GABS 2022
GABS TASTING TOOLS We encourage you to explore new flavours and styles but know the choice can be overwhelming. In addition to our simple traffic light complexity rating, use these additional tools below to help you decide!
CRISP
Delicate fruit
Subtle fruit flavours add depth to these beers
Malt-accented
Some sweetness from a biscuity malt profile
Brisk hoppiness
Fresh, refreshing hop aromas with crisp bitterness
Earthy and dry
Earthy, hay-like, grassy, and woody hop flavours with a dry malt profile
Malty backbone
Bursting with hop flavours and a complex or rich malt profile
Bold, herbal & citric
Mild malt and heavy use of hops creates citrus, resin and tropical fruit flavours
Toasty and nutty
Full malt flavours and toasty or nutty accents and hints of dark stewed fruit
Expect some sweetness and flavours of nuts, toffee, caramel, toast and fruit
Fruit and toffee
The malts provide flavours such as dried fruit, plums or toffee
ROAST
Soft and silky
Smooth and decadent with flavours of milk chocolate, coffee or hazelnut
The highly roasted malts in these beers give coffee or cocoa style flavours
Dark and dry
Full on roast characters such as espresso, dark chocolate, and raw cocoa
SMOKE
Subdued smoulder
The smoke is usually gentle, intriguing and in harmony with the other flavours
Smoked malts impart characters similar to some malt whiskeys or smoked meats
Spicy and meaty
Bonfire and smoky bacon flavours, with subtle malts and yeast underneath
FRUIT/SPICY
Bright
Bubblegum, citrus and banana flavours
Pepper, banana, and clove flavours are found in these yeast driven styles
Dark
Yeast and dark malts create dark fruit, banana bread and rich spice flavours
TART/FUNKY
Delicate
Mild acidity and with crisp, tart characters
Fruity and vinous
Vinous with pronounced acidity and fruit characters
Earthy
Sour and funky, these are often aged in oak
Crisp beers are light, clean and crisply refreshing
HOP Hop flavours and bitterness are the hallmarks of these beers. Each hop variety brings its own characteristics
MALT
Yeast and bacteria give a combination of sour, rustic and earthy characters
EASIER DRINKING If you’re new to craft beer, here’s a great place to start. These are approachable, balanced and great examples of some of Australia’s favourite styles.
#GABS2022
STEPPING UP Here you’ll find beers that are a bit more challenging, including bigger hop profiles and darker styles. There ‘s a whole world of creativity and flavour to explore.
ADVENTUROUS For the craft aficionado, the ‘Adventurous’ beers and ciders are where it’s at. From tart and funky sours to big ABV barleywines and everything in between.
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