Illustration by Ye Yint Aung thisisyeyintaung.com / @thisisyeyintaung
Stomping Ground tinnies & Kompromat Russian Imperial Stout
LET’S GET SEASONAL
Hop into Spring with these fresh and fantastic brews By Emily Day Bridge Road Brewers MayDay Hills Apple
Whenever I see a MayDay Hills beer I think there must be something strange in the water up at Beechworth, given the crazy things that brewer Ben Kraus dreams up to put in this range of beers featuring local ingredients and funky yeasts. This 100% Brett-fermented Red Ale brings together the flavours of stewed apple and cinnamon in a beautifully crisp malt-driven beer. Made by first reducing and caramelising 500L of local apple juice, the Red Ale base was then brewed and combined with the juice and fermented with Bridge Road’s house Brettanomyces yeast in an American oak foeder (big barrel). It was then transferred to tank and infused with cinnamon sticks. Why not!
Bridge Road Brewers MayDay Hills Breakfast
This limited release combines the flavours and smoothness of Carman’s Fruit and Nut Muesli with the pick-me-up fruitiness of cold-soaked coffee beans from local coffee roaster Blynzz. This latest Mayday Hills release pours dark brown and smells of freshly roasted coffee beans. Under the coffee beans hides some beautiful fruity, nutty aromas from the muesli and a lovely clean tinge of Brett. The beer is light and clean with a creamy mouthfeel. Up front, you first notice the silkiness of the muesli and oats combined
with the flavour of dried fruits and berries. As these flavours subside you are left with the pleasant lingering taste of cold-drip coffee making for the perfect Breakfast beer.
Bridge Road Brewers Single Hop Series
Locally grown hops from Hop Products Australia are the star of this Single Hop Series from Bridge Road. Sold as a four pack with each IPA featuring either Ella, Galaxy, Enigma or Vic Secret, this is the perfect way to get a handle on each hop’s unique characteristics, from bright and fruity to piney and resinous. The perfect experiment for hop nerds!
Bridge Road Brewers x Movida Grisette
Wow, we sure are reviewing a lot of Bridge Road beers this month, but what can you do when they are so overachieving! This intriguing brew, part of Bridge Road’s Restaurant Series, was created with Melbourne restaurant Movida to match their modern tapas-style fare, and features locally grown bergamot (a speciality Italian culinary citrus) and caper leaf. Super fragrant on the nose, with hints of citrus and brine, this grisette (a farmhouse ale) has a salty bite that comes as a surprise after its funky aroma. Definitely fascinating and worth checking out!
Red Hill Brewery Truffled Scotch Ale
Mornington Peninsula brewery Red Hill is known for their classic Scotch Ale, and what better way to make it a bit more special than to chuck a pricey handful of locally grown truffles in the mix. Rich, smooth and full-bodied, this caramellychocolate brew is imbued with deep earthy notes thanks to the truffles and is worth seeking out to savour on those crisp Spring nights.
bottle, the Uncharted IPA has a beautiful seafaring-style label which hints at the flavour journey inside. Whiffing of freshly peeled mandarins, this IPA pours a beautiful light golden colour with a white foamy head and has a firm citrus bite (I feel like I am getting Vitamin C, that’s how fresh it tastes!) With many brewers reaching for the same hops to brew their IPAs, getting to try the complex flavours of a completely new hop is a bit of a treat.
Mr Banks can range
Seaford brewery Mr Banks has recently unveiled a shiny new can design, dropping the complex and dark-toned illustrations for a lighter and simpler look. Featuring a boat sailing on the water under a moonlit sky, the elegant cans include a West Coast IPA, Lager, Yellowstone IPL and Oatmeal Stout. If you get a chance to visit Mr Banks newly expanded taproom at Seaford, on the way to the Mornington Peninsula, check out their wide range of excellent tap beers and try their tacos, including the XPAbattered prawn taco and vegan chilli. Yum!
Stomping Ground are heading out of the brewery and stomping into the world thanks to their growing range of canned beers. Now available in tinnies is the Laneway Lager, Gipps St Pale Ale and Hop Stomper IPA, as well as a Sour Red Saison and Bunker Porter. Grab a six-pack from the brewery or your local bottle shop and enjoy the taste of Collingwood in your own home. Also new out of Stomping Ground is the bourbon barrel-aged ‘Kompromat’ Russian Imperial Stout, named after the KGB slang for ‘compromising materials. Packaged in a beautiful large bottle with a wax seal bearing the Stomping Ground logo, it has dark and dangerous notes of roast, espresso, vanilla and oak, just watch out for that stealthy delivery of alcohol.
Bright Brewery Black Diamond and Stubborn Russian
Lord Nelson Brewery Peking Poppi Seasonal Ale
Sydney’s Lord Nelson Brewery has released this third member of their can family in time for Spring. The 32-yearold Lord Nelson has expanded its range of experimental and seasonal ales, while staying true to its beer philosophy of creating food-savvy and sessional brews. Spicy and a little in your face, this brew is as Aussie as a corner shop dim sim and a homage to multicultural Australia (take that, Fraser Anning!). A session ale with just enough fennel and star anise to make your taste buds go pop, this is the perfect complement to spicy Asian fare.
Two Birds Brewing Uncharted IPA
Two Birds Brewing are currently in the process of expanding their range of limited release beers, and this is the latest in the series. It’s brewed with an experimental hop that doesn’t even have an official name yet, and a signature malt from a single farm in NSW. Arriving in the larger 500ml
They know how to make good winter beers up at Bright, and although Spring may be finally here, it’s a good idea to have a couple of these tucked away for those times when the weather does a backflip and has you scurrying back under the blankets. Bright Brewery’s India Black Ale is a winter limited release and a tribute to the Black Diamond ski runs of Victoria’s alpine snow resorts. Bright says: “Those most challenging runs of Hotham and Falls Creek are our playground in the winter, and this beer is our salute to all who conquer them.” Smooth layers of earthy and herbal hops provide a bold flavour with notes of citrus and pine and a clean
roast malt finish. Bright’s famously luscious Stubborn Russian Imperial Stout is also out now in bottles, made in collaboration with the nearby Bright Chocolate Factory, and is silky smooth with soft roast and bold chocolate textures.
This has a salty bite that comes as a surprise after its funky aroma. Blackman’s Brewery Tomato & Basil Gose
Torquay brewery Blackman’s have a sense of fun about their beers and are never afraid to experiment, while also ensuring that the end results manage to hit the mark. This latest can release is a cheeky little number, harnessing the savoury delights of tomato and basil. It pours not red (like I was expecting) but pale yellow like a lager, with heaps of fizzy carbonation and a soft, frothy head. Landing on the tongue with a salty smack, this refreshing brew finishes with subtle tomato and basil flavours. Very moreish, this is a yummy and slightly odd brew that we loved!