Beer Cartel

Konig Ludwig Weissbier now on Growlers!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Now on the Growler Konig Ludwig Weissbier – a great hefeweizen. Check out the review here.

Beer Brewing 101

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

We recently read an article that although beer is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, few actually know how it is made. As a result we chose to dedicate this month’s article to the art of brewing to help ensure we all know how our beloved beer is made! Brewing is the production of beer through steeping grains (or another starch source) in water and then fermenting with yeast. It has taken place since the 6th millennium BC, with archaeological evidence suggesting that this technique was used in ancient Egypt. The basic ingredients of beer are water; a fermentable (convertible into alcohol) starch source, such as malted barley; a brewer’s yeast to produce the fermentation; and a flavouring, such as hops. More adventurous brewers add almost any other ingredient to the brew, e.g. spices, oranges, tea, honey, chocolate and coffee! There are several steps in the brewing process (illustrative diagram below): 1. Malting – converting barley into malt by allowing grain to germinate 2. Milling – here the malt is crushed to break apart the grain kernels and expose the starches, key for fermentation 3. Mashing – converts the starches released during the malting stage, into a sugar rich liquid or "wort" that can then be fermented 4. Lautering – during this stage the wort created during the mash is then strained through the bottom of the mash tun 5. Boiling – where the wort is moved into a large tank, known as a kettle and boiled with hops to help create the flavour, bitterness, and aroma of the beer 6. Fermenting – yeast is added to the wort, converting sugars into alcohol 7. Conditioning – here the yeast starts to settle to the bottom of the tank once fermentation has finished 8. Filtering – is undertaken to stablise the beer’s flavour, and give its polished shine 9. Packaging – putting beer into containers which will leave the brewery

Have you ever tried sour beer?

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

What would you say to a beer that is sour in taste? We have just recently started trying a few sour beers and are finding them to be an interesting concept! Sour beer is a style characterised by an intentionally acidic, tart, sour taste. A strange idea indeed when you consider that for most other beers an acidic taste suggests that the beer has encountered an undesired infection during the brewing process. Unlike traditional beer-brewing, which is done in a sterile environment to guard against the intrusion of yeast, sour beers are made by allowing yeast strains, bacteria, or alternatively fruit to enter the brew, often creating a secondary fermentation. Two great examples of sour beers are Mikkeller’s Sur Munk and Cantillon’s Gueze.

Christmas Beer

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Christmas is just around the corner – we can almost smell it! And with Christmas it means the chance to enjoy a few very special beers that you wouldn’t otherwise get to taste in the normal turn of the year. We always get such a thrill working out what beers we’re going to sample over the break – our eyes light up and we’re just like kids in a candy store! And while it is a chance to try something different, there are brewers who also take it as a chance to create something different. Take for instance Mikkeller, the "phantom” microbrewery, originally based in Copenhagen, Denmark who now brew throughout the world including Norway, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 2011 they created not just one but four Christmas beers: Mikkeller Fra Til (meaning From To) – a Spiced Imperial Porter Mikkeller Santas Little Helper – a Spiced Strong Dark Belgian Ale Mikkeller Hoppy Lovin’ Christmas – an Indian Pale Ale (IPA) new for Christmas 2011 brewed with ginger and pine needles Ris a la M’ale – inspired by the dessert Risalamande, brewed with cherries, almond and vanilla Thankfully we have the first three in stock – hopefully there might just be a couple left over for us! Looking deeper on the subject of Christmas beer we found that in Denmark there is a special style of beer that is marketed specifically around Christmas; Julebryg and Juleøl (Christmas beer). The beers vary in strength and style, though tend to be malty and around 6% abv. Examples include Tuborg Julebryg (a 5.6% pale lager), Svaneke Julebryg (a 5.6% dark lager), Fur Julebryg (a 6.5% brown ale), Fjordens Juleøl (a 6% dark lager), and Raasted Juleøl (a 8.5% dark ale).

We’re in the Sun Herald Christmas Gift Guide

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Thanks to Sun Herald for including us in their Christmas Gift Guide for Men! Sign up a lucky recipient to our Beer Club here.

Shady Lady giveaway

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

We have a fabulous four pack of Shady Lady to give away! With its unique rose infusion, Shady Lady evokes a lush and mysterious parfum. The palate is awakened by a delicate beer flavour with a slightly bitter tang and a exotic rose afterglow. No preservatives, no artificial flavours.Shady Lady beer Shady Lady can be bought from Beer Cartel online or at our Bottleshop: Beer Cartel, Unit 9, 87 Reserve Road Artarmon To be in the running to win you simply have to: 1. Head to our Facebook photo https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150452014831023&set=a.431718096022.228089.120561506022&type=1&theater 2. Tag yourself somewhere on our Shady Lady picture; 3. Tell us in the pictures comment section who is your favourite famous Shady Lady and why Giveaway is only open to Australian residents. Prize must be picked up from the Beer Cartel Bottleshop. Entries close midnight Monday 27th November 2011.

HopDog – Horns Up Rye IPA now on Growlers

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Our latest beer available for Growler fills is HopDog Beerworks – Horns Up Rye IPA 5.8% abv, 70 IBUs (that’s big bitterness!) Horns Up Rye IPA is a no holds barred India Pale Ale, chockers full of the best hops New Zealand and the US have to offer, all riding on a solid malt backbone with a hefty serve of malted rye to deliver to your taste buds the Lupulin kick you’ve been craving. Big pungent hops on the nose followed by hop flavour and bitterness cascading over the tongue with malt sweetness and biscuitiness from the rye. This IPA finishes strong and dry with a lingering bitterness that just goes on, and on, and on like a screaming heavy metal guitar solo, and an after taste that reminds you that you’ve just had an awesome hoppy experience, like the ringing in your ears after a decibel shattering concert. Horns Up!

Beer and Brewer Awards – we’re winners!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

This year for the first time we entered the Beer and Brewer awards and were lucky enough to be nominated in four categories: - BEST BOTTLESHOP (LESS 300 BEERS) - BEST E-NEWSLETTER - BEST ONLINE RETAILER - BEST WEB SITE The night was a great event with 4 Pines Brewing in Manly, NSW taking out 3 of the 4 People’s Choice Awards, including Overall Winner, Best Beer Venue and Best Beer (Local). Among our entries we managed to take out the coveted award of best website – a fantastic bit of kudos to our excellent web design team!

iBottleopener 4G/4S iPhone giveaway

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

We have a brand new iBottleopener 4G/4S iPhone case to giveaway! What is the iBottleopener? The iBottleopener is the world’s first iPhone case with a built-in bottle opener! It is a hard-shell slider case with a soft rubberised finish and a reinforced bottle opener built into the back. It is manufactured to a very high standard and is compatible with the 3G/3Gs and 4G iPhone versions. The iBottleopener is fun, functional and brings life to your iPhone in a way you never thought possible. Put simply, the iBottleopener has you and your iPhone covered! Features of the iBottleopener: - Hard Shell Slider Case for Docking Ease - Polycarbonate Soft-Touch Finish - Reinforced Durable Bottle Opener - Moisture Proof Backing - Custom Logo & Colour Design Available - Versions for all iPhone Models To be in the running to win you simply have to: 1. Like Beer Cartel (https://www.facebook.com/BeerCartel) and iBottleopener Australia (https://www.facebook.com/iBottleopeneraus) on Facebook; 2. Tag yourself somewhere on our iBottleopener picture; 3. Tell us in the pictures comment section where you would rather be right now opening your favourite beer with your own iBottleopener! Giveaway is only open to Australian residents. Personal information will only be used for contact purposes of this giveaway. Entries close midnight Monday 7th November 2011 and winners will be contacted via Facebook. So what are you waiting for… get liking and tagging NOW! Good luck!

Our take on the new Coke range

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Check it out

Vintage beer, better than cellared wine

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Wine has long been revered as the drink of choice to cellar, however, the right beer can easily be cellared and matured to increase its flavour and enjoyment. Now we’re not talking about your mainstream beer that has a shelf life of 3 – 9 months. Instead these are beers which the brewer has designed to be aged for full benefit – the likes of Belgian strong ales, vintage ales and Imperial stouts. In our October beer club pack, we managed to source Coopers Vintage Ale from 1999. That’s right a beer that is 12 years old! Coopers release their Vintage Ale once a year and this one has aged exceptionally. We suggest you buy a current Coopers Vintage so you’re able to drink them side by side. We’d even suggest buying a whole case of the 2011 vintage and putting some aside to enjoy them over a period of time, say 5 – 10 years. Now what’s the best way to cellar beer I hear you ask? Very simple if you follow these simple tips: •Ensure the storage area is dark and cool, ideally a constant temperature of around 10⁰ - 15⁰ C •Store the beers upright as the plastic in the crown seal can negatively effect the beer over time •Leave the beer alone - don’t be tempted to raid the stash within the first couple of weeks! Some other beers you may want to make room in your cellar/basement/garage for: •Murrays Anniversary Ale •Holgate Beelzbub Quadruple •Mikkeller Santas Little Helper •Coopers Vintage •Rogue Ales Russian Imperial Stout

Sydney a growing craft beer scene

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

The craft beer scene in Sydney over the last few years has been a bit of a desert wasteland – those pubs offering true beer with real flavour have been few and far between. It has been somewhat frustrating to see the slow Sydney growth, while in Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia (almost anywhere but here!) the industry has been alive and thriving for quite some time. Thankfully though, things have begun to change and consumers like yourselves are beginning to search out and demand new beers with amaz

Australian Brewery Pilsener now pouring

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

The next beer on tap for our Growler fills is the AB Pilsener from the Australian Brewery. This is a German Pilsener that the brewer describes as very pale, very hoppy and bitter. Think albino kangaroo after a difficult divorce! The beer just won Champion Lager at the Royal Adelaide Beer Show so is sure not to last long – get in quick!

Show us your Growler!

richard@beercartel.com.au — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Earlier in the year we made the decision to open a bottle shop in Artarmon, on Sydney’s North Shore. Our aim is to become Sydney’s premier craft beer store, bringing the amazing flavours created in craft breweries throughout Australia and overseas to the homes of customers. In the past few months it has been with much excitement (and thirsty lips!) that we have seen our product range grow significantly. We now stock over 120 beers including world renowned brewers such as Nogne O, BrewDog, Mikkeller and Rogue. Looking to further widen our beer range we are releasing a growler offer – a true first for Sydney!...

Beer Cartel Free Beer Giveaway

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

BEER CARTEL FREE BEER GIVEAWAY 1. Like Beer Cartel on Facebook and tag yourself in the photo FREE BEER GIVEAWAY to be eligible. 2. Then come into our store and score yourself a FREE beer of either Mountain Goat Hightail Ale, Bellarine Pilsner, Endeavour Pale Ale, Kooinda Pale Ale or Three Ravens English Ale (while stocks last – we have a fair few!) 3. EVERY 1 IN 10 GETS UPSIZED TO A MIX 6 PACK! Our Address: Beer Cartel Unit 9 / 87 Reserve Road, Artarmon, NSW (enter via Taylor Lane) Ph: 1300 808 254

Beer Cartel goes Andy Warhol style

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

One of our staff members had to much time on his hands – what does everything think of this for a T-shirt?

Love a good beer photo

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Just a few of the beers we are now getting in store...

Kiwi Craft Beer – A SpecTapular Success

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

The month of May saw the highly anticipated Kiwi Craft Beer SpecTapular take place at the Local Taphouse bars in Darlinghurst and St.Kilda respectively. These seasonal beerfests, each revolving around a different beer theme have quickly established themselves as some of Australia’s greatest craft beer events and May’s edition was no different.....

Now serving Mad Brewers Noir Stout

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

We’ve got a few cases of the latest creation from the Mad Brewers team and it is a ripper. Here’s what the Mad Brewers themselves have said about their release:....

Latest beers in store

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Sooo here’s what’s new in store… just in time for Lizzie’s long weekend! Yeastie Boys Rex Attitude – our pick for something VERY different 8 Wired IPA....

BeerGustation – An Experience of the Hart

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

It was with much anticipation and excitement that we attended the first official Harts Pub ‘BeerGustation’ and boy, did it more than live up to expectations....

Good Beer Week

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Good Beer Week organised by the Crafty Pint is hitting Victoria next week from 16th-22nd May. To celebrate Melbourne comedy duo ElbowSkin have put together this great clip. For more info on Good Beer Week visit http://www.goodbeerweek.com. Now hit play on the video below and laugh your socks off!

Indian Pale Ales

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Over the Easter long weekend, faced with closing our shop due to liquor licensing laws, we raided the shelves before we left. Armed with the latest International arrivals we hit the road to get out of Sydney and enjoyed a couple of days in beautiful Jervis Bay. Hope you had a blast too!....

Rogue, Mikkeller and Nogene O now in store!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

There comes a time in any beer bottle store owners life when you realise it’s time to get some really funky international beers in the store. Our first delivery of these have arrived with something for everyone, including.....

Beer Lovers Guide iPhone app

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

I recently downloaded the Beer Lovers Guide iPhone app to give it a run for its money and see if its worth the 3.5 star rating it currently enjoys with iTunes. Created by the publishers of The Beer Lovers Guide to Australia and The Critic’s Choice I was hoping for something good.....

Easter Trading

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

The Beer Cartel bottle shop will be closed over Easter, from Friday 22nd to Tuesday 26th April, reopening on Wednesday 27th. During this time orders can be made online through the Beer Cartel website. Outside of this standard opening hours apply: Monday – Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm Saturday 11am to 3pm Our bottle shop address: Unit 9, 87 Reserve Road (entry via Taylor Lane) Artarmon NSW, 2064 Phone orders/enquiries: 1300 808 254 Wishing you a Happy Easter!

April Beer Club Selection

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Our Beer Club selection for April has now been sent out to all online customers. For those living in Sydney you can still pick these up from our store. The April Beer Club selection includes: Samuel Adams, Black Lager Bridge Road Brewers, Australian Ale William Bull, William’s Pale Ale Morland Brewing, Old Speckled Hen

Did you enjoy a Stout on St.Paddys Day?

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

As you most probably know St Patrick’s Day was created to commemorate Saint Patrick, the most commonly recognised of the patron Saints of Ireland, after his expert ability at driving the snakes from Ireland … oh, and also for introducing Christianity! St Patrick’s Day was made an official feast day in the early 17th century, and has gradually become a secular celebration of Irish culture in general, characterised by the attendance of church services, wearing of green attire and of course the drinking of alcohol.....

The Critics’ Choice: Australia’s Best Beers

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Australia’s latest and greatest beer book is due to hit the market on April 1st. The book includes 100 of Australia’s Best beers as voted by Australia’s most respected beer connoisseurs, including our own Geoff Huens and is guaranteed to be a great read. It also includes the complete guide to serving beer, glassware, temperature and pouring....

Bridge Road in the house!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

We’ve just taken on a load of beers from the Bridge Road Brewers, make sure you come and grab some! Beers include: Robust Porter 5.2% alc/vol Bling India Pale, 5.8% alc/vol Chestnut Pilsner Read on for more...

March Beer Club Selection

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Our Beer Club selection for March has now been sent out to all online customers. For those living in Sydney you can still pick these up from our store. The March Beer Club selection includes...... Schwartz Brewery, Pilsner Mudgee Brewing Co, Wheat Beer Boat Rocker, Alpha Queen Kooinda Brewing, Pale Ale Read on for more information

After a hard days work even a sheep could do with a beer!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Enjoy this great photo!

Come visit the all new Beer Cartel Store!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Back in mid 2010 we made the decision that it was time to spread our online wings and start up a physical bottle shop. Being based in Sydney we knew the city was crying out for a good quality beer store so decided it was up to us to take on the challenge… The process has been a little testing (understatement!), but we are getting there…. First of all began the search for a suitable store; an interesting task assisted by a few business brokers who were keen to get a sale on their books. After 3 months of looking with no real standouts, we came across a liquor store based in Artarmon, on Sydney’s lower North Shore – it seemed like a reasonable option; it was located in a suburb relatively close to home, the area attracted good traffic, the store had a lot of room for improvement and there was a part of the shop that could be transformed into a tasting room – a must for any good beer store!....

Mad Brewers Scribbly Gum Lager

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

We now have the Mad Brewers Scribbly Gum Lager in stock – available on our website: http://www.beercartel.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=281 or in store: Beer Cartel Unit 9, 87 Reserve Road Artarmon NSW 2064 1300 808 254

A thought for the brewers and people of Christchurch

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

When I was a young lad of 18 years of age I packed my bags and travelled from the North Island of New Zealand to the city of Christchurch in the South to begin my university education. The move to Christchurch was a no brainer for me – I had lots of family who lived in the “Garden City” and I had been there many times before, always leaving with fond memories. Christchurch is a very special city with significant character – it is the New Zealand city that most closely resembles Melbourne with old stone buildings, a tram line and a beautiful river, the Avon. The city also has a number of other great gems including the Port Hills for excellent scenery and mountain biking, as well as the port suburb of Lyttleton, reached after travelling through one of New Zealand’s longest tunnels. If there is one word I would give to Christchurch it would be ‘beautiful’.....

Super Bowl XLV 2011 commercials

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Super Bowl 2011 sacked the defenders and put a blitz on the attackers – while I don’t know my NFL terms I do know ads and that is one thing that the Super Bowl is packed full of commercials where hundreds of thousands of millions are paid to get 1 minute of glory! Enjoy these beer related commercials for Super Bowl XLV 2011 and one ad about Darth Vadar just because it’s cool. If you are wanting to know the result the Green Bay Packers won their fourth Super Bowl, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25.

Beer Cartel Valentine’s Day Special

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

With just 8 days until Valentine's Day we have the perfect gift for the guy (or gal) in your life!

NEW ZEALAND MAC’S BEERS FOR WAITANGI DAY

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Get your NZ craft beer this Waitangi Day

Beer Cartel Australia Day Special

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

What could be more Australian than supporting Australia’s Craft Brewers this Australia Day? NOTHING! $5 OFF any case of beer bought on or before Australia Day by entering the code AUSBEER http://www.BeerCartel.com.au

A craft beer drinkers paradise in Nelson, New Zealand

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Following on from enjoying a Kiwi Christmas in the North Island of New Zealand I headed to the top of the South Island for a family holiday…with a little beer tasting thrown in! We were staying at Marahau, which is situated at the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park – a highly recommended spot if you like glorious beaches, sea kayaking or hiking in the bush. The weather was perfect and the sun was hot which meant there was a need for a few days in the shade to refresh and rehydrate. Our first beer stop was to the Monkey Wizard Brewery located in Riwaka. The brewery has been running for less than two years and appears to have created a significant following with the locals, brewing beers with highly distinctive flavours and aromas. The brewery is run on a very small scale, brewing 600 litre batches, with the beers only available from the brewery in riggers/flagons (1-2L bottles), or via one pub, The Freehouse in Nelson. Their range of beers includes interesting names such as Kiwifruit Wheat, Able Ale and Fat Kelpie Brown Ale – all of which are excellent tasting...... Following on from Monkey Wizard we headed to the Moutere Inn, which is believed to be New Zealand’s oldest pub having first been established in the 1850s. The pub was very popular in the 1970’s with the large local population of agricultural workers, looking for a drop after a hard days work, however it fell into decline in the 90’s. In 2008 a group of real beer enthusiasts purchased the pub and sought to turn it into a venue providing a range of great tasting beers from breweries throughout the Nelson area and wider New Zealand.

Kiwi Craft Beer Christmas

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

After 2 Christmas’ with my Australian ‘family’ it was time to head back to New Zealand for a Kiwi Christmas. Heading home it was great to open the fridge to find a richness of beer for enjoying and celebrating the Christmas festivities! The first beer I was handed on Christmas Eve was an Epic Portamarillio- a porter style beer fermented in Tamarillo (tree tomatoes) and smoked over Pohutakawa wood chips – a true Kiwi Christmas brew considering that the Pohutakawa tree is known as the New Zealand Christmas tree. This easy drinking brew, a joint venture between Epic and Dogfish Head Brewery based in Delaware, United States, really set the standard for Christmas. Next up and in a slightly strange order was the Tuatara Hefe. This is a fantastic drop brewed by the boys based in Wellington who are fast on the move (having been in the fast 50 growing businesses in NZ for the last couple of years). The beer was very refreshing, light and easy to drink with hints of banana and clove. Christmas Day unleashed a beautiful day, true to Hawkes Bayweather, with Epic Pale Ale, Monteiths Golden and Mac’s Gold all supped as we basked in the sun and warmth while opening presents and playing croquet. One other beer I tasted with great interest was the ‘Stoke Amber’ from McCashin’s Brewery. The Stoke range is the latest brewing venture by the McCashin family, who originally created the ‘Mac’s’ range of beers before they were bought by Lion Nathan. Their range includes the Gold, Amber and Dark. The Amber was great to drink with a hints of honey and a smooth mouth feel. A fantastic beery Christmas!

Beer quality takes on quantity

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Over the past five years there has been a dramatic shift in the Australian beer drinking landscape with consumers moving from drinking larger quantities of mainstream beer to smaller quantities of better quality brews. Flavour is reigning and it is the result of people like yourselves who are letting their beer selection do the talking that has the big breweries running scared. The same shift is happening the world over with major global brand like Budweiser also in decline. To put the changes in the Australian market into perspective we thought we’d share some recent facts about the beer scene in Australia: - About 5 years ago there were approximately 70 micro breweries and brew pubs operating in Australia …. now there are over 140 to choose from! - Recent industry figures show that beer sales are generally in decline; August volumes fell 7.6 per cent, marking the eighth consecutive monthly decrease. - Fosters flagship mainstream beer VB has fallen in volume sales by 15.4% over the last 8 months while their low carb Pure Blonde has dropped in volume by 20%. For Lion Nathan’s Tooheys brand sales are down by 16.2%. - To maintain their share of the market Fosters is shifting its focus to innovation with a Belgian style witbier which is traditionally brewed with 50/50 wheat and barley malts set to be released.

8 Great Uses for Beer

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Lately when I have been shopping I’ve noticed the magic of “all in one” products that claim to do multiple actions in one go. My most recent experience was when I went grocery shopping to buy the latest dishwasher tablets. Normally I’ll always reach for the standard 8 in 1 Powerball but this time I found a new tablet that claims to do 10 actions in 1 tablet! This was fantastic and an absolute no brainer – Despite my limited knowledge of what either tablet does apart from wash I could now get 10 (things!?!) done with my new dish washing tablet compared to my traditional 8 – what could be better? Further along my shop I remembered we were in need of a new air freshener. Again I looked over the range available and low and behold, there was a new product that could do 4 things in 1 spray – perfect! Seeing the wide range of all in one products it got me thinking – maybe a brewer could create an all in one beer? Aside from the normal “benefits” of beer being a social lubricant, great for relaxing and beautiful tasting I’ve penned together a few other uses for beer:

12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Beer Cartel provides 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas for the beer lover.

Tooheys Extra Dry unveils new ad

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Click to watch Tooheys Extra Dry's newest ad

10 Great Oktoberfest Facts

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

To pay homage to Oktoberfest we thought we’d give you our top 10 most interesting facts about the World’s largest beer festival…

Could this be a NZ beer ad from the 80's?

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Check out the pic and let us know your thoughts!

Search for the World’s strongest beer!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

As always lots has been happening in the brewing world with the most interesting news story we came across an update on which brewer holds the title for the world’s strongest beer. For those of you who haven’t heard about it yet, experimental European brewers have created a 60% alcohol (ABV) beer! That’s no typo and no joke either! Over the last 12 months the battle to own the title of champion extreme brewer has been fierce with three brewers fighting for bragging rights. Here’s a quick snap shot of the action: Nov 09 – Tactical Nuclear Penguin by Scottish brewery BrewDog (32% ABV; $180/330ml) Dec 09 – Schorschbock by German brewer Schorschbrau (40% ABV) Feb 10 – Sink the Bismark by Scottish brewer BrewDog (41% ABV; $210/330ml) May 10 – Schorschbock by German brewer Schorschbrau (43% ABV) Mar 10 – Oblix by Dutch brewer ‘t Koelschip (45% ABV) Jul 10 – The End of History by Scottish brewer BrewDog (55% ABV; $800/330ml) Jul 10 – Start the Future by Dutch brewer ‘t Koelschip (60% ABV; RRP $45/330ml) So how do you get a beer to 60% I hear you ask? Reasonably simple…. brewers start with a high alcohol beer such as a double or even quadruple IPA (Indian Pale Ale) and freeze distil it – effectively the opposite to how spirits are distilled. Water is frozen out of the brew, with a higher concentrate beer remaining. This is done a number of times to create a very high ABV beer. These beers are designed to be sipped like a spirit and enjoyed in small quantities.

10 reasons to say thanks to Dad this Father’s Day

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Laugh your head off with our slideshow on 10 reasons why celebrities should say thanks to their dad this Father's Day

Fathers Day Gifts

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Dads are given one special day each year to celebrate and recognise their contribution to the upbringing of their children. While Fathers throughout the world cherish the day, the gift received often is a let down – although Dad would never say a terse word! Recent research conducted in the United States found nearly half of fathers recently surveyed said they have pretended to like a Father’s Day gift they received. The research found tools were found to be the most predictable gift, with 20 percent saying they expected a tie and a similar percentage expecting cologne. Books and golf balls also ranked high. This year make it the best Father’s Day gift yet, give dad a present he will truly remember – craft beer. Australian online boutique beer retailer Beer Cartel has a range of beer gifts specially designed for the ultimate smile from your Dad this Father’s Day. Its products include a monthly beer club where the lucky recipient receives a different selection of boutique beers every month, and a deluxe beer hamper which includes 7 different beers from around Australia, an Italian made beer glass for enjoying the beers, tasting notes and a book on Australia’s craft beer brewers, all packaged in a specially made wooden box.

Carlton Draught hits slow mo

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

Australia’s alcohol advertising regulations are strict, as a result advertisers continually look for new ways to promote the brand – albeit without specifically promoting the product! Check out Cartlon Draught’s latest ad – the slow mo…and a few other old classics.....

Down and dirty brewing beer!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

We recently headed out to the Beer Factory in Sevenhills to make our beer, an Oregon Ale we called Scarface .... here’s a short video of our adventures – enjoy!

Brew your own beer experience – for the love of beer!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

The boys at Beer Cartel decided that it was time to create a boutique beer that they could call their own. They headed to the Beer Factory in Seven Hills, Sydney to go through the process of creating the beer - this is the story...

Why join a beer club?

richard@beercartel.com.au — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:25 GMT

I was talking to my friend Steve a while back about Beer Cartel. Steve had recently moved to Sydney having grown up in the great New Zealand wine growing region Marlborough. Steve was unaware I had started a business based on craft beer, so I begun telling him about the business and the Beer Cartel beer club....