Beer Club Subscription Issue 117 (July 2019)

Podcasts are not a new thing but have recently seen a spike in popularity across the world.

Originally called "audio blogs" back in the 1990's the term "podcast" was coined in about 2004 with the advent of portable playback devices like the iPod.

Fast forward a couple of decades and we've recently launched Beer Cartel's podcast: The Inside Word.

What is Beer Cartel's The Inside Word all about?

With Beer Cartel's The Inside Word podcast we look to bring listeners the latest insights into the world of craft beer, interviews with industry characters and stalwarts, the latest inside scoops and much more. 

Hosted by Beer Cartel's Lachlan McLean, the podcast is released weekly and runs for approximately 30 - 40 minutes. With 6 episodes recorded to date it is available on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher and Spotify.

Here are the current 6 episodes available for your listening pleasure...

Episode 1: The Bentspoke Story with Richard Watkins

For our very first episode, Lachlan sat down with Bentspoke founder Richard Watkins. Opening in June 2014, Bentspoke has been on a meteoric rise over the last few years that’s culminated in taking out 3^rd place in the 2017 and 2018 Hottest 100 for their Crankshaft IPA and recently being awarded the Champion medal for the Barley Griffin Pale Ale at the International Brewing and Cider Awards.

Episode 2: The Merger That Shook The Craft Beer World

As the craft beer world process the shock news of the merger of Dogfish Head and Boston Beer Company, Beer Cartel founders Geoff Huens and Richard Kelsey discuss the ins and outs of this game changing news.

Episode 3: The Garage Project Story with Founder Pete Gillespie

Garage Project has gone from a tiny microbrewery to a giant of the craft beer world in no time at all. From pushing the boundaries of what is possible to their unending pursuit of quality, it has seem them mix it with the best breweries in the world.

In part 1, we chat to co-founder and head brewer Pete Gillespie about the story of Garage Project and the meteoric rise they have seen.

In part 2, we chat to Australian national sales manager Adam Holliday about the effect that Garage Project has had on the Australian craft beer market. 

Episode 4: 5 Top Sales Tips with Laurence Temple (National Sales Manager Experient IT Beverages)

For the thousands of people who work in the retail or hospitality sectors of the craft beer industry, a sales job with a brewery often seems like a fantastic career progression. But many new sales rep fail to see out the first year, often due to the lack of training and sales skills.

For this episode I chat to Laurence Temple, former Pernod Ricard, Lion Nathan and current National Sales Manager of Experience Beverages to get his 5 top tips to be successful at sales.

Episode 5: The Dainton Story with Founder Dan Dainton

In a market where limited and new release beers are everything, Dainton are certainly leading the way. We chat about the pressure that this puts on a brewery and the creative streak that is needed to keep the already vast number of beers growing. Lastly we talk about their successful crowdfunding initiative that they launched in April this year and what it means for the future of Dainton Brewery.

Episode 6: The Sierra Nevada Story with Steve Grossman

Beginning in 1980, Sierra Nevada has pioneered the craft beer revolution. Foundered by Ken Grossman, the brewery is truly a family endeavour, with his son Brian and daughter Sierra both heavily involved. Today we are joined by his older brother Steve, who works as Sierra Nevada’s spokesperson and ambassador to tell the story of this truly iconic brewery.

This Month's Tasting Notes (July 2019) (Expert Quarterly Notes below)

Beer 1: Two Birds Passion Victim

Style: Summer Ale

ABV: 5%

Colour: Golden

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: Pint

Description: Forget fashion, think Passion. Passion Victim. Because we love long days and short shorts, we dreamed up a beer to capture the essence of the warmer months to come - a Passionfruit Summer Ale. Pale and hazy like balmy arvos, this Summer Ale uses the tropical fruit hop trio of Amarillo, Mosaic and Galaxy with passionfruit puree added to the fermenter. It tastes like sunshine and is best enjoyed in a hammock. Or a tent. Or at a festival. Or at a BBQ. Or in a beer garden. As if you needed an excuse.

Jump on the canned wagon!

Beer 2: Kona Brewing Kua Bay IPA

Style: IPA

ABV: 7.3%

Colour: Amber

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: IPA

Description: Kua Bay IPA is a bright, bold, copper-coloured India Pale Ale. Piney hops, spices, and a subtle caramel maltiness make it a delicious beer that’s both full-bodied and flavourful.

Beer 3: Burnley Brewing Botanical Sour Ale

Style: Sour Ale

ABV: 3.5%

Colour: Amber

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: Tulip

Description: Made in collaboration with Mountain Gin, this beer cocktail mix features our hoppy sour mixed with fruit and spicy botanicals.

Beer 4: Murray’s Brewery Coco Hops Coconut Porter

Style: Porter

ABV: 5%

Colour: Black

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: Tulip

Description: An explosion of chocolate and roast malt deliver a rich, complex, roasted coffee aroma. Four other specialty malts give it a smooth full-bodied mouthfeel. Topping off with lashings of coconut in maturation makes this a complete experience for the senses. Pours very dark brown with ruby highlights and a creamy tan head.

This Quarters Tasting Notes (July 2019)

Beer Number 1: Kaiju Where Strides the Behemoth

Style: Imperial Black IPA

ABV: 10.8%

Colour: Black

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: IPA

Description: An enormous hop schedule, balanced by a rich, roast malt character with rummy undertones from the large portion of brown sugar. The oiliness of the hops coats the mouth with a huge lingering bitterness while the roast malts add coffee notes.

Beer Number 2: Bentspoke Big Nut

Style: Black IPA

ABV: 6.8%

Colour: Black

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: IPA

Description: The latest release as part of the Drifter series, a range of seasonal beers that drift in and out. Big Nut is a black IPA that's been a long time coming for customers at the brewpub. Big Nut has been one of our most popular winter beers at the brewpub.

Our Draughters' members have been heckling us for years to put it in a can.

More than just the beer, Big Nut began its story at the Braddon brewpub in the most literal sense, a big nut used in a tap handle.

Big Nut is a big black IPA with roasty coffee and nutty, malty notes with resiny, piney and garlicky hops rounding out the palate.

Get it while you can, it won't last long!

Beer Number 3: Hope ESB

Style: ESB (Extra Special Bitter)

ABV: 5.5%

Colour: Amber

Serving Temp: 12˚C to 15˚C

Recommended Glass: Tulip

Description: Classic English style ale, brewed with an Aussie accent. Pale amber in colour with a firm yet balanced bitterness, this beer has notes of spice and fruit, complemented by a rich malt backbone.

Beer Number 4: Burnley Brewing Botanical Sour

Style: Sour Ale

ABV: 3.5%

Colour: Light Golden

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: Tulip

Description: Made in collaboration with Mountain gin, this beer cocktail mix features our hoppy sour mixed with fruit and spicy botanicals.

Beer Number 5: Garage Project Dark Arts

Style: Doppelbock

ABV: 6.8%

Colour: Dark Brown

Serving Temp: 12˚C to 15˚C

Recommended Glass: Lager

Description: What kind of Faustian pact is this? A dark tryst combining the rich, clean malt character of a strong bock beer with a cold extract of specially roasted beans, creating a brew of milk coffee smoothness with notes of caramel and chocolate. Your favourite beverages together in one bottle - now there’s no need to choose. An award winning brew born of our collaboration with Wellington based fair trade roasting icons Peoples Coffee.

Beer Number 6: Modus Operandi Silent Knight

Style: Porter

ABV: 5.6%

Colour: Black

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: Tulip

Description: Aromas of rich chocolate and roast on the nose, we brewed our porter with the idea of a session version of a Russian Imperial Stout in mind. a complex blend of 9 types of malt form a dessert like blend of chocolate, roast and caramel flavour while still finishing on the light and dry side.

Beer Number 7: Coconspirators The Distributor

Style: New England IPA (NEIPA)

ABV: 7.6%

Colour: Amber

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: IPA

Description: The Distributor, this "debonair" dad- bod dude delivers the goods wherever The Matriarch needs. Right now he is distributing flavour just for you. This hazy IPA is double dry hopped and will wash over you in waves of tropical bliss. Unlike this guy's awkward dad jokes this is a velvety and silken beer that leaves you thinking of soft pillows and clouds but wake up this ain't no featherweight. This moustachioed machismo thinks he's the bomb but this hazy IPA is the bomb delivering an explosion of luscious and sultry tropical flavours.

Beer Number 8: Fixation IPA

Style: IPA

ABV: 6.4%

Colour: Amber

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: IPA

Description: This beer is for American IPA fans, who love exquisite balance in an IPA. Fixation IPA is hopped at every stage with Simcoe, Mosaic, Citra & Amarillo hops. We love it! Life is short - drink fresh!

Beer Number 9: Feral Biggie Juice

Style: New England IPA (NEIPA)

ABV: 8%

Colour: Golden

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: IPA

Description: First there was Biggie Juice, our NEIPA sensation. Now for a limited tour comes our 'one off' 8% Imperial Biggie Juice.

They tell us the King of Dank has arrived with this Imperial NEIPA. It packs a massive hop punch, reminiscent of your tropical fantasies.

More malt, more hops and more alcohol make this juiced up brew bigger, juicier and hoppier than ever before. Get ready because Imperial Biggie is going to go fast!

Brewed for GABS 2019.

Beer Number 10: Maui Lager

Style: Lager

ABV: 5.2%

Colour: Golden

Serving Temp: 4˚C to 7˚C

Recommended Glass: Lager

Description: A clean, crisp & refreshing Helles, perfect any time.

Beer Number 11: Akasha Little Smith

Style: IPA

ABV: 3.5%

Colour: Golden

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: IPA

Description: Big hop flavours dominate this little IPA so don't be fooled by the name. Little Smith IPA is low on abv but big on flavour, expect pine and fruit to explode out of your glass. Perfectly balanced, Little Smith is refreshing and delicious.

Beer Number 12: Quiet Deeds The First Horseman

Style: Imperial/Double Stout

ABV: 9.5%

Colour: Black

Serving Temp: 12˚C to 15˚C

Recommended Glass: Stout

Description: The first beer to be released upon the world from our Dark Deeds series is a hat tip to the White Rider, the first of four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Symbolising a conquest of dark over light. Dark and thick, our 2019 Imperial Stout is reminiscent of old timey chocolate milk, where they used to melt bars down and add cream. Built upon this sweet base are layers of light chocolate, coffee and just a hint of booze.

Beer Number 13: Sailors Grave Harvest Ale on Pinot Lees

Style: Sour Ale

ABV: 5.0%

Colour: Dark Brown

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: Tulip

Description: Fermented on 100% Pinot Lees and Rose Bramble.

Beer Number 14: Black Hops Super Hornet

Style: Imperial/Double IPA

ABV: 8.7%

Colour: Amber

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: IPA

Description: The Super Hornet DIPA is an upgraded redesign of our Hornet IPA, fitted with extra ABV firepower and extended bitterness range, this bad boy is destined to establish flavour superiority. Loaded with an armament of fresh NATO hops, you will smell this beer before you see it coming.

Beer Number 15: Murrays Coco Hops

Style: Porter

ABV: 5.0%

Colour: Dark Brown

Serving Temp: 7˚C to 12˚C

Recommended Glass: Tulip

Description: An explosion of chocolate and roast malt deliver a rich, complex, roasted coffee aroma. Four other specialty malts give it a smooth full-bodied mouthfeel. Topping off with lashings of coconut in maturation makes this a complete experience for the senses. Pours very dark brown with ruby highlights and a creamy tan head.

Beer Number 16: 3 Fontenein Oude Geuze

Style: Lambic

ABV: 6%

Colour: Golden

Serving Temp: 4˚C to 7˚C

Recommended Glass: Tulip

Description: Blend of 1, 2, and 3 year old lambics. A true Geuze - a blend of 1, 2, and 3 year-old lambic, unfiltered and unpasteurized, and aged in the bottle for at least a year after blending. Refermentation in the bottle gives this Geuze its famous champagne-like spritziness. The lambic that goes into it is brewed only with 60% barley malt, 40% unmalted wheat, aged hops, and water, spontaneously fermented by wild yeasts, and matured in oak casks.

About the Author: Geoff Huens is the co-founder of Beer Cartel who conjured up the idea of a beer subscription delivery service after his year abroad travelling through South America, the USA and Europe. With his partner in beer, Richard Kelsey, this later evolved into Beer Cartel. Through a passion for bringing amazing beers to people around him, a rekindling of his Belgian heritage and love for exploring new beers he can often be found writing about beer or chewing the malt over his favourite beer style, American Barleywines.