Brewer's Feast

Well, a pretty good concept that needs a little bit of buff  and polish. At around 1pm the brewers themselves were saying it was pretty quiet, but I think as with most festivals will grow over time.

I understand that Hart's is contemplating a quarterly event. This is a good idea as long as the number of brewers is kept fairly low, and they don't aim for big crowds.

I enjoyed the Summer Ale from True South brewery, Punch and Judy mid strength ale from Murray's, and the 6.5% Imperial Pils from Pickled Monkeys.

The event was a little slow kicking off; the beer seemed to only arrive at 11am, and there was a mad rush to get everything hooked up. No matter, we went downstairs and ordered a couple of good beers over the bar, including the new single batch oatmeal stout from Little Creatures and White Rabbit white ale.

My only real gripe was that the brewers couldn't showcase all their beers at once, saying that they would switch kegs later in the day. I was intending to stay only three hours, so this was no good for me. It was a shame as I wanted to hook into the Otway Saison, True South Wee Jimmy, Murrays Grand Cru, and Hunter Cranky Pants IPA.  So, in future, they need either more taps, or less brewers.

Brewer's Feast - Beer List

I've been a bit silent lately.... just got myself a new job which has been somewhat distracting..

Scott Morgan from Hart's Pub & Rocks Brewing has offered up the list of beers available at the festival.

http://beeradvocate.com/forum/read/2956145

I'll be making a bee-line to the Pickled Monkeys Imperial Pils and the True South offerings. Then a quick refresher course in Otway Estate beers.

Readers will know that I am more than familiar with Murray's beers, but on this occasion there is a new one to try: Punch & Judy, a mid-strength ale which is ideally suited to today's session (http://www.murraysbrewingco.com.au/web2010/beersPage.php?21)

The Hunter Beer Co is a regular drop-in when up in the valley; the Cranky Pants IPA is a new one for me, so will give this a nudge today also.
Grandridge is there too; the three offerings will be familiar to those who frequent Dan Murphy's.

Harts Pub Brewer's Feast

Another beer festival for consideration. This one is in two week's time; I have commitments from 2 blokes already.

More details here: http://www.hartspub.com/hartspub/News-and-Events.htm

Again, let me know if you wish to meet up. I hope to be there earlier rather than later.

Paddy's Brewer's Market Festival

Just got handed this flyer by Dave (from eponymous homebrew store). I have it diarised, and assuming approval from the committee, hope to attend. Sydney-based blog followers are encouraged to let me know if you want to meet up.

Paddy's Brewer's Market Festival

Saturday 9th October From 12pm Free Entry

25 Micro Brewed Beers On Tap $3 Per Middy

Meet your local brewers including St Peter's Brewery, Badlands Brewery, Potters Brewery, Murray's Craft Brewing Co, The Happy Goblin Brewery, Lord Nelson Brewery, Mountain Ridge Brewery, The Rocks Brewing Co., 4 Pines Brewing, Black Duck Brewery and of course Paddy's Brewery!

There will be a couple of new breweries making an appearance so don't miss a great chance to try some truly awesome beers!

The only Beer Festival where the man who brewed the beer is the... man who is pouring the beer!

Platinum Cellars Beer Haul

SPOILER ALERT: If you are Bob or Chris, the contents of this post pertain to our Father's Day gathering; don't read on if you prefer to be surprised on Sunday.

Geez I love Platinum Cellars. Adam Bellamy, the owner and my host today, apologised for the current lack of range. I mean, if THAT'S what they call a lack of range, then I'd gladly suffer it over the FULL range of any other bottle shop in Sydney.

So, what to buy ? I have two not-necessarily-aligned motives: the first to find something I've never had before; the second to find something Bob & Chris have never had before.  But since they themselves have started frequenting Platinum, it's just getting harder on both fronts.

Today's haul:

• Meantime IPA
• Dupont La Biere de Beloeil
• Chatoe Rogue Wet Hop Ale
• Collesi Imper Ale
• De Molen Porter
• Cantillon "Lou Pepe" Gueuze 2006
• Bridge Road Chevalier Saison
• St Bernardus Abt 12
• Trois Pistoles
• Bridge Road B2 Bomber
• Rogue Eugene City Brewery 200 Meter Ale
• Nogne O #100
• Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast Speyside Edition

Those I've had before
The Meantime IPA is a delightful drink. More caramelly than heavilly bitter, it is however very, very well balanced.
Chatoe Rogue Wet Hop. Drank this a couple of months back, before knowing that Chris had a Rogue tasting planned. So, this is to make up for that oversight.
Bridge Road Chevalier Saison. My 2008 notes on this are of an uncomplicated drink; yet I think it's worth revisiting.
St Bernardus Abt 12. One of the world's best beers, and often used as a debating example of why certain Trappistes are not the be-all-and-end-all. Haven't tasted this since 2006. Looking forward to it,
Trois Pistoles. Simply to stock up on Unibrou beers, who don't export to Australia anymore.

The Others
Dupont.... always try beers from Dupont
Collesi. A new Italian craft brewery with great reviews
Cantillon. The benchmark in sour beers. As with Dupont, always try the Cantillon.
Bridge Road B2 Bomber. Adam gave this to me as a 13th-to-the-dozen. Hard to say no.....
Eugene City. Something different, and from Rogue, so will be very interesting.
Nogne O. Well, one of the world's finest new wave brewers. I could have bought more, but chose instead to keep both kidneys.
De Molen: ditto
Mikkeler: ditto, although it was tempting to try the "Highland" aged version, as well as the "Speyside" aged version. Getting ridiculous here.

Reviews to come...

PS. Try to top that, Bob & Chris

Beer Review: XXXX Summer Bright Lager

Guide to review scoring is on the post Beeradvocate Ratings Systems

Unless otherwise specified, these reviews are my own.

XXXX Summer Bright Lager
American Adjunct Lager 4.2%
C- / 2.75   look: 2.5 smell: 2 taste: 3 feel: 2.5 drink: 4

Disclaimer: I received this beer as a gratuity from the brewer's marketing team.

Pours a pale straw yellow, not much bubbling. White rocky head that doesn't last long.

Innocuous aromas, macro sulfur. Some grain. Goes skunky in the glass pretty quickly. Therefore drink it from the bottle, not the glass.

Flavour is light and innoffensive. Neutral grain flavour that I find common across Asian lagers, Mexican beers, and Aussie "dry" styles. Slight green apple note. Doesn't have that cardboard character I tend to observe in other dry-style beers, so good for its class.

As expected, a very light mouthfeel, crisp finish. Almost like softdrink.

This beer will appeal to the wanna-be-seen crowd. Those who prefer more assertive flavours and mouthfeel should look elsewhere.

Serving type: bottle

Additional review notes, from Libby, Jono, Natalie:

Tasty, refreshing.... nice with a slice of lemon or lime perhaps.  Great beer to have with a curry, or on a hot summer's day. "I could drink this" say non-beer drinkers Libby & Natalie.

My initial blog entry for XXXX Summer Bright Lager is here http://aussiebeerblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/xxxx-summer-bright-lager.html

The New Kegerator

As Libby and I surveyed the bar area, we considered what we should do with a couple of bar fridges and empty space. After some deliberation, she advised that I "should" buy a kegerator.

Well, not one for arguing with my wife, I decided to do as I was told. For about $600 including freight (from Ballarat), found the following on the interweb-thingy:

http://www.pinnaclewholesalers.com.au/product/274/TWIN_TAP_BEER_KEGERATOR

After quick delivery and installation, here it is:

Dual-tap font, drip tray and railing. The column is not cooled; I think there are instances of people getting some sort of glycol circulation, but for the moment I'm happy to leave it as is. The temperature range is 2-8C, which also makes it a good fridge for lagering if needed.

The tap handles are screw-on, which allows changing. I have read about tap handles made out of blackboard; this is handy for any bar that changes what's on tap.

I've used paper wine bottle tags to identify the contents.

The fridge has room for a 50L brewery keg, which requires CO2 cylinder to sit outside the unit, feeding the gas through an inlet at the back. However, for the corny keg user, there is room for two 19L kegs plus a D-sized CO2 cylinder.

It's fairly easy to install, however it should be noted that one cannot easily find line clamps and crimping tools. My local Bunnigs doesn't have it; I think gas fitting supply outlets are needed. I made do with a few old clamps and an electrical wire stripper.

I currently have Dave's IPA and Double Coopers Ale on tap. It's just way too easy to get a beer these days.

XXXX Summer Bright Lager

Disclaimer: I received a 6 pack of XXXX Summer Bright Lager and some paraphenalia (hat, sunglasses, thongs), courtesy of the XXXX Summer Bright Lager team.

Was pleasantly surprised to be asked by "The XXXX Summer Bright Lager team" if I wanted a complimentary 6-pack of their latest brew. As I have not received any gift, gratuity or payment since starting blogging, I reckon it's about bloody time.

The Pack

According to the invitation, the beer was released last year in Queensland, and they're now making a foray south of the border. My colleague in Brisbane, Matt Kirkegaard has some things to say already about XXXX Summer Bright Lager, here: BeerMatt and here: Brews News.

A nice pack arrived yesterday, with some great Gen Y gear in it (white rimmed glasses, colourful baseball cap, and some oversized rubber thongs). But, it didn't look all that good on your Gen X correspondent, at least not in his wife's eyes. So I'll have to find some tattooed metrosexual to donate it all to..... any offers ?

The Gifts

I did advise the XXXX Summer Bright Lager team that I was not going to compromise my objectivity, in spite of their kind largesse.

It comes in a clear glass bottle, with thin plastic labelling. It looks as if it's directly competing with Sol.... whites and yellows and summer sun. Matt Kirkegaard does mention that it is targetted at the Corona drinker, so the packaging makes sense. Now, I don't generally like anything served in a clear bottle (some Brit Ales excepted), and I'm no fan of Mex Lager.... nor a fan of Low Carb lager.... so things aren't starting off too well.

The Beer

But.... it's actually not that bad. My wife even described it as "having flavour". I'll review it more formally in due course, but it's got some reasonable malt flavours, and some crisp fruitiness like green apple. Very light body of course, and dry finish, as per the style. At 4.2%, it's definitely for summer sessions.

XXXX Summer Bright Lager

An interesting curiosity is the inclusion of nutritional information on the bottle. I think this is the first time I've seen any such thing.

My formal review of XXXX Summer Bright Lager is here:
http://aussiebeerblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/beer-review-xxxx-summer-bright-lager.html



** EDIT 10 July 2011 **
I notice that there has been a lot of traffic to this post, particularly from India. I assume that this beer must now be available there. If you're reading this, and from India, feel free to post a comment.
Have you just seen this beer ? Have you tried it ? What are your thoughts ?
Cheers,
Mike

Some progress on the Northern Beaches - Some......

In today's Manly Daily there is an eight page advertorial on the newly-renovated Collaroy Services Beach Club, now called "The Beach Club, Collaroy".

According to the advertisement, there are 18 beers on tap, and plenty more in the fridge.  I nearly fell off my kitchen stool. Draught deers include James Squires Pilsener, Porter, Sundowner and Matilda Bay Dogbolter, Fat Yak, and a 7% Mad Brewer Noir Stout. Little Creatures Bright Ale is on tap too, and among the bottled beers are Big Helga and Knappstein Reserve Lager.

Amazing selection for what used to be a Coopers-only kind of place (on top of the usual macro suspects).  So I dropped in, and sure enough, good beers for $5-$6 a schooner range for non-members. The club remains pretty much the way it was (I had to look hard to see what was renovated); the usual clique of smelly, hard-swearing racists, and a bistro that has never quite lived up to its potential.

Worth popping in for a slightly different beer range; I contemplated renewing my lapsed membership, but decided I wouldn't be there often enough to recoup my membership via discounted beers.

Double Coopers - The Result

Thanks to Hampers for reminding me to comment on this. And sorry for taking so long to read the comments.

As inferred in another recent post, I had a little secret I wanted to keep from my mates until a party last Sunday... I recently acquired a dual-font kegerator.

I have hooked up the Dave's IPA and the Double Coopers, and am particularly enjoying the latter. Some slight over-carbonation issues, but that's where a drip-tray comes in handy (included with the kegerator thankfully).

Dave's IPA has some nice malt backbone and bitterness. There is also a slight paperiness that I am worried might be oxidation at my end, but then again could be a hop character expressing itself. Not 100% sure.

As for the double Coopers, it has turned out very well. Definite Coopers Pale profile, maybe a touch more dextrinous body, and certainly a hint of alcohol. I recommend giving it a go.... 2 x tins of Coopers Pale Ale tins, 500g dry malt extract, and some healthy yeast. Cooler ferment, some time to settle, and onto the keg.