Beer O'Clock Australia

Episode 14 - Before the World Shut Down

What a difference a month makes! We recorded this episode in late February when the novel coronavirus COVID-19 was just starting to enter the consciousness. It's amazing how much our world has changed... In any case, I hope all of you out there are looking after yourselves & isolating appropriately. 

If this is your first time listening to a Beer O'Clock Australia podcast, welcome! We change the segments up a little each month, however most months we'll discuss some of the latest news from the beer world, we'll talk about some beers that we've been enjoying over the last month & we'll crack something interesting from my cellar.

This month we reverted to form. We covered the news (pre COVID-19), we discussed a couple of cracking new Victorian beer releases as well as our impending trip to the Gold Coast (which will be covered on the next episode). We added 3 more beers to our ranking of lagers, it's quite long this month after some debates were entered, as well as our Desert Island 6-pack reappearing in the form of beers released in 2019. As usual we finish of with a bottle from my cellar. Hope you enjoy the episode!

 Show Notes

News Items

• Stomping Ground Airport Opens
• Hard Seltzer Festival
• Melbourne Uni's Electronic Nose for Beer 
  • We coudln't find the link! Apologies for those looking for it!
• Killer Sprocket Opening in Bayswater
• Wolf of the Willows Opening in Mordialloc
• Ratebeer Awards

What We're Drinking (14:34)

• We're off to the Gold Coast!
• Deeds Kapurkova
• Hawkers Late to the Party

Ranking of Lagers (20:20)

• This week we had to slot in Steinlager (New Zealand), Skopsko (North Macedonia) & Karlovacko (Croatia)
• The New Rankings are as follows:

1. Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic)
2. Tennent's (Scotland)
3. Carlsberg (Denmark)
4. Quilmes (Argentina)
5. Kingfisher (India)
6. Gullmack (Norway)
7. Sapporo (Japan)
8. Birra Moretti (Italy)
9. Corona (Mexico)
10. Steinlager (New Zealand)
11. Heineken (Netherlands)
12. San Miguel (Philippines)
13. Cantina (El Salvador)
14. Tusker (Kenya)
15. Skopsko (North Macedonia)
16. Tiger (Singapore)
17. Karlovacko (Croatia)
18. Singha (Thailand)
19. Red Stripe (Jamaica)
20. Vonu (Fiji)
21. Cusquena (Peru)

Desert Island 6-pack (46:18)

• Best of 2019!
• The cross overs this month were:
  •  Mr Banks The Drop #1, Quiet Deeds Survivor Type, 
• Dylan's X individuals;
  • • Cloudwater X White Hag Cairde Gan Teorainneacha, The Winston Black Rye IPA, Collective Arts Blackberry, Cherry, Lemon & Vanilla Sour, Black Arts Golden Ale with Mandarin 
• Noz's X individuals;
  • • Other Half X Monkish The La La, Blackman's Same Day IPA Super Hop, Lanikai Haleakala, Hawkers X Carwyn The Forgotten Casks
• Honourable Mentions
  • Black Arts Biere de Coupage, Boatrocker DDH IPA, Mr Banks Once Upon a Time in Armadale, Mr Banks X Range Keep the Change, Quiet Deeds Slenderman, Littlebrew Raspberry Lambic, Alvarado Street So Delightful, Molly Rose Tretti Tre, Cheeky Pint Blueberry Raspberry Stout

Noz's Cellar (1:09:25)

• Victory V12
  • Belgian Quadrupel
  • 12% ABV
  • Cellared for Ages (?5-7 Years)
  • Thumbs Up

There we have it guys, a little longer than we would normally like, but in these strange times it's probably not the worst thing to have a little more content than usual. Our podcast can now be found on Spotify, so if that's your preferred platform you're now able to switch over to that. As usual you can contact me at gus.norris7@gmail.com if you have any questions, thoughts or simply want to chat. Stay safe everyone & ....

Remember it's always Beer O'Clock somewhere in the world!

Episode 13 - Hottest 100 Special

 Show Notes

If you're listening to this somewhere with access to a screen, I'd highly recommend having some of these links open:

Hottest 100: https://www.gabsfestival.com/h100-2019-aus-main-list

100-200: https://www.gabsfestival.com/h100-2019-aus-next-list

Indie List: https://www.gabsfestival.com/h100-2019-aus-indie-list

2019 Beers: https://www.gabsfestival.com/h100-2019-aus-new-list

Our Predictions (1:40)

100-91 (8:05)

90-81 (10:50)

80-71 (14:40)

70-61 (17:28)

60-51 (20:48)

50-41 (23:33)

40-31 (27:16)

30-21 (30:38)

20-11 (33:38)

Top 10 (36:34)

Overall Thoughts/Trends (47:45)

There we have it guys, hopefully you enjoyed our analysis of the Hottest 100 beers of 2019. As discussed in the podcast it's a poll that gets unfairly derided from certain sections of the craft beer community. I think it has plenty of merit, as it provides a good snapshot of what people outside the tiny inner bubble are enjoying.

Remember it's always Beer O'Clock somewhere in the world!

Episode 12 - Sales, Sales & More Sales

 Show Notes

News Items (0:15)

• Balter Sale Discussion
  • Investors, Independence, Hottest 100, CUB Portfolio
• Ballast Point Sale to Kings & Convicts
• Little World Beverages Buy New Belgium
• Anderson Valley Becomes Craftier?

The Year of Local (18:20)

• 3 Breweries To Visit (At time of recording)
  • Contract Breweries All Completed
  • I did manage to finish despite Alchemy opening!
• Geelong & Surrounds Overview
• The Worst Brewery of the Year?
• Thunder Road & Temple
• Yarra Valley

Ranking of Lagers (36:20)

• This week we had to slot in Cantina (El Salvador), Singha (Thailand) & Birra Moretti (Italy)
• The New Rankings are as follows:

1. Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic)
2. Tennent's (Scotland)
3. Carlsberg (Denmark)
4. Quilmes (Argentina)
5. Kingfisher (India)
6. Gullmack (Norway)
7. Sapporo (Japan)
8. Birra Moretti (Italy)
9. Corona (Mexico)
10. Heineken (Netherlands)
11. San Miguel (Philippines)
12. Cantina (El Salvador)
13. Tusker (Kenya)
14. Tiger (Singapore)
15. Singha (Thailand)
16. Red Stripe (Jamaica)
17. Vonu (Fiji)
18. Cusquena (Peru)

There we have it for another episode of the Beer O'Clock Australia Podcast. As usual you can hit me up at gus.norris7@gmail.com or at our new Facebook page, if you have any questions or feedback. We're hoping to get a couple of special episodes out to you in the next few months, so stay tuned on the podcast feed for those. In the mean time I'm going to keep plugging away on The Year of Local posts, if there are any breweries you'd like to see prioritised let me know & I'll see what I can do!

Remember it's always Beer O'Clock somewhere in the world!

Episode 11 - From Rutherglen to Hawaii

Show Notes

 

News Items (1:16)

• Green Beacon sell to Asahi
• Independent Brands Australia become an ABAC Signatory
• Beer Cartel Survey results
• Phil Sexton returns to Matilda Bay - new brewery to open in Healesville
• Lion to launch a Hard Seltzer
• Aether Brewery founders to split
• The Tasting Paddle - Quick News Segment
  • MoonDog World
  • Sailors Grave @ Mikkeller Beer Celebration Tokyo
  • Tinnies win World Beer Awards Medal
  • Pirate Life Perth Brewpub
  • Liberty Brewing Cleanup at NZ Beer Awards

Ranking of Lagers (20:47)

• This week we had to slot in San Miguel (Philippines), Quilmes (Argentina) & Red Stripe (Jamaica)
• The New Rankings are as follows:

1. Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic)
2. Tennent's (Scotland)
3. Carlsberg (Denmark)
4. Quilmes (Argentina)
5. Kingfisher (India)
6. Gullmack (Norway)
7. Sapporo (Japan)
8. Corona (Mexico)
9. Heineken (Netherlands)
10. San Miguel (Philippines)
11. Tusker (Kenya)
12. Tiger (Singapore)
13. Red Stripe (Jamaica)
14. Vonu (Fiji)
15. Cusquena (Peru)

What We're Drinking (33:56)

• Hawaii Trip
  • Maui, Honolulu Beerworks, Waikiki, Lanikai, Inu Island
  • Village Bottle Shop
• High Country
  • Byramine Homestead, Buffalo, Rutherglen, Billson's, Bridge Road, Bright, Malt Shed

Noz's Cellar (54:13)

• Maui Black Pearl (2019)
  • Rum, Bourbon & Brandy Barrel Aged with Coconut
  • Imperial Porter
  • 12% ABV
  • Cellared since August 2019
  • Thumbs Up

There we have it for another episode of the Beer O'Clock Australia Podcast. As usual you can hit me up at gus.norris7@gmail.com or at our new Facebook page, if you have any questions or feedback. We deliberately kept this episode relatively free of Year of the Local stuff as we've got a special episode that is recorded but yet to be released, so keep us in your podcast feed for that! Until next time...

 

Remember it's always Beer O'Clock somewhere in the world!

Episode 10

 Show Notes

 

News Items (0:30)

• CUB sold to Asahi - $16bn
• Little Creatures Geelong Expansion
• ABAC Jedi Juice Ruling
• Royal Adelaide Beer & Cider Award Results
• Stomping Ground 3! Opening a Brewery at Melbourne Airport
• Capital Brewing Opening a Bar at Canberra Airport
• Zwanze Day Locations Announced
• 

Alcohol Free Beers (18:35)

• Heineken 0, Hollandia 0.0, Weihenstephaner Alkoholfrei Hefeweizen, Adnams Ghost Ship Alcohol Free, Carlton Zero, Erdinger Alkoholfrei 

Scouting Report (34:05)

• Grand Ridge, Bullant, Two Rupees, Urban Alley

Desert Island 6-pack (44:50)

• Australian NEIPA's
• There were no crossovers this month!
• Dylan's 6 individuals;
  • • CoConspirators The Matriarch, Brendale Industrial Haze, Feral Biggie Juice, Sauce Pazy Hale,  Mash Little NEIPA, Mornington Squid Rising
• Noz's 6 individuals;
  • • CoConspirators The Distributor, Hop Nation Jedi Juice, 3 Ravens/Hop Nation Juicy Jedi, 3 Ravens Galaxy Juicy, Fixation The 86, Mr Banks The Drop #1
• Honourable Mentions
  • 3 Ravens Juicy, The Mill I Can't Believe It's Not Juice, Westside Weekend Juicy, Bojak Calypso, Modus Operandi Gadzooks, Bonehead Phaze Out Phaze In, Beer Farm Boonta, Beer Land New England Pale Ale. 

 

The next episode is being recorded any day now, so we should have another episode up for you very soon. We've been asked to change the way we name our episodes, as Apple don't want 100's of shows titled "Episode X", so if you have any thoughts on how we should name them going forward we'd love to hear from you. If you've got anything you'd like us to discuss or if you just have some feedback or questions please email gus.norris7@gmail.com. Until next time..

 

Remember it's always Beer O'Clock somewhere in the world!

Episode 9

Show Notes

News Items (00:30)

• Westvleteren begin selling beer online
• Omnipolloscope waxed can
• Perth Royal Beer Awards - notable results
• Southern Bay social media issues
• Ballast Point barrel program being scaled back
• Stomping Ground Moorabbin to open

Scouting Report (12:45)

• The Year of Local wrap up
  • 115 Grill & Brewhouse - not open for lunch on weekends...
  • Moon Dog, Fixation, Molly Rose, Bonehead, Henry St, Flying Horse, Sow & Piglets, Salt, Clifton Hill

Ranking of Lagers (25:50)

• This week we had to slot in Corona (Mexico), Tiger (Singapore) & Tusker (Kenya).
• The New Rankings are as follows:

1. 1. Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic)
   2. Tennent's (Scotland)
   3. Carlsberg (Denmark)
   4. Kingfisher (India)
   5. Gullmack (Norway)
   6. Sapporo (Japan)
   7. Corona (Mexico)
   8. Heineken (Netherlands)
   9. Tusker (Kenya)
   10. Tiger (Singapore)
   11. Vonu (Fiji)
   12. Cusquena (Peru)

Desert Island 6-pack (36:42)

• Imperial Stouts (Russian, American, Milk etc.)
• The cross overs this month were:
  •  Victory Art Brew Ivan, 
• Dylan's 5 individuals;
  • • Founders Imperial Stout, Founders CBS, Boatrocker Ramjet, To Øl Liquid Confidence, Evil Twin Even More Coco Jesus
• Noz's 5 individuals;
  • • Hoppin' Frog B.O.R.I.S The Crusher, Founders KBS, Firestone Walker Parabola, De Struise Black Albert, Evil Twin Even More Jesus
• Honourable Mentions
  • To Øl Pineapple Express, Dieu du Ciel Peche Mortel

Noz's Cellar (47:36)

• De Cam Nectarine Lambiek
  • 40kg of Nectarines per 100L
  • Nectarines vs Peaches? 
  • 6.0% ABV
  • Cellared since May 2019
  • Thumbs Up

Thanks again for listening guys, hope you enjoyed the latest episode. As usual you can get in touch with us by emailing; gus.norris7@gmail.com or Beeroclockau on social media. We managed to keep this episode under an hour, let us know if there's a particular length you like - the more rambly ones or the shorter, sharper ones like this episode. There will be plenty of The Year of Local posts popping up over the next few weeks as we try and make up some ground on a task that seems to get bigger by the week!

Remember it's always Beer O'Clock somewhere in the world!

Episode 8

 Show Notes

 

News Items (0:45)

• Dogfish Head & Boston Beer Co Merger
• Untappd Festival
• Quiet Deeds Transparency 
• Rochefort Abbey - Lhoist Berghman dispute
  • More information here
• BrewDog Update
  • Marketing job interview issues
  • Brisbane brewery
• Independent Brewery Association Seal - 12 months since launch
• Coopers launch an XPA
• AIBA Results
  • 4 Pines Schwarzbier takes out Champion Beer!
  • Find all the results here: https://www.rasv.com.au/australian-international-beer-awards/results/
• Sierra Nevada Resilience Project - Less than 50% of donations received 

Good Beer Week 6-Pack (32:54)

• Crossovers;
  • The Winston Black Rye IPA, 
• Dylan's 5 individuals;
  • Molly Rose Insuperable, 8 Wired Lokomotiv Merlot, Burnt Mill Heliacal Rising, Cantillon Kriek, Eden Prickly Pear Sour
• Noz's 5 individuals;
  • Offshoot Grip It,  Bridge Road x Mikkeller Dark Harvest, Amundsen Marshmallow Psycho Bourbon BA, Holgate Beelzebub's Jewel (2016), Westmalle Tripel  
• Honourable Mentions
  • Bonehead Phaze Out/In, Feral Watermelon Warhead

The Ranking of Lagers (58:29)

• This week we had to slot in Kingfisher (India), Cusquena (Peru) & Sapporo (Japan).
• The New Rankings are as follows:

1. Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic)
2. Tennent's (Scotland)
3. Carlsberg (Denmark)
4. Kingfisher (India)
5. Gullmack (Norway)
6. Sapporo (Japan)
7. Heineken (Netherlands)
8. Vonu (Fiji)
9. Cusquena (Peru) 

Noz's Cellar (1:11:22)

• Stumblefoot Questhaven 
  • Barrel Aged Sour Ale with Apricots & Peaches
  • 8.5% ABV
  • Cellared since January 2015
  • Thumbs Up

There we have it guys, hope you enjoyed the latest episode of the Beer O'Clock Australia podcast. As usual we'd love to hear from you if there are any questions or things you want us to talk about. You can send your questions through to gus.norris7@gmail.com or you can hit us up on Instagram, which we're less active on than we probably should be. 

 

Remember it's always Beer O'Clock somewhere in the world!

Episode 7

 Show Notes

 

News Items (1:00)

• Coopers win Maltser of the Year @ Global Brewing & Supply Awards
• First GABS Brisbane
• Gage Road's Atomic Project finally launching at GABS Brisbane
• BrewDog's Brisbane brewery scaled back
• Gage Road raised $6m for a new canning line
• Malt Shed & Malt Shovel settle their IP dispute
• Bucket Boys Crowd Funding
• Boatrocker turns 10, Exit turns 5

 

What We're Drinking (11:55)

• Other Half & Cloudwater Tap Takeover @ Mr West
• Dylan's Singapore Trip
  • Level 33 - Worlds Highest Microbrewery
• Blackman's Same Day IPA

The Ranking of Lagers (18:25)

• Brand new segment - basically trying to rank the worlds macro lagers
• We started off with 6 - but future segments will be limited to 3
• Current rankings:

1. Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic)
2. Tennent's (Scotland)
3. Carlsberg (Denmark)
4. Gullmack (Norway)
5. Heineken (Netherlands)
6. Vonu (Fiji)

Scouting Report (48:32)

• Brewery Visits
  • Jetty Road, Mr Banks, Hack, That Little Brewery, Beach Hut, Bojak, Brownstone, Dainton
• Year of Local Update 

Noz's Cellar (1:03:58)

• Goose Island Gillian
  • A saison based beer with white pepper, strawberry & honey
  • Cellared since June/July 2017
  • Thumbs up

It's a bit of a longer episode this month as we launched a new segment. Hopefully you guys like the podcast. Now that I'm finally recovered from Good Beer Week I'm hoping to punch out a heap of Year of Local posts, but we'll see how we go. The next podcast will be being recorded in the not too distant future so keep an eye out in a few weeks. Until next time.

Remember it's always Beer O'Clock somewhere in the world!

Episode 6

This month we had a heap of news to discuss, given how long we'd been away this was hardly surprising. There is also a a good discussion of our trip to Brunswick to visit Foreigner & Inner North. We chat about Dylan's recent trip to South Korea & about some of the local beers that we've been enjoying recently. Our 6-pack this month is Goses, which turned out to all be fruited, and we finished off with an unusual style; a Yam Beer! 

 

Show Notes

News Items (1:20)

• Balter release Hazy IPA - social media hype
• Modus Operandi smaller cans 
• Pirate Life x Limeburner Whisky Collaboration
• Hottest 100 - Wrap Up - Local Community Breweries
• New Zealand Hottest 100 Results
• Broo ASX discrepancies
• Ogdens Brewery - Opening in a heritage hotel in Perth
• Bridgeport Brewing to close
• Endeavour Brewing crowdfunding
• Hahn Ultra Crisp - gluten free - including tasting notes
• IRI Marketedge Growth Report 
• House of Malt - boutique malthouse
• Ellerslie Hop Australia - re-opened after fire

Scouting Report (29:00)

• The Foreigner Brewing Co & Inner North Brewing
  • Polarizing experiences

What We're Drinking (34:55)

• Dylan's South Korea Trip
  • Craft Beer Bars in Seoul
  • Quite cheap
• Garage Project Golden Spiral
• Mr Banks I Like to Break a Mental Sweat Too
• The Year of Local Update

What We're Brewing (49:28)

• Our Mango Gose
  • Needed re-fruiting & time
  • Almost 1g per litre
  • Bottle available - we're interested in some feedback

Desert Island 6-pack (53:28)

• Goses - fruited, not-fruited, anything goes.
• The cross overs this month were:
  •  To Øl Santa Goes F&#% It All, Hop Nation The Punch, Garage Project White Mischief  
• Dylan's 3 individuals;
  • • Anderson Valley Blood Orange Gose, Red Button POiMA, Omnipollo Bianca Blueberry Lassi Gose,  
• Noz's 3 individuals;
  • • Anderson Valley Briney Melon Gose, Prairie Flare, Magic Rock x Kissmeyer Salty Kiss
• Honourable Mentions
  • • Stomping Ground Watermelon Smash, Doctors Orders Electrolyte, Hop Nation Black Rhino Cherry Lips, Zagovor All Summer in a Day, Deschutes Smoked Gose, Magpie The Ghost

Noz's Cellar (1:08:53)

• The Bruery Autumn Maple
  • A Belgian Brown Ale brewed with yams, molasses, maple syrup & spices
  • Cellared since ~November 2016
  • Thumbs Up

Hope you all enjoy the podcast! Most of our time this year at Beer O'Clock Australia is going to be taken up by The Year of Local undertaking. Keep your eyes peeled as there are a number of posts waiting to be finalized. We'll be back with a new episode hopefully at the start of April. Until then...

Remember it's always Beer O'Clock somewhere in the world!

Episode 5

 Show Notes

News Items (00:20)

• Trillium HR & Quality Issues
• Wig & Pen Is Up For Sale
• Vale Marco Bona - SA Brewers Pull Together
• Bad Shepherd Victorian Pale Ale - Melbourne Ale Yeast
• Good Beer Week & Independent Brewers Association Merger
• Little Creature Open Furphy Hall in Geelong
• Panhead Opening a Taproom in London
• Slowbeer Close Richmond Store

Scouting Report (17:50)

• Beer 360 - Craft Beer Shop at the old Slowbeer Richmond site.
  • 468 Bridge St, Richmond, VIC, 3121

What We're Drinking (22:48)

• Firestone Walker - Roll Out the Barrels @ Beer Deluxe
• Mountain Goat Goat Lager
• Stomping Ground Gipps St Pale Ale

What We're Brewing (34:18)

• Mango Gose
  • Pilsner Malt, Wheat Extract
  • Lacto Plantarum & Neutral Yeast Co-pitched
  • Dry Hopped at desired pH
  • A full tray of mangoes - approx. 200g/L
• ESB's (from last episode)
  • Changed tea to Cherries & Raspberries. All variants being bottled.
  • Tasting Notes for the straight ESB.

Desert Island 6-pack (44:03)

• "Dark-er Lagers"
  • • Vienna Lager, Amber Lager, American Red Lager, Euro Dark Lager, Munich Dunkel, Schwarzbier 
• The cross over this month was:
  •  Burnley Brewing Vienna Lager
• Dylan's 5 individuals;
  • • Monteith's Black Beer, Matilda Bay Dogbolter, Weihenstephaner Tradition, Mornington NZ Black Pilsner, Hawkers/Edge/Kaiju/Evil Twin/Baird Inappropriate Touching
• Noz's 5 individuals;
  • • Staropramen Cerny, Kozel Cerny, U Medvidku Oldgott Barique, Valmiermuiza Tumsais, Barrow Boys Stormy Lager 
• Honourable Mentions
  • Efes Dark, Toohey's Old, 1516 Bavarian Dunkel, Red Hill The Dark Horse Schwarz, Gauden Schwarzbier, 

Dylan's Cellar (1:15:45)

• Red Duck Big Licky
  • Released July 2016
  • Their Licky - a licorice flavoured lager - that they've turned into an Imperial Stout.
  • Thumbs Up!

We apologize for the extra long episode this month; Dylan & I may have got a little too into some of these topics. Keep your emails/questions etc. coming in - gus.norris7@gmail.com - we take everything on board and try and make little adjustments where we can to make this show better for you guys. We're recording a new episode any day and will have that to you - along with a whole heap of written content - as soon as we can.

Remember it's always Beer O'Clock somewhere in the world!