Picking up where we left off last week, we have just received some fantastic new arrivals - many of which have never been available in Australia before. Particular highlights come from New Zealand's Renaissance Brewing Co, Scotland's Brewdog and the UK's Thatcher's Cidery. We also have great specials on Youngs Double Chocolate Stout and Weihenstephaner Gift Packs - check out all the details below.
And a quick reminder that we are open on Sundays from 12-6pm. Come down for exclusive Sunday specials, beer tastings, or just to have a chat about beer.
NEW ARRIVALS
Renaissance Brewing Company
New Zealand is fast becoming an epicentre for fantastic craft beer, following in the pioneering footsteps of their American craft brewing brethren. It is not just the gastronomic and gourmet culture of New Zealand that has made it particularly well suited to this movement - geographic factors make New Zealand particularly well suited to the fickle art of hop production. Like Northwest America, parts of New Zealand are ideal for producing fragrant and distinctive hop varieties, and have born the aromatic standouts Nelson Sauvin, Riwaka and Motueka hop varieties. New Zealand's hop industry also farms unique adaptions of Cascade, Willamette and Pacific Hallertau (among others), all with strong regional characteristics.
Founded in Marlborough in 2005, Renaissance is born from the goal of leading the renaissance of microbrewing in New Zealand. Every bit a craft brewery, Renaissance has stripped the brewing process back to the very basics - removing modern automation, utilising instead the pre-industrial hand methods of the 18th Century. Producing only a range of ales, Renaissance's mission statement is "intensely rewarding ales for the enlightened palate". In the five years since production commenced, Renaissance have won numerous awards and trophies, a fine reflection on their fine beer. From Renaissance we have:
Discovery American Pale Ale
A classic US style pale ale, and a great showcase of the distinctive New Zealand hop varieties. Akin to a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, this is packed with up-front citrus and grapefruit flavours, and finishes with a drying bitterness/acidity.
Elemental Porter
A misunderstood and under-appreciated style, Porter is an approachable and satisfying dark ale. Lacking the robust burnt-toast bitterness of its bolder counterpart the Stout, Porter is all about subtle rich chocolate and dark fruit flavours, and a soft, lingering finish. This is a complex and highly enjoyable example of a traditional, roasty London porter. Renaissance recommend drinking this beer as an accompaniment to dark chocolate, coffee or berry-based desserts, blue cheese or even barbecued meats.
Craftsman Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
This beer is intended as the 'Big Brother' to the Elemental Porter. It is brewed using the same crystal, brown and black malts, and then enhanced with the use of organic rolled oats, for smoother mouthfeel and richer body. Cocoa nibs are also added to the beer, during the mash, and in the boiling kettle, and again during fermentation. The result is a rich, roasty, flavoursome stout, dominated by luscious earthy chocolate notes. An ideal dessert or winter's night beer..
Stonecutter Scotch Ale
Renaissance's flagship beer is this fine example of Scotch Ale, or Wee Heavy, described by the brewery as the 'red wine' of their range. It is a rich, full bodied ale which incorporates a smorgasbord of malt driven characteristics including caramel, toffee, licorice, chocolate and other roasty flavours. Nine different malts are used to produce this ale, which also displays a soft raisin-like fruitiness, and a scandalous level of drinkability.
Brewdog
We are always excited to receive another shipment from the Scottish iconoclasts of brewing Brewdog, as they continue to innovate and improve with each batch. It would seem that there is no end to their relentless pursuit of perfection and innovation... or is there? Check out Brewdog's latest invention, a 55% ABV monster presented inside taxidermied squirrels, dubbed The End of History: http://www.brewdog.com/blog-article.php?id=341
Hardcore IPA
This is the first time we've had Brewdog's new and improved second batch of Hardcore IPA - the same recipe which took out Gold in the Imperial India Pale Ale category at the 2010 World Beer Cup. The fact that this modified recipe is an improvement on the first batch is certainly saying something - last time round it sold out in less than a week.
According to Brewdog this incredible beer is the most heavily hopped in the UK. It has a whopping 150 International Bittering Units (IBUs), lashings of Centennial, Columbus and Simcoe hops in aroma and flavour, a rich malt profile and 9.2% ABV alcohol. However, like all truly great beers, the hallmark here is balance. Combine all of these extreme flavours and the result is most often an overtly in your face drinking experience, but this is where Hardcore IPA really differs. It is amazing how balanced and drinkable this beer is. Everything is presented in perfect harmony, and together transcends the sum of all parts. Like Brewdog's 5AM Saint, we consider this beer a 'must try' for all beer enthusiasts.
Abstrakt AB:01
Brewdog's new Abstrakt series is underway - limited release, small-batch beers made, like everything Brewdog, to question the conventional wisdom on brewing and push the boundaries of beer. Essentially it will be the new outlet for Brewdog's immense creative energy, with many different experimental/ concept beers in the planning stages. AB:01 is the first beer in the series, a Belgian Quadrupel brewed with a difference. Produced at De Proefbrouwerij in Belgium (a large contract brewery who give us much of Mikkeller's greatest work), this strong dark Belgian ale is fermented with yeast cultured from a bottle of the revered Westvleteren 12˚, and whole vanilla pods. Highly collectable, each batch of Abstrakt is individually numbered and strictly a one off.
Thatchers Ciders
Thatchers have been crafting small batch ciders from their farm in Somerset, England for over a century, using only the best locally grown cider apples, traditional recipes and often oak casks for maturation. We have just received a varied selection of these top ciders, including some single variety showcase ciders. Thatchers have also taken over production of Green Goblin, an oak aged cider previously produced by the eccentric Wychwood Brewery. Our current range of Thatchers ciders includes:
- Green Goblin - a full flavoured, bittersweet blend aged in 100 year old oak vats.
- Katy Cider - a light dry cider, fragrant and softly sparkling. One of Thatchers' single varietal showcase ciders.
- Old Rascal - a medium dry blended cider. Crisp, clean and very balanced.
- Cox's - naturally sweet and juicy, this single varietal cider is produced only with the finest Cox's apples.
- Gold - a smooth, refreshing and fresh tasting cider.
- Pear Cider - a refreshingly light, smooth pear cider. Enjoy it chilled, or over ice.
- Vintage 2009 Cider - we have very limited stock of this medium dry, oak aged cider. Produced with only the best apples of the 2009 crop.
Other new arrivals this week included:
Issaquah Menage a Frog
Brewed at Rogue's Issaquah Brewery in Washington, USA, this Belgian style triple uses only top quality pilsner malt, Belgian candi sugar, saaz hops, water and a specially selected Belgian yeast. The result is a monster of an ale, full of rich complexities, and a spicy, dry finish.
Erdinger Urweisse
Brand new from Germany's Erdinger Brewery is this cloudy wheat beer, brewed to one of the brewery's original recipes from over 120 years ago. Specialty malts and hops are used, as is a different strain of yeast to the house strain. The result is said to be a spicy and full-flavoured hefeweizen. Unfortunately we haven't had a chance to sample one yet, lucky it's almost the weekend!
More information, including prices, should be up on our website in the next few days. Please contact us if you have any questions, or to reserve any stock.
BEER SPECIALS
A reminder that we still have some great sales specials available including:
Weihenstephaner World Cup Gift Packs
The World Cup is over, so take advantage of this great offer on Weihenstephaner's World Cup Gift Packs, containing:
1 x Weihenstephaner Hefe 500ml
1 x Weihenstephaner Kristall 500ml
1 x Weihenstephaner Dunkel 500ml
1 x Weihenstephaner World Cup Glass
For just $14.99.
Youngs Double Chocolate Stout
The first stout to be made with added chocolate, not once but twice! First created in 1997 this is a dark, ruby coloured stout that is almost black from a distance. A distinctive chocolate flavour with a smooth and velvety finish. Pale ale malt, crystal malt, roasted barley, chocolate malt, special blend of sugars, Fuggles and Goldings hops, real dark chocolate and chocolate essence. Melted chocolate bars are added to the boil and the essence is added after filtration. The combination of chocolate and beer is surprisingly easy to drink.
We've put together the perfect winter night, with 500ml bottles of the decadent Youngs Double Chocolate Stout on special for:
- 2 x 500ml bottles: $12.00 + a free Youngs pint glass
- 16 x 500ml bottles: $76.99 + a free Youngs pint glass
(limit of 1 glass / customer)
The Old Brewery - Progressive Dinner
Following the success of their beer and cheese matching night earlier this year, The Old Brewery (located in the old Swan brewery) is running a progressive beer and food matching dinner on Friday August 27. Chef Greg Farnan will match 5 of the brewery's award winning beers with five robust courses. For more information, contact Sage at: functions@theoldbrewery.com.au
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