.00 – Brewed with blueberries & a neat little twist on a classic.
Otway Estate The Raconteur IPA 330ml $5.00 – Hopped with US varieties, attributing huge bitter grapefruit & herbally characters.

FROM BELGIUM
Viven Imperial IPA 330ml $7.50 – US inspired IPA, brewed with Tomahawk & Simcoe hops for big, robust hop character.
Viven Porter 330ml $6.50 – Robust porter with loads of bittersweet chocolate & coffee roasted malt notes.

FROM ITALY
Theresianer Pilsner 750ml $15.00 – Aromatic, unfiltered German style pilsner with clean, crisp finish.
Theresianer Wit 750ml $15.00 – Belgian style witbier brewed with orange peel & coriander seeds.
Theresianer Bock 750ml $18.00 - Rich & malty German style lager with clean finish.

FROM NORWAY
Haand Bestefar 500ml $12.50 – Traditional style Norse winter ale. Rich & dark with spice, dark fruit & smoke.
Haand Dobbel Dose IPA 500ml $12.00 – Imperial IPA brewed with European hops for robust earthy character.
Haand Fyre & Flamme 500ml $10.50 – Haand version of De Molen’s excellent Vuur & Vlam US style IPA.
Haand Haandbakk 500ml $12.50 – Traditional style sour ale, aged in oak barrels.
Haand Kreklingol 500ml $11.00 – Norse take on Belgian Kriek, brewed with crowberries for sweet sour character.
Haand Norwegian Wood 500ml $11.00 – Traditional Norse ale, brewed with juniper & smoked malt.

GROWLER FILL LOYALTY CARDS
As you know we like to lead the pack, being the first retailer in Oz to offer growler fills in store & now the first to discount them, with our growler fill loyalty cards in operation. While most loyalty schemes are exactly that, ours is pretty simple: Next time you come for a fill, you will be issued with a card, be sure to bring it back every time you fill & we stamp it, get 10 stamps, then you receive a FREE fill! This equates to a 10-15% discount, pretty easy & certainly worthwhile. After all, you can’t knock free beer!

FILLING FOR GROWLERS
HOLGATE ROAD TRIP IPA
Back with another fresh batch of this great hoppy brew, which is only ever available in kegs. Inspired by Paul & Natasha Holgate’s trip to the home of hoppy craft beer, the USA. This brew is brimming with a vibrant citrus fruit aroma & herbaceous, cleansing bitterness. Filling as we speak. If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Holgate Road Trip IPA is $25.00.
UP NEXT: MOUNTAIN GOAT OAK AGED PORTER

SLOWBEER NEWS - ARRIVALS, GROWLERS & TASTINGS

2011-06-03T12:26:00.002+10:00

Certainly more subdued this week, as many craft beer lovers trying to maintain their post-GBW detox, or at least have the intention to! Having gotten into the GBW groove we now turn our focus to the usual influx of exciting new arrivals, with plenty planned for the weeks to come.

BEER & BREWER 2011 AWARDS – WE NEED YOU!
Its back again, after an excellent showing last year, we are hoping to better those results but once again we need your help! We would very much appreciate you taking the time to vote for us. Whether you purchase in store or online please follow the link, choose CATEGORY 8 & show us your support! http://www.beerandbrewer.com/awards

WINTER TRADING HOURS
While the cooler weather signals a shift to darker beers, it also unfortunately means quieter evenings in the store. So for the next few months we will be adjusting our closing times, making it 1 hour earlier. Note that once the weather warms up & the days get longer we will return to regular closing times.

Weds 2-6pm
Thurs 12-7pm
Fri 12-7pm
Sat 12-7pm
Sun 2-6pm

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS
FROM AUSTRALIA
2 Brothers Grizz 330ml $6.00 – American style amber ale, rich bread, caramel & toffee malt with fruity hop aroma.
2 Brothers Growler 330ml $4.50 – Slight tweak to the recipe with the brew now being dry hopped.
2 Brothers Guvnor 330ml $9.50 – Recently awarded both VIC Premier’s Trophy & Champion Strong Ale/Barleywine at AIBA.
2 Brothers Taxi 330ml $4.50 – Excellent European style pilsner. Floral hop aroma with earthy bitterness & clean finish.
3 Ravens Schwarz Black Lager 500ml $10.50 – New release in the uber range, a robust dark lager.
4 Pines Hefeweizen 330ml $3.90 – German style wheat beer, light & delicate with banana & clove yeast notes.
4 Pines Kolsch 330ml $3.90 – German style ale hailing from cologne, delicate & fruity.
4 Pines Pale Ale 330ml $3.90 – US style with fruity hop aroma & bitterness on the finish.
4 Pines Stout 330ml $3.90 – Traditional style dry stout, bittersweet roasted malt & rasin notes.

FROM NZ
Epic Hop Zombie 500ml $14.50 - Words cannot describe this amazing brew, we need only 1: hops, hops & more hops!
Invercargill Saison 330ml $7.00 – Belgian inspired ale with a kiwi twist from the use local hop varieties.
Mashup NZ Collaborative Ale 500ml $10.00 - Largest ever collab with 44 NZ breweries involved in this quintessentially kiwi pale ale
Yeastie Boys Hudawa Strong 330ml $7.00 – Malty amber/strong ale with robust hop aroma & bitterness.
Yeastie Boys Pot Kettle Black 330ml $7.00 – Black IPA? Hoppy Porter? Regardless, an excellent brew!
Yeastie Boys Rex Attitude 330ml $8.00 – Brewed with 100% peated whisky malt. Beer for the dedicated!

FROM USA
Sierra Nevada Kellerweis 355ml $4.00 – German style pale wheat beer produced using open fermentation.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale 355ml $4/$21/$75 (single/6pk/case)– Set an early benchmark & set foundations for craft beer globally.
Sierra Nevada Porter 355ml $4.00 – Nice robust & balanced porter, dark chocolate notes from roasted malt.
Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager 355ml $4.50 – Seasonal European style lager, delicate & smooth with a clean finish.
Sierra Nevada Stout $4.50 – Another robust but impeccably balanced brew, bittersweet coffee roast & dry finish.
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA $4.50/$24/$85 – Light malt presence with a truckload of hop character, truly a hop heads dream!

GROWLER FILL LOYALTY CARDS
As you know we like to lead the pack, being the first retailer in Oz to offer growler fills in store & now the first to discount them, with our growler fill loyalty cards in operation. While most loyalty schemes are exactly that, ours is pretty simple: Next time you come for a fill, you will be issued with a card, be sure to bring it back every time you fill & we stamp it, get 10 stamps, then you receive a FREE fill! This equates to a 10-15% discount, pretty easy & certainly worthwhile, after all you can’t knock free beer!

FILLING FOR GROWLERS
BREWDOG HARDCORE IMPERIAL IPA
Yes its back & certainly a perfect time of year to be getting into beast-like beers such as this. Weighing in at a whopping 9.2%abv this brew is dangerously drinkable. Big rich malt backbone to support the robust, borderline aggressive hop character. Expect caramel & toffee malt notes while that citrus & pine hop character smacks you in the face! Amazing brew for lovers of hops.
If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Brewdog’s Hardcore Imperial IPA is $35.00.

SLOWBEER NEWS - ARRIVALS, GROWLERS & TASTINGS

2011-05-20T14:14:00.000+10:00

No doubt there are quite a few nursing sore heads of a morning as we power through the many events that Good Beer Week has to offer. With ours officially kicking off last night, it was a great turnout & we are getting ready to do it all again on Sunday for another group of eager beer lovers. If you haven’t finalized your GBW plans, follow the link as there are still plenty of exciting events to choose from. In store, there are some brand spanking new arrivals this week both in bottles & for growler offering. Full details below.

NEW RELEASES
FROM AUSTRALIA
Grand Ridge Whoa! Wet Hop Ale 330ml $5.50 – Brewed with oatmeal & experimental fresh hops thrown into the boil wet. Expect vibrant fruit aroma & creamy palate.
Van Dieman Hedgerow Autumn Berry Ale 500ml $13.50 – Harvest ale with English leanings but 6 week maturation on rose hips, sloe & hawthorn berries provide a unique twist.
Van Dieman White Hills Wit 330ml $4.50 – Belgian style wheat beer brewed with orange peel & coriander seeds, possessing light, subtle & refreshing citrus notes.
Van Dieman Ragged Jack Pale 330ml $4.50 – Classic English style pale ale, delicate floral hop aroma & earthy bitterness with a touch of malt to balance.
Van Dieman Jacobs Ladder Amber 330ml $4.50 – English style amber ale, rich caramel & toffee malt, with a touch of citrus fruit hop aroma.
Van Dieman Stacks Bluff Oatmeal Stout 330ml $4.50 - Smooth oatmeal stout possessing espresso notes subtle vanilla from the use of beans in the brew.

FROM USA
ACME California IPA 355ml $5.00 – West Coast IPA, biscuit & caramel malt backbone with robust hop character on nose & palate.
North Coast Red Seal Ale 355ml $4.00 – Very much in the US style, rich caramel & toffee malt with vibrant citrus fruit aroma & robust piney finish.
North Coast Pranqster 355ml $7.00 – Belgian style strong golden ale, subtle floral & fruity nose, a touch of malt sweetness & earthy/spicy hop & yeast character.
North Coast Le Merle 750ml $20.00 – Belgian style farmhouse ale, light & effervescent but exceptionally complex earthy spice hop & yeast notes are the showcase.
North Coast Brother Thelonius 355ml $8.50 – Belgian style strong dark ale, rich, slightly sweet caramel with dark fruit & spice notes.
North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout 355ml $6.50 – Highly acclaimed brew, in the Russian imperial stout style, exceptionally rich & robust but very well balanced.

FILLING FOR GROWLERS
BRIDGE RD DOG’S BREAKFAST
A celebration of the brewery’s 500th brew batch & something very much left of centre, with seemingly everything but the kitchen sink thrown into the boil. As the old saying goes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so to echo this sentiment brewer Ben has opted to use all manner of breakfast ingredients in this offering. The base beer is a roasty dark lager brewed with smoked malt, for subtle cured/smoked bacon notes while additions of coffee, tea, fruit toast, muesli, maple syrup & honey provide all you could ever want in brew. Despite what the name suggests, this brew is excellently balanced with all elements provide nuance & harmony. A crazily delightful concoction indeed!
If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Bridge Rd Dog’s Breakfast is $25.00.

SLOWBEER’S GOOD BEER WEEK TASTINGS – NOW SOLD OUT!
With the vision & guidance of some notable Melbourne beer loving folk, good beer week (GBW) is a new initiative celebrating all that is great about craft beer. Beer lovers around the city will be treated to an array of events at some of the best local beer venues.

Given the occasion we thought it apt to offer our most comprehensive, ambitious & overall exciting tasting session yet! You will be guided through the vast beer world, looking at offerings from old & new producers of both classic & obscure styles, comparing locally produced examples with those from abroad. Cheeses, dips, pastes & other tasty morsels will also be matched to compliment & contrast, providing a truly universal beer experience!

Check website for full list of events: http://www.goodbeerweek.com/GBW/gbw.html

SLOWBEER NEWS - ARRIVALS, GROWLERS & TASTINGS

2011-05-12T16:00:00.000+10:00

Its the calm before the storm, as beer lovers gear up for a big one with Good Beer Week just a matter of days away! As usual, we have plenty of exciting new stock hitting the shelves this week & the pending addition of another amazing North American brewery in time for GBW. We also have two brilliant new beers lined up for growlers, with one being tapped this weekend & the other available all week next week, just in time for the launch of our growler fill loyalty cards. Last but not least, our GBW tasting events are now full & promise to be great fun for those who got in early enough! Full details below.

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS
FROM AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
8 Wired istout 500ml $15.00 – Second annual release of this amazing brew but first time hitting our shores. Robust, yet restrained with excellent dark roasted malt & hop balance.
Croucher Patriot American Black Ale 500ml $12.00 - A lot of buzz around this brew & a style that appears to be very much in vogue at the moment. Dark malt & heaps of hops.
Mike’s Organic Pilsner 330ml $7.00 – You just can’t knock a kiwi pilsner, vibrant floral & fruity hop aroma with grassy, spicy bitterness, who says lagers are boring?!
Mikes Organic Ale 330ml $7.00 – Essentially an English mild, light on abv but full on flavor. Rich malt without the heaviness & a touch of hop character to balance.
Mike’s Limited Release Organic IPA 750ml $29.00 – Many have been raving about this for a while now but don’t be fooled by the organic tag, this is a big, ballsy IPA!
Moo Brew Pilsner 330ml $5.00 – A few years since this offering has been available on the mainland. More traditional in style than most, with floral & earthy hop character.

FROM ITALY
Cittavecchia Karnera 375ml $10.50 – Italian craft beer tends to be quite underrated, with this robust stout showing great balance & elegance.

FROM UK
Orkney Dark Island Reserve 750ml $45.00 – One of my fav beers, strong ale aged in Dalmore whisky casks for 3 months. Amazing balance & complexity.
Orkney Dark Island 500ml $9.00 – Dark, rich & a deep complexity that belies its 4.5%abv package.
Orkney Dragonhead Stout 500ml $9.00 – Another great example of restraint, with a balanced & complex stout coming in at 4%abv.
Orkney Red MacGregor 500ml $9.00 – Traditional malt focused bitter of 4%abv.
Orkney Skullsplitter 330ml $7.00 – The benchmark for the scotch ale/wee heavy style, rich caramel/toffee malt, a touch of roast with dark fruit & spice, classic!
Meantime IPA 750ml $22.00 – Its back! This amazing IPA with its rich malt, floral/fruity hop aroma & robust earthy bitterness. Easy to see why this is much loved.
Meantime London Porter 750ml $22.00 – Sits in the shadows of their IPA somewhat but an equally amazing brew, rich caramel & chocolate fudge & some dark roast to balance.
Meantime Chocolate 330ml $8.00 – What's not to like here? Rich & dark with chocolate in spades.
Traquair Jacobite Ale 330ml $11.00 – Another of my all time favs. Rich, malty strong ale uniquely spiced with coriander seeds, attributing a delightful sweet spice character.

FROM USA
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale 330ml $7.50 – Much like all Sierra Nevada offerings this possesses amazing malt & hop balance, tilting ever so slightly towards a robust hop profile.

FILLING FOR GROWLERS
MOUNTAIN GOAT FANCY PANTS
Over the years this gem hasn’t tended to travel too far from the brewery & given our proximity to Goat HQ, the same applies once more. Essentially an American inspired amber ale, rich caramel & toffee malt with copious amounts of new world hops added to the boil, so expect a vibrant fruity hop aroma with robust bitterness on the finish. A decent amount of weight on the palate, providing us with a nice cool weather hop fix but easy drinking enough to make a growler full a delight to drink! The keg will be tapped on Friday & once gone, its gone. If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Mountain Goat Fancy Pants is $25.
UP NEXT WEEK: BRIDGE RD DOG’S BREAKFAST

SLOW(BEER) WEDNESDAY SPECIALS!
If you know anything about us, you would be aware that our pricing is always very sharp, if not the best in the country. But that’s not to say that we should rest on our laurels & maintain the same old prices. On Wednesdays we will have a variety of deals on offer that will change as stock dictates. Hopefully giving you a chance to try those amazing beers, that ordinarily may be a tad out of your price range or even just the opportunity to pick up a great deal on your favorite craft beers. So swing by on Wednesdays to take full advantage. *DEALS ONLY RUN IN STORE ON WEDNESDAYS & CHANGE AS STOCK DICTATES. NO FURTHER DISCOUNT ON THESE ITEMS.

OUR GOOD BEER WEEK TASTINGS ARE NOW SOLD OUT!

SLOWBEER NEWS - ARRIVALS, GROWLERS & TASTINGS

2011-04-29T13:55:00.002+10:00

Its nice to be back to normal trading off the back of an extra long break, with plenty of exciting new releases hitting the shelves, plus the usual delicious growler offerings & upcoming tasting info.

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS
FROM AUSTRALIA
Bridge Rd The Harvest 330ml $5.50 – After powering through a number of kegs a few weeks ago, its great to be graced with bottles of this tantalizingly hoppy brew!
Hargreaves Hill AD Abbey Dubbel 750ml $21.00 – First time this release has seen bottles, a Belgian strong dark ale with rich & complex dark fruit & yeast spice
Holgate Beelzebb’s Jewels 750ml $65.00 – Having tweaked the recipe a touch, this 12.5%abv pinot noir barrel aged Belgian quadruple is back!
Kooinda Karaka Rasberry Wibtier 750ml $25.00 – Infatuated with the Belgian witbier style, this version is uniquely brewed with locally sourced karaka berries & raspberries
Red Hill Hop Harvest Ale 330ml $5.50 – One of my favs & essentially an English special bitter, rich caramel toffee malt with floral & spicy fresh hop character

FROM UK
Brewdog Abstrakt AB:05 375ml $37.00 – Next release in the series, a Belgian style imperial stout brewed with toasted coconut & cacao
Brewdog IPA is Dead Mixed 4pk $30.00 – A masterstroke & brilliant learning tool for the hop lover, with all 4 single hop ipas being exceptionally unique
Brewdog IPA is Dead Bramling X 330ml $8.50 – UK variety, floral nose with resiny bitterness
Brewdog IPA is Dead Sorachi Ace 330ml $8.50 – Amazing Japanese variety, lemon on the nose with citrus rind bitterness
Brewdog IPA is Dead Nelson Sauvin 330ml $8.50 – Kiwi variety, over tropical fruit & grassy bitterness
Brewdog IPA is Dead Citra 330ml $8.50 – Relatively new but popular US variety, grapefruit nose with piney bitterness
Brewdog Punk IPA Can 330ml $5.00 – Yep, in cans! Put all those negative thoughts aside & just enjoy this deliciously fresh & hoppy brew

FILLING FOR GROWLERS
BRIDGE RD BREWERS THE HARVEST ALE
Shrouded in secretary is this annual fresh hop harvest brew. Apparently the hops used are from the local Rostrevor Garden, varieties: unknown! Brewer Ben tells us that it has changed quite a bit from previous versions, with the hopping suitably more robust. Essentially a pale ale base, with copious amounts of new world hop varieties used for a vibrant fruity aroma & robust bitterness on the finish.
*If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Bridge Rd Harvest is $25.

SLOW(BEER) WEDNESDAY SPECIALS!
If you know anything about us, you would be aware that our pricing is always very sharp, if not the best in the country. But that’s not to say that we should rest on our laurels & maintain the same old prices. On Wednesdays we will have a variety of deals on offer that will change as stock dictates. Hopefully giving you a chance to try those amazing beers, that ordinarily may be a tad out of your price range or even just the opportunity to pick up a great deal on your favorite craft beers. So swing by on Wednesdays to take full advantage. *DEALS ONLY RUN IN STORE ON WEDNESDAYS & CHANGE AS STOCK DICTATES. NO FURTHER DISCOUNT ON THESE ITEMS.

GOOD BEER WEEK TASTINGS – ALMOST FULL, GET IN QUICK!
With the vision & guidance of some notable Melbourne beer loving folk, good beer week (GBW) is a new initiative celebrating all that is great about craft beer. Beer lovers around the city will be treated to an array of events at some of the best local beer venues.

Given the occasion we thought it apt to offer our most comprehensive, ambitious & overall exciting tasting session yet! You will be guided through the vast beer world, looking at offerings from old & new producers of both classic & obscure styles, comparing locally produced examples with those from abroad. Cheeses, dips, pastes & other tasty morsels will also be matched to compliment & contrast, providing a truly universal beer experience!

Slowbeer Presents “AROUND THE (BEER) WORLD IN 18 WAYS”
Old World Classics
Belgian Styles
Dupont Saison & Otway Saison
Trappsite Rochefort 8 & Holgate Double Trouble
German Stlyes
Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen & Bridge Road Brewers Hans Klopek’s Hefeweizen
Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock & 3 Ravens Dark Smoke
English Styles
Timothy Taylor Landlord Ale & Murrays Punch & Judy’s Ale
Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout & Brewboys Ace of Spades Stout

Modern Craft Benchmarks
Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale & Stone & Wood Pacific Ale
New World Pilsner
Emersons Pilsner & Knappstein Lager
Coffee Stout
Amager & Mikkeller Hr Fredriksen Vaesel Brunch & Burleigh Brewing Black Giraffe

THE IMPORTANT BITS:
When: BOTH Wednesday 18th May 7pm & Sunday 22nd May 7pm
Cost: $40 to try ALL beer & food pairings (Over $150 value!)
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any purchase that night
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, LET US KNOW WHICH SESSION SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS ASAP!

SLOWBEER NEWS - ARRIVALS, GROWLERS & TASTINGS

2011-04-21T12:35:00.000+10:00

Pretty disrupted week this one but no doubt a great opportunity for us all to get stuck into some cracking beers. As you are no doubt aware, Friday & Sunday are Easter public holidays & as such we will be closed those days, so be sure to get your extra long weekend beery goodness organized in time!

EASTER SELECTIONS
Holgate Temptress 330ml $5.00 - A perennial fav among many, brewed with Dutch cocoa & vanilla, its inclusion is a must!
Steam Exchange Truffles 330ml $5.50 – Highly excitable out of the bottle but still tastes delish, fortified with bourbon, this dark ale tastes like choc truffles
Emersons Taieri George 500ml $12.00 – Hot cross buns in liquid form, a Belgian strong dark ale spiced with orange, coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg...the list goes on!
Mikkeller Fra Til 750ml $32.00 – In actual fact an xmas beer, however given this porter is spiced with orange & coriander, it seemed a more than worthy inclusion
RCH Ale Mary 500ml $8.00 – Another xmas beer that is brewed with orange & ginger, so the rich dark fruit malt notes & spice is reminiscent of hot cross buns
Jagiello Magnus Chocolate 330ml $4.50 – Uber sweet but winning a lot of people over, overt choc fudge with sweetness in spades, why not? Its Easter right?
Jagiello Magnus Original 330ml $4.50 – Somewhat more restrained as far as the choc goes but still plenty of caramel fudge sweetness with a touch of choc

FILLING FOR GROWLERS
HOLGATE EMPRESS MOCHA PORTER
Have been sitting on this one for a little while & thought now was as good a time as any to unleash it! Having bee been hotly anticipated since its debut at the Taphouse GABS a couple of months ago, since then it has popped up on tap at a few other venues across the city & they response continues to be overwhelmingly positive. Essentially a suped up version of the above mentioned temptress, the addition of coffee to the already present coco & vanilla, gives you a tasty mocha overload. Be sure to share this one, unless of course you are a glutton for punishment as it weighs in at a deliciously dangerous 10% abv! KEG WILL BE TAPPED ON SATURDAY but get in quick as this one will be gone in no time!
*If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Holgate Empress is $35.

SLOW(BEER) WEDNESDAY SPECIALS!
If you know anything about us, you would be aware that our pricing is always very sharp, if not the best in the country. But that’s not to say that we should rest on our laurels & maintain the same old prices. On Wednesdays we will have a variety of deals on offer that will change as stock dictates. Hopefully giving you a chance to try those amazing beers, that ordinarily may be a tad out of your price range or even just the opportunity to pick up a great deal on your favorite craft beers. So swing by on Wednesdays to take full advantage. *DEALS ONLY RUN IN STORE ON WEDNESDAYS & CHANGE AS STOCK DICTATES. NO FURTHER DISCOUNT ON THESE ITEMS.

JAPAN AID TASTING – NEXT WEEK!
No doubt everyone is aware of the terrible situation being faced by the people of Japan. However, what some don’t know is that they have a burgeoning craft beer industry. So we thought it appropriate to raise awareness of the many great brews from the land of the rising sun & also take the opportunity to raise some money for a good cause!

BEERS ON TASTING INCLUDE:
Hitachino White Ale – Belgian style wheat beer, brewed with orange, coriander, cinnamon & nutmeg
Hitachino Red Rice Ale – Unique ale brewed with red rice, for a slightly sweet-sour palate & clean finish
Hitachino Japanese Classic Ale – English IPA to my tastes & excellent one at that. Aged in cedar casks, complimenting herbally hop character
Hitachino XH – Belgian style dark ale, aged in shochu (distilled sake) casks
Hitachino Espresso Stout – Amazingly robust coffee stout with truckloads of bittersweet roasted malt & coffee notes
Baird Single Take Session Ale – Light but delicious ale brewed with Belgian yeast & US hops
Baird Carpenters Mikan Ale – Pale malt, wheat & sugars used as well as native mikan fruit with US hops complimenting the citrus notes
Baird Suruga Bay Imperial IPA – Brilliantly robust US style IPA, coming in at close to 100IBU
Baird Angry Boy Brown Ale – US inspired with some lightly roasted malts bringing a caramel nut character with robust hop bitterness
Baird Dark Sky Imperial Stout – Insanely robust with masses of molasses, choc fudge & licorice

THE IMPORTANT BITS:
When: Wednesday 27th April 7pm
Cost: $30 to try ALL beers, with proceeds being donated to Red Cross Tsunami Appeal
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any purchase that night
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, PLEASE LET US KNOW SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS ASAP!

GOOD BEER WEEK TASTINGS – ALMOST FULL, GET IN QUICK!
With the vision & guidance of some notable Melbourne beer loving folk, good beer week (GBW) is a new initiative celebrating all that is great about craft beer. Beer lovers around the city will be treated to an array of events at some of the best local beer venues.

Given the occasion we thought it apt to offer our most comprehensive, ambitious & overall exciting tasting session yet! You will be guided through the vast beer world, looking at offerings from old & new producers of both classic & obscure styles, comparing locally produced examples with those from abroad. Cheeses, dips, pastes & other tasty morsels will also be matched to compliment & contrast, providing a truly universal beer experience!

Slowbeer Presents “AROUND THE (BEER) WORLD IN 18 WAYS”
Old World Classics
Belgian Styles
Dupont Saison & Otway Saison
Trappsite Rochefort 8 & Holgate Double Trouble
German Stlyes
Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen & Bridge Road Brewers Hans Klopek’s Hefeweizen
Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock & 3 Ravens Dark Smoke
English Styles
Timothy Taylor Landlord Ale & Murrays Punch & Judy’s Ale
Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout & Brewboys Ace of Spades Stout

Modern Craft Benchmarks
Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale & Stone & Wood Pacific Ale
New World Pilsner
Emersons Pilsner & Knappstein Lager
Coffee Stout
Amager & Mikkeller Hr Fredriksen Vaesel Brunch & Burleigh Brewing Black Giraffe

THE IMPORTANT BITS:
When: BOTH Wednesday 18th May 7pm & Sunday 22nd May 7pm
Cost: $40 to try ALL beer & food pairings (Over $150 value!)
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any purchase that night
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, LET US KNOW WHICH SESSION SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS ASAP!

SLOWBEER NEWS - ARRIVALS, GROWLERS & TASTINGS

2011-04-15T15:53:00.002+10:00

Plenty of interesting new stock this week with positions still available for both of our upcoming tasting nights but be sure to get in quick! Also, the arrival of an excellent offering for growlers, Full details below.

EASTER TRADING
As you are all no doubt aware, next Friday & Sunday are Easter public holidays & as such we will be closed those days, while being open on the Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday as usual for all your Easter beery needs!

NEW ARRIVALS & FRESH STOCKS
FROM AUS & NZ
3 Ravens Double Ale Noir 750ml $21.00 – Blend of 2 vintages of smoke beer, first aged in Pinot noir barrels for 10 months, while the second 6 weeks.
Doss Blockos Pale Lager 330ml $3.50 – Style over substance? Presentation is certainly unique, the beer not so much, light & easy drinking
Little Creatures Single Batch Marzen 568ml $6.00 – A bit of a departure from previous single batches being a rich malty lager
Murrays Angry Man Brown Ale 330ml $7.00 – US inspired brown ale, caramel nut malt with a touch of roast & robust hop bitterness
Steam Exchange Truffles 330ml $5.50 – Fortified with bourbon, sounds odd but tastes like yummy choc rum balls!
Croucher Pilsner 500ml $9.50 – A potential challenger to Emersons Pils in the best new world pilsner battle, brilliant!
Emersons Taieri George 500ml $12.00 – Amazing annual release, Belgian style spiced strong dark ale. Liquid hot cross buns!

FROM DENMARK
Beer Here Morke 500ml $14.00 – Pumpernickel Porter disappeared very quickly last time but we managed to score the last stock in Oz!
Mikkeller Viktoria 750ml $43.00 – Exceptionally rich porter, caramel & choc fudge sweetness with robust dark roasted malt

FROM JAPAN
Baird Single Take Session Ale 360ml $7.50 – Light but delicious ale brewed with Belgian yeast & US hops
Baird Rising Sun Pale Ale 360ml $8.00 – US style, light honey malt with aromatic & robust hop character
Baird Carpenters Mikan Ale 633ml $17.00 – Brewed with native mikan fruit & US hops complimenting the citrus notes
Baird Teikoku IPA 360ml $8.50 – Part English, part US IPA, rich caramel malt with aromatic hop nose & bitterness
Baird Suruga Bay Imperial IPA 360ml $9.00 – Brilliantly robust US style IPA, coming in at close to 100IBU
Baird Angry Boy Brown Ale 360ml $8.50 – US inspired, lightly roasted malts bringing a caramel nut character with robust hop bitterness
Baird Dark Sky Imperial Stout 633ml $18.00 – Insanely robust with masses of molasses, choc fudge & licorice

FROM UK
Crouch Vale Brewers Gold 500ml $8.00 – Classic English pale, light malt, floral hope aroma & a nice cleansing bitterness
Hopdaemon Skirmshander 500ml $8.00 – English IPA, caramel & toffee malt with floral hop aroma & elevated bitterness on the finish
Hogsback OTT 500ml $8.00 - Winter warmer style, rich malt with sweet dark fruit & a touch of roast
RCH Old Slug Porter 500ml $7.00 – Traditional style porter, rich chocolate, coffee as well as some dark fruit notes
RCH Ale Mary 500ml $7.50 – Winter warmer, strong ale brewed with ginger, cloves, cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg & pimento, yum!
Traquair Jacobite Ale 330ml $11.00 – Amazing brew & one of my all time favs, brewed to 18th Century recipe, rich dark malt with dark fruit notes & spiced with coriander.

FILLING FOR GROWLERS
BRIDGE RD BREWERS THE HARVEST ALE
Shrouded in secretary is this annual fresh hop harvest brew. Apparently the hops used are from the local Rostrevor Garden, varieties: unknown! Brewer Ben tells us that it has changed quite a bit from previous versions, with the hopping suitably more robust. Essentially a pale ale base, with copious amounts of new world hop varieties used for a vibrant fruity aroma & robust bitterness on the finish.
*If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Bridge Rd Harvest is $25.

SLOW(BEER) WEDNESDAY SPECIALS!
If you know anything about us, you would be aware that our pricing is always very sharp, if not the best in the country. But that’s not to say that we should rest on our laurels & maintain the same old prices. On Wednesdays we will have a variety of deals on offer that will change as stock dictates. Hopefully giving you a chance to try those amazing beers, that ordinarily may be a tad out of your price range or even just the opportunity to pick up a great deal on your favorite craft beers. So swing by on Wednesdays to take advantage of the great deals. *DEALS ONLY RUN IN STORE ON WEDNESDAYS & CHANGE AS STOCK DICTATES. NO FURTHER DISCOUNT ON THESE ITEMS.

JAPAN AID TASTING
No doubt everyone is aware of the terrible situation being faced by the people of Japan. However, what some don’t know is that they have a burgeoning craft beer industry. So we thought it appropriate to raise awareness of the many great brews from the land of the rising sun & also take the opportunity to raise some money for a good cause!

BEERS ON TASTING INCLUDE:
Hitachino White Ale – Belgian style wheat beer, brewed with orange, coriander, cinnamon & nutmeg
Hitachino Red Rice Ale – Unique ale brewed with red rice, for a slightly sweet-sour palate & clean finish
Hitachino Japanese Classic Ale – English IPA to my tastes & excellent one at that. Aged in cedar casks, complimenting herbally hop character
Hitachino XH – Belgian style dark ale, aged in shochu (distilled sake) casks
Hitachino Espresso Stout – Amazingly robust coffee stout with truckloads of bittersweet roasted malt & coffee notes
Baird Single Take Session Ale – Light but delicious ale brewed with Belgian yeast & US hops
Baird Carpenters Mikan Ale – Pale malt, wheat & sugars used as well as native mikan fruit with US hops complimenting the citrus notes
Baird Suruga Bay Imperial IPA – Brilliantly robust US style IPA, coming in at close to 100IBU
Baird Angry Boy Brown Ale – US inspired with some lightly roasted malts bringing a caramel nut character with robust hop bitterness
Baird Dark Sky Imperial Stout – Insanely robust with masses of molasses, choc fudge & licorice

THE IMPORTANT BITS:
When: Wednesday 27th April 7pm
Cost: $30 to try ALL beers, with proceeds being donated to Red Cross Tsunami Appeal
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any purchase that night
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, PLEASE LET US KNOW SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS ASAP!

GOOD BEER WEEK TASTINGS
With the vision & guidance of some notable Melbourne beer loving folk, good beer week (GBW) is a new initiative celebrating all that is great about craft beer. Beer lovers around the city will be treated to an array of events at some of the best local beer venues.

Given the occasion we thought it apt to offer our most comprehensive, ambitious & overall exciting tasting session yet! You will be guided through the vast beer world, looking at offerings from old & new producers of both classic & obscure styles, comparing locally produced examples with those from abroad. Cheeses, dips, pastes & other tasty morsels will also be matched to compliment & contrast, providing a truly universal beer experience!

Slowbeer Presents “AROUND THE (BEER) WORLD IN 18 WAYS”
Old World Classics
Belgian Styles
Dupont Saison & Otway Saison
Trappsite Rochefort 8 & Holgate Double Trouble
German Stlyes
Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen & Bridge Road Brewers Hans Klopek’s Hefeweizen
Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock & 3 Ravens Dark Smoke
English Styles
Timothy Taylor Landlord Ale & Murrays Punch & Judy’s Ale
Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout & Brewboys Ace of Spades Stout

Modern Craft Benchmarks
Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale & Stone & Wood Pacific Ale
New World Pilsner
Emersons Pilsner & Knappstein Lager
Coffee Stout
Amager & Mikkeller Hr Fredriksen Vaesel Brunch & Burleigh Brewing Black Giraffe

THE IMPORTANT BITS:
When: BOTH Wednesday 18th May 7pm & Sunday 22nd May 7pm
Cost: $40 to try ALL beer & food pairings (Over $150 value!)
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any purchase that night
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, LET US KNOW WHICH SESSION SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS ASAP!

SLOWBEER SPECIALS & TASTINGS

2011-04-07T15:46:00.002+10:00

Once again, quite a bit to get through this week, with a new initiative, as well as plenty of tastings in the works & of course the usual arrival of some fresh stocks from some of the worlds greatest craft breweries.

SLOW(BEER) WEDNESDAY SPECIALS!
If you know anything about us, you would be aware that our pricing is always very sharp, if not the best in the country. But that’s not to say that we should rest on our laurels & maintain the same old prices. So on Wednesdays we will have a variety of deals on offer that will change as stock dictates. Hopefully giving you a chance to try those amazing beers, that ordinarily may be a tad out of your price range or even just the opportunity to pick up a great deal on your favorite craft beers.

BULK BUYS
Murrays Icon2IPA 4pk $20.00 (normally $25)
Murrays Icon2IPA Cube $70 (normally $93)
Murrays Grand Cru 4pk (normally $25)
Murrays Grand Cru Cube $70 (normally $93)

DEADLY DISCOUNTS
Mikkeller 15% OFF any in range
De Molen 15% OFF any in range
Durham 15% OFF any in range
Les Trois Mousquetaires 15% OFF any in range

DOUBLE DEALS
Unibroue Terrible 750ml 2 FOR $35 (normally $23.00 each)
Unibroue Maudite 750ml 2 FOR $25 (normally $17.50 each)
Unibroue La Fin Du Monde 750ml 2 FOR $25 (normally $17.50 each)
Phoenix Beer 2 FOR $10 (Normally $5.50 each)
*DEALS ONLY RUN IN STORE ON WEDNESDAYS & CHANGE AS STOCK DICTATES.
*NO FURTHER DISCOUNT ON THESE ITEMS.

JAGIELLO TASTING TOMORROW
After a bit of miscommunication, I can confirm that the Jagiello tasting will indeed be this week & not last week, as previously advertised.
We just recently received a shipment of some exceptionally morish Polish beers, all very much in the bock mould (think rich, malty lager). To get people acquainted with the range, we will have them all on FREE tasting this TOMORROW, FRIDAY 8TH APRIL 5-7pm. I have a feeling they will be polarizing beers given their overall malty, sweet profile but certainly enjoyable nonetheless, dessert beers if you will. So swing by for a chat & a taste to see what you think.

Maguns Original 330ml – Original & the best? Rich, dark & malty with overt caramel, chocolate fudge & lingering sweet finish
Magnus Chocolate 330ml – Similar to above however, with dominating chocolate fudge sweetness & a touch of drier cocoa
Magnus Cherry 330ml – Apparently very popular in Poland, rich cherry sweetness reminiscent of black forest cake, simple but tasty
Magnus Honey 330ml – The lightest of the lot, however still maintains a sweet, honey flavor on the palate

JAPAN AID TASTING
No doubt everyone is aware of the terrible situation being faced by the people of Japan. However, what some don’t know is that they have a burgeoning craft beer industry. So we thought it appropriate to raise awareness of the many great brews from the land of the rising sun & also take the opportunity to raise some money for a good cause!

BEERS ON TASTING INCLUDE:
Hitachino White Ale – Belgian style wheat beer, brewed with orange, coriander, cinnamon & nutmeg
Hitachino Red Rice Ale – Unique ale brewed with red rice, for a slightly sweet-sour palate & clean finish
Hitachino Japanese Classic Ale – English IPA to my tastes & excellent one at that. Aged in cedar casks, complimenting herbally hop character
Hitachino XH – Belgian style dark ale, aged in shochu (distilled sake) casks
Hitachino Espresso Stout – Amazingly robust coffee stout with truckloads of bittersweet roasted malt & coffee notes
Baird Single Take Session Ale – Light but delicious ale brewed with Belgian yeast & US hops
Baird Carpenters Mikan Ale – Pale malt, wheat & sugars used as well as native mikan fruit with US hops complimenting the citrus notes
Baird Suruga Bay Imperial IPA – Brilliantly robust US style IPA, coming in at close to 100IBU
Baird Angry Boy Brown Ale – US inspired with some lightly roasted malts bringing a caramel nut character with robust hop bitterness
Baird Dark Sky Imperial Stout – Insanely robust with masses of molasses, choc fudge & licorice

THE IMPORTANT BITS:
When: Wednesday 27th April 7pm
Cost: $30 to try ALL beers, with proceeds being donated to Red Cross
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any purchase that night
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, PLEASE LET US KNOW SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS ASAP!

GOOD BEER WEEK TASTINGS
With the vision & guidance of some notable Melbourne beer loving folk, good beer week (GBW) is a new initiative celebrating all that is great about craft beer. Beer lovers around the city will be treated to an array of events at some of the best local beer venues.

Given the occasion we thought it apt to offer our most comprehensive, ambitious & overall exciting tasting session yet! You will be guided through the vast beer world, looking at offerings from old & new producers of both classic & obscure styles, comparing locally produced examples with those from abroad. Cheeses, dips, pastes & other tasty morsels will also be matched to compliment & contrast, providing a truly universal beer experience!

Slowbeer Presents “AROUND THE (BEER) WORLD IN 18 WAYS”
Old World Classics
Belgian Styles
Dupont Saison & Otway Saison
Trappsite Rochefort 8 & Holgate Double Trouble
German Stlyes
Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen & Bridge Road Brewers Hans Klopek’s Hefeweizen
Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock & 3 Ravens Dark Smoke
English Styles
Timothy Taylor Landlord Ale & Murrays Punch & Judy’s Ale
Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout & Brewboys Ace of Spades Stout

Modern Craft Benchmarks
Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale & Stone & Wood Pacific Ale
New World Pilsner
Emersons Pilsner & Knappstein Lager
Coffee Stout
Amager & Mikkeller Hr Fredriksen Vaesel Brunch & Burleigh Brewing Black Giraffe

THE IMPORTANT BITS:
When: BOTH Wednesday 18th May 7pm & Sunday 22nd May 7pm
Cost: $40 to try ALL beer & food pairings (Over $150 value!)
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any purchase that night
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, LET US KNOW WHICH SESSION SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS ASAP!

NOW FILLING ON GROWLERS
HAAND IPA (NOR)
Having promised the arrival of some kegs from our new Norwegian friends last week, its only natural that we follow through. Much like the rest of the range, this IPA isn’t your normal hopfeast. It is brewed with wild hops that grow near the brewery, variety unknown...at least to everyone but the brewers. Expect some rich caramel malt to provide a base with which the vibrant hop aroma & robust bitterness can shine.
*If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Haand IPA is $35

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS

2011-03-30T15:56:00.003+11:00

Plenty to get through this week with tastings, growlers & the usual influx of exciting new stock hitting the shelves from breweries local & abroad. The arrival of the Haand range of beers from Norway is no doubt a welcome addition to our ever growing Scandi craft range, with a few kegs in the mix as well. We have also put the finishing touches on our Good Beer Week offerings & a tasting this Friday evening, see below for full details.

FEATURE BREWERY
HAAND BRYGGERIET (NORWAY)
A truly unique brewery, treading perhaps a more traditional route than most Scandi brewers, utilizing a wild house yeast & some interesting ingredients, in a throwback to ancient brewing practices.

Pale Ale 500ml $10.00 – Traditional English style pale ale, some richer malts with late kettle hopping for an aromatic but easy drinking profile
Dobbel Dose IPA 500ml $12.00 – Robust IPA brewed with copious amounts of European hops, as apposed to the usual US varieties
Hesjeol 500ml $10.00 – Farmhouse style, brewed with barley, oat, rye & wild house yeast, floral hop aroma & refreshing fruity & spicy hop finish
Haandbic 500ml $12.00 – Inspired by Belgian lambics, brewed using wild house yeast for a unique funky, tangy fruit sourness
Good Force 500ml $12.00 – Sister of the brewery’s famed dark force, this version is a 10% abv pale wheat beer brewed with chamomile flowers
Royk Uten Ild 500ml $12.00 – Brewed with wheat, Bamberg smoked malt & interestingly US Amarillo hops
Norwegian Wood 500ml $11.00 – Recreation of traditional Norse beer, brewed with smoked malt, juniper twigs & berries
Farewell Ale 500ml $11.00 - Rich dark ale brewed with wild house yeast for a fruity & spicy character
+ A limited amount of Haand Glassware

NEW RELEASES
FROM AUSTRALIA
3 Ravens Uber Blonde Sticke Alt 500ml $9.00 – Amped up version of their regular golden ale, which is a German style altbier hailing from dusseldorf
2 Brothers Grizz American Amber Ale 330ml $6.00 – Nice fruity hop aroma with rich caramel & toffee malt on the palate
2 Brothers The Chief Oktoberfest/Marzen $6.00 – Malty, rich with honey & caramel notes but a clean lager finish
Mountain Goat Thorny Goat BIPA 650ml $10.00 – Collab with Thornbridge of UK, dark malt, a touch of roast & big new world hop character

JAGIELLO TASTING THIS WEEK
We just recently received a shipment of some exceptionally morish Polish beers, all very much in the bock mould (think rich, malty lager). To get people acquainted with the range, we will have them all on FREE tasting this FRIDAY 1ST APRIL 5-7pm. I have a feeling they will be polarizing beers given their overall malty, sweet profile but certainly enjoyable nonetheless, dessert beers if you will. So swing by for a chat & a taste to see what you think.

Maguns Original 330ml – Original & the best? Rich, dark & malty with overt caramel, chocolate fudge & lingering sweet finish
Magnus Chocolate 330ml – Similar to above however, with dominating chocolate fudge sweetness & a touch of drier cocoa
Magnus Cherry 330ml – Apparently very popular in Poland, rich cherry sweetness reminiscent of black forest cake, simple but tasty
Magnus Honey 330ml – The lightest of the lot, however still maintains a sweet, honey flavor on the palate

Good Beer Week Tastings
With the vision & guidance of some notable Melbourne beer loving folk, good beer week (GBW) is a new initiative celebrating all that is great about craft beer. Beer lovers around the city will be treated to an array of events at some of the best local beer venues.

Given the occasion we thought it apt to offer our most comprehensive, ambitious & overall exciting tasting session yet! You will be guided through the vast beer world, looking at offerings from old & new producers of both classic & obscure styles, comparing locally produced examples with those from abroad. Cheeses, dips, pastes & other tasty morsels will also be matched to compliment & contrast, providing a truly universal beer experience!

Slowbeer Presents “AROUND THE (BEER) WORLD IN 18 WAYS”
Old World Classics
Belgian Styles

Dupont Saison & Otway Saison
Trappsite Rochefort 8 & Holgate Double Trouble

German Stlyes

Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen & Bridge Road Brewers Hans Klopek’s Hefeweizen
Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock & 3 Ravens Dark Smoke

English Styles

Timothy Taylor Landlord Ale & Murrays Punch & Judy’s Ale
Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout & Brewboys Ace of Spades Stout

Modern Craft Benchmarks
Pale Ale

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale & Stone & Wood Pacific Ale

New World Pilsner

Emersons Pilsner & Knappstein Lager

Coffee Stout

Amager & Mikkeller Hr Fredriksen Vaesel Brunch & Burleigh Brewing Black Giraffe

The Finer Details:
When: BOTH Wednesday 18th May 7pm & Sunday 22nd May 7pm
Cost: $40 to try ALL beer & food pairings (Over $150 value!)
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any purchase that night
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, LET US KNOW WHICH SESSION SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS ASAP!

NOW FILLING ON GROWLERS
BREWDOG 5AM SAINT
Proving very popular last time around, this amazingly robust yet drinkable Brewdog offering keeps many a palate pleased. Styled as an American Amber/Red Ale, it has that unmistakable US hop aroma of citrus & pine, while the malt profile of the style provides some richer caramel & toffee notes on the mid-palate. The finish is unmistakably Brewdog with a robust hop bitterness on the finish. Delightfully drinkable but enough pop for the hop heads!
*If you don’t already have a growler, bottles are $15 each, while a fill of Brewdog 5AM Saint is $25

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS - GROWLERS ARE BACK!

2011-03-10T18:52:00.001+11:00

Quite possibly one of the most exciting weeks at slowbeer in a while, with the arrival of hundreds of shiny new growler bottles! Its been far too long, since growlers were in full swing but with a stockpile of bottles we are now pouring once again! Having just tapped one of many kegs, its easy to see why they were so popular the first time! Also, not to be overshadowed is the arrival of another shipment of the amazing Beer Here range from Denmark. See below for full details.

NOW OPEN WEDNESDAYS!
I guess you have to admit, we do keep some odd hours, while the limited trading days have been good to us over the last year or so, we are easing our way into extending starting with Wednesdays. From now on we will be open EVERY Wednesday from 2-7pm for all your beery needs. Aside from spending more time in the store, this means we will be able to receive exciting new stock sooner & also get online orders out faster, cant argue with that!

FEATURE BREWERY
BEER HERE (DENMARK)
Beer Here Fat Cat 500ml $12.00 – Single hop, US inspired red ale hopped with kiwi nelson sauvin for big tropical fruit notes
Beer Here Hopfix 500ml $13.00 – US inspired IPA brewed with rye, for fruity hop character & spicy malt to compliment
Beer Here Black Cat 500ml $12.00– Based on the fat cat, however brewed with some dark malts for brown ale/porter nuances but fruity hops
Beer Here Dark Hops 500ml $15.00 – Not a stout, not an IPA, combining best of both with a touch of rye & US columbus hops thrown in
Beer Here Malus Pater 500ml $15.00 – Bad Father, a Belgian quad. Brewed with dark candi sugar for plum notes & fruit spice finish
Beer Here Morke 500ml $14.00 – Created with dark pumpernickel bread in mind, porter base, brewed with spicy rye, dark sugar & fennel seeds

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS
FROM AUSTRALIA
2 Brothers The Guvnor 330ml $9.50 – English style strong ale/barleywine, plenty of rich caramel & toffee malt with hop bitterness to balance
Burleigh Black Giraffe 650ml $10.50 – The award winning coffee Schwarzbier is back! Black lager base, with robust bittersweet coffee notes
Murrays Anniversary Ale 5 750ml $35.00 – US inspired Barleywine, brewed with plenty of malt & an assertive hop presence

FROM BELGIUM
Poperings Hommelbier 330ml $7.00

FROM EASTERN EUROPE
Baltika #4 500ml $5.50
Okocim Porter 500ml $6.50
Zywiec Porter 330ml $5.50

FROM ITALY
32 Via dei Birrai Auduce 750ml $27.00
32 Via dei Birrai Curmi 750ml $25.00
32 Via dei Birrai Oppale 750ml $25.00
Cittavecchia Chiara 375ml $10.00

FROM UK
Adnams Broadside 500ml $7.00
Adnams Innovation 500ml $8.50
Heather Ales Ebulum 330ml $6.50
Heather Ales Grozet 330ml $4.50
Innis & Gunn Rum 330ml $8.00
Moorhouse Black Cat 500ml $9.00
Orkney Skullsplitter 330ml $7.00
Worthington White Shield 500ml $8.00

FROM USA
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale 330ml $6.00
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale 330ml $7.50

NOW FILLING ON GROWLERS
HOLGATE ROAD TRIP IPA
As mentioned the arrival of our second growler shipment has been hotly anticipated by many, after the original batch disappeared very quickly. Having tapped a keg of 5AM Saint last week & see it quickly dissipear, I have to say its great to have growlers filling once again. The Holgate Road Trip IPA is a draught only release & was inspired by the brew team’s beer & brewery tour through the craft beer capital of the world, the pacific northwest of the USA. This IPA is loaded with Chinook, Centennial & Cascade hops from that region. Expect a touch of light malt, with the hops providing vibrant tropical fruit aroma & flavour with a touch of piney bitterness on the finish – Be quick or miss out!
* Growler bottles are $15 each & a fill of Road Trip is $25
UP NEXT: BREWDOG HARDCORE IMPERIAL IPA

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS!

2011-02-24T18:52:00.000+11:00

Business as usual, with plenty to cover this week. The impending arrival of our growler bottles is almost here (finally!), meaning we are gearing up for a heap of awesome beers to offer, many of which we have been stockpiling for a little while. Also, extended trading days & news of our next tasting events which have now been locked in & open for bookings. For full details see below.

NOW OPEN WEDNESDAYS!
I guess you have to admit, we do keep some odd hours, while the limited trading days have been good to us over the last year or so, we are easing our way into extending starting with Wednesdays. From now on we will be open EVERY Wednesday from 2-7pm for all your beery needs. Aside from spending more time in the store, this means we will be able to receive exciting new stock sooner & also get online orders out faster, cant argue with that!

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS
FROM AUSTRALIA
Mountain Goat Rare Breed IPA 650ml $9.50 – Great to see this back & if anything seems a little hoppier this time around!
Murrays Punk Monk 330ml $7.50 – Another Belgian style hybrid, part saison, part tripel with some hop bitterness thrown in for good measure
Murrays Icon2IPA 330ml $7.00 – Seemingly a regular fixture, with fresh stock just hitting the shelves!
Murrays Punch & Judys Ale 330ml $4.00 – A British inspired, lower abv beer with actual taste!
Murrays Nirvana Pale Ale 330ml $4.00 – US inspired pale ale brewed with kiwi hops for fruity aroma & taste
Murrays Whale Ale 330ml $4.00 – Interesting style wheat beer when compared to others, light & refreshing with a clean finish

FROM NEW ZEALAND
8 Wired Hopwired IPA 500ml $12.00 – Brilliant brew, rated best beer in Oz & NZ 2010 by the members of ratebeer.com
8 Wired Tall Poppy India Red Ale 500ml $12.00 – Another amazing US inspired ale, rich malt with robust hop bitterness
Harringtons Belgian Tempest 330ml $6.00 – Belgian style pale ale, light malt with spicy hops & yeast on the finish
Harringtons Big John Special Reserve 330ml $5.50 – Bourbon infused dark ale, rich caramel & toffee with a touch of toasted oak & vanilla
Harringtons Clydesdale Stout 330ml $4.50
Harringtons Wobbly Boot Porter 330ml $4.50

SCANDIN-GENIUS! BEER HERE SHOWCASE
Beer nerds the world over have been keen on scandi & more specifically Danish brews for some time now & its easy to see why. Between the small number of producers we see on our shores, there is an insane amount of experimentation & education occurring by way of their beers. So we’re tipping our hat to Beer Here, one of the new kids on the block & passing on some of their beery tuition!

BEERS ON TASTING INCLUDE:
Beer Here Fat Cat – Single hop, US inspired red ale hopped with kiwi nelson sauvin for big tropical fruit notes
Hopfix – US inspired IPA brewed with rye, for fruity hop character & spicy malt to compliment
Black Cat – Based on the fat cat, however brewed with dark malts for porter/stout nuances but fruity hops
Dark Hops – Not a stout, not an IPA, combining best of both with a touch of rye & US columbus hops thrown in
Malus Pater – Bad Father, a Belgian quad. Brewed with dark candi sugar for plum notes & fruit spice finish
Morke – Created with dark pumpernickel bread in mind, brewed with spicy rye, dark sugar & fennel seeds

When: BOTH Wednesday 9th March 7pm & Sunday 13th March 7pm
Cost: $20 to try ALL beers (Over $80 value!)
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any purchase that night
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, LET US KNOW WHICH SESSION SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS ASAP!

GROWLER STATUS
As you probably know it has been a while since we have been filling growlers, however rest assured that they will be back with a big bang! Our initial shipment of actual growler bottles was reasonable, however due to the overwhelming popularity we ran out very quickly. Over the past few months we have been sourcing & organizing another shipment & after what seems an eternity, this big shipment is due to arrive in the next couple of weeks!

Given the growler hiatus, we have been able to stockpile some amazing kegs, which will be available for fills once the bottles arrive. Just to get everyone excited, we have the following eager to be tapped:
- Holgate Empress
- Holgate Roadtrip IPA
- Brewdog 5AM Saint
- Brewdog Hardcore Imperial IPA

So keep your eyes peeled, as its going to be a great time for growlers!

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS!

2011-02-10T19:29:00.005+11:00

Its been a weird sort of week, where everything that could go wrong did. Water damage, website outages but as always, still plenty of great beer hitting the shelves. Don’t worry, nothing can dampen...our spirits! As is now becoming the norm, another scandi shipment signals the the arrival of some intriguing brews, which will become the focus of our upcoming tasting. Keep your eyes peeler for details.

NEW ARRIVALS
FROM AUSTRALIA
Little Creatures Single Batch East Kent Goldings Ale 568ml $6.00 – First cab off the rank for LC’s single batches in 2011. East Kent goldings is a classic hop variety, displaying delicate floral, spicy & earthy characters.

FROM DENMARK
Mikkeller George! BA Bourbon 250ml $22.00 – George, the thickest stout I’ve encountered, add some bourbon barrel aging & this should be a cracker!
Mikkeller Overall DIPA 330ml $15.00 – Another mikkeller collab, this time with ToØl & De Proef. US DIPA with centennial, simcoe & amarillo
Mikkeller & 3 Floyds Ruggoop 650ml $42.00 – The 3rd & presumably final installment of the collab goop series. Styled as rye(barley)wine
Mikkeller Spontanale 750ml $30.00 – Gueuze produced in belgium, the home of spontaneous fermentation
Mikkeller Texas Ranger 750ml $27.00 – Smoked porter brewed with chipotle chilies
Mikkeller Texas Ranger BA Bourbon 375ml $25.00 - as above + barrel aged

FROM NORWAY
Nogne O Dark Horizon #3 250ml $20.00 – Big imperial stout brewed with coffee, smoked malt & various brewing sugars.
Nogne O Red Horizon 250ml $20.00 – US strong ale fermented with sake yeast
Nogne O Two Captains DIPA 500ml $15.00 – 100+IBU DIPA brewed by Norwegian home brewing champ at Nogne O
Nogne O Sunturnbrew 500ml $20.00 – Barleywine brewed with smoked malt & rye

FROM NEW ZEALAND
Invercargill Boysenbeery 330ml $9.00 – German style wheat beer brewe with boysenberries
Yeastie Boys Pot Kettle Black 330ml $7.00 – This amazing black ipa/hoppy porter/cascadian dark ale (whatever you want to call it!) is back!

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS

2011-01-27T17:51:00.003+11:00

Its great to be back, with somewhat of a hiatus for the first couple weeks of the year. Rest assured that time was spent wisely, as we managed to organize some amazing beers that are hitting the shelves as we speak. The highlight being yet another brilliant new Danish brewery!

Also, just a quick mention for those interested in the results of the Local Taphouse & Crafty Pint’s Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beer Poll, quite the surprise no doubt! Check out the link for full details. http://craftypint.com/news/post/the-hottest-100-revealed/

NEW ARRIVALS
FROM AUS & NZ
8 Wired Tall Poppy India Red Ale 500ml $12.00 – American style IRA brewed with rich malts & US columbus, simcoe & amarillo hops.
Grand Ridge Mirboo Madness 330ml $5.50 – American style red ale brewed with rich malt presence & a robust hop bitterness
Grand Ridge Mirboo Midnight 330ml $5.50 – Dark ale aged in oak barrels

FROM CANADA
Les Trois Mousquetaires Americaine Pale Ale 750ml $16.50
Les Trois Mousquetaires Grand Cuvee Baltique Porter 750ml $23.00
St Ambroise Pumpkin Ale 341ml $6.00

FROM DENMARK
Amager Faelled 500ml $11.00 – Golden ale brewed with the addition of honey & elderflower (EXCLUSIVE TO SLOWBEER!)
Amager Christianshavn Pale Ale 500ml $11.00 – US style pale ale robustly hopped with cascade & centennial
Amager Citra Weiss 500ml $12.00 – Essentially a hybrid style hopfenweisse, part german wheat beer, hopped with US citra
Amager IPA 500ml $13.00 – US West Coast inspired IPA, brewed with simcoe, amarillo & cascade
Amager Black Nitro 500ml $13.00 – Black IPA brewed with oats & wheat, as well as plenty of high alpha US hop varieties
Amager Rugporter 500ml $13.00 – Imperial Porter brewed with rye
Amager Julebryg 500ml $12.00 – Festive xmas ale brewed in US strong ale style. Rich malt, a touch of spice & hops
Amager Sundby Stout 500ml $12.00 – Bittersweet roasted malt character, with nugget, centennial & cascade hops used
Amager Imperial Stout 500ml $15.00 – Traditionally hopped imperial stout, brewed with wheat, oats & brown sugar
Amager Fru Fredriksen 500ml $13.00 – Robust imperial stout, brewed with wheat & oats, plus centenial hops to 60+ IBU
Amager Hr Fredriksen 500ml $15.00 – Bigger & more robust than fru fredriksen
Amager Hr Fredriksen Portvinslagret 375ml $23.00 – Hr Fredriksen aged in port barrels
Amager Mikkeller Hr Fredriksen Vaesel Brunch 500ml $20.00 – Collaborative blend of Hr Fredriksen & Mikkeller's Beer Geek Brunch Weasel
+ Amager glassware, 480ml $7.00

FROM GERMANY
Weihenstephaner & Samuel Adams Infinium (USA) 750ml $35.00 – A huge collaboration between arguably 2 of the world's greatest breweries.

FROM UK
Adnams Tally Ho 330ml $6.50 – Festive barley wine style ale
Brewdog Abstrakt AB:03 375ml $37.00 – Imperial ale aged in 1960s whisky casks with raspberries (very limited)
Brewdog Abstrakt AB:04 375ml $37.00 – Imperial stout brewed with coffee, cacao & chili (very limited)
Brewdog & Stone Bashah 2009 Imperial & Tayberry Reserve 375ml $55.00 (very limited)
Brewdog & Stone Bashah 2009 Highland Park & Black Raspberry Reserve 375ml $55.00 (very limited)

SLOWBEER IN THE NEW YEAR

2010-12-31T13:48:00.001+11:00

Just wanted to say a quick thank you to all our loyal customers (& new ones too!) who have contributed to a great 2010. We will be back in 2011 with plenty of new beers & exciting ideas!

From the end of trade today we will be closed until 20th Jan 2011. As you know, slowbeer is quite a small operation, so its important for me to have a bit of a break & come back fresh early in the new year.

During this time we will be operating the website, so orders can still be placed & processed promptly. For other inquiries don’t hesitate to email: sales@slowbeer.com.au

Cheers!

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS - XMAS EDITION!

2010-12-22T19:40:00.001+11:00

Keeping it short & sweet this week, as we are heading into the home stretch of the silly season, though amazingly enough there are still a heap of new & exciting brews walking through the door! Also & very quickly, we would like to thank all those who attended last weeks Xmas tasting sessions, we appreciate your support & hope it continues into next year, as we come up with some more weird & wonderful lineups to present.

XMAS TRADING
Tomorrow (Thurs) 12-8pm
Xmas Eve (Fri) 10am-7pm

FEATURE BEERS
Epic & Dogfish Head Portamarillo 500ml $TBA
Truly an Epic collaboration & the first taste we have seen of anything like this locally. Brewed with the legendary Sam Caligone while he was out for NZ’s Beervana Fest & NZ Beer Awards, this brew stays true to the DFH mantra of using peculiar ingredients. Starting with a porter base, the guys made use of native (to NZ) tamarillos that have been grilled over Pohutakawa wood. The result is a smoky, roasty, fruity sort of brew. Props to two of craft beers craziest brewers!

Hargreaves Hill Phoenix 750ml $35.00
This is actually the second batch of stock we have received, with the first lot disappearing very quickly. A US style imperial red ale brewed with plenty of specialty malts & copious amounts of simcoe hops, both in the boil & for dry hopping. Produced to celebrate the 1st year anniversary of the brewery’s relocation following the Black Saturday Bush Fires.

Bridge Rd Saison Printemps 750ml $TBA
Following on from the somewhat recent de coing version of their very popular saison, this brew uses elderflower & blueberry in the brew. The result is a delightful looking beer with floral & lemon sherbet aromas, while the palate follows through with a nice finish of sweet-sour berries.

Arctic Fox Chocolate Stout 500ml $6.50
This one arrived today with little fanfare, in actual fact I didn’t even know it was about until the guys mentioned it to me earlier this week, which is typical of the Fox guys. No need to drum up hype, just let the beer speak for itself. Though from what I hear, it has gotten a bit of a run at the showcase & at recent farmers markets. A solid 5.9% abv, this one has plenty of chocolate & coffee notes from the roasted malt, while the use of chocoalte in the brew provides a more overt milk chocolate character & a soft, smooth palate.

NEW ARRIVALS & FRESH STOCKS
FROM AUS & NZ
Burleigh (QLD) Black Giraffe 650ml $10.00
Burleigh (QLD) My Wife’s Bitter 650ml $9.00
Harringtons (NZ) Strong Man 330ml $5.50
Harringtons (NZ) Doppelbock 330ml $6.00

FROM UK
Durham St Cuthbert 500ml
Durham Bede’s Chalice 500ml
Durham Benedictus 500ml
Durham Temptation 500ml
Meantime Raspberry 330ml $8.00
Meantime Coffee 330ml $8.00

FROM USA
Rogue Santas Private Reserve 355ml & 650ml $TBA
Rogue St Rogue Dry Hopped Red Ale 650ml $15.00
Rogue Yellow Snow IPA 650ml $15.00
Rogue Mogul Madness 650ml $15.00
Southern Tier 2XIPA 355ml $8.00
Southern Tier Gemini 650ml $17.00
Southern Tier Unearthly 650ml $17.00
Southern Tier Oak Aged Unearthly 650ml $20.00
Southern Tier Crème Brulee 650ml $17.00
Southern Tier Mokah 650ml $17.00
*Items with TBA will be arriving in store tomorrow (thurs 23/12)

FILLING ON GROWLERS
BREWDOG (SCO) Hardcore Imperial IPA
This one has been hotly anticipated the past few weeks & is being at tapped at seemingly a perfect time. This being a reincarnation of the previous hardcore, having won best Imperial IPA at the Beer World Cup earlier this year. Certainly no mean feat given the stiff competition in that particular category. As you’d expect this brew is brimming with high alpha US hop varieties, namely centennial, columbus & simcoe, both in the boil & to dry hop. Some lighter malts are employed to provide the slightest touch of counter balance, however this one is all about the hops! Big citrus & pine is the order of the day with a robust, bordering on aggressive hop bitterness. You’ve been warned!
Filling now & continuing until the keg is dry! $35 for the fill.

SLOWBEER'S 12 DAYS OF XMAS!

2010-12-22T13:02:00.000+11:00

As you can imagine it has been pretty hectic the last few days, so a serious catch-up is in order!

XMAS TRADING:
TODAY (WED) 12-8PM
TOMORROW (THU) 12-8PM
XMAS EVE (FRI) 10AM-7PM

12 BEERS OF XMAS
Day 6 - Emersons (NZ) Pilsner 500ml $9.00
Easily one of my favorite brews ever! Pilsners/lagers get a seriously bad wrap in the beer world, mainly because many of the super bland mass produced beers are (apparently) to this style. This one is oh so different. The use of kiwi grown saaz derivative hops produces a beautifully floral & fruity aroma with a cleansing spicy bitterness. Unbelievable balance & complexity despite being easy drinking, clean & crisp. Amazing in its own right but pairing with seafood is just as great.

Day 7 - Deus Brut des Flandres (BEL) 750ml $34.00
Interesting sort of beer this one & sits in the bier de champagne psuedo-style. Brewed in Belgium as a strong pale ale (think duvel) then shipped off to France for cellaring, where it undergoes the methode champenoise, (yeast & sugar added for bottle fermentation, yeast removed, dosage added). In this case the dosage (sugar) includes the interesting addition of bergamot. The result is a beer that is exceptionally creamy & aromatic, with the bergamot adding an intense floral, citrus character. Indeed a superior replacement for the token bottle of bubbly on xmas day.

Day 8 - Duchesse de Bourgogne (BEL) 250ml $6.50
Very much a love-it or hate-it kind of beer. Hardcore Belgian sour freaks tend to find it too sweet, while general beer drinkers find it far too sour. Personally, I really like it. Certainly not too unlike those crazy lambics, this brew has a significant amount of lactic acidity picked up from the time spent ageing in old oak vessels. Conversely, the sweetness comes from the great degree of red malts (vienna & munich...I think) employed. The interpaly between the two elements manifests itself in a sweet-sour cherry/berry-like flavour disguise, with a touch of oak to boot. Enjoying this with turkey, as a replacement for cranberry sauce is the only way to go!

Day 9 - Southern Tier (US) Creme Brulee 650ml $17.00
Diabetics stop reading NOW! A word of warning, this beer is super sweet & as the name suggests a dessert beer if there ever was one! Brewed with lactose (milk sugar) & dark crystal malt giving this beer its rich sweetness, while the addition of vanilla beans attributes...well a vanilla character. Caramel, toffee, chocolate & vanilla. Absolutely delightful but share it with a few if you value your teeth filling-free!

Next:
Day 10 - 8 Wired (NZ) Big Smoke Porter 500ml $12.00

Previous:
Day 5 - Estrella Damm (SPA) Inedit 750ml $10.00
Day 4 - Chatoe Rogue (USA) First Growth Creek Ale 650ml $15.00
Day 3 - Schlenkerla (GER) Rauchbier Marzen 500ml $6.00
Day 2 - Eggenberg (AUT) Samichlaus 330ml $11.50
Day 1 - Hargreaves Hill (VIC) Phoenix 750ml $35.0

SLOWBEER'S 12 DAYS OF XMAS!

2010-12-18T14:48:00.003+11:00

We will be open right through until xmas & as such I thought we’d feature a different beer every day with festive inclinations.

Created with the guidance of the team at the famed El Bulli restaurant. Very food friendly, styled as a belgian witbier. Brewed using coriander, orange peel & licorice as well as plenty of wheat means this beer is ideal as replacement to a fine champagne or pair with seafood on Christmas day. Ultimately quite light on the palate with a touch of citrus, spice & also a subtle sweetness, yet cleansing acidity on the finish.

Next:

Day 6 - Emersons (NZ) Pilsner 500ml $9.00

Previous:

Day 4 - Chatoe Rogue (USA) First Growth Creek Ale 650ml $15.00
Day 3 - Schlenkerla (GER) Rauchbier Marzen 500ml $6.00

Day 2 - Eggenberg (AUT) Samichlaus 330ml $11.50

Day 1 - Hargreaves Hill (VIC) Phoenix 750ml $35.0

SLOWBEER'S 12 DAYS OF XMAS!

2010-12-17T12:48:00.002+11:00

We will be open right through until xmas & as such I thought we’d feature a different beer every day with festive inclinations.

Also be aware that we offer gift vouchers & a wide range of glassware for those struggling with present giving!

XMAS TRADING:
MON-WED: 2-7PM
THU-SAT: 12-8PM
SUN: 2-7PM

12 BEERS OF XMAS
Day 4 - Chatoe Rogue (USA) First Growth Creek Ale 650ml $15.00
Its becoming more & more evident that this oregon based producer are dead keen on diversification. Breweries, distilleries & growing their own proprietary hops & malt is all part of the rogue brand. This particular brew & others in the chatoe rogue range are 100% estate made, meaning their own malt, hops & in this case local cherries. Based very loosely on the belgian kriek style this brew has vibrant cherry notes as one would expect, as well as some nice doughy, biscuity malt to support. Certainly not as hardcore as your kriek lambics & in fairness it doesn't profess to be. What we have here is a really nice, uncomplicated kriek thats not too sweet or too tart & would pair brilliantly with xmas turkey.

Day 5 - Estrella Damm (SPA) Inedit 750ml $10.00

Previous:

Day 3 - Schlenkerla (GER) Rauchbier Marzen 500ml $6.00

Day 2 - Eggenberg (AUT) Samichlaus 330ml $11.50

Day 1 - Hargreaves Hill (VIC) Phoenix 750ml $35.00

SLOWBEER'S 12 DAYS OF XMAS!

2010-12-16T13:31:00.003+11:00

We will be open right through until xmas & as such I thought we’d feature a different beer every day with festive inclinations.

XMAS TRADING:
MON-WED: 2-7PM
THU-SAT: 12-8PM
SUN: 2-7PM

12 BEERS OF XMAS
Day 3 - Schlenkerla (GER) Rauchbier Marzen 500ml $6.00
To the uninitiated this may seem like an odd choice, just sounds like any other german beer right? Well, yes & no. The beer is somewhat of a Bamberg specialty & quite unique at that. Its peculiar character comes from the way in which the malt is dried. Beechwood logs are smoked, allowing the smoky (obviously!) & sweet character to permeate into the malt. The result is a beer that smells quite sweet & malty at first but has an interesting layer of camp fire smoke (not to be confused with smoky peat). This smoke character combined with the sweetness of the malt, almost brings about a glazed ham taste. Ultimately quite light on the palate but the rich meaty flavors may be off-putting to some. Having said that, this is a perfect accompaniment to Christmas ham. Try it, you won't be sorry!

Next:

Day 4 - Chatoe Rogue First Growth Creek Ale 650ml $15.00

Previous:

Day 2 - Eggenberg (AUT) Samichlaus 330ml $11.50

Day 1 - Hargreaves Hill (VIC) Phoenix 750ml $35.00

SLOWBEER'S 12 DAYS OF XMAS!

2010-12-15T13:49:00.003+11:00

Claims to be one of the strongest lager beers in the world, however given the recent exploits of Brewdog etc this one is a comparative lightweight, coming in at only 14% abv! Brewed once a year on December 6th, being the day of Saint Nicholas, this is styled as a german doppelbock. Super rich malt presence, bringing big honey & caramel sweetness, as well as plenty of stewed fruit notes. Has been described as the cognac of beers & really they aren't far wrong. A great Christmas day treat that would compliment even the richest desserts.

Next - Day 3: Schlenkerla (GER) Rauchbier Marzen 500ml $6.00

Previous - Day 1: Hargreaves Hill (VIC) Phoenix 750ml $35.00

SLOWBEER'S 12 DAYS OF XMAS!

2010-12-14T16:35:00.003+11:00

From today, we will be open right through until xmas & as such I thought we’d feature a different beer every day with festive inclinations.

XMAS TRADING:
MON-WED: 2-7PM
THU-SAT: 12-8PM
SUN: 2-7PM

12 BEERS OF XMAS
Day 1: Hargreaves Hill (VIC) Phoenix 750ml $35.00
I for one have been very eagerly anticipating this particular release. Imperial Red Ales are few & far between in this country & its great to see this hitting the shelves. Very much US inspired, with truckloads of Simcoe hops used, imparting a big fruity, resinous hop character. In keeping with the style there is also a rich malt backbone of caramel, toffee & butterscotch. The malt in conjunction with the hops also provide a lovely, slightly sweet marmalade character with bitter citrus rind. So how is this festive you ask? Obviously its red & perhaps most importantly it will pair beautifully with Christmas fare. Additionally, with only 350 individually numbered wax sealed bottles available, it would be more than appropriate for an xmas toast!

Tomorrow: Eggenberg (AUT) Samichlaus

SLOWBEER'S XMAS NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS!

2010-12-08T17:15:00.001+11:00

Getting in earlier than usual, as we are gearing up for a big few weeks in the lead up to Christmas! Our festive tasting sessions are almost completely full, so get in quick if you are still keen. Additionally, the shelves are chock-full of brilliant beers, a few of my favorites being featured below. Lastly, we will be extending our trading days the next 2 weeks leading up to the big day. Starting Tues 14th we will be open every day until Christmas for all your beery needs!

XMAS TRADING
TUE 14/12: 2pm-7pm
WED 15/12: 2pm-7pm
THU 16/12: 12pm-8pm
FRI 17/12: 12pm-8pm
SAT 18/12: 12pm-8pm
SUN 19/12: 2pm-7pm
MON 20/12: 2pm-7pm
TUE 21/12: 2pm-7pm
WED 22/12: 2pm-7pm
THU 23/12: 12pm-8pm
FRI 24/12: 10am-8pm

FEATURE BEERS
Chouffe Houblon IPA Tripel 750ml $17.00
What is the world coming to when a classic Belgian brewery decides to produce their own interpretation of an American interpretation of a Belgian IPA...confused?! Regardless of its origins or rationale, this is a cracker of a beer! As you can imagine it is big in hop bitterness, however as a departure from normal US IPAs, this utilizes more traditional hop varieties, resulting in a big earthy, spicy hop aroma & bitterness. Keeping with the Belgian style, that trademark yeast comes into play, accentuating the earthy, spicy character while adding a touch of citrus fruit. Absolute classic of a beer & perhaps one of my all time favs!

Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van de Keizer Blue 750ml $18.00
Yet another one of my favorite brews, that can be exceptionally hard to get a hold of, purely for the fact that it is only brewed once a year. Describing this as big & rich would be a supreme understatement! Layers of rich caramel & toffee sweetness, with raisins, figs & a lovely fruit spice character on the finish. A meal & dessert beer rolled into one, that could easily rival any tokay or dessert wine. Enjoy it over Christmas or cellar well into the next few years.

NEW ARRIVALS
Red Duck Burton Strong Bitter 330ml $5.50
Its been a few years since we last saw this seasonal brew & it really speaks volumes of the brewery’s stylistic influence & approach. Very much a tribute to the home of pale ales, the water used in the brew is adjusted to match that of burton-on-trent, with a sulfate like mineral tang. Specialty malts are selected as the backbone of the brew, while the bitterness is actually relatively subdued (despite the name). A classic, classy brew indeed.

Red Duck Red Admiral 330ml $6.00
Based on the celtic red ales, this brew is all about the malt. Rich in colour & flavour profile with notes of treacle, as well as plums, raisins & stewed fruits. Interestingly, the use of a relatively new US hop variety (glacier) provides plenty of aroma, however unlike most other US hops, is low in alpha acids (bitterness), which overall serves this beer very well.

Red Duck White Garden 330ml $6.00
Super excited about this one, purely for the fact that it sounds like such an interesting brew. Apparently a hybrid of Belgian Witbier & Berliner Weisse styles with the addition of raspberry & rhubarb! The guys wanted to pay homage to the Berliner Weisse style, however produce an example that is a little more approachable & less sour, hence the Belgian witbier base. However, unlike a witbier, there are no spices or orange peel added, instead raspberry & rhubarb, of which the natural sugars & sweetness, disappear during fermentation. What we are left with is an appealing pinky-white ale, with vibrant fruit aroma & flavour but no sweetness, while there is a lightly tart acidity on the finish to cleanse the palate.

FILLING ON GROWLERS
BREWDOG (SCO) Hardcore Imperial IPA
This one has been hotly anticipated the past few weeks & is being at tapped at seemingly a perfect time. This being a reincarnation of the previous hardcore, having won best Imperial IPA at the Beer World Cup earlier this year. Certainly no mean feat given the stiff competition in that particular category. As you’d expect this brew is brimming with high alpha US hop varieties, namely centennial, columbus & simcoe, both in the boil & to dry hop. Some lighter malts are employed to provide the slightest touch of counter balance, however this one is all about the hops! Big citrus & pine is the order of the day with a robust, bordering on aggressive hop bitterness. You’ve been warned!
Filling from tomorrow & continuing until the keg is dry! $35 for the fill.

Also, given the sheer demand for growler fills & the fact that we currently have no supply of actual growler bottles, we are working on offering temporary 2L PET bottles, enabling everyone to get fills of the tasty beers we offer! Temporary ones will hopefully be about 1 week away but we will keep you posted.

JOLLY CHRISTMAS TASTING – ALMOST FULL, LAST CHANCE!
Something that isn't so heavily practiced here, however breweries the world over, tend to produce some very interesting & festive brews for the period & as such we will have a number of them on offer.

Mikkeller Santa’s Little Helper – This Belgian style strong ale has all the bells & whistles, spiced with orange & coriander.
Delirium Noel – One of the highly elusive brews from this crazy producer, its enjoyable for the bottle/label alone!
St Feuillien Noel – Clearly Xmas beers are a Belgian thing, this abbey example has a touch of sweetness with dark fruit & spice.
St Bernardus Kert – Their regular Abt 12 gets plenty plaudits & this is the Christmas version, yummy pudding in a glass!
Chouffe N’ice – Apparently the wintery little gnome on the label is responsible for this delicious festive brew.
Baladin Noel – Festive brew from this unique & at times peculiar producer. Chocolate & fruit spice goodness in liquid form!
Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus – This exceedingly rich & malty lager, known as the cognac of beers, weighing in at a hefty 14% abv!
Red Hill Christmas Ale – One of the few local breweries to get into the Christmas spirit, styled as a Belgian strong ale.
Hunter Christmas Beer – Another local hopefully following the trend for dark spiced, festive brews.

When: BOTH Wednesday 15th December 7pm & Sunday 19th December 7pm
Cost: $30.00 to try ALL beers ($160 value!)
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any beer purchase that night
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND PLEASE LET US KNOW WHICH SESSION, SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS ASAP!

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS!

2010-12-03T16:50:00.001+11:00

Plenty of exciting beers hitting the shelves this week, a few of which are some of my favorites that we’ve had in the past, however they did disappear very quickly! Given the sheer number of beers coming through, I’ll keep the chit-chat to a minimum & get onto the new releases! Also, check out the Christmas tasting section as we have added 2 more beers to the lineup! Accordingly the price is now $30.

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS
FROM AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Boatrocker Alpha Queen 330ml $3.50
Boatrocker Hoppbier 330ml $3.50 – New World Pils brewed with Kiwi hops
Emersons Pils 500ml $9.00
Hargreaves Hill ESB 330ml $4.50
Hunter Old Bustard 750ml $16.50 – Hybrid of Old Ale & Wee Heavy styles
Moa Original 375ml $6.00
Moa Blanc 375ml $6.00
Moa Weka Cider 330ml $3.90 – Aged in chardonnay barrels for added complexity
Mountain Goat Rare Breed IPA 650ml $9.50
Otway Estate Prickly Moses Strong Ale 330ml $7.50
Tuatara APA 500ml $10.00 – US style pale ale brewed with plenty of aromatic & bittering hops

FROM BELGIUM & NETHERLANDS
Achel Extra 750ml $20.00
Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel 750ml $17.00
Chouffe Bok 750ml $16.00
De Dolle Dulle Teve 330ml $9.00
De Dolle Oerbier 330ml $9.00
Delirium Tremens 330ml $7.50
Delirium Nocturnum 330ml $8.50
De Molen Rasputin 330ml $13.00
De Molen Hel & Verdominis 330ml $13.00
De Molen Hemel & Aarde 330ml $13.00
De Molen Heen & Weer 330ml $9.00
De Molen Mooi & Meedogenloos 330ml $12.00
De Molen Vuur & Vlam 330ml $7.50
De Ranke Kriek 750ml $20.00
De Ranke XX Bitter 330ml $7.50
Duchesse de Bourgogne 250ml $6.00
Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blue 750ml $18.00
Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor 330ml $7.50
Oud Beersel Oude Kriek 375ml $15.00
Oud Beersel Oude Gueuze 375ml $13.00
Rodenbach Vintage 2007 750ml $29.00
St Bernardus Christmas Ale 750ml $18.00

FROM GERMANY & AUSTRIA
Andechs Doppelbock 500ml $8.00
Andechs Hefeweisse 500ml $7.50
Eggenberg Samichlaus 330ml $11.50
Schneider Hopfenweisse 500ml $9.50

FROM ITALY & SPAIN
Baladin Nora 750ml $28.00
Baladin Super 750ml $27.00
Estrella Damm Inedit 750ml $10.00 – Brewed with expert advice from the team at the famed elBulli restaurant

FROM UK
Greene King Abbot Ale 500ml $7.50
Greene King Suffolk Strong 500ml $8.00
Innis & Gunn Original 330ml $7.00
Innis & Gunn Canadian Cask 330ml $8.00
Innis & Gunn Oaked IPA 330ml $8.00
Innis & Gunn Rum 330ml $8.00
Orkney Dragonhead Stout 500ml $9.00
Orkney Red MacGregor 500ml $9.00
Worthington White Shield 500ml $8.00

GLASSWARE
Christoffel $7.00
Hoegaarden Grand Cru $10.00
La Chouffe $10.00
Rodenbach $10.00
De Dolle Oerbier $15.00
Duvel Tulip $11.00
Triple Karmelite $13.00
Gouden Carolus $12.00
Schneider Aventinus $12.00
Orval $14.00

FILLING ON GROWLERS
BREWDOG (SCO) Hardcore Imperial IPA
This one has been hotly anticipated the past few weeks & is being at tapped at seemingly a perfect time. This being a reincarnation of the previous hardcore, having won best Imperial IPA at the Beer World Cup earlier this year. Certainly no mean feat given the stiff competition in that particular category. As you’d expect this brew is brimming with high alpha US hop varieties, namely centennial, columbus & simcoe, both in the boil & to dry hop. Some lighter malts are employed to provide the slightest touch of counter balance, however this one is all about the hops! Big citrus & pine is the order of the day with a robust, bordering on aggressive hop bitterness. You’ve been warned!
Filling from tomorrow & continuing until the keg is dry! $35 for the fill.

Also, given the sheer demand for growler fills & the fact that we currently have no supply of actual growler bottles, we are working on offering temporary 2L PET bottles, enabling everyone to get fills of the tasty beers we offer! Temporary ones will hopefully be about 2 weeks away but we will keep you posted.

JOLLY CHRISTMAS TASTING!
Something that isn't so heavily practiced here, however breweries the world over, tend to produce some very interesting & festive brews for the period & as such we will have a number of them on offer.

Mikkeller Santa’s Little Helper – This Belgian style strong ale has all the bells & whistles, spiced with orange & coriander.
Delirium Noel – One of the highly elusive brews from this crazy producer, its enjoyable for the bottle/label alone!
St Feuillien Noel – Clearly Xmas beers are a Belgian thing, this abbey example has a touch of sweetness with dark fruit & spice.
St Bernardus Kert – Their regular Abt 12 gets plenty plaudits & this is the christmas version, yummy pudding in a glass!
Chouffe N’ice – Apparently the wintery little gnome on the label is responsible for this delicious festive brew.
JUST ADDED! Baladin Noel – Festive brew from this unique & at times peculiar producer. Chocolate & fruit spice goodness in liquid form!
Schloss Eggenberg Samichalus – This exceedingly rich & malty lager, known as the cognac of beers, weighing in at a hefty 14% abv!
Red Hill Christmas Ale – One of the few local breweries to get into the Christmas spirit, styled as a Belgian strong ale.
JUST ADDED! Hunter Christmas Beer – Another local hopefully following the trend for dark spiced, festive brews.

When: BOTH Wednesday 15th December 7pm & Sunday 19th December 7pm
Cost: $30.00 to try ALL beers ($160 value!)
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any beer purchase that night
IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND PLEASE LET US KNOW WHICH SESSION, SO THAT WE CAN CONFIRM NUMBERS ASAP!

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS!

2010-11-26T17:41:00.002+11:00

Its been a quiet few weeks as far as new releases go, however it has given us plenty of time to get some great stock organised for the approaching Christmas period. In addition to the many wonderful beers arriving this week & next, we will be disclosing details of our upcoming Christmas Themed tasting nights.

FEATURE BEERS
8 WIRED (NZ) HOP WIRED IPA 500ml $11.50
I’ve been all over this one the past few weeks, so much so that this is perhaps one of my favorite beers this year! Packed with vibrant tropical fruit notes attributed to those wonderful kiwi hops. There is a decent amount of malt to give some balance, however the fruit notes dominate, with a robust grassy bitterness on the finish.

8 WIRED (NZ) BIG SMOKE PORTER 500ml $11.50
Another winner here, as I’ve come to expect from these guys. Brewed with German rauchbier malt, showing a touch of smoke & sweeter cured ham notes from the smoking of beechwood logs to dry the malt. However the robust nature of the dark roasted kicks in to deliver a big bitter finish. This one caught me completely by surprise, being that it is exceedingly robust for a porter.

EPIC (NZ) ARMAGEDDON IPA 500ml $12.50
After a reasonable absence this cracking beer is back just in time for summer! Given Luke’s disdain for Kiwi hops, this one is brewed with truckloads of US varieties, imparting that big citrus & pine character. If you need a hopfix, then look no further, little malt to interfere & a heap of hops!

BRIDGE RD (VIC) GALAXY SINGLE HOP IPA 330ml $5.00
The times, they are a changing, so much so that Oz craft beer has its own identifiable hop variety. Galaxy is fast gaining notoriety among craft brewers for its vibrant tropical fruit aroma & flavor with a nice grassy bitterness. Now onto the 2nd annual release of this beer, brewer Ben has tinkered a tiny bit with the hopping schedule but for all intents & purposes this is the same great brew as last year!

2 BROTHERS (VIC) JAMES BELGIAN BROWN 330ml $7.50
After trying this on tap, it totally threw me for a loop. The most noticeable feature of this beer is its huge chocolate & banana notes, both in aroma & to taste. Certainly unlike any other Belgian beer I’ve had before. From what I hear the lads have been selling plenty of this through bars, seemingly as a gateway beer for those who aren't quite so into darker styles. Definitely worth a try but personally not something I could drink a heap of – Available in store only!

FILLING ON GROWLERS
BRIDGE RD (VIC) Galaxy Single Hop IPA
Cracked the first of our galaxy kegs last weekend & are now onto the last, which is running super low, so get in quick! Galaxy is a locally produced hop variety that is gaining popularity among craft brewers. It is known for its vibrant tropical fruit aroma & taste, as well as a grassy cleansing bitterness on the finish. - Filling as we speak & continuing until the keg is dry! $25 for the fill.
UP NEXT: BREWDOG (SCO) Hardcore Imperial IPA – will be on as soon as galaxy is finished.

JOLLY CHRISTMAS TASTING!
Something that isn't so heavily practiced here, however breweries the world over, tend to produce some very interesting & festive brews for the period & as such we will have a number of them on offer.

Mikkeller Santa’s Little Helper – This Belgian style strong ale has all the bells & whistles, spiced with orange & coriander.
Delirium Noel – One of the highly elusive brews from this crazy producer, its enjoyable for the bottle/label alone!
St Feuillien Noel – Clearly Xmas beers are a Belgian thing, this abbey example has a touch of sweetness with dark fruit & spice.
St Bernardus Kert – Their regular Abt 12 gets plenty plaudits & this is the christmas version, yummy pudding in a glass!
Chouffe N’ice – Apparently the wintery little gnome on the label is responsible for this delicious festive brew.
Schloss Eggenberg Samichalus – This exceedingly rich & malty lager, known as the cognac of beers, weighing in at a hefty 14% abv!
Red Hill Christmas Ale – One of the few local breweries to get into the Christmas spirit, styled as a Belgian strong ale.

When: BOTH Wednesday 15th December 7pm & Sunday 19th December 7pm
Cost: $25.00 to try ALL beers (Over $100 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!
AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE FUNCTIONS/TASTINGS
Since opening the store about a year ago, we’ve had many customers ask about the ability to have private functions/tastings in store. If your keen to learn more about beer & can muster up a group of other likeminded individuals, then we are more than willing to help!

We are very flexible & can adapt to your needs, so if interested just let us know!

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS!

2010-11-11T19:08:00.000+11:00

Its been a busy last few weeks, so we will keep it short & sweet. Not huge quantities hitting the shelves but some true quality in store this week!

FEATURE BREWERY
NORREBRO BRYGHUS (DEN)

Little Korkny Ale 600ml $38.00 - A big, bad US style barley wine. Brewed with truckloads of malt & cascade hops imparting a rich caramel sweetness with robust bitterness on the finish.
North Bridge Extreme 600ml $17.00 - A huge imperial IPA, inspired by the West Coast US examples. An explosion of citrus, pine & resin in the mouth with a big whack of malt to attempt to form some sort of balance. Hops galore!
Pacific Summer Ale 600ml $12.00 - Another brew that gains inspiration from the hoppy US styles. Light & golden with a touch of malt & a nice hit of citrussy US hops.
Fano Vestkyst 500ml $11.00 - Cross between a traditional UK & more modern US style pale ales. Some caramel & toffee malt present with some fruity & earthy hops to boot.
Bombay Pale Ale 400ml $9.00 - A traditional UK IPA, with rich malt backbone, marmalade type fruit notes & an earthy hop bitterness on the finish.
Ravnsborg Rod 400ml $8.50 - A traditional style red ale brewed with copious amounts of malt & a nice touch of amarillo hops to add something different.
New York Lager 400ml $8.50 - Relatively clean & crisp lager profile with a touch of malt sweetness & cascade hops for good measure.
Paske Bock 330ml $7.00 - A rich & malty bock, appropriate for the Easter period. Plenty of bready/doughy malt with caramel, as well as some raisin & spice.

NEW RELEASES
FROM USA
Anderson Valley Poleeko Gold Pale Ale 650ml $13.00
Rogue XS I2PA 207ml $7.00
Rogue XS McRogue Scotch Ale 207ml $7.00
Rogue John John Hazelnut Brown 650ml $15.00
Rogue Chatoe Creek Ale 650ml $15.00

FRESH STOCKS
FROM USA
Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale 650ml $14.50
Anderson Valley IPA 650ml $16.00
Anderson Valley 20th Anniversary Imperial IPA 650ml $20.50
Rogue Dead Guy Ale Ale 650ml $15.00
Rogue Brutal IPA 650ml $15.00
Rogue Shakespeare Stout 650ml $15.00
Southern Tier IPA 355ml $7.00

FILLING ON GROWLERS
BREWDOG (SCO) DOGMA
Its been a while since this unassuming brew disappeared off the shelves, however it did enjoy quite a nice little following & with good reason! A more modern take on the traditional Scottish heather ales, utilizing heather honey, poppy seeds, kola nuts & guarana. Surprising hey? While it reads like an energy drink, it is actually quite delicious, with rich malt sweetness & an earthy, herbaceous bitterness to balance. At 8%abv it is also dangerously drinkable! - Filling as we speak & continuing until the keg is dry! $30 for the fill.
UP NEXT: Bridge Rd Galaxy IPA

SLOWBEER'S NORREBRO ARRIVAL + WHATS ON GROWLERS!

2010-11-05T16:20:00.001+11:00

Its been a busy last few weeks, so we will keep it short & sweet. Not huge quantities hitting the shelves but some true quality in store this week!

FEATURE BREWERY
NORREBRO BRYGHUS (DEN)

Little Korkny Ale 600ml $38.00 - A big, bad US style barley wine. Brewed with truckloads of malt & cascade hops imparting a rich caramel sweetness with robust bitterness on the finish.

North Bridge Extreme 600ml $17.00 - A huge imperial IPA, inspired by the West Coast US examples. An explosion of citrus, pine & resin in the mouth with a big whack of malt to attempt to form some sort of balance. Hops galore!

Pacific Summer Ale 600ml $12.00 - Another brew that gains inspiration from the hoppy US styles. Light & golden with a touch of malt & a nice hit of citrussy US hops.

Fano Vestkyst 500ml $11.00 - Cross between a traditional UK & more modern US style pale ales. Some caramel & toffee malt present with some fruity & earthy hops to boot.

Bombay Pale Ale 400ml $9.00 - A traditional UK IPA, with rich malt backbone, marmalade type fruit notes & an earthy hop bitterness on the finish.

Ravnsborg Rod 400ml $8.50 - A traditional style red ale brewed with copious amounts of malt & a nice touch of amarillo hops to add something different.

New York Lager 400ml $8.50 - Relatively clean & crisp lager profile with a touch of malt sweetness & cascade hops for good measure.

Paske Bock 330ml $7.00 - A rich & malty bock, appropriate for the Easter period. Plenty of bready/doughy malt with caramel, as well as some raisin & spice.

FILLING ON GROWLERS
BREWDOG (SCO) DOGMA
Its been a while since this unassuming brew disappeared off the shelves, however it did enjoy quite a nice little following & with good reason! A more modern take on the traditional Scottish heather ales, utilizing heather honey, poppy seeds, kola nuts & guarana. Surprising hey? While it reads like an energy drink, it is actually quite delicious, with rich malt sweetness & an earthy, herbaceous bitterness to balance. At 8%abv it is also dangerously drinkable! - Filling as we speak & continuing until the keg is dry! $30 for the fill.

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS!

2010-10-29T14:13:00.001+11:00

As you no doubt can imagine the past few weeks have been exceptionally hectic. Plenty of boxes in & plenty heading back out has been keeping us very busy & the store very messy! Luckily, we are just getting the last of the US orders out of the store & things are returning back to normal. It has been a massive effort both organizing & packing our US shipment, so thank-you for your support & patience!

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS
FROM AUSTRALIA
3 Ravens Uber Special Bitter 500ml $9.00
Red Duck Black Heart 330ml $8.00 – Spiced Belgian Blonde
FROM ITALY
32 Via Dei Birrai Curmi 750ml $25.00 – Spiced Belgian Witbier
32 Via Dei Birrai Oppale 750ml $25.00 – Hoppy Belgian Pale Ale
32 Via Dei Birrai Auduce 750ml $27.00 – Spiced Belgian Strong Golden Ale
FROM NETHERLANDS
De Molen Hel & Verdomenis 330ml $13.00
De Molen Rasputin 330ml $13.00
FROM NEW ZEALAND
Croucher Pale Ale 500ml $9.50
Croucher Pilsner 500ml $9.50
8 Wired Hop Wired IPA 500ml $11.50 – Brewed with 100% Kiwi hops
8 Wired Big Smoke 500ml $11.50 – Smoked Porter
8 Wired Rewired Brown Ale 500ml $11.50
FROM SCOTLAND
Brewdog Abstrakt AB:02 375ml $30.00 – Triple Hopped Imperial Red Ale
Brewdog & Mikkeller I Hardcore You 330ml $25.00 – Collaborative blend of Mikkeller I beat you & Brewdog Hardcore Imperial IPA
Brewdog Chaos Theory 330ml $5.00 – IPA back by popular demand!
Brewdog Tokyo* 330ml $15.00 – Brewed with jasmin & cranberry + aged on french oak

HUGE USA CRAFT BEER SHIPMENT – WHATS LEFT!
Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale 355ml $6.00
Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout 650ml $15.00
Deschutes Black Butte Porter 355ml $5.00
Deschutes Obsidian Stout 355ml $5.00
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA 355ml $6.00
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron 355ml $9.50
Green Flash Hop Head Red 650ml $13.00
Green Flash Le Freak 650ml $20.50
Lagunitas Maximus 355ml $6.00
Port Brewing Old Viscosity 650ml $20.00
Stone IPA 355ml $5.50
Stone Smoked Porter 650ml $11.00

FILLING ON GROWLERS
NOGNE O (NOR) IMPERIAL STOUT
Yep, oddly enough this amazing brew is still hanging around. No doubt the onset of some warmer weather the last few weeks has been a disincentive to take the plunge. Here’s hoping the average weekend’s weather forecast will change that - Filling as we speak & continuing until the keg is dry! $35 for the fill.

WHATS UP NEXT? BREWDOG (SCO) DOGMA
Its been a while since this unassuming brew disappeared off the shelves, however it did enjoy quite a nice little following & with good reason! A more modern take on the traditional Scottish heather ales, utilizing heather honey, poppy seeds, kola nuts & guarana. Surprising hey? While it reads like an energy drink, it is actually quite delicious, with rich malt sweetness & an earthy, herbaceous bitterness to balance. At 8%abv it is also dangerously drinkable! - Will be tapped as soon as above beer is done. $30 for the fill.

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS - THE BIG ONE!

2010-10-14T15:45:00.002+11:00

Well, the time has come. The much anticipated arrival of the full Murray’s range is now upon us, with all of their brilliant beers in store & on the shelves! We will also be taking pre-orders for the impending arrival of our HUGE US shipment! Be sure to have a good hard look over the extensive & impressive list of offerings, many of which have we never had before & nobody in the country has either! Don’t deliberate too long though, as we suspect they will disappear very quickly!

FEATURE BREWERY
MURRAY’S BREWING CO (NSW)

Wild Thing Imperial Stout 330ml $15.00
Its been a long 2 years since the inaugural release of this cracking brew. While your probably thinking this could be the worst time to release such a big beer, there is little doubt storage & patience will reward those come the cooler months next year. Regardless of when you drink it, there is no denying its class!

Icon 2IPA 330ml $7.00
Quite possibly the country’s best IPA & the first time it has been available for retail sale in a number of years. American style Imperial IPA brewed with a truckload of high alpha hop varieties, imparting intense citrus, passion fruit & peppery characters through to a big bitter finish. In an attempt to add some form of balance, there is also plenty of caramel, toffee & sweet biscuity malt but as you’d expect this is all about the hops!

Grand Cru 330ml $7.00
Interesting one this, being a cross between a few different Belgian style ales, namely pale ale & tripel. Trademark fruity esters on the nose with plenty of banana & bubblegum too. Dry hopping with hallertau hops provide a very spicy bitterness on the finish. Winner of silver medals at AIBA on multiple occasions.

Punch & Judys Ale 330ml $3.90 & $14.00 4pk
Somewhat of an oddity given the propensity for most releases to be over the top, high abv beers. A comparatively small abv of 3.9%, however don’t be fooled, this brew has plenty of character. Lovely nutty, caramel malt character with plenty of hop aromatics & flavor from the use of NZ Riwaka & Motueka hops. Gives an totally new meaning to the term session beer!

Nirvana Pale Ale 330ml $3.90 & $14.00 4pk
Almost a combination of both English & US style pale ales. The aroma bursts of new world hops with citrussy/spicy notes, while the mid palate brings some biscuity/toffee UK malt characters. Finishes with nice degree of cleansing bitterness.

Whale Ale 330ml $3.90 & $14.00 4pk
Pretty easy to see why this brew is their most popular beer, selling truckloads direct at the brewery. The connection to their Port Stephens location is obvious, that aside this brew is just a great summer tipple. The profile is low in bitterness, while the wheat provides a delicate thirst-quenching acidity with a clean & crisp finish.

HUGE USA CRAFT BEER SHIPMENT - PREORDERS
Alesmith IPA 650ml $15.00
Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA 355ml $6.00
Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye 355ml $6.50
Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale 355ml $6.00
Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout 650ml $15.00
Deschutes Black Butte Porter 355ml $5.00
Deschutes Obsidian Stout 355ml $5.00
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA 355ml $6.00
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA 355ml $7.50
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron 355ml $9.50
Green Flash Hop Head Red 650ml $13.00
Green Flash West Coast IPA 650ml $14.00
Green Flash Imperial IPA 650ml $16.00
Green Flash Le Freak 650ml $20.50
Lagunitas IPA 355ml $5.00
Lagunitas Maximus 355ml $6.00
Lagunitias Hop Stupid 650ml $13.00
Port Brewing Old Viscosity 650ml $20.00
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA 355ml $5.50
Stone IPA 355ml $5.50
Stone Ruination 355ml $7.50
Stone Smoked Porter 650ml $11.00
Stone Arrogant Bustard 650ml $12.00
IF YOU WISH TO SECURE ANY OF THESE BEERS, PLEASE EMAIL WITH YOUR ORDER ASAP!

FILLING ON GROWLERS
NOGNE O (NOR) IMPERIAL STOUT
Just when you thought having #100 on growlers couldn’t be topped, I managed to procure another brilliant keg from our Norwegian friends! This is without doubt one of the most brilliant Imperial Stouts around. It is an excellent display of both power & restraint. Clocking in at 9%abv its certainly no slouch, however much like all Nogne O beers the balance is impeccable. Plenty of malt brings a sweeter molasses element, while the the darker roasted malts impart a robust bitter sweet finish, supported by a touch of hop bitterness for good measure. Unbelievable!
We will start filling growlers of it on Saturday & continue until the keg is dry! $35 for the fill.

NIGHT OF FUNK – CANTILLON SHOWCASE – THIS SUNDAY!
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: Sunday 17th October 7pm (FULL)
Cost: $25.00 to try ALL beers ($235 value!)
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any purchase that night
IF YOU HAVE BOOKED & CANNOT ATTEND, PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP!

REMINDER - CANTILLON SHOWCASE TOMORROW FROM 7PM!

2010-10-12T14:34:00.001+11:00

A friendly reminder for those who have booked for the tasting tomorrow evening :)

NIGHT OF FUNK – CANTILLON SHOWCASE – NEXT WEEK!
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: Wednesday 13th October 7pm & Sunday 17th October 7pm (BOTH FULL)
Cost: $25.00 to try ALL beers ($235 value!)
+ Attendees receive 10% DISCOUNT on any purchase that night
IF YOU HAVE BOOKED & CAN'T ATTEND, PLEASE LET US KNOW ASAP!

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS - JAPANESE EDITION!

2010-10-08T14:26:00.002+11:00

There’s truly never a shortage of great beer coming through the doors. While we may have jumped the gun with regards to Murrays seasonals (definitely next week!), rest assured we have some crackers this week. Additionally, our super secret US craft container is arriving in the country today, so we should have our hands on it next week! Stay tuned for what's arriving as we will be taking pre-orders very soon.

FEATURE BEERS
HITACHINO NEST (JAP) Nipponia 550ml $17.50
Another very unique brew from these quirky characters. Produced using ancient Kaneko Golden barley & sorachi ace hops, both of which were developed in Japan. The base beer is actually quite light, which serves to showcase the character of both the malt & hops. The palate has a touch of bready, doughy sweetness, while the sorachi ace hops attribute a lemony zest character. Finish is dry & earthy with a cleansing bitterness. I’m yet to be disappointed by these guys!

BAIRD (JAP) Suruaga Bay Imperial IPA 355ml $9.50
In my opinion this is a severely underrated 2IPA. While everybody goes nuts over US ones, I’ll quite happily settle for this. Very much American in style with rich caramel & toffee malt, while the citrus & spicy hops produce a dry, & robustly bitter finish. So good!

BAIRD (JAP) ANGRY BOY BROWN ALE 355ml $8.50
The name is quite apt, as this isn't just a robust brown ale. It is an insanely hoppy one, which is certainly something you don’t find too often. Plenty of burnt caramel & chocolate malt but the citrussy, piney US hops dominate the finish. Certainly not one for the purists but great nonetheless.

GLASS GIVEAWAY!
To celebrate the arrival of these great Japanese beers en-masse, we will be giving away some cool Hitachino Nest glassware!
Simply buy a mix of any 12 beers in the Hitachino Nest or Baird range to receive one!

There are 3 different kinds to choose from, all with the Hitachino Owl logo. Alternatively, we will be selling them for $10 each, independently of the offer. Get in quick, only as stocks last!

NEW RELEASES & FRESH STOCKS
FROM DENMARK
Mikkeller Nelson Sauvingon 750ml $47.00
FROM GERMANY
Schneider & Brooklyn Hopfenweisse 500ml $9.00
FROM JAPAN
Baird Teikoku IPA 355ml $8.50
Baird Kurofone Porter 355ml $10.50
Baird Shimaguni Stout 355ml $8.50
Baird West Coast Wheatwine 650ml $20.00
Baird Dark Sky Imperial Stout 650ml $19.00
Baird Midnight Oil Export Stout 650ml $19.50
Hitachino Nest White Ale 330ml $6.50
Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale 330ml $8.50
Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale 330ml $8.50
Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout 330ml $8.50
FROM NEW ZEALAND
Renaissance MPA Imperial IPA 500ml $13.00
Renaissance Craftsman Choc Oatmeal Stout 500ml $10.00
FROM NORWAY
Nogne O Imperial Dunkel Wit 500ml $17.00
Nogne O God Paske 500ml $14.50
FROM UK
Adnams Innovation 500ml $7.50
FROM USA
Rogue XS Russian Imperial Stout 207ml $7.00

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.
UP NEXT: NOGNE O IMPERIAL STOUT!

NIGHT OF FUNK – CANTILLON SHOWCASE – NEXT WEEK!
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: Wednesday 13th October 7pm (FULL!) & 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!

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS!

2010-10-01T14:23:00.000+10:00

Uncharacteristically quiet on the new release front this week, however rest assured that there will be wave after wave of unbelievable beers arriving over the next few weeks. After a bit of a delay the brilliant Murray’s seasonals will hopefully be hitting the shelves next week, of which we are the exclusive stockists. We are also counting down the days until our mega US shipment arrives. I will continue to remain tightlipped about what is actually arriving, so expect a number of big surprises when they turn up!

GRAND FINAL DAY OPENING HOURS
This Saturday 2nd October we will be opening the store bright & early at 10am & closing at 2pm (in time for the game). It was pretty hectic before the game last week, so we thought we’d open up a touch earlier to give everybody a little more time to get organised.

WE NEED YOU...& YOUR GROWLER!
If you have been tracking the progress of our growlers the past 2 months, you would know that it has been a huge success. So much so that we are now (at least for the moment) completely out of actual growler bottles. When we originally placed the order with our US contact, we were unsure how popular they would be, clearly our estimate was far too conservative!

If anybody has more than one growler or is willing to part with theirs, it would be much appreciated if you brought it back to us, so that we can share the craft beer love around! Obviously, we will reimburse you the $15 growler cost. While this may be a huge sacrifice for some, rest assured your loved one will find both a safe & happy new home! We will be placing another (much bigger) order from the US very soon, so don’t expect these growler shortages to last too long. Thanks in advance!

FEATURE BEER
EPIC & THORNBRIDGE (NZ & UK) Barrel Aged Stout 500ml $16.00
Surely this is the next logical step right? After housing his brilliant Armageddon IPA in brand new American Oak barrels, Luke has since put his collaboration Stout in those very same barrels. So what can come of a Stout aged in barrels that previously had an IPA? God only knows! Having already had both the original stout & the ba armageddon, I’m tipping this to be something pretty special. The selection of lighter roasted malts (at least for your usual stout) combined with those typical vanilla & coconut American Oak notes can only be a winning combination!

SUPER FRESH STOCKS AT GREAT PRICES!
FROM BELGIUM
Rochefort 8 330ml $6.50
Rochefort 10 330ml $8.50
Achel Blonde 330ml $6.00
Achel Brune 330ml $6.00
Westmalle Dubbel 330ml $6.00

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!

SLOWBEER'S NEWS, REVIEWS & ARRIVALS!

2010-09-23T15:58:00.002+10:00

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.

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!