Enjoy four courses of delicious food paired with three of Mornington Peninsula Brewery’s excellent brews, plus a fourth specially selected beer while talking with the head brewer about any and all things beer.

This is a very limited event with only 10 seats available, so call quick to secure a booking!

Date: Saturday, 18th February 2012

Time: 12:30pm — 2:30pm.

Venue: Josie Bones, 98 Smith Street, Collingwood, Victoria.

Cost: Tickets are $66 per person.

To book: call (03) 9417 1878 or email info@josiebones.com

The Local Taphouse quarterly SpecTAPular events continue to gain momentum and renown across Australia’s south-east. Their most successful, the Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular, has now exploded into the Great Australiasian Beer SpecTAPular and will kick off Good Beer Week in May. Before then, one of the most hotly anticipated beer events of 2009 returns. The 2012 Star Spangled SpecTAPular will capitalize on the recent local influx of highly regarded American craft beers, including the 2011 AIBA Champion, Moylans Brewing.

This Star Spangled SpecTAPular Mk II has been boosted by support from the US Department of Agriculture, allowing for additional themed entertain and food alongside the fun decorations and dress-ups witnessed at every Taphouse party. Furthermore, it will be the first time a SpecTAPular will occur on two separate Saturdays, first at the St Kilda Taphouse in Melbourne and then at Sydney’s Darlinghurst Taphouse the following weekend. Don’t be surprised if you see several of the same faces at both venues across the two weekends!

The Taphouse crew have become very good at staging their popular themed beer events. Their thorough and thoughtful preparation ensures a fun and beer soaked day for all who attend. Punters are advised to expect a queue for entry across these two Saturdays in March, due to the popularity of the SpecTAPulars and the limited capacity of each venue. [JD]

Media Release

Way, way back in July 2009, we hosted an American-themed Star Spangled SpecTAPular. At that time, the only US craft beers we could get hold of were those from Rogue Brewery in Portland. An awful lot has changed since then with an ever increasing number of US craft beers imported by official channels now appearing in good beer stores around the country.

Given all that, we’ve managed to put together a cracking lineup of fantastic US craft beers together for our 2012 Star Spangled SpecTAPular which will take place in St Kilda on Saturday March 3 (see poster above) and Darlo on Saturday March 10.

Things will kick off at noon and there will be entertainment and US-themed food offerings to get you in the mood. Entry is at least a gold coin and all proceeds will be donated to the Children’s Hospital in Sydney and Melbourne. So dig deep!

We are enormously grateful for the sponsorship of the US Department of Agriculture who have helped to make this event possible.

Be warned that news of this event is spreading around the US expat community so avoid disappointment and come down early!

Dates: Sat 3 March at The Local Taphouse St Kilda, Melbourne & Sat 10 March at The Local Taphouse Darlinghurst, Sydney

Time: 12noon to 1am

Here’s the lineup of 20 American craft beers:

Bear Republic (CA) — Racer 5 IPA, Red Rocket Amber Ale, Hop Rod Rye IPA, Special XP Pale, Big Bear Black Imperial Stout
Green Flash (CA) — West Coast IPA, Hop Head Red Amber Ale
Moylans (CA) –Hopsickle Imperial IPA, Kiltlifter Scotch Ale, Tipperary APA
Marin (CA) - Chocolate Airporter, Star Brew Wheatwine, Tiburon Blonde, IPA, Mt Tam APA
Pretty Things (MA)- Jack D’Or Saison
Weyerbacher (PA) — Double Simcoe Imperial IPA
Clown Shoes (MA) — Clementine Witbier
Sly Fox (PA) — Pils

Visit The Local Taphouse website for more SpecTAPular news.

Entries for the 2012 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA), the pre-eminent showcase of beer and brewing excellence in the Asia Pacific Region, have been extended to Friday, 24 February.

Now in its 20^th year, the AIBA is presented annually by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) in conjunction with the University of Ballarat. A new Industry Advisory Group has been appointed to further enhance the relevance of the prestigious competition.

The industry representatives come from a broad interest base including small and large breweries, education, hospitality and distribution. The members of the Advisory Group are Bill Taylor of Lion Nathan, Brad Rogers of Stone and Wood and Craft  Beer Limited Association, Chris Badenoch of Josie Bones, Leif Ryan of Phoenix Beers, Peter Aldred from the University of Ballarat and AIBA Chief Judge, Peter Manders.

Details.

Media Release

South West Craft Beer fest music line-up announced

Triple J  Unearthed winners, Spilt Seconds, will be headlining this year’s inaugural South West Craft Beer Festival at 3 Oceans Palandri Winery.

After winning the much-coveted triple j Unearthed competition, which landed them a spot at the Big Day Out, Split Seconds went on to grace the stages at Southbound, St Jeromes Laneway Festival, One Movement for Music, the Northbridge Festival and the Wave Rock Weekender.

After a whirlwind ride from there the guys were nominated for almost every WAMi award under the sun and took out Favourite Newcomer, Most Promising New Act, Best Indie Pop Act and Best Male Vocalist (Sean Pollard).

Not the type to slow down, the guys went back to the studio and have just recently released a new single, All You Gotta Do.

The amazing music doesn’t stop there, with an amazing array of local talent to hit the South West Craft Beer Festival stage and entertain you all weekend long.

Saturday you’ll be able to see the likes of Kris Buckle, Paige Trantham, Ill Starred Captain, Dallas Royal, Juwana, New Soundland and local favourite Cowtown.

Sunday will see headliners Spilt Seconds take the stage along with Kate Tillman, Qynn, Tank 7even, Polly Medlen and Minute 36 who will keep you dancing into the late afternoon.

The South West Craft Beer Festival will be held on the weekend of February 25 and 26^th and is a showcase of the best beers and food from the South West region.

Tickets are available now through moshtix.com.au.

If you’ve ever considered opening a microbrewery, make sure you’re prepared.

Starting a Microbrewery Information Sessions are designed for anyone wishing to establish their own microbrewery or is in the process of starting their own brewery. The session will provide general information on the key aspect of starting your own brewery and will focus on the commercial and business aspects initially followed by the process that should be followed to start your own brewery. Information will be provided on the best business models, where the industry is headed and some considerations in entering the industry, plus more.

The 2012 Starting A Microbrewery Information Session dates have now been set for Australia, NZ and Singapore.

The dates can be viewed and sessions booked here.

Spaces are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment – Melbourne/Sydney tend to fill up fairly quickly.

This year the course has been expanded to a full day instead of the original 4 hours and will include in addition to the content from 2011:

• Further expansion on packaging equipment selection
• Distributing your craft beers
• Beer and food matched lunch
• Special guest speaker from the industry
• Plus more..

This session is a great first step if you have ever considered starting your own microbrewery as it will provide you with the fundamentals and industry insight required to be successful within this dynamic growth industry.

The opportunity to network with like — minded people and industry professionals is invaluable and from the sessions in 2011 a number of joint ventures have resulted creating a win win for all parties.

2012 Timetable:
Melbourne    19th Feb
Sydney        10th March
Fremantle    21st June
Auckland    1st November
Singapore    2nd June
Brisbane    28th October

For further information.

In the late 1940s In South Australia (and also in some other states) the supply of beer from the breweries was still rationed to hotel-keepers under a quota system introduced during World War II. The need for rationing was occasioned by the continuing shortages of brewing raw materials – malt, hops and sugar – and also of bottles.

Quarting — the filling of draught beer into imperial quart (40 fl oz or 1.18 litres) bottles – had been undertaken by many hoteliers in South Australia for some years but had been strongly discouraged by The South Australian Brewing Co Ltd (SABC), the predominant supplier of draught (bulk) beer. In late 1949 it became apparent to the company that a significant proportion of its draught beer allocated to some outlets was used for quarting, thus causing shortages of draught for over-the-counter consumption.

In March 1950 the company advised the trade that as ‘considerable difficulty has been experienced in obtaining basic brewing materials it has been found impossible to meet the demand for draught beer as long as bottling is carried out by hotelkeepers’ and ‘furthermore, draught beer is manufactured for the purpose of sale by the glass and is not suitable for bottling’. As a consequence, ‘the company has decided that bottling of draught beer must cease forthwith and hotelkeepers are asked to comply with the company’s decision in this regard.’

This advice¹ created much discussion but, as SA Government health authorities were already engaged in a survey of own bottling operations, mutual agreement was reached by all parties involved to abandon the practice. The Licensed Victuallers’ Association, on behalf of hoteliers, sought legal advice which indicated that ‘the SA Brewing Co Ltd, in banning the quarting of draught beer, had acted in accord with its legal rights’ ².

Quarting (and filling 80 fl oz flagons) is thought to have started in the depression years of the 1930s and it seems that the practice was not so widespread in other states.³ The quart bottles were made – mainly in amber glass but a few in clear or flint glass – by Australian Glass Manufacturers in Adelaide and Melbourne (and possibly elsewhere) and it is thought that some were imported.⁴ Over the years a few hoteliers risked using regular ‘Pickaxe’ branded 26^2/3 fl oz bottles for own bottling but these containers were the property of the Adelaide Bottle Cooperative Pty Ltd which launched many successful prosecutions for misuse.

Nevertheless, random filling of customers’ own containers – quarts, flagons etc – from a tap in the bar continued in isolated cases, particularly in smaller country pubs, until about the mid-1950s.

Notes:

1. Notice to Hotelkeepers; The South Australian Brewing Co Ltd, March 28, 1950 [also printed in Adelaide Advertiser, March 30, 1950]
2. Adelaide Advertiser, April 21, 1950
3. Adelaide Advertiser, March 29, 1950 *
4. Private communication: Alison & John Painter, 2004

* Advertiser also carried other articles & letters re this issue in period March 29 — April 21, 1950

This week we interrupt Pete’s holiday to get his thoughts on the Ballarat Beer Festival, before quickly speaking with Brent Wright, National Beer Systems Manager for XXXX and find out a little about their new beer.

Regular listeners might be a little surprised that we are doing a segment on XXXX Summer Cloudy Ginger Beer but, in addition to being a conversation, beer is a broad church. The discussion looks at the new beer, how it’s made and some of the techniques brewers use to make beers targeted at the largest part of the beer market.

Finally, we catch up with Andrew ‘AG’ Gow, brewer at Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula Brewery. We have a wide ranging discussion about his career, his experiences at a variety of craft breweries and his current role at the recently established Mornington Peninsula Brewery.

We finish the show with what must surely be one of the greatest renditions of Beer Barrrel Polka ever, by Grady Martin and his Slewfoot Five. It simply has everything. You can buy it here, we recommend you do.

The reviews from last week’s Ballarat Beer Festival have been pretty good. Still, the organisers want to make it better and have created a survey to get patron’s feedback on how they can make it even better next year.

Are you one of the more than 6000 who went? Let them know what you thought by clicking the banner above. You could win a $100 Ticketek Voucher just by helping to make the festival eve better next year.

The Local Taphouse’s Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers was announced in a rolling and excitement building process yesterday. With the first 90 beers names in batches of ten, the top ten were rolled out one at a time to the tune of Triple J’s Hottest 100 Songs.

The winners are listed below, and the Twitter discussion showed that opinions were as varied as the breweries and the beer styles on the list. But, to use a massively overused but still very apt cliché, beer was the winner on the day.

According to Steve Jeffares from the Local Taphouse, voting more than doubled this year over last year, which was in itself twice the year before. Coupled to that, in what was already a record month for our site, Australian Brews News experienced record daily traffic yesterday highlighting the excitement that the poll announcement generated. Watching the #h100 Twitter feed was as engrossing as the count and you have to love the popular engagement that good beer is enjoying.

Congratulations to Stone & Wood for another fitting accolade for their flagship. One in eight voters put Pacific Ale somewhere on their list and first place attracted 20 per cent more votes than Little Creatures, another very deserving high finisher. Well done to all brewers who featured, particularly those new breweries that featured for the first time.

Congratulations too to the Local Taphouse for staging the poll. Cratypint.com and Australian Brews News are proud to have been associated with the poll, but the poll itself is the brainchild and the much-loved baby of the team at the Taphouse. It is a testament to their commitment to Australian craft beer and, despite any minor voting controversies that spark Twitter debate, they work very hard to make sure that the poll is the best reflection of the state of Australian craft beer as they can. Between the Hottest 100 and the upcoming Critics Choice publication (usual disclaimer that ABN’s Pete Mitcham is editor-in-chief of the publication and I am a contributor) Australia has a very accurate barometer of the state of Australian craft brewing.

Thanks also to Andrew Mitchell, from Pretty Clever Consulting, who devised both the voting and results systems that allowed the voting to run so smoothly and excitement to unveil yesterday.

Finally, thanks to all who voted – both for supporting Australian craft beer by buying it in the first place, and for taking the time to share your enthusiasm by voting. We can’t wait until next year when we can do it all over again. We’ll just have to console ourselves in the meantime with the Critics Choice countdown staring March 19.

The Local Taphouse’s
Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of 2011

1. Stone and Wood Brewing Co — Pacific Ale

2. Little Creatures — Pale Ale

3. Feral Brewing Company — Hop Hog

4. 4 Pines Brewing Company — Kolsch

5. Little Creatures — Single Batch — The Big Dipper

6. 4 Pines Brewing Company — Pale Ale

7. McLaren Vale Beer Company — Vale Ale

8. Kooinda Boutique Brewery — Black IPA aka Full Nelson

9. Holgate Brewhouse — Temptress

10. White Rabbit Brewery — Dark Ale

11. McLaren Vale Beer Company — Vale IPA

12. Murray’s Craft Brewing Co. — Icon 2IPA

13. Matilda Bay Brewing Company — Fat Yak

14. Bridge Road Brewers — India Saison

15. Mountain Goat Brewery — The Thorny Goat

16. Coopers — Pale Ale

17. 4 Pines Brewing Company — Hefeweizen

18. Knappstein Enterprise Brewery — Reserve Lager

19. 4 Pines Brewing Company — Extra Special Bitter

20. 4 Pines Brewing Company — Stout

21. Endeavour — Pale Ale

22. Hawthorn Brewing — Pale Ale

23. Malt Shovel Brewery — James Squires Golden Ale

24. Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company — ESB

25. Endeavour — Amber Ale

26. Kooinda Boutique Brewery — Pale Ale

27. White Rabbit Brewery — White Ale

28. Holgate Brewhouse — Hopinator

29. Thirsty Crow — Vanilla Milk Stout

30. McLaren Vale Beer Company — Vale Dark

31. Little Creatures — Bright

32. Holgate Brewhouse — ESB

33. Bridge Road Brewers — Galaxy IPA

34. Jamieson Brewery — Brown Ale

35. King Valley Brewery — Yowie Lager

36. Mountain Goat Brewery — Hightail Ale

37. Bright Brewery — M.I.A. IPA

38. Mornington Peninsula Brewery — Imperial IPA

39. McLaren Vale Beer Company — Vale Dry

40. 4 Pines Brewing Company — Amarillo Summer Ale

41. Mountain Goat Brewery — Steam Ale

42. Hawthorn Brewing — Pilsner

43. Hawthorn Brewing — Amber Ale

44. Mornington Peninsula Brewery — Pale Ale

45. 2 Brothers Brewery — Growler

46. Moo Brew — Pale Ale

47. Rocks Brewing Co — The Hangman

48. The Grove — Big House Ale

49. Balmain Brewing Company — Pale Ale

50. Woolshed Brewery — Amazon Ale

51. Kosciuszko Brewing Company — Pale Ale

52. Burleigh Brewing Company — Pale Ale

53. Four Hearts Brewing — 4 Degrees Pale Ale

54. Feral Brewing Company — Karma Citra

55. Moo Brew — Hefeweizen

56. Brew Boys — Ace of Spades

57. Holgate Brewhouse — The Empress

58. Murray’s Craft Brewing Co. — Wild Thing

59. Bridge Road Brewers — Chevalier — Saison

60. Two Birds — Golden Ale

61. Coopers — Sparkling Ale

62. Red Hill Brewery — Imperial Stout

63. Pinchgut — Pilzner

64. Red Hill Brewery — Scotch Ale

65. Bridge Road Brewers — Beechworth Pale Ale

66. Hawthorn Brewing — Witbier

67. Burleigh Brewing Company — My Wife’s Bitter

68. Woolshed Brewery — Judas the Dark

69. Mountain Goat Brewery — India Pale Ale

70. Mountain Goat Brewery — Coffee IPA

71. Doctor’s Orders — Zephyr

72. Cavalier — Pale

73. The Grove — Gangster Stout

74. Moo Brew — Imperial Stout

75. Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel — Three Sheets Pale

76. Little Creatures — Single Batch — Dreadnaught Stout

77. 4 Pines Brewing Company — Pils

78. Pinchgut — Black Plz

79. Moo Brew — Dark Ale

80. Little Creatures — Rogers

81. Cavalier — Brown

82. Jamieson Brewery — Beast IPA

83. The Grove — Boring Beer

84. Murray’s Craft Brewing Co. — Shawn’s Fault

85. Moo Brew — Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (2010 Vintage Release)

86. Murray’s Craft Brewing Co. — Whale Ale

87. Coopers — Extra Strong Vintage Ale

88. Murray’s Craft Brewing Co. — Angry Man Brown Ale

89. Nail Brewing — Pale Ale

90. Moon Dog — Skunkworks Cognac Barrel Aged Double IPA

91. Mornington Peninsula Brewery — IPA

92. Malt Shovel Brewery — James Squires Amber Ale

93. Matilda Bay Brewing Company — Alpha Pale Ale

94. Thirsty Crow — 26-Fifty Summer Ale

94. Moo Brew — Pilsner

96. Malt Shovel Brewery — James Squires Pale Ale

97. Bridge Road Brewers — Bling IPA

98. 3 Ravens — 55

99. Four Hearts Brewing — 4 Degrees Summer Wheat

100. Kooinda Boutique Brewery — Valhalla Golden Ale

100. Murray’s Craft Brewing Co. — Grand Cru

Supported by:

The results will be released below in blocks of 10, up to the top 10. From there they’ll be released one at a time online, as well as announced live in both Melbourne and Sydney venues, to coincide with the Triple J Hottest 100 top 10.

Just refresh the page or press F5 to see the latest.

Thanks to the Taphouse for inviting Australian Brews News to be part of the fun.

Developed by Andrew Mitchell, hosted by Pretty Clever Consulting.