New Beers, Beer News & Sale

It’s been an exciting few weeks - heaps of new beer has arrived and even more has been ordered. We don’t have nearly enough room to store all of these fantastic new arrivals, and desperately need to clear some space! So we introduce: The International Beer Shop’s Great Spring Cleaning Sale 2010. Check out a some of the sale items below.

The reason why we are having the sale is the great new ranges we have instore, or are expecting instore in the coming months. Brand new for us this week were some absolutely amazing French ciders and calvados from Domaine Dupont, the Czech classic Budvar (Budweiser) Dark, the ever popular Belgian Wit Blanche de Namur in 750ml corked bottles, and White Rabbit’s new beer – a honey spiced White Ale. More details below.

Besides these brand new arrivals, fresh stock of some old favourites returned this week, including:

Brewdog Tactical Nuclear Penguin

Brewdog Sink the Bismarck!

Blanche de Namur

Desperados

Carling Black Label

Tanner’s Jack

Satan Red

Satan Gold

Speights Old Dark

Schlenkerla Weizen

Sunner Kolsch

Weltenburger Barock Dunkel
Weltenburger Hefeweizen Dunkel

Before we get into it, a quick note that Beer & Brewer Magazine are running an Australia wide people’s choice competition to expose Australia’s best beer venues, including pubs, bottlestores and homebrew shops. Check out all the details at www.beerandbrewer.com. We’d love to make the shortlist of top bottlestores - if any of our members would like to vote for us check out: http://www.beerandbrewer.com/index.php?option=com_rsform&formId=4


FLOREFFE

Located in Wallonian Belgium, the Abbey of Floreffe (latin for “flower”) was founded in 1121. A brewery was commissioned within the Abbey in 1250. Brewing continuing unabated until the French Revolution in 1794, when the monks where chased from the Abbey, and the premises put up for sale.

In 1850 Floreffe was preserved, and transformed into a college, but it wasn’t until 1960 that the headmaster resurrected the Floreffe label (in a move to fund the upkeep and maintenance of the buildings and gardens).

Today Floreffe commissions a range of 5 core beers, brewed at the nearby Lefebvre Brewery. Floreffe’s focus is on crafting subtle, enjoyable beers and the entire range is noted throughout Belgium for their quality and consistency. The range includes:

Floreffe Blonde – a light and spritzy Belgian Ale in the vein of Leffe Blonde, with some interesting spicy complexities and a fruity malt balance.

Floreffe Dubbel – a rich and warming Belgian Brune / Abbey Dubbel. Smooth and creamy, with notes of chocolate, dried fruits and anise.

Floreffe Tripel – a subtle and enjoyable interpretation of the iconic Belgian Tripel style.

Floreffe Prima Meilleure – a big, bold Quadrupel/ABT, bursting with flavours of ripe tropical fruits, caramel and anise. A dry, spicy finish provides fantastic balance.

Blanche de Bruxelles Wit – a refreshing, slightly tart Belgian witbier, and great example of the trademark citrus, chamomile and coriander flavours.

Also back in stock after a lengthy absence is Lefebvre’s Saison 1900, a refreshing and light interpretation of the classic Belgian farmhouse style.


DOMAINE DUPONT

We’ve talked at length about the Domaine Dupont Cidery in previous newsletters. Suffice to say, there are not many, if any, cideries anywhere in the world that command the respect and adulation heaped upon Domaine Dupont.

Located in Normandy, France, Dupont produce traditional sparkling ciders and calvados (apple brandy). We are really excited to have just received fresh stock from Dupont, including some brand new ciders and calvados:

Cidre Tripel 2009 – a 10% ABV tripel fermented cider, made primarily from the bittersweet Mettais apple. Pouring like a champagne, expect incredible aromas and flavours of tart apples, chicory and oak. The tart, dry finish makes Cidre Tripel particularly well suited to pairing with food or sharp cheese.

Givre Ice-Cider 2008 – the new vintage of Dupont’s amazing ice-cider. Frozen apples are picked and pressed, resulting in an amazingly concentrated sweet cider, with rich, intense flavours of caramelised apples and candied citrus. Serve as an aperitif, or with dessert or cheese.

Le Pommeau de Normandie – a 17% ABV blend of one-year-old calvados, and mout, apple juice that has fermented to around 1% ABV. After being carefully blended in oak casks, Pommeau is transferred to 4-5 year old 400L oak casks, where it is carefully matured for at least 30 months. Perhaps Dupont’s greatest creation, Pommeau displays amazing complexities of vanilla, crystallised apples, prunes and toasted hazelnuts. Absolutely amazing.

Cherries in Calvados – cherries are handpicked, washed and then bottled with calvados. They mature for 6 months, and can be enjoyed on their own, or as a dessert dressing.

Before we get into our sale items, brief notes on the two other brand new arrivals this week:

White Rabbit White Ale – the follow up to the hugely popular White Rabbit Dark Ale is this “Australian White Ale”. Inspired by the coriander seed, juniper berry and orange zest flavours of quality Belgian witbiers, this Australian twist sees less yeast characteristics, as well as the subtle influence of the local honey with which the beer is conditioned. Very sessionable, but with enough complexity to keep you coming back for more.

Budvar Dark – the Czech favourite is now available in Australia. Anyone who thinks they don’t like dark beer should give this a go, the subtle flavours of baking bread, caramel malts and roasted nuts are universally delicious.

Black & Gold Cornish Orchard Cider – a bittersweet cider from the heart of the English cider stronghold.


SPRING SALE SPECIALS

While stock lasts get:

Weihestephaner Hefe

$69.99 / Case (20) (BB: 20/08/10)

Weihestephaner Tradition

$69.99/ Case (20) (BB: 19/08/10)

Lindemans Tea Lambic Beer

$11.99 / 4PK :: $69 / Case (24) (BB: 29/10/10)

St Benoit Brune

$15.99 / 4PK :: $84.99 / Case (24) (BB: 29/09/10)

Courage Directors

$19.99 / 4PK :: $69.99 / Case (16) + free glass (BB: 15/10/10)

Youngs Double Choc Stout

$76.99 / Case (16) + free glass (BB: 24/11/10)

Schmucker BioPils

$17.99 / 6PK :: $62.99 / Case (24) (BB: 29/09/10)

Sunner Bio-Colonia Kolsch

$15.99 / 4PK :: $59.99 / Case (20) (BB: 07/10)

Saranac Pale Ale

$17.99 / 6PK :: $61.99 / Case (24) (BB: 08/10)

Matilda Bay Big Helga

$15.99 / 6PK :: $59.99 / Case (24) (BB: 06/11/10)

Mash Summer Lager

$11.99 / 6PK :: $39.99 / Case (24) (BB: 09/09/10)

Weihenstephaner World Cup Gift Packs

3 x Weihenstephan Beers + Glass, $14.99 ea

Westmalle Dubbel

$4.99 ea (BB: 05/08/10)

Bush Blonde

$6.49 ea (BB: 06/10/10)


FATHER’S DAY SPECIALS

As well as the Spring Clearance specials listed above, we have a stack of great Father’s Day gifts, including merchandise, glassware, beer!, and pre-made beer packs. Check out the full list of packs at: http://www.internationalbeershop.com.au/special_packs.asp


BALADIN TASTING

This Friday from 4pm we’ll be running a free intstore tasting on two of Italy’s best craft beers – Baladin Super and Baladin Elixir. Both are mysterious and distinctive strong ales, given their own unique twist by mysterious and distinctive head brewer Teo Musso – who plays music to his fermenting wort to inspire the yeast! There are some great specials on the Baladin range for the rest of the month.


BEERTASTERS TASTING

Beertasters still have a few seats left for next Thursday’s beer tasting event, a monthly beer appreciation night held upstairs at Mt Lawley’s The Flying Scotsman. The theme for August is “Changing Seasons” – a small group will be guided through 8 different beers, progressing from lighter spring offerings to full bodied, dark winter treats. Tickets are $30 each, which includes beer and finger foods. To reserve a seat, email Anthony at beertasters@hotmail.com


BRUNSWICK BEER SHOW

Attention homebrewers - entries are now open for the Brunswick Beer Show. Full information is up here. $1.50 / entry, with only one 330ml bottle required. The International Beer Shop is the Perth drop off point, entries and forms are due by 20th October.

That’s it for us this week, congratulations if you made it this far – there’s been a lot to get through.

Cheers

The International Beer Shop Team