Sierra Nevada: Hoptimum 2012 - Review

Ok, ok. I get it. I'm addicted to Sierra Nevada beers at the moment. I have issues. So what?

The very latest addition to my ever-growing 'beer list' (see right) is Sierra Nevada's Hoptimum - a whole-cone Imperial IPA. This is number 234 on my list if you're interested.

 

Recent consumption of Sierra Nevada beers have left me wanting more and more. I saw this baby on the shelf in the shop and despite the pricey price tag of AU$12 it made its way to my beer fridge at home no questions asked. This is what an addiction is all about I suppose.

 

The review:

 

 

Although an annual release, this is only the second year that Hoptimum has been brewed and, at 10.4% abv, it is the strongest beer to have passed my lips (the second strongest was La Trappe's Quadrupel at 10.0%).

 

I have sipped quite a few strong 'uns and most of them tasted strong (sometimes off-putting). In my opinion, the alcohol content in Hoptimum, wasn't overwhelming. It didn't possess me like I thought it was going to. I didn't need a priest on standby to perform an exorcism like I feared. It was this slight fear that had me waiting and waiting for the right time to open it. Any beer drinker will agree that the timing has to be just right for some beers. For me and my new friend, Hoptimum, it was a sunny Sunday afternoon in Spring. Perfect timing...

 

 

I've given Hoptimum 4 stars because I really liked it. Simple as that. Similar to Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot, this one (as the name suggests) was very hoppy - with a very bitter explosion indeed. With an IBU of 100, this will knock your socks off in a nice way.

 

As you can see above (click for larger view) it poured a wonderfully welcoming, cloudy, golden amber colour. Really and truly, a big boys beer like this should have lasted longer than the 10 minutes it took me to finish it however, I just couldn't help it. It was an extremely pleasant beer to drink although, this isn't for the faint hearted. Steer clear of it if you're planning to drive a car or operate machinery soon afterwards. Just sit back, relax and enjoy this one.....and then another.

 

 

Cobra Beer arrives in Australia

I was recently alerted to the fact that Cobra beer is now available in Australia. NM stumbled upon this fact and with little haste screamed the news across the office at me. Well, it was more of yell but it may as well have been a scream...for me, this is great news.

I am a huge fan of Cobra - ever since I first tried it at the tender age of 18 back in the UK. I may have been younger but for legal reasons, let's stick with 18.

The Indian curry is a staple diet of many Brits. In some areas of the UK, I reckon they sell more Indian food than some towns in India do! Growing up in the UK meant that I was exposed to Indian food at a young age. Having a good friend who is Indian is even better because his mum and dad used to send authentic samples from their kitchen around to my house. Brilliant!

As I started to take more notice of beer and the importance of a nice drink with a nice meal, Cobra lead the way when a curry was being served. The thing with Cobra is that it isn't as gassy as other beers. You can drink this beer without feeling bloated leaving more room for fine cuisine!

An interesting fact about Cobra is that it came to fruition solely aimed at the British beer market as opposed to being an Indian beer aimed at the Indian population. It was brewed originally in Bangalore for export to the UK.

The importance of finding a good beer to compliment a nice curry will be turned on it's head here in Brisbane. Instead, and somewhat frustratingly, I'll be seeking a nice curry to compliment my good beer...

More info here

James Squire: Hop Thief American Pale Ale IV (2012) - Review

Sadly, and somewhat foolishly, I'd been absent for the previous 3 incarnations of James Squire's Hop Thief. Thankfully, the Malt Shovel guys released version number 4 recently and as from today (for a limited time) it is on tap at The Platform Bar, in Brisbane's CBD.

This release is a 'keg only' release, so you will need to be quick and get to your nearest participating pub to try this brew. Due to the unfortunate scarcity of the hop varieties used in this years release, supplies will not broaden to bottling. There is, however, a plan at the brewery to re-visit Hop Thief IV with a tap and bottle release in 2013. Rumours are that it might be exactly the same blend. Other whispers suggest that they might tweak the recipe slightly. We'll see.

A welcome text message from Lucas at The Platform Bar informed me of Hop Thief's arrival. It took no less than 10 seconds for me to spread the word around the office and within 90 minutes 5 of us hardened and seasoned beer lovers were drooling at the bar in anticipation....all for the love of beer.

Due to work commitments, I could only afford the time to drink 2 schooners but it was enough to pen a few words...

 

The review:

 

It was ok and I liked it. I'd drink it again for sure. I wasn't bowled over by it but it was by no means a bad drop.

It poured a nice deep amber colour and sustained its head throughout consumption. Quite a delicate hoppiness to it - certainly not an overpowering hit of hops like Mad Brewers' Hoppy Hefe.

There was no overkill like there is in some limited releases in this country. Nice to see it at a subtle 5.0% abv. It is very drinkable and highly sessionable.

It was very refreshing and made a welcome change and a nice addition to the taps in my nearest beer establishment. I'll try and sneak back for a few more before this week is out.   



Sierra Nevada: Bigfoot Ale 2012 - Review

Hot on the heels of my Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale consumption was the 2012 incarnation of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's Bigfoot Ale - a barley wine style ale - a limited release.

NM and I went halves on a 6pack - mainly to keep the cost down (AU$30 for a 6pack) but equally in case we didn't like it. There's nothing worse than buying a 6pack of beer only to be let down by the first sip of the first bottle. Certainly not the case with this one!

The review:

I thoroughly enjoyed it. In a big(foot) way. I was expecting something different - I don't know why - but as soon as the first mouthful was swallowed I looked up and exhaled a loud 'FFWWOOOAAARRRR'. A real taste explosion - yet very difficult to describe.

As you can see from the image above (click for larger view), it pours a nice deep amber/ruby colour with a strong, somewhat chunky head which disappeared quite quickly (the froth was at the brim of the glass before I focussed the camera and had already reduced by 25% by the time the photo was taken).

This really is a hu-mighty-mongous beer - not just the 9.6% abv content but the bitterness too - it swept me off my feet.

Quite hoppy too. Which I'm a big fan of.

If BIG, bitter, hoppy beers are what you like, then go and treat yourself to some - don't let the price-tag stop you.

Beer bottle update

Dedication is how I like to describe my affinity to all things beer. A previous post detailed my beer bottle collecting affliction. Since reading it, a few like-minded soles have contacted me to confess their similar sins so I know that I'm not alone in this ailment or strange act of kleptomania.

A friend of mine, KR, eradicated the problem of having scores and scores of beer bottles hanging around gathering dust by simply soaking the labels from the bottles. In the majority of cases, the actual bottles hiding underneath the labels are rather plain and boring.

I am giving serious consideration to following KR's example and disposing of the needless glass element of my proud hoard. The staff at Moreton Bay Recycling Sorting Depot will love me the week I wave goodbye to 200+ bottles! Perhaps I'll stagger the deluge?

I think the key to a successful collection of beer bottle labels is what you actually do with them once removed.

A while back, it was suggested by another friend, KT, that I should put them all in a book. This concerns me somewhat as I fear that I will be pigeon-holed as a scrap-booker. Scrap-booking, in my opinion, falls into a wider category of hobbies that includes knitting/crochet and train spotting.

KR's solution was to randomly stick them on the front of his beer fridge. This serves as a permanent reminder of his achievements because they are constantly on show. I am fortunate enough to also own a decent sized beer fridge so this is a very sensible option.

I am also lucky enough to possess a bar. So, another option would be for me to clad the outer fascia of it with beer bottle labels. It sits in our family room (sometimes referred to as the 'back room' or even the 'other room'). This is basically the room that contains another TV....the room where I'll watch the football (all codes but mainly 'soccer' just for the record) or the room where the kids can watch their Wiggles DVD collection to their hearts content.

The bar is reasonably small and serves a purpose which is mainly to house pub paraphernalia that has somehow ended up in my possession over the years. It's a rather retro looking piece that I acquired a few years ago for approximately $80 on eBay from an elderly couple on the south side of Brisbane. Their story was rather sad in that they were in the process of parting with every item of furniture, then selling the house, then moving into a care facility. Both had suffered a series of heart attacks and strokes in previous years. I felt a little bit of guilt creep in as I waltzed away with their bar. It came with a heap of lovely, heart-felt family stories which I was happy to listen to. The old lady even threw in some antique wooden coasters, a wooden mouse toothpick holder and 2 polystyrene stubby holders from the early 80's! She told me that she couldn't bear to throw the additional bits away and that they should stay with the bar in one of the drawers. I promised her that I would keep it all together and cherish the bar as they had obviously done for the past 40 or 50 years. I've kept that promise.

The label removal process is something that I think has to happen. It will free up so much space and will keep the wife happy which is the ultimate goal in life isn't it?

I will let you know the outcome and publish some photos just as soon as I've worked out a plan of attack.

Hmmm, but what about all the glorious bottle tops....???

Arvo Beer: Brew 34 & Brew 51 - Review

Arvo Beer recently came onto the Australian beer scene (by wino supremo Casella) and I was immediately sceptical of their advertising approach. It provided me with an opportunity to ponder what the guys behind Arvo were up to with their bizarre and possibly unheard of marketing strategy. I thought long and hard as to whether the whole advertising campaign was marketing genius or a rather elaborate gimmick to lure the Australian beer drinker into buying it.

Essentially, there are 2 lagers - Brew 34 and Brew 51. You buy a 6pack and get 3 of each. You buy a carton and you get 12 of each. Then we're all supposed to visit the Arvo website and vote for our favourite. Having worked my way through the best part of a full carton over the weekend I still can't decide.

I cannot tell them apart and the website didn't give me the choice to vote 'same' unsurprisingly. Could they be the same brew? Is it a hoax.....a true piece of genius?! I told you I'm sceptical. I drank 3 bottles of Brew 34's straight and then 3 bottles of Brew 51's straight and couldn't tell them apart. The next day I tried alternating...34, 51, 34, 51, 34, 51 etc etc. Again, no difference in taste. I've since mentioned my findings to KT who said the same thing. He also struggled to tell them apart. The photo above shows how very alike their appearance is too.

More importantly for me the bigger decision is - genius or gimmick?

The half of me that knows a teency weency bit about advertising is shouting "Genius!". However, the other half of me - the beer drinker - is screaming "Gimmick!" mainly because I'd rather breweries plough their cash into creating a decent brew as opposed to far-fetched marketing but, let's face it, any company needs to make money so I totally respect their business plan to shift beers off shelves and make cash. It's a business after all.

I think time will tell whether Arvo is a flash in the pan or a true stayer.

Last week, Coca Cola Amatil (CCA) announced an agreement with Casella to help their re-entry into the booming beer market next year. CCA have been legally kept out of the arena since their sale of Pacific Beverages. You can read more about it here.

The review:

 

That beer drinker half of me didn't dislike either of these beers. Both weigh in at 4.9% abv which is not too 'heavy' and not too 'mid'. The faint fruity aftertaste in both isn't flimsy and isn't overpowering either. These 2 big factors result in Arvo (both of 'em!) being very drinkable and very sessionable indeed. I would buy Arvo again. Perfect for that Friday night in front of the television watching footy or that long sunny weekend BBQ.

 

The Arvo website labels Brew 34 as being subtly malty and alludes to the hops giving hints of spice and fruit. Whilst Brew 51 is tagged as having hoppy characters and a touch of fresh fruitiness.

 

Regarding the online vote results, I certainly wouldn't be fussed either way. If it's Brew 34 that stays in production or Brew 51.

 

 

Gage Roads: London Best - Review

The review:

I'm not a big fan of Gage Roads beers. However, having spent the first 31 years of my life in and around London I simply had to treat myself to a bottle of London Best. You've only got to catch a glimpse of the label to see why it would appeal to me, a Pom. I had to try it.

I thought it might warrant being consumed out of a traditional/old fashioned British pint glass (the kind with a handle - see photo).

To be honest, I don't know why I bothered sifting through my pint glass collection. I wish I hadn't even opened the bottle. It's extremely rare for me not to finish a beer. Today, I came very close to not finishing this one.

In my opinion, a beer this awful doesn't deserve to be called 'Best'. It's extremely misleading and surely must be flouting some advertising laws?!

I'd go so far as likening this brew to fizzy brown water. Not up to scratch at all. It pours very badly, no head, no taste, no 'Best' about it whatsoever.

'London Best'. It's a bold statement isn't it? 'Best' what? Perhaps it means London's Best Sample of the River Thames? Perhaps Gage Roads have pulled off the biggest bluff ever and siphoned gallons of water and sludge from the Thames, bottled it, slapped a label on and voila!

It irks me somewhat that this stuff carries a version of the flag from my homeland. Gage Roads will no doubt sell bottles and bottles of this to unsuspecting ex-Poms and Aussies that fancy a taste of London. Let me tell you that this beer is in no way a reflection of London!

The 'Best' thing you'll do next time you're in a bottle shop is walk past this beer.

Sierra Nevada: Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale - Review

There are more and more great beers from the USA working their way over to our shores (look out for a post on this blog in the near future focusing on the American mini-invasion). To date, the guys at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (SNBC) have impressed me a lot.

Their most recent brew to tickle my taste buds is the Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale (2012).

This is the 5th SNBC beer that I've managed to lay my hands lips on. They are (in chronological order) the Pale Ale (5.6% abv), Ruthless Rye IPA (6.6% abv), Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale (5.5% abv) and Torpedo Extra IPA (7.2% abv).

The review:

As much as I have enjoyed all of the above 4 SNBC beers, the Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale (6.7% abv) is my favourite by quite a stretch. A real hoppy taste left me wanting more.

SNBC claim to be the first brewery in the United States to use fresh hops from as far afield as New Zealand. 3 kinds of hops in fact - Pacific Hallertau, Motueka and Southern Cross.

As you can see above, it pours a beautiful, deep amber colour with a full, fluffy-but-strong head which retained it's character throughout - which wasn't long to be honest but only because I drank it quite quickly. 

I savoured every citrussy sip.

At the time of writing, there is only a handful of retailers in Brisbane (that I'm aware of) that has these available. At AU$10 per bottle, you might think it's a little bit pricey. It is worth every cent and I will go back for more.

The Latest Haul...

We've all done it. We've all previously been to the bottle shop/off-licence/liquor store, got home, unpacked and stared at our haul and thought "Hmmmm...which one of you first?"

For me, today was no different. 7 bottles made their way into my shopping basket:

Buying singles can be a costly affair but I generally only do it if I've never tried the beers in question.

Today's newbies are as follows:

Whistler Premium Export Lager 5.0% abv - for no other reason than I have yet to add a representative from Canada to my list!

Estrella Damm Pilsner 4.6% abv - same reason as above! First Spanish beer cerveza in my list believe it or not!

Monteith's Radler Bier 5.0% abv - reason for this choice is simply because I do love a Monteith's brew! This is my 7th kind of Monteith's after their Autumn Amber Ale, Black Beer, Dopplebock Winter Ale, Golden Lager, Single Source Lager and Spakling Ale.

Gage Roads London Best 4.4% abv - I've been told by a friend, NM, that this isn't a particularly nice drop. I'll let you know. Reason for purchase is because I'm a sucker for anything that claims to be 'Best'. Plus, look at the Union Jack flag on the label....it was always going into my basket with a label like that!

Mildura Mallee Bull Strong Ale 5.6% abv - I picked this one up to give Mildura another go as I hadn't been too taken aback with my previous Mildura purchases - Choc Hops Stout, Desert Premium Lager and Murray Honey Wheat.

Samuel Adams Summer Ale 5.5% abv - I fancied this one to add to the ever-growing contingent on my list from America. Please visit the Samuel Adams website and checkout their vast amount of beers!!!

Tower 10 IPA 7.0% abv - made it's way home with me because I loooved the Karl Strauss Red Trolley Ale.

These 7 beers will, of course, make their way onto the beer list (see far right hand side of blog for complete list). This will take my total to 228 different beers since June 2010.

Coopers: Celebration Ale - Review

I've always been a mediocre fan of Coopers beers. I don't dislike the brews at all but on the other hand I've never been bowled over by one either. If I'm ever short of time and in a hurry and feel the need to pick up a 6pack on the way home for example, I'd be happy to walk out with some Sparkling Ale - an affordable heavy I'm sure you'll agree.

I'm happy to state that the annual releases of Extra Strong Vintage Ale are quite nice drops too.

Back in March, I found out that Coopers were to release a Celebration Ale in May 2012 - a beer to commemerate 150 years since former shoemaker, Thomas Cooper, produced his first commercial beer. I waited patiently for a few months praying that the beer wouldn't taste like shoes from 150 years ago.

Towards the back end of May, I grabbed myself a 6pack from Dan Murphy's at Kippa Ring.

The Review:

 

2.5 stars for this 5.2% effort. Not too fussed with it if I'm blatantly honest. I couldn't help feeling that it was missing something. I was expecting more.

As soon as it poured with little head, I had a feeling I'd be disappointed.

Brewed with three different hop varieties – Centennial (USA), Nelson Sauvin (NZ) and Pride of Ringwood (Australia), I was expecting a heck of a lot more taste.

Try it because you've got to right? 150 years to celebrate! Alas, I won't fight you for the last bottle on the shelf.

The Visit

As some of you more astute and more frequent visitors to '200 Different Beers' have noted, it has been quite some time since my last post. 25 days in fact. YIKES!

I will correct that as of now but there has been good reason.

My humble abode on Brisbane's northside has been jam-packed with visitors for the past 3 weeks. Mum, Dad and my British-born eldest son decended on this antipodean isle meaning the house contained no less than 7 human beings and my blogging quite simply had to take a back seat.

There were many, many good times shared in such a short space of time. I won't bore you with them all. You're reading this blog because you're interested in beer right? Well, Dad is a keen beer drinker.....

The story begins some months back when I realised that the craft beer revolution that has overwhelmed America and is on the up and up here in Australia has not yet come to the fore in the UK. Yes, there are breweries over there doing the right thing and have been for quite some time such as Wychwood, Wells & Young, Hook Norton, Greene King to name but a few but they are still very much in the minority. The European breed of lager (Heineken, Stella, Carlsberg) is still the winner in retail sales. So, Dad is going to be in for a treat!

Months before Mr Magin Senior's visit, I decided to 'keep' 2 bottles out of every 6 pack that I purchased. The theory was that I would get to appreciate 4 beers and share the other 2 with him. However, as he pointed out, I actually got to drink 5 and he got to drink 1. Oh, what a shame.

I proudly ended up with a list of 23 different beers (x 2 of course) for us to taste during his stay. Some were more obscure than others. Some were just a random 'pick up in passing' from Dan Murphy's. Others were carefully purchased (Little Creatures Single Batches). I made sure he was well aware of the presence of 46 bottles in the beer fridge by placing a designed-by-me 'menu' actually on the beer fridge and even in his wardrode! Should the thought of beer cross his mind as he was getting dressed in the mornings, I wanted the 'menu' to be at hand. 

Here is the 'menu' (click on it for a larger view):

Suffice to say that we consumed every drop - even drinking 3 within the first 24 hours of his feet touching Australian soil. We cut it a bit fine as the final 2 passed our taste buds on the family's penultimate night. The last night was kept alcohol-free (by him not me) just in case of an upset tummy on the flight. Nobody wants to be sat, caged like a chicken, in frequent desperation for the loo on a long haul flight. Not even in the name of a good beer. Mind you, could a good beer even be classed as a 'good beer' if upsets ones stomach?

Everybody's tastes are different but overall we generally gave the thumbs-up and thumbs-down to the same beers. Top of the pile, in both of our views, were the Little Creatures Single Batch beers especially The Big Dipper and The Quiet American. Special mentions go to There Is No Santa (Brewdog), both Stoke Bomber Ales (McCashin Family), Big Eye IPA (Ballast Point) and Monteith's Autumn Ale. Dad certainly won't be letting his gullet entertain Mildura's Choc Hops again though! Not to his liking. Perhaps he should've avoided the 4 pints of Bulmers that he drank at a function a few hours before!

I hope not to leave it as long as 3 weeks between blogs next time.

Happy drinking (sensibly).

Bar Stuff Episode 2 – Tippler's Tap, Newstead, Brisbane

I recently wrote a loose review of a Brisbane bar. Well, here's a very loose preview of a new Brisbane craft beer bar - yet to be opened! Tippler's Tap is due to open very soon. "Not soon enough!" says my beer drinking habit.

Carl Rhodes (ex-manager of Nectar Beer & Wine, West End) and his new venture will be located in the up-market Brisbane suburb of Newstead. It joins an ever-growing list of interesting venues located in the area which includes established bistro Bitter Suite and the forthcoming brewery - Green Beacon.

In terms of notable places to enjoy a decent beer, Brisbane lags behind it's southern state sister cities (try saying that after a couple of DOTLS!) especially after we recently witnessed the unfortunate demise of Underbelly. I'll be there for a beer or two or three or four as soon as Carl opens the doors. I encourage everybody to do the same. I hope the local residents are up for it too. It certainly has the potential to be a win/win situation for Carl and the area.

 

Tippler's Tap, 22 Masters Street, Newstead, QLD 4006  info@tipplerstap.com.au

Arvo Lager - Marketing Genius or Gimmick?

I've written before about the sheer stroke of genius behind some of the world's beers. The latest marketing drive from a brewery to hit me in the face is Arvo Lager.

They have two beers (both of which are 4.9% ABV) to offer you:

Brew 34 - 'with a subtle malty character, authentic hop bitterness and fruit driven aromatics'

Brew 51 - 'a light, refreshing taste with subtle hops and a clean finish'

Here's the clever marketing part (solely to entice you to pick it up off the shelf).....when you buy a 6 pack, you get three of each kind i.e. 3 x Brew 34's and 3 x Brew 51's. When you buy a carton, you get 12 of each kind. They've taken it a step further by incorporating the gimmick into the artwork of the packaging too by literally halving the colour of the box...

Even more cheeky is that you can go to their website here and vote for your favourite of the two.

Brewed in Yenda, NSW by the Casella Family (the guys responsible for Yellow Tail wine), it's yet another Aussie attempt to prise some of the beer market away from the 'big boys' namely Lion Nathan (Kirin) and Foster's (SABMiller) that jointly occupy a giant 90% share of the market. Good luck to them.

Marketing genius or gimmick? Let me know your thoughts.

Bar Stuff Episode 1 – The Platform Bar, Brisbane

Until just over 18 months ago, Platform Bar on Brisbane’s Ann Street was known for being one of Brisbane’s ‘places to be’ for craft beer. It can’t be - and I don’t think it ever was - deemed as a ‘boutique bar’. It does, however, pose as one of the most accessible inner-city venues pouring craft brews. On 8 taps no less.

There’s good food, wines, spirits and cocktails aplenty too.

Situated alongside the larger and possibly more well-known venue - Grand Central Hotel, 'The Platform' (as it is affectionately known) is quite easy to miss. Tip – don’t walk too fast along Ann Street past Central Station or you will stroll straight past! If supping VB or quaffing XXXX Gold is your pastime, or you don't mind the noisy hubbub of a sticky-floored pub then the main bar in the Grand Central Hotel is for you. If you’re keen to explore a beer of the craft variety then sneak next door and give the Platform Bar a go.

Upon entering, you’ll be welcomed with a smile by one of the friendly staff (Lauren and Lucas, you will remain nameless. Oooops! I lied). The atmosphere is very relaxed and you can choose to sit up at a tall table or chill-out on a lower, softer seat. After a few of my visits spanning the past 4 years or so with chaps from the office (mainly members of the BPA), I can personally recommend that it’s safer to go for a lower situated, softer seat. It’s not as far to fall to the floor when squiffy.

The taps rotate every so often and regularly include a limited edition or a single batch beer from the likes of Mad Brewers and Little Creatures.

You don’t have to settle for a tap beer. The fridges are always topped up with a huge selection of bottled beers – mainly from Australia and NZ. The stock usually mirrors the bottles that are available next door in the bottle shop on the other side the building – Grand Central Cellars.

Whilst respecting and understanding that the owners have contractual commitments to Lion Nathan and Fosters I have to say that I would spend more of my hard-earned cash in this place if the variety of beer on tap changed a bit more frequently. Sadly, I believe that it's the limited variety that has knocked these fine folk down the pecking order in the list of Brisbane's purveyors of fine beer.  

Now, I’m not hoity-toity enough to write about lighting, ambience, feng shui and the like but the décor and general feeling of the place works very well. Bizarrely, a not-very-well known fact is that the bar is situated right on the other side of the wall to Platform 1 of Brisbane’s Central train station. During my first ever visit to The Platform Bar, I wondered what the rumbling was. Thinking I should’ve been spending my lunch money on actual lunch to stop my stomach rumbling, it turned out that the minor tremors were in fact a train heading south to the Gold Coast. If you’re fortunate enough to be sitting towards the rear of the establishment, you’ll note that you’ll be sitting on the right side of a huge one-way mirror looking out across the station’s platforms – at the poor souls that don’t have a beer in their hand like you! Very quirky indeed and a nice touch.

If it’s a quick, CBD-based, lunchtime beer you’re after. I can recommend The Platform Bar. If you fancy a relaxed evening session with colleagues after work. I can recommend The Platform Bar. If you’re stuck for somewhere to hold a function (I organised a successful ‘Christmas drinks for clients’ in 2011), then I can certainly recommend The Platform Bar. If you want to drink VB or XXXX Gold and scream obscenities at your rowdy workmates give the place a miss.

The Platform Bar, 270 Ann Street, Brisbane Central Station, Brisbane, QLD 4000. Phone: 07 3220 2061

Green Beacon Brewing Co.

Fellow BPA beer club member, KT, recently brought to my attention a new Brisbane-based (Helen Street, Tenerife to be precise) brewery called Green Beacon Brewing Co. He read about it online.

This is great news for the beer appreciators of Brisbane and Queensland as a whole. In my (somewhat beer lovingly biased) opinion Queensland needs more of these ventures. I believe that there is now a firm breed of beer-heads like myself in Brisbane - core support - that will assist Adrian and Marc by getting Green Beacon through its first few tough months by purchasing their brews - if it's nice of course! If they serve up fizzy orange-coloured water similar to another Brisbane brewery that shall remain nameless then we're in trouble!

They will no doubt have the added support of popular craft beer haunts in Brisbane namely The Scratch in Milton and Archive in West End.

I note that the fellas are throwing a taste of England into their brews. As a Pom that hails from south-east London (pronounced by the locals there as 'sarfeast Lundun) this is very interesting and somewhat appealing. My eagerness to try it gained momentum at that point.

It's a beer lovers dream to be able to step up from home-brewing to opening up a brewery but I can't imagine it's a cheap thing to do and I'm presuming there are quite few legal hoops to be jumped through (liquor license etc). I wish them all the luck in the world. I truly hope they succeed. If they can replicate the achievements of other craft breweries in Queensland such as Burleigh and Sunshine Coast then we're in for a real treat.

There's no news on an opening date yet but, rest assured, I'll be reviewing Green Beacon's brews on this blog as soon as they're available.

www.greenbeacon.com.au

Little Creatures: Day Of The Long Shadow - Review

Today is the day.

The new Single Batch release from Little Creatures - Day of the Long Shadow - hit the hand-pump at Archive in West End, Brisbane.........just 2 days after it's nationwide release. It's like what a birthday felt when I was 6 years old. Waking up and thinking "Today is the day!".

As our religion states, NM and I made the pilgrimage over to West End this rainy lunchtime (courtesy of a combination of our trusty umbrellas and a bus ride) to sample this hotly-anticipated brew.

It was worth suffering a little bit of precipitation on our faces. It was worth the glares from the boss as we came back from lunch late. It was worth damp business attire. Believe me - nothing was going to get in the way of us trying it out.

We set off on the 10 minute journey discussing nothing but beer (as usual). We discussed our hopes for DOTLS and whether we'd want to go back to work afterwards. That final conversation always ends up with a 'no'. Always.

It poured beautifully, with the barman in Archive topping us up dutifully once the creamy head had subsided a little.

It was obvious that the above was quickly going to become....

...and in turn...



The Review:

 

I liked it. A lot. I have to say that I was hoping to compare it to Brew Dog's 'There Is No Santa'. I was expecting more 'spice'. Those that have tasted 'TINS' will know what I'm on about. Nevertheless, this didn't put me off buying more. The second actually poured slightly cooler in my opinion which aided the enjoyment. I have to say that for an 8.9% it didn't taste like an 8.9%! The alcohol only hit me an hour or so later - by which time I should've had my face buried in work. That wasn't going to happen today. Today is a celebration. A celebration of yet another very classy Single Batch.

If you can, go buy some today.

I'm keen to compare the bottled results to today's tap offering. I'll let you know how I go...

Queensland Beer Week July 16th - July 22nd 2012

July 16th - July 22nd sees Queensland celebrate everything beer in the Sunshine State's first EVER Beer Week!

Us Queenslanders (although I cannot claim to be a proper Queenslander as I'm as English as they come) have sat back and watched the likes of New South Wales and Victoria immerse themselves in all sorts of beery festivities for quite some time. Now, finally, it's our turn.

Organised by the publishers of the Beer Lovers Guide to Australia and Critics Choice – Australia’s Best Beers, the whole affair seeks to tie in all of Queensland’s best breweries and good-beer-focused pubs, bottle shops and restaurants to coordinate 7 days of tastings and events designed to showcase the best of Australian beer and beer culture.

Click on the image above or here for full details including participating venues and a comprehensive A3 calendar/poster. 

10 green bottles hanging on the wall...

...that's how the song goes. I wish it was as simple as 10. The fact of the matter is it's a lot, lot worse...

From day one of my journey on the craft beer bandwagon, I thought it might be nice to start a collection of beer bottles. I have absolutely no idea why. Like most hare-brained schemes - it seemed a good idea at the time.

It all started around August 2010 when a friend of the BPA (Beer Club), KR, gave me a mixed 6pack. Incidentally, it was this 6pack that started my love affair with Australian craft beer. For the record those 6 beers were: Endeavour 2010 Reserve Pale Ale, Knappstein Reserve, Mildura Murray Honey Wheat, Mountain Goat Steam Ale, Pepperjack Ale and lastly, Vale Ale Pale Ale. You'll find these, of course, in the list to the right hand side of this blog page.

Simply, once these 6 beers had been consumed, the bottle was rinsed a couple of times with water, the bottle top replaced and hey presto a clean, empty beer bottle to put on the shelf in the cupboard. Sadly, I've done this every time I've tried a new beer for the first time. At the time of writing, I have accumulated 215 different beer bottles - much to the dissatisfaction of my wife. Don't get me wrong, I can see it from her point of view especially as the collection has outgrown the original shelf and now takes up a heck of a lot more space. After approximately 50 bottles, I set myself a golden rule and that was 'Only bottles of beer consumed by me in my house can be included in the collection'. Obvious right? Wrong. I'd started contemplating keeping bottles from beer that I'd drink in pubs/bars! I even saw a mate drinking a beer in his yard once that was in a great looking bottle. I needed it for my collection (or so I thought). I had to curb my kleptomania somehow. Hence the introduction of the golden rule.

I've never been somebody that has collected things. Well, not in my adult form anyway. Sure, like most kids, I collected stamps for a while. Badges and key rings too. Even phone cards once upon a time! I grew out of the collecting phase by the age of 15. Like most adolescent males, the attraction of hanging around with mates took precedence. Even cars and girls became more important than key rings believe it or not.

Perhaps I'm a marketers dream? I used to work in the packaging industry and totally understand how products on shelves need to stand out to shoppers. Retail sales mean revenue etc etc blah blah blah. I have to admit that seeing a great looking bottle or a great piece of artwork sucks me in straight away. Imagine placing a magnet near some iron filings....well, in the bottle shop I'm an iron filing and the awesome piece of artwork on a beer bottle is the magnet. You'll struggle pulling me away. Separate us at your peril.

I've written before about my affection to Little Creatures Single Batch brews. This love stretches beyond the liquid inside the bottles. The designers over there in Freemantle keep the same conceptual design of a little shack on their labels but change the scenery each time there's a Single Batch release. A few examples:

Mad Brewers also stay with the same design but simply change the colour scheme:

Another thing that makes me easy pickings for a marketing department is a gimmick. Who on earth at Grolsch dreamt up the thought of selling the stuff in 1.5 litres bottles? Give that person a pat on the back. I saw it. I bought it...

It stands proud at a whopping 34cm tall and, now empty, is a perfect home for $2 dollar coins (not many other denominations fit through the opening) as I attempt to put some cash away for a rainy day. Probably to buy more beer thus more bottles thus what a vicious circle.

Another gimmicky bottle is the sculpted 330ml Lucky Beer ‘Buddha’ bottle.

The beer inside is pretty average but the bottle is supposed to bring me luck. I saw it. I bought it. I told you, I’m a marketers dream!

Perhaps the weirdest beer bottle in my collection is a Belgian offering; Delerium Tremens.

Delerium Tremens is actually Latin for ‘trembling madness’. This is where the phrase “having the DT’s” comes from. DT’s is a sickness associated with the withdrawal of alcohol after abusing it. If you suffer from the DT’s, it is thought that you’ll most likely hallucinate pink elephants or snakes hence the inclusion of these on the label. Very clever. Other than the strange artwork, I guess the main reason why it’s the most bizarre bottle in the collection is simply because the bottle isn’t see-through. Of course, at first glance, I thought “What the hell is in there that they don’t want me to see?”

I’ll tell you – loads of floaty bits! This is a small price to pay for a classic 8.5% Belgian beer that won ‘Best Beer in the World’ in 1998 at the World Beer Championships in Chicago, USA.

I’ll leave it there. I feel better having got my obsession out in the open. A problem shared is a problem halved. Yeah, whatever.

I’ll leave you with a couple of photos of the prized collection. They're not stored in any particular order.

I'm not that weird.

Big buys Little

Today it was announced that one of the 'big boy breweries', Lion, is on the verge of buying up all remaining shares of Little World Beverages known mainly for their exquisite range of beers under the Little Creatures banner.

Lion are a large company that own big brands such as XXXX, Tooheys, Hahn and Boag's.

Apart from Little Creatures, Little World Beverages are responsible for the White Rabbit and Pipsqueak Cider brands.

Part of my initial attraction to craft beer here in Australia was that there are so many individual, small breweries like Little World doing their own thing - very successfully I might add. These 'boutique' breweries dared to go where nobody has before. Dared to be different to the 'big boys'. Dared to stand up and be heard. So, with this in mind, it's a shame to see one of the more unique breweries swallowed up by a large conglomerate.

However, what does this buy-out mean for me, the beer lover? Who knows. Perhaps it's too early to say. One thing is for sure. If the WA based Little World can tap into Lion's distribution network then us Queensland dwellers may well see the products on shelves sooner rather than later. I can sometimes wait patiently for up to 3 weeks for a new Little Creatures to be readilly avaiable.

Time will tell if the Lion ownership steers Little Creatures beers into more of a mainstream presence. I, for one, am hoping that they invest in Little Creatures properly and encourage the diversity that Aussie beer lovers have all been accustomed to in recent years. I want to continue to enjoy the same outstanding releases that have made me a huge Little Creatures fan. 

Coming soon: Mad Brewers - Ginger Chops Ale

Coming soon (June 25th release date) is the latest limited release from the Mad Brewers at The Malt Shovel Brewery....Ginger Chops Ale - an alcoholic ginger beer.

To date, I've resisted the temptation to peer into the world of alcoholic ginger beer. I don't mind it. I'm just happy riding the wave of 'proper' beer. However, due to the intellect that has historically gone into producing Mad Brewers brews, I guess I'll have to give this one a go.

More details here.

Coming soon: Little Creatures - Day Of The Long Shadow

Coming very soon (25th June)...a new Little Creatures Single Batch called Day Of The Long Shadow. A spiced Winter Ale.

More details here. I simply must indulge. I must.

The Beverage Perfection Alliance (BPA) or 'Beer Club' explained...

Beer club started mid-2011 when 6 blokes in the office agreed that something needed to happen on a monthly basis to blossom their love and appreciation of a good brew.

The beery 6 consisted of myself, NM, KT, PF, DM2 and AC. We collaboratively became known as the Beverage Perfection Alliance (BPA). AC found himself as the elected chairman of the newly formed band of brothers boozers although I don't actually recall anybody voting!

We each agreed to buy a 6pack of beer on the last Friday of every month. We also had a spend limit of circa $20. The plan was to keep 1 bottle and swap 5. Therefore, the 6 of us would end up with a mixed 6pack. Voila!

In the early days, our 'leader' AC instigated a ratings system and there was even a process put in place for us to get together and discuss 'hoppy notes', effervescence, bitterness and the like. This all lasted 1 month. Far too intricate for 6 blokes! I'm not sure if we voted, but the general consensus was to scrap the ratings/review system. The brief changed simply to 'enjoy the beers and chat freely if desired'.

Some months we incorporated a theme. For example, Pale Ales. We'd all have to purchase a 6pack of Pale Ales. This was a nice concept but soon ran its course and quickly slipped back into a free for all.

A year on and the BPA is minus 2 members - AC and DM2. We're now a foursome. We seemed to have exhausted many avenues especially as we kept the limit to around $20. In an attempt to broaden our horizons and tap into the faster paced Victorian beer movement (vs the slower Queensland market), the 4 remaining members have started to purchase a carton of 24 between us online. How 21st century of us!

So, again, we each pick a 6pack. This time, keeping 3 and swapping the other 3. All very confusing but all in the name of good beer! To date, we've only purchased from Slowbeer and been very happy with the service, price and more importantly - the beer.

Future online purchases will appear on this blog.