Today being Christmas, we take a look a special brew by Chicago based brewery Goose Island. Every year Goose Island whip up a special batch of their Christmas Ale while changing the recipe slightly. This brown ale is a 6.2% beer with a chocolate color that will develop in the bottle for up to 5 years. Their 2010 batch won a bronze medal at the world beer cup. Here at Hoppsy were are giving Goose Island a 5 out of 5 mince pies award for coming up with a fantasic alternative to socks for christmas. Read the rest of this entry »
Goose Island Xmas Ale
Most amazing beer ad ever?
This is incredible, there have been some epic beer ads in recent times but this one from Japan’s Sapporo takes the cake. Called “Legendary Biru”using a seemless collection of digital and live images to create a breath taking video. That good I think I need another beer – enjoy!
The Pony – New York City
The Hoppsy guys have travelled the world and had some great beers in some great bars, but a recent visit to The Pony in Hell’s Kitchen New York City stands out as one of the best in a long while. The Pony specialises in all American craft beers and they have a wonderful selection. One of the beers we tried was RJ Rockers Son of a Peach, it was an unfiltered wheat beer with you guessed it peaches- it was amazing – it might not sound great but trust us- one of the tastiest wheat beers we have tried.
The Pony’s price is right on the mark too, at the time of writing they have a flat rate of $5 a 14OZ beer which is incredible for the quality of the beer on offer, they also do 64oz Growlers for those who want to take a drop of the good stuff home. There are usually about 20 beers on tap at any one time and the range is very varied. There’s a pretty tasty food menu too. Read the rest of this entry »
Oktoberfest only 10 weeks away
We just received an email from the Munich Oktoberfest and it looks like It is going ot be bigger and better than ever. This year’s festivities start on the 17th of September and go through to the 3rd of October- that’s only 10 weeks away! Beer prices have gone up about 30 Euro cents since last year a Mass or litre of beautiful fresh Munich beer will cost between 8.70 Euro and 9.20 Euro but entry is free. There are 14 main beer tents including favourites like Hofbrau Festhalle, Café Kaiserschmarrrn and the Hippodrom all serving amazing German dishes and beer. This year there are two new rides, The Rio Rapidos which is a raft ride and the Monster which sounds pretty scary, a swing which goes 40 metres in one direction before rotating down around its axis. Probably a ride to go on before the beers. Over 6 million people are expected to attend this year and security has been raised to stop so many beer glasses being stolen, last year over 77000 were collected from people by security. For those planning to attend, start booking your spot in the tents as they are filling up quickly- avoid disappointment… do it today!!!!
VB’s 1958 Heritage can limited release
VB which is probably Australia’s most iconic beer’s has brought back a bit of its rich past with the launch of a special edition 1958 style can. Now the can design and 1958 were significant as it was the first time a can was used to hold beer. Sure it wasn’t the smooth thin aluminium we know today it was a fairly crude steel can where the drinker had to puncture the can before being able to taste the refreshing taste. Now for can collectors you need to keep your eyes out, as this isn’t the last of VB’s heritage cans, over the next 12 months Carlton and United plan to bring out a few more commemorative cans to celebrate the beer can. For those wondering, the beer in the can is the current 2011 VB as fresh and as crisp as ever. Look out for it in your local bottle shop and keep a couple as reminders of the simpler times.
Anchor Steam Beer
Anchor Steam Beer is one of San Francisco’s icons dating back to 1896 when it was founded by Ernst F Baruth and Otto Schinkel Jnr. The Steam Brewery today still use the techniques and recipes they used more than a century ago to make an amazing rich tasting beer, they even still use handmade copper kettles and mash tubs. Like all great products there is a bit of legend and mystery about the manufacturing process and no one is really telling how the beer got it’s ‘steam name. Anchor Steam make a range of other beers which are also well worthy of a try including an ale, porter, bock and there is always a special brew or two on sale. For those visiting the beautiful San Francisco the brewery offers tours of their complex, bookings are essential visit their website for more information, and like all great brewery tours it finishes with a taste of their delicious freshly brewed beers.
Hahn Superdry’s most epic beer comercial ever?
Hahn Super Dry has a incredible new ad. Its been dubbed, by Hahn, “the most epic beer comercial ever”. Well to say the least this ad has to be right up there with the best. It show an interesting production line including even a ferret checking the beers coming out of the production line- now that is hard to top! The ad has been pretty successful for the huge Lion Nathan brewer with it uploaded to just about everywhere it has had over a million visitors to You Tube alone in only a week.
Its Un Australian
Saw this one via a drink coaster at the local pub, the short story is the Australian Federal Government wants to introduce a kind of id card just so punters can play the pokies in a bid to tackle problem gambling. While we at hoppsy are not a big fan of the pokies (but we don’t mind the odd mystery bet on the trots or dish-lickers) the problem here is even if we want to drop a single goldie in to a machine we are being treated like a problem gambler. Worse still, the people behind the campaign in the video above (Clubs Australia and the Australian Hotel Association) recon the plan will force up the price of beer due to lost gaming revenue, and that is bloody Un-Australian. If you want your say hit up the link below and sign the petition. Read the rest of this entry »
Good Luck Whooping Crane Beer
Good Luck Whooping Crane Beer is a special brew which can be found at the Good Luck Bar in Cuba Street Wellington. It’s quite a nice drop with a distinct Japanese Lager flavour and served at very affordable prices. Now the deal is, if you drink this lovely beer you will be showered in Good Luck, well we certainly didn’t find any bad luck after drinking it..so it must have worked. The Good Luck bar has been running for about 9 years and as well as their Whooping Crane Beer they are also known for their Harry Debu Gaki Sake and their interesting cocktails. It’s a nice little bar to visit with some pretty funky sounds for anyone in Wellington’s main entertainment district looking for something a bit unique.
Tuatara Pilsner
Tuatara Pilsner is brewed by Tuatara Brewery from Paraparaumu which is just under an hour’s drive north of Wellington along the west coast of the North Island. Tuatara is a growing microbrewery which is has been awarded some fairly prestigious prizes for its beer. Using the best German traditions the brewery produces five main beers in the classic European style. One of the ones we were lucky enough to try was the pilsner which was sold in draft form and very fresh and crisp. The beer a Czech style pilsner has an alcohol content of 5% and is the brewery’s bestselling. The beer is brewed with noble Saaz hops, German Malt and Czech yeast plus some of New Zealand’s softest and purest water making it a very delicious drop indeed. Read the rest of this entry »
