Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Does hite beer damage Australian beer market?

The weekend just passed was a bit of Hite one for me.
No, I didn't misspell that, I'm talking about the beer.
It's been a while since I had come across the leading South Korean lager brand, not that I'm complaining.
On a trip to Seoul a few years ago I'd sworn myself off the uninspiring local brews of Hite and Cass, preferring the excessively priced equally unimpressive euro fizz on offer.

I spotted on a news feed that Hite Brewery were about to increase their prices by 2.6% in their local market and thought to myself 'poor buggers, they've gotta pay more for that!'
Lo and behold, later that day I was having a look around the local 1st Choice Liquor store and what was stacked to the ceiling before me? Pallets of a new "Premium Cleanskin Lager" with cartons priced at $29.99. On closer inspection of the no-brand brew you discover that the beer is produced in Korea by, you've guessed it, the Hite Brewery. And at 4.5% abv it suggests that they are keen to bolster global volumes on their standard draught brand.
As the picture demonstrates, it didn't take well to being introduced to a glass; presented little aroma; little carbonation (past the initial pour) and was a bit on the sweet side.
Don't we produce enough of these bottom end beers ourselves at sufficient quantities to hit the same price point for behemoth liquor barns? OK, it's good for the pocket of those that care not of their beers flavour; freshness or origin. But surely it doesn't do the Australian brewing industry any favours?
*For the record I only purchased the one stubby!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Beer and Brewer Magazine - Recipe Feature

We recently helped out our friends at Billabong Brewery with a gluten free recipe to pair with their GF Blonde beer. Here's the recipe as featured in the latest edition of Beer & Brewer Magazine in a snazzy Summer Cook Book lift out. Issue 11 Summer 09 is out now throughout Aus & NZ at all good newsagents & breweries. Buy it!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Happy 21st Birthday Clancy's!

Fremantle institution 'Clancy's Fish Pub' turns 21 next week and they are pulling out all the stops to make sure the celebrations do not go unnoticed. The Cantonment St venue, a staunch supporter of Western Australia's micro brewing industry, have put together an eclectic week of events to herald their coming of age.
The programme begins in earnest on Monday 19th at 6pm, where $60 will get you a seat at the table for a sensational retro dining experience. One of the many previous incarnations of the building was the original Clancy's Tavern, and the menu for the evening will be based on the venue's original 1975 recipes. Sit back and enjoy the Vichysoisse and Rack of Lamb whilst being entertained by The Muddy Duck Bush Band.

Tuesday see's a change of pace with the 'All Day Freo Pub Quiz'. The quiz is being held over four sessions throughout the day (12-1.30/2.30-4/5-6.30/7.30-9.45) with an entry fee of $10 (incl your 1st glass of Coopers). Proceeds of the daytime sessions go to local Freo charities.

Between 5 and 9 on Wednesday 21st they host 'The Great BBQ Cook Off' between local pubs and restaurants where they encourage you to come down and taste the creations. Heritage, sustainability and development in Fremantle are the topics up for debate from 7pm on Thursday. And on Friday the official 21st Birthday Party takes place. Big band sounds, poets, performers and more will wow you in whats sure to be an unmissable night. $21 tickets include finger food.

Princess May Park comes alive on the Saturday with a real carnival atmosphere, heaps of market stalls, great food, beer and wine tastings and live music on the big stage. $21's will get you in. And to close the week of festivities on Sunday 25th a free family fun day will be held in the park from 12-6.30, followed by the closing party featuring Clancy's favourites 'The Zydecats' and a host of friends who will perform three big sets from 6.30pm onwards, $15 entry.

Best of luck for one of the most fantastic pubs you'll find in WA, always great beer and service. In a port city blessed with brewing hotspots, Clancy's is a must visit if you want to get a real flavour of Freo.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Mash Beer Dinner - Friday 26th June

If the excitement of WA Beer week left you yearning for more, then a few tickets still remain for the annual Mash beer dinner this Friday night - latest news and details from the Swan Valley brewer:
"Mash Eisbock and Mash Baltic Porter, two new beers that are now on tap at our Swan Valley venue and will be on tap in Bunbury in the next weeks, ended up winning their categories : Eisbock won one of only 7 Gold medals as well as winning the trophy for Best Lager Draught, whilst Baltic Porter was chosen as the Best Stout Draught as well as winning one of the 14 Silver medals.

Two other beers also won medals, Mash Chocolate Beer also winning a Silver medal and Mash Black winning yet another award, this time a Bronze medal. This medal means Black has won medals twice in both the Australian International Beer Awards (Silver in 2007, Gold in 2008 and Best Lager Draught 2008) and the Perth Royal Show Beer Awards (Silver in 2008 and Bronze in 2009)!

If you don’t know about it yet, the best chance this year to enjoy Mash’s handcrafted award-winning naturally brewed beers paired with some fabulous cooking is on Friday the 26th of June, when we’ll be hosting our 2nd annual Beer Dinner. Head Brewer Dan and Executive Head Chef Melissa have matched 5 courses of fabulous modern Australian cooking with 6 superb ales and lagers, with a Gin Gin fillet mignon paired with Mash Eisbock as the pièce de résistance.

The meal will feature talks by Dan and Melissa about their experience in preparing the Beer Dinner as well as their work at Mash. Also during the evening, diners will be invited to take part in a beer quiz and taste the full range of Mash Beers: Pale, Honey Pils, Haze, Mex, Summer Lager, Black, Eisbock, Baltic Porter, Chocolate Beer and Celebration Ale, plus Mash’s own Crush cider. It’ll be a fun and entertaining evening, great for beer lovers and food lovers as well as those who don’t know they’re beer and food fans yet!"
For the full menu click here.

Up to the minute beery news from Google

Loading...

Beer News

Blog Archive

Why not visit our CafePress store for Brewers Dray and beery merchandise
Support This Site