SPECTAPULAR XI ________________
THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN
BEER SPECTAPULAR! 22 of the country’s best craft brewers brew a unique beer for the festival sat feb 12th 2011 the home of better beer
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ORIGINAL FASS BIER (LAST DROP)
8
CUCUMBER SANDWICH (MOUNTAIN GOAT)
8
kb (WIG & PEN)
8
ORGANIC BLUEBERRY HEFEWEIZEN (OTWAY ESTATE)
9
RASPBERRY WIT (KOOINDA)
9
FANNY GERTRUDE’S ANZAC BICKIE BEER (BURLEIGH)
9
RED RELIEF (STONE & WOOD)
10
CHERRY BOMB (TRUE SOUTH)
10
QUINCE PALE ALE (LOBETHAL, BREW BOYS)
10
ZEPHYR DOUBLE WHITE ALE (DOCTORS ORDERS)
11
CHOCOLATE CHILLI PORTER (HUNTER)
11
2 HILLS MAIBOCK (HARGREAVES HILL, RED HILL)
11
WEE HEAVY (4 PINES)
12
RYE IPA (MASH)
12
KARMA CITRA (FERAL)
12
LEMON MYRTLE IPA (JAMIESON)
13
THE EMPRESS (HOLGATE)
13
BIG RED ROCKET (BRIDGE ROAD)
13
IMPERIOUS (MURRAY’S)
14
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WHAT IS THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BEER SPECTAPULAR ABOUT? The Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular (GABS) is the eleventh SpecTAPular beerfest since The Local Taphouse first opened in St Kilda a little over three years ago. There have been many different themed SpecTAPulars - Winter Beers, Anzac Day (Aussie vs Kiwi beers), Hopping Mad (hop-focussed beers), Moose & Mountie (the best craft beers from Quebec), Star Spangled (US craft beer showcase), Summer Beers and Oktoberfest. The inaugural GABS promises to be the most exciting showcase of Australia’s craft beer industry creativity ever seen in this country. The concept is that a cross section of Australia’s best craft breweries are invited to either brew a unique beer just for the event or launch a new seasonal beer for the very first time. All beers on tap at GABS have never been tasted by anyone or anywhere before the day. Brewers can get creative or perhaps brew something that commercial imperatives prevented them from brewing in the past. The beer might be a historic style done brilliantly (and perhaps with a twist) or an innovation never seen before. We were stunned by the response to our invitations and sad we couldn’t fit more breweries in the lineup. Depending on the success of this GABS, we are exploring the possibility of bringing future GABS offsite to create a much bigger beer festival. We would like to thank all the brewers for their efforts and you for attending what we hope will become an annual celebration of thre Australian craft beer industry. A GUIDE TO OUR SPECTAPULAR BEERFESTS WHAT ARE SPECTAPULARS? The Local Taphouse’s seasonal beerfests, each revolving around a different beer theme. They are a fixture on many a beer lover’s calendar. TAP BEERS We work very hard to make the best keg beers from Australia and internationally available on tap. Each year we showcase more than 220 different beers from at least 70 breweries, many for the first time in the 4 GABS2011SpecBook.indd 4-5
country. All beers showcased today are listed in this Booklet and for SpecTAPulars we intentionally limit keg supplies to encourage people to get in early so as not to miss out. THE RINGING OF THE BELLS To celebrate pouring the first beer at midday and the draining of each keg throughout the day/night, we ring a bell in each bar! TASTING GLASSES As well as regular size glasses, we sell 60ml tasters today so you can try a large variety of beers. The sample glass is 85ml but we don’t fill it to the brim so you can stick your snout in the beer to savour the aroma! TASTING ORDER Try the order we have listed them - lighter, more subtle tasting beers then stronger and more challenging flavoured beers. Drinking water between samples is a great way to help cleanse the palette. HYDRATE This is of paramount importance. You cannot get enough water and it helps to detoxify and counteract the alcohol that strips water from your system. Water is your friend and jugs and cups are located around the bar. EAT This will not only replenish your system, it will help absorb the alcohol so you don’t get too tipsy too quickly. No one wants to witness a weak, depleted and drunk beer drinker in action. TOLERANCE Get to know your limits and don’t exceed them. If you feel that moment of absolute cheer, take a break, grab some water and eat some food. STANDARD DRINKS/ABV In our description of each beer, we note the number of Standard Drinks and Alcohol Content. As a general rule, we suggest not more than 8 sample glasses per hour regardless of whether you’re driving or not. While it varies based on the individual, health experts suggest the following to stay below 0.05 BAC - For men: No more than two standard drinks in the first hour and no more than one standard drink every hour 5 7/02/2011 9:55:08 AM
after that. For women: No more than one standard drink in the first hour and no more than one every hour after that. LEARN SOMETHING Sometimes there’s more to beer than just drinking it. Ask questions. Engage in discussion with mates and strangers. Read the Tasting Booklet. Talk about what you do and don’t like. Think about what you’re drinking. Try new styles. Get educated. If all you end up with from a SpecTAPular is a hangover, you’ve truly missed out. MODERATION Anyone wishing to treat this festival as a drinking game should have stayed at home. SpecTAPulars are about appreciating great beer & not how much can be consumed. Drink for flavour, not just for impact. TIME TO GO When a Local staff member or some 7 foot security guy is kindly suggesting you’ve had your limit, realise that it’s time to go home and just leave. Any other course of action just gets sloppy. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Take public transport home (or get a lift). If you want to order a taxi, try calling 131-008.
SMELL Around 75% of what you experience is through your sense of smell. Breathe through your nose with two quick sniffs, then with your mouth open, then through your mouth only (nose & mouth are connected in the experience). Enjoy its bouquet. TASTE Now sip the beer. Resist swallowing immediately. Let it wander and explore your entire palate. Let your taste buds speak. Note the mouthfeel, the consistency of the liquid’s body, and breathe out during the process of tasting. Try to detect any sweetness, salty flavours, acids and general bitterness. Think about what they are, or what they are similar to. Many ‘beer experts’ suggest that beers should be tasted from lightest to darkest. This is flawed. Sure, colour is often an indication of what you might be in for but for the most part, and with most drinkers, it’s psychological. Generally speaking, you should mainly consider two things: alcohol content and hop levels. Keep the hoppy and high alcohol beers towards the end so you don’t ruin your palate early in the tasting. Beer tasting is very much an individual experience, and everything about it is highly subjective. There are no beer experts, just beer drinkers with opinions!
HOW TO TASTE BEER When really tasting a beer, there’s so much more than swilling it down, burping and saying ‘it’s great’ or ‘it’s crap.’ Even though tasting is an individual thing, there are a few steps, which if followed, will take your beer tasting to a blissful level. Here’s how Beeradvocate.com recommends you go about tasting beer: LOOK Take pause and marvel at its greatness before you partake of it. Raise the beer in front of you, but don’t hold your beer to direct light as this will dilute its true color. Consider its colour, its head and consistency. AGITATE Swirl your beer gently in the glass. This will pull out aromas, slight nuances, loosen & stimulate carbonation and test head retention. 6 GABS2011SpecBook.indd 6-7
HOW TO DESCRIBE BEER Here are some useful beer tasting descriptors. Why not come up with your own tasting notes for each beer?
General
Descriptors Aggressive, Bold, Complex, Robust
Body
Crisp, Dry, Full-Bodied, Light-Bodied
Malt
Malty, Grainy, Nutty, Caramel, Toffee, Toasted, Roasted, Chocolate, Coffee
Hops
Herbaceous (Herbal), Floral, Spicey, Resiny, Bitter
Other
Yeasty, Fruity, Estery
Characteristic
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THE BEERS 14.. KOTWAY n a p p sORGANIC t e i n R e sBLUEBERRY e r v e L a g e HEFEWEIZEN r
11.. KLAST n a p DROP p s t e i nORIGINAL R e s e r v eFASS L a gBIER er ORIGIN Last Drop Brewery (WA)
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
ORIGIN
BEER STYLE
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
North Eastern Bavarian 4.6% Keller bier - barique
24
60 310 575
0.2 1.0 1.8
$1.5 $5.7 $10.0
Otway Estate Brewery (VIC)
Blueberry Hefeweizen (Weissbier)
5%
20
60 310 575
0.2 1.1 2.0
$1.5 $5.6 $10.0
BEER STYLE
Last Drop is a traditional lager brewery dedicated to the original true lagers. Their unfiltered lager for GABS pours a copper colour with a dense head but low effervescence. Initially some hop and wood tannin bitterness dominates but this is quickly brushed off with mild caramel sweetness. A wood aroma is present (roasted wood chips were added during brewing) but not taking over the flavour profile and making it a pleasant experience. Some vanilla notes also present at the end. For best results leave the beer to warm up little bit.
The Otways is a large blueberry growing region hence adding local blueberries to this refreshing and thirst quenching style. This beer is one the brewers have wanted to brew for some time and GABS gave them the motivation and opportunity to brew it. The beer has all the attributes of a typical German Hefeweizen with the clove and fruit characteristics evident. The addition of the blueberries, however, gives a further flavour and aroma dimension and a dry and slightly tart finish.
15.. KKOOINDA n a p p s t eRASPBERRY i n R e s e r v eWIT Lager
12.. KMOUNTAIN nappstein R e sCUCUMBER e r v e L a g e SANDWICH r GOAT ORIGIN
BEER STYLE
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
ORIGIN
BEER STYLE
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
Mountain Goat Brewery (VIC)
Summer Ale
4.7%
16
60 310 575
0.2 1.1 1.9
$1.5 $6.2 $11.0
Kooinda Boutique Brewery (VIC)
Belgian Witbier
5.5%
12
60 310 575
0.3 1.2 2.2
$1.5 $7.5 $13.2
MG brewed this to be complex and different, yet dry enough to slake a summer thirst. And, of course, because no-one else was putting cucumber in beer! If you hold it up to the light, there’s even a slightly green tinge! It is very pale with a dry palate and a long finish as the fruity Kiwi hops and refreshing cucumber weave together. MG focussed especially on the balance of flavours between the late hop fruitiness and the subtle tartness of cucumber.
ORIGIN
BEER STYLE
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
Wig & Pen Brewery (ACT)
Berliner Weisse
4.3%
12
60 310 575
0.2 1.0 1.7
$1.5 $7.0 $12.5
Berliner Weisse is a cloudy, sour wheat beer. They usually have a clear, pale golden straw-coloured appearance. The taste is refreshing, tart, sour and acidic, with almost no hop bitterness. Some drinkers make the sourness more palatable by adding fruit syrups like raspberry and woodruff but here cherries have been added. IN THE GROUND FLOOR BAR ONLY, kb IS SERVED THROUGH MORELLO CHERRIES IN OUR NEW BEER FILTER ‘THE FUNKY BREWSTER BOOSTER’. TRY IT BOTH WAYS!
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This beer has a slight pinkish hue when held to the light. The flavour and aroma is predominantly raspberry and light notes of coriander, and orange are in the background. Delightful to drink in the summer months, this is a great tasting fruit beer.
.6.K nFANNY a p p s tGERTRUDE’S e i n R e s e r v ANZAC e L a g eBICKIE r BEER
.3.K nWIG a p p&sPEN t e i nkbR e s e r v e L a g e r
8
Kooinda’s first ever limited release beer, this beer is all about the raspberries, which the brewing lads all love.
ORIGIN
BEER STYLE
Burleigh Brewing A smooth, creamy ale Co (QLD)
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
5%
n/a
60 310 575
0.2 1.1 2.0
$1.5 $5.9 $10.4
Peta Fielding, the wife of Burleigh Head Brewer Brennan, had a grandma named Fanny Gertrude Nicholson who was fond of saying, “Call me ‘Gert’ and cut out the ‘rude’ part”. A recently baked a batch of grandma’s ANZAC bickies were so good Brennan and Peta decided to turn them into a beer for GABS! The resultant smooth, creamy ale is the colour of a well-baked anzac bickie. It has a delicate vanilla aroma, rich yet balanced coconut flavour and a smooth, creamy mouth feel from the oats.
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. K nDOCTOR’S a p p s t e i nORDERS R e s e r vZEPHYR e Lager 10.
.7.K nSTONE a p p s t&eWOOD i n R e s RED e r v eRELIEF Lager ORIGIN
BEER STYLE
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
ORIGIN
BEER STYLE
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
Stone & Wood (NSW)
Inspired by the red soil of Australia
4.7%
32
60 310 575
0.1 1.1 1.9
$1.5 $6.1 $10.8
Doctors Orders Brewing (NSW)
Double White Ale
5.6%
22
60 310 575
0.3 1.3 2.2
$1.5 $6.4 $11.3
S&W are working on a new ale to be released later in the year and thought GABS would be a great opportunity to try a few things (not least that the brewers had to wear red on brewday). Red Relief ’s red hue leads to a rich malt character, a fruity mid-palate and a gentle spicy hop bitterness (from the noble German hop Spalt). The Local Taphouse will donate $500 from each keg we sell of RR to the Queensland Flood Appeal. That’s a total of $4000. Post a photo of yourself drinking RR on S&W’s Facebook page and they will give away a carton of S&W to a lucky fund raiser who has the best pic!
True South Brewery (VIC)
BEER STYLE Cherry & Coconut Porter
This is a flavour sensation combining a traditional Belgian beer style with native Australian ingredients such as lemon myrtle.
1 . KHUNTER n a p p s t eCHOCOLATE i n R e s e r v eCHILLI L a g ePORTER r 11.
18.. KTRUE napp s t e i n CHERRY R e s e r v BOMB e Lager SOUTH ORIGIN
Inspired by Barons Lemon Myrtle Wit, Hoegaarden Wit and Southhampton Publick House Double White Ale, brewer Darren ‘Doc’ Robinson wanted to brew something for GABS that was very summery and easy to approach, but with a lot of flavour through all aspects of the palette.
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
n/a
60 310 575
0.2 1.1 2.0
5%
PRICE $1.5 $5.4 $9.6
ORIGIN Hunter Beer Co. (NSW)
BEER STYLE
ABV
Chocolate Chilli Porter 5.8%
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
n/a
60 310 575
0.1 1.3 2.3
$1.5 $6.0 $10.6
Brewer (and St Kilda Taphouse Hall of Famer) Sam Fuss had been dying to brew a beer like this for the fun of it and the fact that she would get to play around with lot of different ingredients (she loves Cherry Ripes which helps). Expect aromas and flavours of chocolate, cherry and coconut. Also, a soft smooth mouthfeel with a gentle bittering finish.
Hunter Head Brewer Keith Grice is a chilli fan who grows 12 varieties at home but, sadly, he has never tried a chilli beer worth drinking. Hunter make a decent Chocolate Porter (AIBA Champion Porter 2010) so Keith was motivated by GABS to combine the two and make a chilli beer that actually rocks. Expect dry, roasty, dark chocolate followed by chilli bite!
It is brewed with chocolate malt, cherries and 4 kilos of coconut in the kettle.
For the trivia buffs, Dorset Naga Chillis are arguably the hottest chilli in the world coming in at over 1,000,000 Scoville units.
.12. K n a2pHILLS p s t e iMAIBOCK n Reserve Lager
.9.K n a p p s t e i n R e s e r v e QUINCE L a g e r PALE ALE LOBETHAL/BREWBOYS ORIGIN
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
ORIGIN
BEER STYLE
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
Lobethal Brewery & Brew Boys Fruit infused Pale Ale 5.6% Brewery (SA)
n/a
60 310 575
0.3 1.3 2.2
$1.5 $5.7 $10.1
Hargreaves Hill Brewery & Red Hill Brewery (VIC)
Maibock
6.8%
28
60 310 575
0.3 1.5 2.7
$1.5 $9.0 $15.9
BEER STYLE
This ale is an exciting collaboration between Lobethal Bierhaus / Brew Boys from South Australia. Fresh quince was put through a wine press by their local neighbours (the makers of Lobo Cider) and added during conditioning / secondary fermentation.
Hargreaves Hill and Red Hill Breweries were looking to collaborate on something not brewed or tasted fresh in Australia before; something traditional, European and elegant. Dave (Red Hill) was in charge of the malt bill while Simon (Hargreaves) looked after the hops.
This Pale Ale has enhanced notes of toffee and caramel combined with the unique fruit sweetness of fresh quince.
Brewing apparently involved a healthy amount of beer sampling, arguing and “your doing it like that?” comments but the outcome is a classic lager bock made with lager yeast. Its big malt character and hops are designed to be balanced but not overshadow the main focus, the malt.
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. K n4a p p s t eWEE i n R HEAVY eserve PINES 13.
. K nJAMIESON a p p s t e i n LEMON R e s e r vMYRTLE e L a g eIPA r 16.
Lager
ORIGIN
BEER STYLE
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
4 Pines Brewing Co. (NSW)
Strong Scotch Ale (Wee Heavy)
7.8%
22
60 310
0.4 1.8
PRICE $1.5 $7.5
This soon-to-be-released new seasonal beer from the Manly brewers was brewed to celebrate a Welsh national beer, a style that many may not have been exposed to. Fermented at cooler temperatures than most ales, and with lower hopping rates, a Wee Heavy has clean, intense malt flavours. The rich malty/nutty sweetness is achieved by extra kettle caramelisation and low hop bitterness. The beer also displays wonderful raisin and plum esters.
ORIGIN
BEER STYLE
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
Jamieson Brewing (VIC)
India Pale Ale (IPA)
7%
70
60 310 575
0.3 1.6 2.8
$1.5 $6.3 $11.1
The Lemon Myrtle is as Aussie as Vegemite and Aussie is what the GABS is all about! Jeff Whyte split the base beer (the popular ‘Beast’ IPA) into 2 tanks before all the late hops and added lemon myrtle and aniseed myrtle as a teabag to one. Expect an outstanding IPA with lemon and aniseed aroma.
GABS Fact: ‘Wee Heavy’ is the same name the 4 Pines brewer’s wife gives his johnson.
1 . K MASH n a p p sRYE tein IPAR e s e r v e 14. ORIGIN Mash Brewery (WA)
1 . KHOLGATE n a p p s t e THE i n REMPRESS eserve Lager 17.
Lager
BEER STYLE Rye India Pale Ale (IPA)
ABV %
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
n/a
60 310 575
0.6 2.1
PRICE $1.5 $9.9
ORIGIN
BEER STYLE
ABV
Holgate Imperial Mocha Porter 10% Brewhouse (VIC)
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
50
60 310
0.5 2.2
PRICE $1.5 $9.6
Holgate’s GABS beer builds on their exquisite ‘Temptress’ Chocolate Porter by including coffee and higher alcohol. The ‘Empress’ has a luscious warming mouthfeel with coffee induced bitter notes contrasting with sweet chocolate and vanilla. It is dangerously easy to drink, liqueur-esque in flavour and with a kahlua-like finish. Like The Goddess Europa on her Bull, it’s easy to get carried away by this little dark number.
.15. K n aFERAL p p s t eKARMA i n R e s CITRA erve Lager
.18. K n aBRIDGE p p s t e iROAD n R e sBIG e r vRED e L aROCKET ger
ORIGIN
BEER STYLE
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
ORIGIN
BEER STYLE
ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
Feral Brewing Co (WA)
Black India Pale Ale (IPA)
5.9%
47
60 310 575
0.3 1.3 2.4
$1.5 $5.7 $10.2
Bridge Road Brewers (VIC)
Muskat Barrel Fermented Imperial Red Ale
9%
n/a
60 310
0.4 2.0
Led by the democracy that is the Darlo Taphouse ‘Ale Stars’ (monthly beer appreciation sessions in both venues), Brendan Varis brewed this Black IPA showcasing the Citra hop. Featuring chocolate malt and a liberal dose of citra hops, the big grapefruit and citrus aroma leads into intense and assertive chocolate and coffee malt flavour finishing with a firm balanced bitter finish. Get it while you can..
PRICE $1.5 $7.8
The brewers purchased freshly emptied 50 year old muskat barrels from Seppeltsfield in the Baross then brewed an imperial (strong) version of their Celtic Red Ale and filled the barrels a couple of days into fermentation. This ale is amber red to brown in colour. It is dominated by a hefty malt profile rather than hops. The flavour profile is heavily influenced by the muscat and muscat barrels, marzipan, thick caramel and warming alcohol. Rounded out with a touch of hop character and bitterness. GABS Fact: Assistant Brewer Nardia used to let her dog lick her mouth to wake her up…..
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. n aMURRAY’S p p s t e i n IMPERIOUS Reserve Lager 19. ORIGIN Murray’s Craft Brewery (NSW)
BEER STYLE
T H E A L E S TA R S ABV
I B U*
GLASSES
SD**
PRICE
Imperial (Imperious??) 11% Belgian Blond
n/a
60 310
0.5 2.5
$1.5 $11.0
The crew at Murray’s love playing with big beers and big flavours - and particularly big Belgian inspired beers. ‘Imperious’ is a blend of British and German malts, really fresh NZ grown hops and a classic Belgian yeast strain. Expect a classic Belgian yeast profile – strong esters and light phenolics. And from the hops a fresh tropical character, sweet mouthfilling, apricot/stonefruit like flavours at the front of the palate. The alcohol is warming, but not overwhelming. ‘Imperious’ is the first of Murray’s ‘FBB’ series with 11% ABV the entry point!
*International Bitterness Units **Standard Drinks The Local Taphouse has used its best endeavours to ensure that material contained in this booklet was correct at the time of printing. The Local Taphouse accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information and reserves the right to make changes without notice at any time in its absolute discretion.
The ‘Ale Star’ beer appreciation sessions have grown from 8 people around a table to 80+ guys and girls gathering once a month to sample and learn about world-class beers in a fun and very social setting. Everyone is welcome, wherever you’re at in your personal beer journey. See our blog and website for info. Annual memberships also available. GOLD COIN PROCEEDS Since SpecTAPular II, 100% of gold coin entry proceeds go to various charities with more than $15,000 already donated. Both venues will be donating their door proceeds today to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal in Queensland and The Local Taphouse is already committed to donating $4000.
Please drink responsibly and we h o p e y o u e n j o y t h e S p e c TA P u l a r. Steve, Guy & The Local Taphouse crew
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