Isn't it great that Australia is getting an extremely aggressive stream of imports now, both US and otherwise. Was just wondering which breweries/beers people have been most excited about getting their hands on in the previous/coming months. Personally I'm always happy to hear when a new American IPA becomes available. Would like some more American Wilds too, but they tend to be the smaller American breweries which make them and thus are less likely to distribute over here. It's great to be getting so much high quality Mikkeller stuff now too (and at much more appealing price points). Also Drie Fonteinen obv.
I was excited about Black Racer and 30th Street Pale Ale kegs coming in, then i realised i probably don't live within 1,000 kms of anywhere that had/has them. Got excited about Thornbridge coming out with Jaipur and St Petersburg (and Kipling hit a few places) and am hopeful that Bracia and the Russian Imperial Stout will make it out here. Bracia left me feeling like i had been hit with a Canadian Destroyer last time i had it and it was only 9%. Haven't been excited about Heretic or any of the Italian things coming in...nothing there has really grabbed me. Am hopeful that Sierra Nevada Imperial Stout will follow the rest of their lineup out here. Also hoping that Fulllers Brewers Reserve #4 comes out here in early 2013. I haven't heard anything official about what is coming to our shores over the coming months, so i would only be speculating.
What? The Taphouse has them on right now. ...Oh wait that's the Melbourne Taphouse But don't worry, I've heard that they show no favouritism towards Melbourne, so I'm sure Sydney will get some limited release kegs soon. I mean, it's been years and years of their good stuff going to Melbourne, so Sydney must be lined up for some big treats. I can't wait.
7 Single Hop Mikkeller IPA's on the website in Melbourne at the moment...are you pulling the trigger on flights? Nearly worth the $78 return cost of getting there.
>Bracia left me feeling like i had been hit with a Canadian Destroyer last time i had it and it was only 9%.< Awful. Just. Awful. Heretic has been wonderful! The Italian stuff has been good, some standouts, a lot of boring stuff though. There are some really special treats coming from them, like the Borgo Saison/Cantillon 1yroldlambic blend. The SN Imperial Stout is coming too. Next year is going to be even bigger, I think! More kegs, more beers, more breweries, more sours, more everything! And Sydney guys, tell the venues to contact the right people. They deal with them, they know who they are. Tell them you want good beer!
I'm happiest just to have solid, reliable Sierra Nevada on the shelf, that hasn't travelled here via bloody Europe. With the exception of a couple bottles of their fancier stuff that have been a bit stale, I have yet to pick one of their regular beers off the shelf and not be impressed. Even their Kellerweiss stands up to the journey quite well, in my experience.
Agree it is brilliant, albeit responsible for signficantly increasing my choice anxiety. To exacerbate matters, it's occurring in line with a steep increase in quality Aussie offerings. First World whinge over..
Something like what Spicelab said. If I'm ordering from Slowbeer or something like that I almost have a hard time making up 12. Not because there aren't enough things I want, rather I am potentially interested in a lot of things and whittle it down to a reasonable amount arbitrarily and then wonder if I did the right thing. Increasing amount of good Aussie beers I don't see locally only complicates things more.
