Huge new shipment!

New beer is here! And new glassware! We have just received a huge shipment of new beer and glassware from Europe. In fact, we can happily say we've never had this much premium, quality beer in the store at any one time. We have way too much beer to fit in one newsletter (our attempt stalled at over five pages), stay tuned for Part II in the next few days!

Over 130 beers are new, many are Australian firsts, and many haven't been in stock for years. Also back in, stacks of Belgian beer glasses - all the favourites such as Kwak Coachman Glasses (with stand), Duvel, Triple Karmeliet, Gulden Draak, Hoegaarden Grand Cru and Forbidden Fruit and Gouden Carolus. We also have fresh stock of all of these beers. Our next newsletter will have a complete list of new arrivals - it is a lengthy read indeed!

Although it is hard to pick a favourite, we'd have to say that we are most excited by the arrival of a incredible range of innovative and delicious beers from Dutch master brewer De Molen. Check out the brewery profile just below.

Not forgetting fantastic Australian craft beer, we have also just received new batches of Victoria's best, including the fabulous Holgate Temptress Chocolate Porter (Gold Medal at the 2010 Australian International Beer Awards) and the very limited Beezlebub's Jewels.

More great Australian new arrivals come from Bright Brewery, Nail Brewing and Red Duck. We'll have more information in our next newsletter, or check out our website for details.

Other than what is mentioned above, some particular highlights of our new shipment/s include:

NEW ARRIVALS

Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel

Rodenbach Vintage 2007

Bush Prestige Barrel Aged

Fraoch 20^th Anniversary Barrel Aged

Brewdog Paradox Springbank Imperial Stout

Marten's Pale Ale

La Trappe Isid'Or

Gordon's Scotch Ale

Liefmans Blended Fruitbier

Slaapmutske Christmas Bier

FAVOURITES BACK IN

Schnitzer Brau (Gluten Free German Lager)

Belle Vue Kriek

Jupiler

Hoegaarden Grand Cru & Forbidden Fruit

Guinness Special Export Stout

Palm

De Koninck 1833

Gulpener Korenwolf

Our website should have brief descriptions and pricing - let us know if it doesn't!

DE MOLEN

De Molen's reputation is literally second to none amongst European brewers. Earlier this year ratebeer.com, one of the world's biggest databases and resources for all things beer, rated De Molen as Europe's best brewery (eg better than Mikkeller, Nogne O and Westvleteren, a hefty feat indeed). Like many of the world's most impressive breweries, De Molen was started by a passionate homebrewer out of a garage. De Molen's range and reputation have grown steadily over the last few years, although the brewery hasn't - De Molen's 500L capacity brewery is certainly one of the smallest we deal with!

From De Molen, we have received a great selection of stouts, porters, smoked beers and hop bombs - all of which come in individually numbered bottles of incredibly limited release. These fantastic beers will not last long. We've almost sold out of Black Damnation - a 13% ABV blend of De Molen's Hel & Verdoemenis Imperial Stout and De Struis Black Albert Belgian Imperial Stout, and the others in the range will follow soon. Other than Black Damnation, descriptions of our current De Molen beers are included below (nb: notes shamelessly poached from De Molen's website as we haven't had a chance to write descriptors for these great beers yet):

Bloed, Zweet & Tranen - "Blood, Sweat &Tears (Bruichladdich Version)"

An Imperial Smoked Stout born from a mistake during the brewing process, it's a unique combination of smoked Bruichladdich malts and smoked malts from Bamberg. It's sweet and bitter with a mix of fruit, coffee and chocolate. And - of course - an even more dominant smoke flavour.

Hemel & Aarde - "Heaven &Earth"

An Imperial Stout made with the most heavily peated malt in the world from the Bruichladdich distillery. Almost pitch black and opaque, small head. Furiously peated aroma, hiding the malt, licorice and dark chocolate somewhat. Very full bodied, thick mouthfeel, like fluid bread. Dark chocolate, loads of peat, lapsang souchong tea, chocolate cake, culminating in an almost endless aftertaste that also has licorice.

Hel & Verdoemenis - "Hell & Damnation"

An Imperial Russian Stout brewed with brown malts, an English traditional specialty malt, this beer has won prizes at festivals across Europe from Sweden to Italy. It's big (10% ABV), black, roasted and complex. We are convinced that not trying this ale will be a mortal sin to your taste buds and beer experience.

Hel & Verdoemenis Barrel Aged 666

Hel & Verdoemenis aged on oak chips which have been soaked in cognac. A truly unique and amazing experience.

Mikkel & Menno Weizenbock

A collaboration brew between Mikkeller and De Molen; a hoppy, malty and flavoursome Weizenbock.

Rasputin

De Molen's first Imperial Russian Stout is named after probably the most famous Russian of the Romanov court. According to De Molen's own imaginary set of events, Rasputin was personally responsible for the fact that during the rule of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra this style was born. So this is why they have dedicated this beer to Rasputin. It's brewed only once or twice each year in a limited edition.

Tsarina Esra

Imperial Porter is a relatively new style that arose simultaneously in both Europe and North America. In fact it's a stronger version of the Baltic Porters that were brewed in England for export to the Baltic countries. And Baltic Porters are in fact stronger than the regular English Porter. To put it in short: it's more of more. But they cannot be compared to their brothers the Imperial Stouts. They certainly have the same malty character but the heavy roasted malt is absent.

Porter 1914

Brewed to an original English recipe dating back to 1914, which Ron Patterson found in an abandoned English building.

Amarillo

An Imperial IPA that got its name from the American hop used in the brewing process. Amarillo is a powerful hop in aroma, flavour and bitterness. But of course we used other hops as well creating a beautiful combination. Not a beer to drink as a session beer but one to enjoy and savour.

Saaz Hopburst

This unique IPA brewed with only Saaz, the European noble hop traditionally used to flavour delicate German and Czech pilsners.

Vuur & Vlam

A northwest US style IPA, full of hop flavour but with a generous malt balance.

Molenbier - "Mill Beer"

One of De Molen's first recipes, and a beer they are still proud of. Molenbier is 9.2% ABV strong and flavourful English Ale. Well hopped, like most of their beers, in both aroma and flavour.

Jong & Onbedorven - "Young &Unspoiled"

Like a lamb frisks in a spring meadow, brewer's too are inspired by the love season. Rather than creating a Maibock (a traditional spring beer), De Molen instead brewed this seasonal Weizenbock. Fruit, flowers and fresh grass can be found in both aroma and flavour.

Bommen & Granaten - "Bombs & Grenandes"

A US style Strong Ale / Barley Wine, which weighs in at a hefty 15% ABV. This dessert beer uses champagne yeast, which affect both flavour and body. There's plenty of fruit-like orange, tangerine and sweet apples. It's powerful and full bodied but still easy going.

Pilz

In the southern part of Germany it's custom to offer an unfiltered pilsner on tap next to the filtered and bottled pilsner. Because its unfiltered, this pilsner will remain lively and the yeast flavours will give you a real feeling of the pure natural product you're drinking. Like most De Molen beers, expect something unusual and full of flavour.

CLEARANCE SALE

We're also planning a really big sale, in the words of one of our suppliers, a MWFMB Sale - or "Make Way For More Beer Sale". The idea is to clear all of our stock which is approaching or has just passed best before date to make room for all of our new arrivals. We'll release more info next newsletter, so stay tuned. We will definitely have some absolute bargains.

That's all from us for now, we'll have the second half of this newsletter out in the next few days. In the meantime, come down to the store to check it all out for yourself!

Cheers

The International Beer Shop Team