Beer Cartel Xmas Advent Calendar 2019

It’s almost that time of year again and I want to share with you how I’ll be counting down to Christmas.

After a fun time, last year, I opted to go with Beer Cartel again this year, main reasons were the price – I got a discount for ordering early – and the fact that each year they change what’s in it.

It looks amazing!

This year’s carton/ calendar has undergone some changes.

It’s cans only.

It’s shorter – so it can fit in the fridge.

It’s 5x5 so it could fit x25 beers.

My carton arrived in pristine condition, I put it away so it was safe until needed.

A couple of days later I receive an email, a text message and see on Facebook that one of the beers has been recalled due to being canned too early… meaning its ABV could be a lot higher or that it could explode at any moment – it needs to be disposed of.

I'm sure it would have tasted amazing - if canned at the right time...

Not only do I not have a beer for Xmas Day now but I now know what it is…

Apparently 4,800 cartons were affected – too many to send a last-minute different beer so through a survey the company has given everyone one of four options about what they want to do.

I have opted to have the beers cost sent to the Rural Fire Service who are going through hell on the mainland.

So now I will be on the hunt for another beer for Xmas day.

But I still have a great way to countdown to one of the best times of the year.

I will be updating what surprises are hiding inside as we go through December.

Cheers,

Dave

Miners Gold Brewery West Street Ale

A new brewery has opened up in my back yard and it looks like they are doing some great things.

Working out of Beaconsfield, known for its mining history, Miners Gold Brewery is still a work in progress as they undergo renovations.

I have yet to visit the brewery but it will happen soon.

Their first beer I have tried is the West Street Ale, a 4.8% Pale Ale with chewy caramel malt and grapefruit bitterness undertones.

The new brewery opened in July this year, they aim to brew beers with ‘character and pair them with food that showcases the incredible fresh produce of the West Tamar region’.

Beers on launch night

It turns out that their head brewer – Stu Grant – is the owner of Ocho Beer, I have mentioned them before for their radical beers and yummy Christmas themed brews. 

Try the West Street Ale and see for yourself why some of the best beers these days are coming out of Tasmania. 

Cheers, 

Dave

Epic Hop Zombie

My spooky end to October was celebrated with a green can with a living dead vibe.

New Zealand Craft Brewer, Epic have brought this edition up from the ground, rotting flesh and all.

"Hops have taken over the world. Permeated the senses of the minions. Hop Zombies now roam the streets. Lupulin ichor oozing from ravaged legions. Gorging, gouging, masticating. Salivating over insane hop flavours and aromas. The time is nigh. No more festering away in hopless oblivion. Join the Hop Zombie revolution."

As the name suggests this beer was a delight on the senses, or should I say it put my senses into overdrive, like I had walked onto the set of the Walking Dead this beer could raise the dead.

I'm sure Darryl would smash a few of these!

A really good beer for this time of the year at 8.5% (2.2 drinks in a 330ml can) this can cost me just over $10 but it was worth it.

I’ve had a few of Epic’s brews before, this is another good one by them!

Cheers,

Dave

Coopers XPA

A brand known for good beer, Coopers have released an XPA and boy does this already encourage me to get more.

Their beers are easy to recognise by a distinct colour on the bottle, the green Pale Ale being my favourite Coopers… until now, the purple can like other Coopers beers is meant to be rolled to bring up the yeast sediment that has settled during the ‘natural conditioning’ stage at the end.

Coopers now have cans

Their aim is to create an American, India Pale Ale hybrid by using American Hops.

Coopers in one of the last few Australian owned breweries and they have produced another fine masterpiece.

“Coopers XPA is all about ‘extra’ hop flavour whilst being well balanced and easy to drink. With Simcoe and Lemondrop American hops added at different stages of the brewing process we have achieved an optimal bitterness level with bright citrus undertones. Like all of our Ales, XPA is naturally conditioned and free from any additives or preservatives.” From their website.

Available at all good bottle shops.

Cheers,

Dave

Two Suns Premium Dry

There has been an influx of new beers headed my way, I tried to figure out where to start until I came across Two Suns. 

This one stands out among the rest: 

Brewed with Australian Malt and Wheat! 

Brewed with Japanese brewing techniques! 

This collaborative brew between an Australian and a Japanese man is low in bitterness and low carb. 

On taste it was unlike anything I’ve tasted before, in a clear stubbie it is a nice rich colour and pours well. 

4.2% and in a smaller 330ml bottle the cartons are about $50 AUD. 

It is too early to tell whether it will take off, it has had a few mixed reviews so far. 

The concept behind it is to cater to the changing beer market in Australia, the brewers belief is that Australian drinkers are changing to ‘lighter’ options, a category that hasn’t had any premium options – until now. 

Two Suns Premium Dry, go and get one if you want to see the best Australian products with ninja precise Japanese brewing. 

Cheers, 

Dave

Byron Bay Premium Lager

A racy, summer-time brew is reaching out around Australia, with a good balance of hops and malt, Byron Bay Premium Lager is a brew you should put on your summer drinking list.

In a plain clear bottle, this easy drinking beer comes from a brewery that moved into the ‘old arts factory’.

Byron Bay, a coastal town in the South East of New South Wales is a popular holiday location because of its great beaches.

Now they have a good beer to their name as well.

I think this beer tastes a lot like Boag’s St George, another reason to like it.

Brewed with New Zealand citrus hops this is a fun newish brew.

Byron Bay has just been added to my bucket list as well!

Cheers,

Dave

Bluey Ultra Crisp Lager

 A newish beer has been launching that is named after a legend and has finally come my way. 

Bluey Ultra Crisp Lager, named after the ‘Aussie Legend Bluey’ a hard-working Blue Cattle Dog that became famous in Australian history is a light beer, or is it a mid strength beer? I’m not sure, the BWS, Dan Murphy’s Juggernaut that sells it under their brand Pinnacle describes it as both in the same description. 

At .9% and at 330mls, it is in between a light and a mid, and 45mls short of a standard beer. 

Its flavour profile is described as a light crisp style with a dry finish, the hallmarks of a Toohey’s Extra Dry. 

It is selling at around $40 - $45 a carton depending on where you look for it. 

If you want to try something different that isn’t too out there and easy to drink or if you are into dogs, then this beer will appeal to you. 

Cheers, 

Dave