Lion brewing isn’t saying much, but according to The Shout – a hotel, bar, club and liquor industry newsletter – the company plans to release a beer dispenser, to be named the Tap King, and a range of draft beers for home consumption later this year. Australian Brews News says Lion revealed its plans to … Continue reading Lion to release take-away draft beer
Young’s Luxury Double Malt Chocolate Stout 500ml $5.90 There’s chocolate in the brew and it shows up as a dry, bitter note in the finish – like strong high-cocoa chocolate. But more than anything it’s a full-bore stout featuring rich, roasted malt flavour, all-round opulence, smooth texture and assertive hops bitterness. A small glass on … Continue reading Beer review — Young’s and Gage Roads
Bibliotheque Classical Literature McLaren Vale Grenache Shiraz 2011 $16 Sydney-based wine wholesaler Single Vineyard Sellers supplements its range of small-maker offerings with its own labels – “Highgate” for the on-premise trade and “Bibliotheque” for retailers. Smart independent retailers see a competitive advantage in Bibliotheque as they know the big boys don’t stock it and therefore … Continue reading Wine review — Bibliotheque, Mr Riggs and Houghton
Schloss Vollrads Auslese Riesling 2009 $38–$40 375ml Oestrich-Winkel, Rheingau, Germany It’s three and a half years old, but young, fresh, vibrant and almost certainly good for another ten years. But why wait? At a recent masked tasting we honed in on the style and origin of the wine with ease, so clear is its identity. … Continue reading Wine review — Schloss Vollrads, Shaw and Smith, Red Knot, Petaluma, Canard-Duchene and Gaelic Cemetery
In late January and early February beer blogs and online publications lit up with indignation. A January press release from the The Byron Bay Brewing Co had announced the release of a bottled version of Byron Bay Pale Lager. The release said the brew had previously been available only on tap at the brewery in … Continue reading Tetchy times
Woolworths introduced petrol discounts; Coles followed. In November, Woolworths launched Sail and Anchor beer; in January, Coles followed with Steamrail Brewing Co. The shift from exclusive beer brands (brands they control in Australia, but don’t own) to brands they actually own shows just how important the premium beer market is to Australia’s biggest liquor retailers. … Continue reading Coles climbs on craft beer wagon
Grand Ridge Brewery Brewer’s Pilsner 330m 6-pack $18 Grand Ridge’s original beer, first tasted years ago at the brewery in Mirboo North, Gippsland Victoria, retains its original style. It’s an assertive Czech-inspired brew, big on malt, with a caramel-like richness, and cut through with the bracing, pungent aroma, flavour and lingering bitterness of Saaz hops … Continue reading Beer review — Grand Ridge and Matilda Bay
Jacob’s Creek Riesling 2012 $6.90–$10 The latest Jacob’s Creek shows the superior flavour qualities of a great riesling vintage. It won silver medals in the Melbourne and Hobart wine shows, then golds in Adelaide and Canberra’s National Wine Show of Australia. Winemaker Bernard Hickin says the fruit comes from the Barossa, Eden and Clare Valleys … Continue reading Wine review — Jacob’s Creek, Simmonnet-Febvre and Bay of Fires
Shelmerdine Lusatia Park Pinot Noir 2010 $60 Lusatia Park vineyard, Woori Yallock, Upper Yarra Valley, Victoria In 2010 Stephen Shelmerdine selected a small amount of fruit from a couple of rows of the oldest pinot noir vines (planted 1985) on the Lusatia Park vineyard. The grapes were hand harvested, de-stemmed and then cold-soaked before undergoing … Continue reading Wine review — Shelmerdine, Villa Maria, De Bortoli, Serafino, Peter Lehmann and Pierrepoint
De Bortoli Yarra Valley La Boheme Syrah Gamay 2011 $18–$20 Research commissioned by Woolworths reveals that two thirds of Australians intend hosting Christmas meals in the backyard, enjoying an ever more adventurous range of fresh foods. This calls for light and refreshing wines of the styles reviewed today. The cool Yarra Valley vintage and use … Continue reading Wine review — De Bortoli and Brown Brothers