Beer Awards Dinner Tonight

[Batz]

Anyone know who Innspired from Brisbane are??

Innspired Pty Ltd
Brisbane, QLD Australia

Cloudy Pale Ale
Midnight Extra Stout
Moonlight Porter
Starlager
Storm Real Ale
Sunset Amber
Sunshine Wheat

Quick Google tells me it the Brewhouse Brisbane
http://www.thebrewhouse.com.au/content.asp?page=sport

Batz

 

[Duff]

And the big boys are having a whinge by the sounds of it.

Click Me...

Cheers.

 

[warrenlw63]

And the big boys are having a whinge by the sounds of it.

Click Me...

Cheers.

LOL!!! I've seen it (Weihenstephan Kristall) freely available at Dan Murphy's for around $5 a bottle. Hardly a stretch.

Maybe our greedy brewing duopoly should consider making a "sour grape" lager for next year's awards? <_<

Warren -

 

[lucas]

"Brewers last night renewed calls for a revamp of the rules, saying it was the sixth time in seven years a rarely seen beer had taken top honour."
oh no, our ****** VB isn't winning against real beer! quick, change the rules!

 

[bconnery]

Some noteable results

PREMIER'S TROPHY
For the Best Victorian Beer
Stella Artois
Fosters - Abbotsford
Class 1- Exhibit 532

I chuckled at that one too...

"Brewers last night renewed calls for a revamp of the rules, saying it was the sixth time in seven years a rarely seen beer had taken top honour."
Or, and, I don't want too sound too crazy here, they could make better beer?
Mind you if Stella is the best victorian it doesn't say much to the judging in my book.
Or take those rarely seen beers and brew them under license here, that seems to work

Excellent work by colonial, wig & pen et al. Great to see the littler guys getting in there. More variety, better beer, keep it coming...

 

[Ross]

Quick Google tells me it the Brewhouse Brisbane
http://www.thebrewhouse.com.au/content.asp?page=sport

Batz

Thanks Batz...you'd think I'd know how to use google by now LOL...

They have a new head brewer at the Brewhouse, so hopefully we'll see some nice beers being produced.

Cheers Ross

 

[bconnery]

Thanks Batz...you'd think I'd know how to use google by now LOL...

They have a new head brewer at the Brewhouse, so hopefully we'll see some nice beers being produced.

Cheers Ross

That would be nice. I quite liked a couple of them but most of them fell a little flat, while almost being there. Their wheat was pretty plain and the mid strength downright awful in my book.

I suppose I'll be forced to go and check it out...

If nothing else they usually have some red oaks as a fall back

 

[Mercs Own]

Well I had a damn good night at the awards - started out at what used to be the Portland - James Squire brewhouse now - with a couple of pints of their Speculator - a very enjoyable drop! - and caught up with lots of brewing folk! Wes Smith was there havent seen him in a few years but hear from him here often. Its a great atmosphere at the Squire on this night as they place is chock full of brewers from all over Australia and it would seem it is the one time of the year that they all get together. Whilst there is a little bit of politics at play - slight change of atmosphere when the Lion Nathan lads arrived after all it is their pub - everyone genuinely enjoys catching up.

Off to the awards and a Hargraves Pale before going in and sitting down. I should have hung on to the menu card to tell you what we ate and drank but I wasnt thinking about that instead I was trying to get as much inside info on the Barron Boys whose table I was on as Willie Simpsons date - they scored two silver and three bronze and were pleased with that. Chatted to the owner and the brewer from AIB - they currently contract brew over 35 different beers!! Although Brian Watson told me they had been up to 42 at one stage. AIB are building a new 150 hectolitre brewery to cope with demand not sure what they are going to do with the old one - some one should make and offer!

I had the opportunity to meet the Minister John Brumby (he actually made a speach at the beginning of the evening and to my surprise quoted me from the article that I had in the Age last Sunday about loving Beer!) I took the opportunity to talk to him about the need to give small breweries a break on excise, lets hope he took it on. Later I introduced Cam Hinze and Paul Holgate to him, these guys are leading the push for excise reform on behalf of Victorian small breweries. My work was done and so for the rest of the evening I ate drank and was very merry!

Great to see Feral get an award the beer is a ripper! Strange (read as disappointed) to see a Belgian beer brewed here win an award for best Victorian beer when there are so many good Victorian Beers that are concieved, created, brewed and sold here.

Beers had: Speculator, Hargrave Hills Pale, Roof Top Red, Dog Bolter, Moo Brew Pilsner, Coopers Best Extra Stout, Cock and Bull Pale, Mac's Sassy Red Ale, and a Czech Pils but I cannot remember the name of it!!

Am I correct in saying the Brewhouse used to be Aruora's and is just off the mall?

 

[lucas]

I had the opportunity to meet the Minister John Brumby (he actually made a speach at the beginning of the evening and to my surprise quoted me from the article that I had in the Age last Sunday about loving Beer!) I took the opportunity to talk to him about the need to give small breweries a break on excise, lets hope he took it on. Later I introduced Cam Hinze and Paul Holgate to him, these guys are leading the push for excise reform on behalf of Victorian small breweries. My work was done and so for the rest of the evening I ate drank and was very merry!

Good on ya Paul!

 

[lucas]

was just looking through the results and I can not believe some of the past grand champions

1999
Hahn Premium
Toohey's Pty Ltd

1998
James Boags Premium Lager
J Boag & Son Limited

those two are ok beers if there's nothing better to drink but no way could they be the best in an international beer show. but now for the real WTF:

1995
Hahn Ice
Toohey's Pty Ltd

i say it again. WHAT THE ****!?!?!

 

[Ross]

Am I correct in saying the Brewhouse used to be Aruora's and is just off the mall?

Yes Paul, that's the one. Looks like I missed a good night. hopefully there next year.

cheers Ross

 

[Gerard_M]

LOL!!! I've seen it (Weihenstephan Kristall) freely available at Dan Murphy's for around $5 a bottle.
Warren -

Until about 15 minutes ago there was a bottle of it freely available in my laundry fridge! Now it is straight to the pool room where I shall display it next to the 12 year old bottle of Hahn Ice which is aging very nicely! OK so maybe I will crack it later this evening, the Kristall not the Hahn
Cheers
Gerard

 

[shonky]

One that caught my eye was the Bridge Road brewers from Beechworth. A small brewery with a young brewer. By my count they won 1 gold, 7 silver and 2 bronze. Must have been a close thing for them not to take the Australian Brewery and small brewery awards. Colonial won 2 gold and 4 silver.

I tried the Bier de Garde last year after it had only been in the bottle about a month and it was sensational

One to watch, congrats Ben at Beechworth and all the other winners

 

[Gerard_M]

Well I had a damn good night at the awards, I was Willie Simpsons date

So Paul, is Willie a good dancer?

Sounds like a great night, I will definately be going next year.
Cheers
Gerard

 

[Mercs Own]

Lucas, this either indicates how far Australian beer has come or how far it hasnt!? People bemoan the fact that we havent had many Aussie beers win the grand champion slot and I guess you have just pointed out why. Red Oak winning last year was ground breaking, Weihenstephan Kristall winning this year is not - although it is a good beer - Feral White was in the running to be Grand Champion this year and in my book would have been a very worthy winner - shame it didnt get there!

edit: Willie was a good date but he cant dance!

 

[Goat]

Thanks for the review Paul - sounds like a good night.

Congratulations to the WA breweries - Randall (Colonial), great effort !

Great to see Feral White getting a gong too.

 

[Gulf Brewery]

That'll teach me for only looking at the Trohpy Sheet.
Well done Pedro. Some bling for the brewery, and some great recognition.

Doc

Cheers Doc and Aaron

Do you think I should mention the paid staff/brewer/cleaner (all one of them) called Brew Brad or not
Not to mention a good wife who let me play with big shiny toys.

Cheers
Pedro

 

[winkle]

That would be nice. I quite liked a couple of them but most of them fell a little flat, while almost being there. Their wheat was pretty plain and the mid strength downright awful in my book.

I suppose I'll be forced to go and check it out...

If nothing else they usually have some red oaks as a fall back

They had LCPA on tap last time I was there mind you it was a while ago.

 

[brendanos]

Well from the other side of the table, as a Weihenstephan demonstrator this now gives me something to brag about for the next 12 months! Though IMHO the Hefe would have been a more deserving champion, but as we all know these judging panels are wild.

It's always great to see the little guys getting up there, and I'll support a local as hard as the next guy, but I don't think this competition does them justice. Maybe some professionals (rather than "industry guests") on the judging panel would help bring some consistancy and credibility to the results. I also find that the results being published as only bronze, silver or gold to be pretty frustrating.

 

[Gough]

OK, shameless plug here, but I'm pretty happy that we (Murray's Craftbrewing Co.) entered two beers and won two silver medals for our Nirvana Pale Ale and Sassy Blonde. Keith seems missing in action (or maybe just shy :lol: ) but Potters Brewery also did really well with their entries. Stella winning best Vic. beer was good for a laugh, but I thought the Wig 'n Pen's Imperial Stout could have been judged higher than it was... Such is (comp) life I guess...

Shawn.