SLOWBEER NEWS - A SMORGASBORD OF GREAT BEER!

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!

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!

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 don’t 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!

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

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

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!

SLOWBEER NEWS - ARRIVALS, GROWLERS & TASTINGS

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

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

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

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

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!