Spiced Stout Chutney now available to buy from Ironbark Brewery & Billabong Brewing

Thanks to the guys at Ironbark Brewery (55 Benara Rd, Caversham, Swan Valley, WA). The first venue to stock our Spiced Stout Chutney and Tomato Chilli Hopped Relish in the valley! They've joined our most recent stockist and good friends at Billabong Brewing (72a McCoy St, Myaree) in showcasing our beery delights! Fancy a couple of jars?

*P.S Don't forget that if you're in NSW you can head to Murray's Craft Brewing Co near Port Stephens and not only sample some sensational brews but also purchase our chutney, relish and beer soaps.

The Brewers Dray : 'Beer & Food' article from Australian Appetite magazine Iss 3/2010

Here's the beer & food article published in Australian Appetite magazine a couple of months back. Few quotes in there from The Brewers Dray! Its a scanned jpeg, so hopefully you can read it without too many drama's.

Oktoberfest at the brewery: The definitive guide to Oktoberfest celebrations in and around Perth for 2010

Well it's that Oktoberfest time again, so strap on the lederhosen and get ready to swing your stein to the sweet sounds of the oompah, here's your definitive guide to whats on where in the brewpubs of Perth and surrounds:

The Monk Brewery & Kitchen, Freo
In keeping with the traditional Munich timing of the event, The Monk kick off their Oktoberfest festivities with an Opening Party on Saturday 18th September. The German beer will be flowing, the German food will be in excess and your favourite Monk brews will be on tap! Festivities will continue until the 3rd of October, with traditional food specials including Monk made pretzel, purchase your own limited edition commemorative steins, enjoy traditional German bottled beer and The Monk’s own Oktoberfest lager, and for your sonic pleasure on the 18th The Alpen Duo will be entertaining from 1pm – What’s not to love!
E-mail functions@themonk.com.au or speak to staff at the venue for further info.

Salt on the Beach/Black Salt Brewery, North Freo
On Saturday 2nd October, Salt on the Beach host their Oktoberfest party.
Come dressed in your best German outfit and party on at the beach. Prize for best German dancer and best German outfit! $15 Tickets on sale now! Includes entry, festivities and bratwurst bun. Polka dots playing live from 2-5pm : German Dancers from 5-5:30pm : DJ from 6-10pm : German games all day! Party mit uns in Salz, deutschen Stil! 9430 6866 for tix.

Mash Brewing, Swan Valley
Mash Spring Fair
Mash Brewings First and Biggest Event of The Month for the Spring In The Valley Festival 2010. Join them and celebrate SITV Mash Style, Outdoors at the Brewery. Craft Beers & Food and Great Music all weekend. Live Music by The DTs and DJs Cinnamon & Hustler.
Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th October. An Over 18s Event. Tickets $10 (Moshtix)
Doors Open 10am. Get there early to avoid queues!
Beer Lover's BBQ Weekend
Entertainment for the whole family!
BBQ Food/Craft Beer/Kid's bouncy castle.
Saturday 16th October: 11am-5pm/Sunday 17th October: 11am-5pm
Free Entry!
Oktoberfest
Celebrate the worlds biggest festival Oktoberfest at Mash Brewing in their themed Beer Garden with German Food, Special Release Beers and DJs Cinnamon, Hustler & Moosh.
Entry includes a souvenir Stein to take home.
Saturday 23 October: 11am-5pm/Sunday 24 October: 11am-5pm
Tickets $10 + Booking Fee (Moshtix)

Feral Brewing, Swan Valley
It's business as usual at the Valley's most awarded brewery throughout October, with the venue in full party mode on the 9th & 10th for annual Spring in the Valley celebrations. Entry to the party zone will set you back $10, with no pre-booking available, so it's first come first served. Get there early to avoid disappointment! For more info give the guys a shout on 9296 4657.

Ironbark Brewery, Swan Valley
Ironbark are celebrating the month long Spring in the Valley event with live music all afternoon across the weekends. Entry is free but bookings are highly recommended as they are already starting to fill up on available spots. Call 9377 4400 for bookings.

Elmars in the Valley, Swan Valley
It's all systems go at Elmars over the whole month of October, here's just a sample of whats going on, check out their website http://www.elmars.com.au/ for all the info.
Shank & Beer - What a great idea
Every Wednesday during October 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th Elmar’s Specialty Dish – a mouth watering Pickled and Smoked Pork Shank with a glass of award winning Elmar’s Beer (regular size) for just $44.90
Senior's Lunch Special
Every Thursday during October (7th, 14th, 21st, 28th) Enjoy a delicious two course lunch for only $17.50 per person, or three courses for $21.50 per person. Bookings Essential.
Brewery Tours
Friday 1st, 15th, 22nd, 29th October at 10am or 4pm (not available during 2nd week, Fri 8th Oct) Experience a Brewery Tour at Elmar’s in the Valley - included a guided tour of the brewery and explanation of the brewing process, plus beer tasting and a smallgoods sample platter for just $15 per person. Bookings Essential
$5 Beer & Bratwurst
Friday 1st, 15th, 22nd, 29th October (not available during 2nd week, Fri 8th Oct) Enjoy three beer tastings and a smallgoods snack basket (to share) for just $5 per person. Available all day Friday, a minimum group size of 4 people applies.
Cocktail Night
Friday 1st, 15th, 22nd, 29th October (not available during 2nd week, Fri 8th Oct) Visit Elmar’s on Friday nights and enjoy Cocktail Specials & Live Music from 6.30 - 9.30pm
Springfest
Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th October Relax and enjoy live music in the Beer Garden at Elmar’s annual Springfest! Open from 10am - 4pm, tickets are $10 and include a regular beer or soft drink, and more…
Beer Garden BBQ
Sun 3rd, & Sun 17th & Sun 31st The BBQ will be sizzling in the Beer Garden from 3pm with a range of mouth watering Elmar’s products, perfect for an afternoon snack! Relax & and enjoy a delicious Bratwurst with live music by Ben Merito.
Art at Elmar's
Sunday 17th October Stop by Elmar’s and browse through an amazing range of local art & craft displays on show in the Beer Garden from 11am - 4pm. The BBQ will be sizzling from 3pm, however lunch reservations are essential.
Oktoberfest
Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th October Experience Oktoberfest right here in the Swan Valley. Open from 11am - 5pm with live music all weekend, entry is FREE, just purchase your glass, or bring one along from last year.

Indian Ocean Brewhouse, Mindarie
The menu at The Indi takes on a distinct German flavour throughout the month of October, and so to does the beer, which will be available in limited edition Indi steins. "Nice Prices" on the Indi beer range from 5pm-7pm daily. Why not pay a visit on the 17th October for the annual 'Mindarie Festival', the biggest day on the Marina calendar with free family entertainment throughout the day! This year's entertainment line up is bigger and better than ever! Catch all your favourite acts and loads of new original creations too...

THE BOAT COURTYARD STAGE
12pm-3pm The Mod Squad
3.30pm-6.30pm Darren Reid & the Soul City Groove!
INDI BREWERY STAGE
12.30-3.30pm Retrofit
4pm-7pm The Rusty Pinto 'Rockabilly' Combo!
KIDZ ZONE! 11-4pm
The amazing Aqua bubble - come and walk on water $10 entry
Bouncy Castle - FREE
Face painting - FREE
The Sand Wizard craft activity
Happy Hoola Ladies - with lollies- and balloons - FREE
Plus the Boardwalk - Surf Rider - FREE

Plus all the creative flair of the variety arts 'n crafts market stalls, fantastic wandering entertainers including the sensational jazz band "The Gumnut Stompers" and a whole lot more... there is no other place to be on the 17th October. More info ph: 9400 1188

Duckstein, Swan Valley
Duckstein Brewery, Swan Valley presents OKTOBERFEST 2010
Oct 16 & 17 and Oct 23 & 24 (as part of Spring in the Valley). The Duckstein Brewery lies in the heart of the Swan Valley on West Swan Rd. and is a fantastic venue if you are looking for a more authentic German Oktoberfest.

Featuring German-style craft beers; Pilsner, Hefeweiss and Festbier. There will also be a range of wines and champagnes to help celebrate this fun day out. Bratwurst & Pretzels are available for hungry revellers.

Live music can be heard throughout the day with traditional music from the 6-piece Dolomiten Polka Band and party music from Alan Stewart’s Band. There will also be traditional dancing and Shuhplattler from the Rhein Donau Club’s Eidelweiss Dancegroup and a cowbell-ringing performance by Echo der Berge. Plus a range of Oktoberfest games and competitions with prizes to be won. Tix are $12+ bf (2% credit charges apply online) available from Heatseeker.com .

There are currently no specific Oktoberfest events listed for other notable local brewpubs/venues Little Creatures, The Old Brewery, The Generous Squire or The Last Drop.

Other events of note:

Rhein Donau Club in Myaree have a month full of full authentic festivities, but bookings are highly recommended at the popular Oktoberfest venue:
October 1st 2010
Club presents Oktoberfest 2010
Band:Dolomiten Trio
Tickets: Members $7, Guests $10
Kitchen & Bar Open from 6:30pm
October 2nd 2010
Club presents Oktoberfest 2010
Band:Dolomiten Trio & Aerotec
Tickets: Members $10, Guests $15
Kitchen & Bar Open from 6:30pm
October 8th 2010
Club presents Oktoberfest 2010
Band:Dolomiten Trio
Tickets: Members $7, Guests $10
Kitchen & Bar Open from 6:30pm
October 9th 2010
Club presents Oktoberfest 2010
Band:Dolomiten Trio & Aerotec
Tickets: Members $10, Guests $15
Kitchen & Bar Open from 6:30pm
October 15th 2010
Club presents Oktoberfest 2010
Band:Dolomiten Trio
Tickets: Members $7, Guests $10
Kitchen & Bar Open from 6:30pm
October 16th 2010
Club presents Oktoberfest 2010
Band:Dolomiten Trio & Mercury
Tickets: Members $10, Guests $15
Kitchen & Bar Open from 6:30pm
October 22nd 2010
Oktoberfest 2010
Club presents Oktoberfest 2010
Band:Dolomiten Trio
Tickets: Members $7, Guests $10
Kitchen & Bar Open from 6:30pm
October 23rd 2010
Club presents Oktoberfest 2010
Band:Dolomiten Trio & Mercury
Tickets: Members $10, Guests $15
Kitchen & Bar Open from 6:30pm
October 29th October
Club presents Oktoberfest 2010
Band:Dolomiten Trio
Tickets: Members $7, Guests $10
Kitchen & Bar Open from 6:30pm
October 30th 2010
Club presents Oktoberfest 2010
Band:Dolomiten Trio & Mercury
Tickets: Members $10, Guests $15
Kitchen & Bar Open from 6:30pm
October 31st 2010
Club presents Oktoberfest 2010
Band:The Alpen Duo
Family Day
Entry free
Kitchen & Bar Open from 2:30pm

And finally The Moon & Sixpence in the city are featuring the traditional Bavarian Hofbrau range:


If i've missed off any events, please either add them to this blog post as a comment or post them on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Brewers-Dray-Boutique-Beer-Explorer/6389058201 .

Beer & Food matching back on the menu in Perth

Mash Brewing in the Swan Valley are holding their 3rd Annual Beer Dinner on Friday 26th March at the West Swan Rd venue. Cost is $90 pp which includes a 5 course menu and beers included. Brewer Dan Turley has worked closely with Head Chef Melissa to present a fantastic menu matched to the breweries range of naturally brewed, award winning beers.

Back in the city, The Old Brewery on Mounts Bay Road have a couple of events over coming months, details from the venue below:

"Beer & Cheese Matching Evening
Thursday May 20th, 6:30-8:00pm, $45 per guest.
Join our brewer Mark Reilly, and Perth's biggest cheese guru, Nick Bath of Blue Cow Cheese Company (www.bluecow.com.au)for an evening of education, above all - but also fun. Guests receive a plate of six beers matched up to six cheeses, with both experts talking you through each round. The usual format is six cheeses with six tastes (please note, they are not full glasses) of the Brewery's different draught beers, plus one of two extras. It's an exclusive yet rather informal evening where you'll learn a lot, as each speaker talks about their beer and cheese match and welcomes any questions from the group (maximum of 25 people). The events are held like an open forum, with all guests sitting around the one large table. So if you’re an avid cheese and/or beer aficionado, join this very unique occasion to boost your wine and cheese knowledge, meet people and have a few laughs along the way…For bookings and enquiries, please contact Sage at the Brewery - Tel: 9211 8901, or email: functions@theoldbrewery.com.au

Progressive Beef & Beer Dinner
Friday 27th August, 7:00pm, $115 per guest
If you're looking to learn more about the Brewery's beers, then join brewer Mark Reilly for a great evening. You'll enjoy a great menu designed specially be chef Greg Farnan to accompany each of Mark's award-winning draught beers. Mark will speak about the beers and the food matchings..."

Whats pouring in the Swan Valley?

List of draught beers by brewer from Western Australia's Swan Valley region on Sunday 21st February 2010.

Elmars
Skippy Lite
Pilsner (T)
Hefeweizen (T)
Alt (T)
Schwarzbier (T)
Rauch Dunkel Weizen (T)

Mash
Pilsner
Haze Wheat (T)
Pale (T)
Sgt Peppers Golden Ale (T)
Killer Belgian Dubbel (T)

Duckstein
Kolsch (T)
Hefeweizen (T)
Dunkel (T)
Festbier
Framboise

Feral
Pilsner (T)
Belgian White (T)
HopHog - American IPA (T)
The Runt (HopHog's lil' brother)
Smoked Porter (T)
Razorback - Barley Wine (T)
Dark Funk - Sour Ale
Rust - Belgian Abbey Style (T)

Ironbark
Aussie Pils (T)
Hannans Lager (T)
Warrior Ale (T)
Blokes Brown Ale
Rousies - Oktoberfest style
Golden Wheat
Desert Lime

(T) indicates beers sampled by customers on The Brewers Dray - Boutique Beer Explorer on 21/2/10.

Beery Mashed Potato: Celebrating WA Beer Week

Day 6 in our 'cooking with beer' series is all about comfort on a cold wet day (perfect for Perth today!), our beery mashed potato recipe aptly features Swan Valley brewer Mash, and their pale ale. A perfect accompaniment for a few snags and gravy or a juicy rare steak. Tonight is the Cryer Malt Perth Royal Beer Show Awards Dinner, where the gongs will be handed out to the brightest and best amongst 17 different categories. Best of luck to all West Aussie brewers!!

Beery Mashed Potato (Serves 4)
Ingredients:
- 600g new potatoes (washed and cut into small pieces, peeling optional)
- 1 med red onion (finely chopped)
- 50g black olives (drained & finely chopped)
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 375ml Mash Pale Ale or Billabong A.P.A (for GF option)
- 1 med red capsicum (finely chopped – if you choose to omit, then replace with sweet substitute, ie a little sugar or sun dried tomato)
- 2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp basil (finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp parmesan (grated)
- 4 spring onions (finely chopped)
- ¼ tsp salt & cracked pepper
- 1 tbsp melted butter or e.v.o.o (optional)

1. Boil potatoes in the beer in a small saucepan – add a little water to cover if required. Cook with lid on, on a low heat until tender.
2. While potatoes are cooking sauté onions and basil with e.v.o.o over a low heat until translucent.
3. Add garlic and capsicum and continue to cook until aromatic. Add olives and spring onions and continue cooking for another minute.
4. Drain (there may not be much liquid left) and mash potatoes with a tablespoon of butter/e.v.o.o and parmesan. Add remaining ingredients.
5. The recipe is quite volumous, so you have the option to finish the mash to your taste – warmed milk or for a fluffier texture, cream, both work.

WA Short Updates

Just a quick run down for you of some recent developments at local Western Australian breweries . . . . . . . . . .
Duckstein - Production has now shifted to the new Margaret River site away from the german brewer's spiritual Swan Valley home. And after a many a parking issue in the past (i'm sure you have suffered at some time here), the Valley site now has overflow parking available adjacent to the current car park. Feral - Earthmoving and landscaping is done and dusted at the Haddrill Rd site, with the extended al fresco seating and dining areas now complete - It looks great and on those busy summer days gives even more punters the chance to settle in for an afternoon of those magic Feral beers. Mash - are also creating a licensed outdoor area, commandeering an area of car park to the rear of the current dining deck. Long overdue, and i'm sure it would have happened sooner were it not for the restrictive local licensing issues. If you havent been down to Little Creatures in Freo for a while, then do pop your head in. The sampling room/shop is well and truly up and running and looks sensational - as too does the new layout. Also to note is that they are offering FREE 'Little Creatures' Bicycle hire from the new annexe, there are not heaps available and it is on a first come first served basis, nonetheless another great initiative. Heading down south and Bootleg Brewery, the Margaret River stalwart, are offering hopheads a real treat with their Settlers Pale Ale being pumped through fresh ’08 crop NZ Cascade Hops from 12pm every Friday. Using a system known as 'The Grasshopper', representatives say "this is a relatively new innovation for Bootleg Brewery, however the concept has been around US breweries for some time". I cant wait to get down there on a Friday arvo soon!
I'm still yet to get into the "new" Old Brewery down on the Swan foreshore, but great to see the site brewing again and some craft beer back on the bar, looking forward to trying brewer, Mark Reilly's trio of new brews.

Oktoberfest Celebrations in Perth and New Brewery Speculations?

Looking for somewhere to get into the Oktoberfest spirit?
They are celebrating Oktoberfest throughout the month at the Indian Ocean Brewhaus - where you can purchase a limited edition 1 litre Indi Stein, filled with the Indi brew of your choice for a bargain $25, plus if you buy any Indi Beer during Oktoberfest you go into the draw to WIN the Ultimate Indi Party Pack! Pack Includes: - Kegorator Bar Fridge- 50L Keg of Indi Beer - 8 x Branded Indi Pint glasses. Whilst sampling the beer, why not check out the traditional Bavarian menu on offer. Duckstein in the Swan Valley on Saturday 25th October are having a special Oktoberfest party featuring live music all day and into the night; The Dolomiten Polka Band, Nancy & Christa's German Duo and some popular music from Alan the Music Man. Festivities commence at 11am and traditional German singing and dancing will be the order of the day. A special Oktoberfest Beer has been prepared for the occasion. Bookings are highly recommended. And at Elmars in the Valley on Sat 25th & 26th October more Germanic fun and games can be had with their annual celebrations - Free entry with your purchase of either $5 beer/wine glass or $15 1 ltr Stein. Festivities kick off at 11am both days, finishing late on the Saturday and at 5pm on the Sunday. Get down down there for a feast of German beer, food and music.
New Breweries??
And whilst troubles seem to continue at Fremantle's Mad Monk, (see article) it doesnt seem to halt the interest in new breweries in WA. As previously written, plans are afoot for a new brewing operation within the revamped Northbridge development, there are rumours abound of a new brewery in Midland and has anybody wondered why Chuck Hahn is spending so much time in town?? Perhaps it is time that a James Squire Brewhouse opened up in Perth? Watch this space for news updates.