Cogging Away
By Rocky | May 3, 2008
Continuing this weeks boutique Australian beer theme-Coggs Premium is a new beer that has been launched on the market by two guys from Geelong, Australia, Nick Cogger and Geelong AFL football star Gary Ablett. The beer has taken Geelong and much of the region by storm since launch just a few months ago. The beer is hand crafted and best of all preservative free offering a full flavored premium style larger but low carb so it’s also good for your waistline. The beer is brewed in the northern Victorian town of Mildura and is making big inroads into pubs, bars and restaurants. In some bars the beer is outselling popular drops like Corona. The boys are already looking for export markets with Thailand and Dubai in their sights, so keep your eyes out- it might not be long before Coggs Premium is in a fridge near you. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Australia | No Comments »
It’s the Beez Neez
By Rocky | April 30, 2008
Over 4000 years ago ancient civilizations like in Babylon and Egypt celebrated by adding honey to their beer brew. In fact the word honeymoon can be traced back to these times when the bride’s father would fill his new son in-law full of the honey mead which would give him all the energy he would require for his after wedding celebrations. It was believed the honey mead was an aphrodisiac. Today there are quiet a few honey flavored beers entering the market and Beez Neez from Matilda Bay in Australia is one of the best. It has a very tasty blend of premium malted barley and malted wheats forming a pale ale and the addition of some light honey added to the kettle. The beer is delicious remarkably fresh tasting with a distinct honey taste. The Matilda Bay Brewing Company started in the Western Australian town of North Fremantle, just outside of Perth in Western Australia, today it is part of the huge Australian Fosters Group. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Australia, Beer Types | No Comments »
A little Tasmanian devil
By Rocky | March 13, 2008
Tasmania is Australia’s smallest state but they have two major beer brands, Cascade and Boag’s Draught. Cascade comes from the Capital Hobart while Boag’s is brewed in Launceston in the states central region and claims to be Tasmania’s most popular beer. The beer was launched nationally in 2004 and had made a bit of an impact, it is brewed from a century old recipe and has smooth hoppy bitterness from locally grown Ringwood hops and the freshest of waters from the pristine Esk River. James Boag took over the Esk Brewery in 1881 to create J. Boag and Son and today the brewery is still one of classic heritage buildings in Launceston. James’ son and grandson also brewed at the brewery and after a few rough periods during the 1980’s and 1990′ is owned by the huge San Miguel company which have ensured it’s future and heritage, with some of Australia’s best beers.
Topics: Australia | No Comments »
Australians wouldn’t giva a XXXX for anything
By Rocky | January 27, 2008
This is surely one of the worst corny ads I have ever seen. Its for Queensland’s Castlemaine XXXX beer for the UK market. It uses some really bad Australian Stereotyping. You are expecting a crocodile or a dingo to come out and eat here, but sadly not the case. Anyway XXXX is Queensland’s most popular drop, and quiet popular in the northern states of the country and making great inroads into the UK giving good old Fosters a run for it’s money as Australia’s beer. The beer is no where as bad as this ad- Take a look, you are sure to cringe- I am sure it’s set back Australian Culture 20 years, we are going to need Sir Les Patterson our Cultural Ambassador to do some good work to show we Aussies have much more style and sophistication than this.
Topics: Australia, UK & Ireland | No Comments »
The Great Aussie Beer Shed
By Rocky | January 25, 2008
With Australia Day tomorrow we thought it would be appropriate to mention the Great Aussie Beer Shed. This great attraction is just out side of the Victorian /
Topics: Australia | No Comments »
The best cold beer is Vic, Vic Bitter
By Rocky | January 23, 2008
Well plenty of people would disagree, but half of Australia think the best cold beer is Vic, Victoria Bitter. VB is Australia’s biggest selling draft beer and is available in just about every pub in the continent. Brewed by Carlton and United Breweries now known as The Fosters Group the beer has a reputation of being a beer for everyone especially the Aussie worker. Originating from Melbourne it was really Melbourne Bitter and Carlton Draft which were the beer drinkers choice, but after great advertising like this old You Tube ad, and marketing into new areas, VB has become the Australian favorite. Well a hard earned thirst needs a big cold beer…you know the rest.
Topics: Australia | No Comments »
Carlton Dry Fusion with a touch of lime
By Rocky | January 9, 2008
Australia’s Carlton and United Breweries are the latest brewery to try their hand at a beer with salt and lime added. The Carlton Dry Fusion has just been released onto the local market and if the first few weeks of trade are any indication this drink is going to be one of the most popular boutique beers this summer in Australia. The beer is a full strength beer but with 25% lower carbohydrates than normal beer, so not only does it taste great it helps that dreaded beer belly away while lazing on the beach this summer. The dry taste is really enhanced with the twist of freshly squeezed lime and salt giving it a really refreshing taste. The might be a little hard to get until all the bottle shops and pubs stock it, but trust Hoppsy, the wait will be worth it- we really think most beer drinkers and a lot of people who are not too keen on beer will really enjoy it. It should really help open up a new market.
If you have tried the new Carlton Dry Fusion drop us a line and tell us what you thought of it http://www.hoppsy.com/send-us-a-tip/
Topics: Australia | 7 Comments »
Schutzenfest Adelaide - beer & guns
By Rocky | January 4, 2008
Adelaide on Australia’s southern coast is home to the Southern Hemisphere’s largest folk festival the Schutzenfest. Schutzenfest’s have been popular throughout Germany for hundred’s of years when towns celebrated with a shooting festival followed by a fun day of beer drinking. Today fortunately the shooting is a fairground style attraction and the beer is icy cold and each year a King and Queen shooter are crowned. The festival dates back to 1865 in Adelaide and became a annual event in 1964. Now held in the city’s Bonython Park there’s Oompah music, Bavarian Foods including plenty of sausages and great beer. Over 40 stalls attend selling food, beer and cultural items. The highlight of the event is the Strong Arm Beer Stein Lifting Competition where the person who can hold a full stein at arms length for the longest wins. The Adelaide Schutzenfest runs from 11th - 12th of January this year. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Australia, Festivals / Events | 1 Comment »
Drink beer instead of eating whales!
By Rocky | December 17, 2007
Most of the world thinks its not very nice eating whales and we agree. But many Japanese appear to need to eat them after they do their so called scientific research - haven’t they tried cows? Blue Tounge beer in Sydney Australia has taken the step to link their tasty beer with the horrors of whale slaughter with this somewhat unpleasant ad. Hopefully it will help change the minds of the people who enjoy eating these magnificent creatures and they will reach for a bottle of beer instead - im sure the beer is much tastier and wouldn’t have that fishy smell! (Just a little warning today’s You Tube video might be too graphic for some but thankfully no whale is shown being hurt in this advertisment) Save the Whales!!
Topics: Asia, Australia, YouTube | No Comments »
The real Duff Beer
By Rocky | December 9, 2007
Well we all know it as Homer Simpson and his Springfield friends favorite beer but there was actually a real Duff beer sold in Australia a few years back. Whether an original idea or a bit of a rip off from the Fox network smash show it was left to the courts to decide. The product was eventually forced to be taken off the market due to legal action brought against Razorback Beverages Brewery which was from Barton South Australia by Twentieth Century Fox. Today some cans remain in collector’s hands and go for a huge price; it is not uncommon to see them on eBay or other auction sites selling for $500.
Topics: Australia | No Comments »