Whats On Tap At The Platform Bar - Brissy

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Having been a long time regular at the Platform I've seen the service go up and down when it comes to the staff knowledge about the beer. When I started going there almost two years ago there was a guy on the bar (Tony) who was perfect for the job. He actively influenced the beer list and could tell you a detailed story behind every beer they had in stock, as well as recommend other drops worth trying. Tony also made an effort to train up the other staff so they could tell you something about the beers on tap at least.

Unfortunately Tony moved to Melbourne as he was sick of spending most of his time telling people that if they want a VB they should go next door. Alex was his replacement and is probably the most knowledgeable beer guy they have on staff now. Most of the other girls are just backpackers that don't know much

The brunette bimbo is Canadian

Yeah Tony was good and did get a lot of beers on by talking to the reps etc.........I don't even ask the staff anymore......just ask for a sample and google!!

 

[bconnery]

I appreciate that we'd all like informed knowledgeable bar staff but just how many like this do we think there are within the industry?
While the Platform may or may not take the effort to at least inform or train their staff around the beers if the staff don't have an interest in the information it's not going to stay in when it comes down to serving time on a Friday afternoon.

I'd almost prefer the lack of knowledge to some of the uninformed "knowledge" I've encountered over time. A lady represent Burleigh Brewing responded to me commenting that the Hefe appeared to have improved from the last time I tasted it, when it had been awful, by saying "Yeah I tasted it a while back and it had this kind of strange banana taste that isn't here now..."

Maybe years of having to push for my own requirements in bars has left with me with a lower standard but I'm just happy if I get the right beer, in a glass, and the range is decent...
I kind of expect nothing so its great when you get the Alex's or Matt Correy's of this world who have at least an interest and/or a passion.

That's my take anyway. I just like beer.

 

[Shed101]

So, what's on at the moment, then?

I should be making my first trip to the Platform on Saturday, (fifth wedding anniversary) so i'm hoping it's a good line up!

 

[Snowdog]

... and hope they're open ...

Happy Anniversary BTW.

 

[WSC]

So, what's on at the moment, then?

I should be making my first trip to the Platform on Saturday, (fifth wedding anniversary) so i'm hoping it's a good line up!

S&W Stone
S&W Draught
LCPA
Red Angus
Coopers Dark
Coopers Pale
Burleigh Hefe
Malt Runner

Full range of bridge road brews too in bottle, will get a few from the bottlo. also in the bottlo they have Vitus so will get that too.

 

[Shed101]

S&W Stone
S&W Draught
LCPA
Red Angus
Coopers Dark
Coopers Pale
Burleigh Hefe
Malt Runner

Full range of bridge road brews too in bottle, will get a few from the bottlo. also in the bottlo they have Vitus so will get that too.

hmmm ... can't claim to be massively inspired by that. Will have to swing by Archives as well I s'pose.

 

[Shed101]

... and hope they're open ...

Happy Anniversary BTW.

Cheers :icon_cheers:

... why hope they're open - do they have strange hours?

 

[Lilo]

If they are closed or you get dissapointed whilst there. Wander over the bridge to Archive in Boundary st West End. Had my first trip there Wed Evening and was most impressed by the Craft Beer Range, Surroundings, Prices, Food and the Service. ( Steaks are 2 for 1 on Wednesdays.)

No Afilliation whatsoever, just been quite dissapointed in the Service / Price and irregularity of the Platform..


Of Course there is always the Clarence as well.... Personally I think the Platform is a little over rated.

Just my 2 cents

Heres their Website
Archive Beer

 

[Shed101]

If they are closed or you get dissapointed whilst there. Wander over the bridge to Archive in Boundary st West End. Had my first trip there Wed Evening and was most impressed by the Craft Beer Range, Surroundings, Prices, Food and the Service. ( Steaks are 2 for 1 on Wednesdays.)

No Afilliation whatsoever, just been quite dissapointed in the Service / Price and irregularity of the Platform..


Of Course there is always the Clarence as well.... Personally I think the Platform is a little over rated.

Just my 2 cents

Heres their Website
Archive Beer

Yep I was thinking of trying Archives as well.

Clarence as in the Clarence Corner? *goes and checks the interweb* My lord, that's the Brewhouse now?

When I lived in Brissy a few years back the Clarence was my after-match watering hole (Kangaroo Point Rovers) - I was impressed that they had Cooper's in there! But I used to go to the Brewhouse sometimes - in fact my work leaving do was the last time.

Last time I was in Brissy I went to find the Brewhouse again and was dissapointed it had dissapeared.

How funny.

 

[Mayor of Mildura]

So, what's on at the moment, then?

I should be making my first trip to the Platform on Saturday, (fifth wedding anniversary) so i'm hoping it's a good line up!

fifth wedding anniversary. you're a better man then me!

Platform bar is tops. nothing like a quick S&W while waiting for the next train.

The clarennce/brehouse is tops too.

Pity i was home for such a short while.

 

[Screwtop]

mmmm .... probably the most underwhelming beer i've ever tried. Really don't get the fuss. h34r:

Me either, Tried this last week at the Platform, ..............mmmm..........Impression: Yeast issues and think maybe 1098 or shudder.........S-04 flavour/aroma, maybe aiming at an Aussie Pale Ale.

Sent it back.

Screwy

 

[Snowdog]

Cheers :icon_cheers:

... why hope they're open - do they have strange hours?

No, the posted hours of 12 to late aren't strange, its just sometimes they are closed for whatever reason.... private parties, painting/reno, no reason given, etc. I can count on one hand how many times it's happened over the last year or so, but when the wife & I have walked up there only to find the doors closed on a Saturday afternoon, well, it gets a bit disheartening. When it has been open, we've had usually good Saturday afternoon meals and beers and enjoyed it much. It's just when you expect a place to be open and it isn't.... When it happened we usually salvaged the situation with a nice walk to the Belgian Beer Cafe as the wife loves Bel-vue Kreik.

The Archive is worthy of the trek to West End as long as its Wednesday through Sunday. Great bottled Aussie craft beer range, and the taps aren't the ordinary either. Its close to Nectar bottlo too.

The Clarence Corner "Brewhouse" is worth the effort too as the beer is te same great stuff we come to love at Albert St, and the food is rather good too, and the prices are decent. It doesn't have the Albert Street Brewhouse atmosphere, but it has a character of its own. Wish I could convince the wife to make a return visit....

 

[Snowdog]

...and I did convince the wife to give the Clarence another try. They are redeemed !

Have bene bypassing the Platform for the Archive the last few times we've ventured into town...

 

[Shed101]

...and I did convince the wife to give the Clarence another try. They are redeemed !

Have bene bypassing the Platform for the Archive the last few times we've ventured into town...

We went to Archive first, and had a nice time. Shame there's not a wider range on tap, but a good overall choice, certainly.

The Platform was apparently closed for a 21st birthday, but the bouncer let us in anyway. Knowledgable guy behind the bar would have preferred to talk beer with us I think rather than supervise the slowest yard of ale that has ever been attempted by the lucky birthday boy

Must say the atmosphere of Archive was definitely the better of the two. Ended up having a couple of single hop Mikkellers and then leaving.

 

[Snowdog]

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about with the Platform. You don't know until you get to the door whether something private is going on. Have managed to get a good beer out of there but they made us go to the other bar to drink it. Glad you were able to get in!

 

[argon]

1. Red Angus Pilsner
2. Burleigh Heffe
3.
4. James Squire Porter
5. Stone & Wood Stone Beer
6.
7.
8. Stone & Wood Draught

I think there was one other but can't remember

Convinced a few colleagues after a networking event to head up to the Platform last night. Steered them successfully away from the Pig and Whistle. :icon_cheers: None of em knew anything about beer so it was amusing to see a couple of em order a James Squire and turn up their nose saying, whats this it tastes like coffee :lol: probably expecting golden or amber ale.

A couple of others went for the Stone Beer. First round I got S&W Draught and few others followed. Told em about the passionfruit aroma, tried not to bore them too much. Anyway got a good response for the first few sips but half way down the glass they were complaining it was getting too much for em too sweet too fruity... and they left half behind.

Second round thought theyd prefer the Pilsner no go there too and to be honest not one of the best Pilsners Ive had in a while had the Red Angus about 12 months ago and thought it was good... but on tap last night nothing special.

Third round thought Id pull out the big guns after a bit of banter with a couple of Poms about the state of beer in Australia and some others chiming in about warm flat beer, ordered TT Landlords all round went down a treat everyone very happy Beautiful caramel well balanced flavours... alway s my go to beer.

I did sneak in a Mikkeler Chinook Single Hop IPA for myself though not sure that that would have been a crowd pleaser to a crowd that doesnt like a pilsner or a fruity pale.

It was quite interesting to see some reactions of people less enlightened than ourselves when offering a few quality beers around. :beer:

 

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1. Red Angus Pilsner
2. Burleigh Heffe
3. Coopers Dark
4. James Squire Porter
5. Stone & Wood Stone Beer
6. Malt Runner
7. Coopers Pale
8. Stone & Wood Draught

Filling in the gaps.

They have the full bridge road range too, I tried the Robust Porter vs JS Porter...........jimmy was no match for Bridge Road, BR has great aroma and malt profile while JS was OK but no where near the flavour of BR.

I then went to the bottlo and will be having a dark beer off on the weekend:Cooper BES vs Bridge Road Porter vs Rogue Stout vs Brew Boys Stout (SA) vs Young Double Choc vs my own stout!

I will post what I can remember. I think I will pick a style and do this once a month.

Happy Days

 

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1. Monteiths Original Ale
2. Burleigh Heffe
3. Coopers Dark
4. James Squire Porter
5. Stone & Wood Stone Beer
6. JS Golden Ale
7. Coopers Pale
8. Stone & Wood Draught

Not 100% sure about the list, not much change this week.

I hear there are a few new stouts on the way, the LC Single Batch and Meantime IPA

 

[winkle]

WTF, shut again on a Saturday? Perhaps the bar runs better without customers in the way???

 

[Snowdog]

*wipes brow* Glad we opted to go to the Brewhouse, 5th Element, and Archive instead of heading up that way