Posts under ‘Australia’

Well I’ve been doing my bit for the Global Financial Crisis and supporting our struggling brewers, but it looks like a lot of you haven’t looking at this story on News Limited website this week.  They claim that beer drinking in Australia is down to a 60 year low.  News.com.au says that consumption of beer in Australia is down to just under 4 1/2 litres per person per year. The figures have been dropping steadily since the heyday of just under 6 1/2 litres in 1979.  Quite a few factors have come into play including drink driving laws, the huge choice of other drinks like RTD’s and popularity of wine. But the biggest hit would be the price which has skyrocketed especially after the introduction of GST in 2000. I remember this time in 2000 you could hand over $5 and get three pots and change. Now you are lucky to get change for one.  Interestingly the statistics show  that low alcohol beer has dropped in popularity over the last three years buy about 25% and full strength has got more popular. Most of the loss from low alcohol beer has been taken up by the mid strength brews which are growing strongly.

http://www.news.com.au/money/money-matters/beer-drinking-in-australia-at-60-year-low/story-e6frfmd9-1225872599147

Well I found another treat around at my local bottle shop. VIrgin Blonde- a low carb blonde beer from the Steel River Brewery which is located in New South Wales. The beer has been on the market for a little under 2 years and if the guy in my bottle shop is correct reckons it is very popular. The beer is an organic beer and is fairly pale being made from lightly roasted barley that has been grown organically without pesticides or any other nasty chemicals which has got to be better for you. The grain also hasn’t had the normal fumigation which many of the larger breweries do to their grains. So this beer is not only using healthier products in its production it is low carb so it shouldn’t be too bad on the waistline. Not that it had a problem anyway…eh!

Shipstone’s Crew Fine Amber Ale is another one of Aldi Supermarkets great beer lines and is sold in 330ml bottles either in 6 packs or slabs of 24. This 5.0 alc/vol ale is very nutty and somewhat fruity and has great taste with some real delecate flavors and great value at a fraction of the cost of a similar beer with a known name.  The beer is brewed using  super alpha hops which leaves the beer with a nice bitterness complementing the fruit and malt. The beer we get in Australia Aldi Supermarkets is sourced from New Zealand, and i’m not sure if a similar product is sold in Aldi stores around the world- we would love to hear from you if you know.

Today’s ‘beer’ is a bit of a strange one and i’m not sure what to make of it. We bought a slab because it was cheap and after the second one I’m thinking it might last a while. The beer is called Amigo it is a Mexican inspired beer which contains a shot of Blue Mexican which is a citrus based Mexican spirit blend. The beer is unique but does have some similarity to the lemon and lime Mexican themed Cerveza style beers which have entered the market recently and reminds me of Desperado the French, Mexican style beer with tequila.  I think the secret to enjoying these specialty beers is to enjoy them on their own and not mix their flavors with other types of beer.  I will leave the rest in the fridge for a few weeks and give it another try.  If you have tried the Amigo we would love to hear what you thought of it. Feel free to drop us a line in the comments! Read the rest of this entry »

Brewed in South Australia by Coopers the Coopers Premium Light is a all malt light beer which has a very refreshing crisp taste and is one of the best light beers on the Australia market at the moment. Unlike the US beer market where light refers to the low carb qualities of the beer, in Australia light refers to a lower level of Alcohol, in this case the beer is 2.9%  instead of the usual 4-5% in average normal strenght beers.  The beer is available in can, bottle and in draft form although not readily available. Coopers have made great inroads with their Sparkling and Pale Ale into pubs around Australia and with a few more people catching onto the Premium Light as a genuine competitor (and in my eyes winner) to the Cascade Premium and Hahn Light and Boags Light. With its great malty taste ans crispness I’m sure we are going to see a lot more of it.  If you have tried the Coopers Premium Light we would love to hear from you on your thoughts!

Australia’s Carlton Draught have been known for making some pretty amazing ads, you might remember the huge ad a few years back with a cast of thousands and the amazing Sky Troop ads. Well the guys have come up with another series of rippers. They certainly might seem a bit risqué to some people but they are certainly pretty damm funny.  They all feature a very interesting looking singing trio dubbed the Carlton Draught Trio and they sing a fine ditty.  If you have ever wondered what that wrinkly and pink…….. of course its your its your Wennis.  Grab yourself a cold Carlton and sit back for a good old belly laugh…. Enjoy www.anyexcuse.com.au Read the rest of this entry »

Here at Hoppsy we love our beer (if you hadn’t noticed) but we always remind people to drink responsibly and how much more responsible can we get to tell you to not drink at all. Life Education’s Ocsober campaign encourages participants to give up alcohol during the month of October to raise awareness of the issues relating to alcohol abuse and raise funds for health education for children. In its 2nd year Ocsober supports Life Education’s drug and health education programs that support and strengthen primary and secondary schools drug and health initiatives. The money raised will go directly to Life Education to teach more children the skills and the knowledge to say “no” to drugs and alcohol. For more info about Ocsober hit up the link below. Read the rest of this entry »

You might remember a few weeks ago we ran a story about Blue Toungue Beer, well Tess at Blue Tounge’s advertising company was kind enough to send us a few interesting facts which we thought our readers might be interested in. – thanks Tess

The West Requests the Best; Bluetongue Supplies

Bluetongue Premium Beer expands into the Western Australian market following consumer demand

27th July 2009: Bluetongue Premium Beer is expanding into Western Australia (WA), a move driven by local beer drinkers’ thirst for distinctive premium beers. Bluetongue is seeking to capitalise on beer trends in WA which are being driven by consumers open to trying new beers and who want more premium beer brands to become available.

York Spencer, Bluetongue Marketing Manager, says, “Western Australians have a pretty adventurous appetite for new and interesting beers and are now embracing more premium beer brands in their market. Bluetongue is perfect for occasions that reflect a more sophisticated but laid back lifestyle, like the quintessential Aussie backyard barbie.

“We know that Western Australians are astute drinkers who appreciate a distinctive Aussie beer with real brewing credentials which compliments the Australian palate, food and lifestyle. Bluetongue is the perfect fit for WA’s warm, outdoor climate.”

Bluetongue Premium Lager is the fastest growing traditional lager brand in the Australian premium beer market, with off premise sales figures outstripping those of their key competitors including James Boag’s Lager and the Coopers range. Bluetongue Premium Beer’s brand growth is up by a staggering 127.6% Year on Year , according to figures from AC Nielsen, within a market in which some big name brands are in decline.

Spencer says, “Our drinkers are modern and appreciate premium quality but are still unpretentious, it’s about what’s inside that counts. Bluetongue is being really well received around the country because it is genuinely a great tasting, premium Aussie beer that doesn’t take itself too seriously; it’s an engaging brand with a sense of humour that translates across all states. No doubt Bluetongue will be warmly received in WA as well.”

We got this great tip from Melanie at Bitter and Twisted.

How will you escape into Maitland Gaol over the first full weekend in November? Some people are going to seriously twisted measures to attend the best damn beer festival! Bitter and Twisted International Boutique Beer Festival will be held inside the walls of the ex-maximum security prison. Weekend detention will include over 50 craft beers, a nationally recognised entertainment line-up and the best prison food you’ll find! People everywhere are doing anything they can to get into the Gaol…what’s your escape plan!

Tickets available from www.bitterandtwisted.com.au or by calling (02) 4931 2888

We got this recomendation from Mark about Skinny Blonde.  After a bit of research  we found that there seems to be a bit of controversy around launching this new beer, with quiet a few people up in arms over the label and the name of the beer, claiming it is degrading to women.  We think the 50′s style Daisy is quiet all right, but thats when she is wearing her red bikini. Word is she might be a bit bold for some when the beer level drops a bit in the bottle- might be one for the stubby holder.   The beer is brewed by Brothers Inc andwhich includes as their master brewer Hamish Rosser who is drummer of the Vines.  The beer comes from the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, in Australia and has been on the market since about December last year. Be on the look out for Skinny Blonde Beer depending on what happens in the market place it might become a bit of a collectors edition. We would love to hear your thoughts on the packaging and marking campain of Skinny Blonde- drop us a line and let us know what you think. mail us

Find out what all the fuss is about here – http://www.skinnyblonde.com.au/site/ (warning adult content)