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WA's Feral scoops brewing prizepool

18-05-2012

By James Atkinson Western Australia's Feral Brewing stole the show at last night's Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) presentation dinner, picking up three awards including the top prize for Champion Large Australian Brewery. Conducted annually by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) in conjunction with the University of Ballarat, the showcase for premium beer and brewing excellence presented 18 trophies with 10 awarded to international breweries and eight awarded to Australian brewers. In an AIBA first, trophies were also presented for Champion Large International Brewery, awarded to Oregon's Deschutes Brewery and Champion Small International Brewery, awarded to Oregon's Pelican Pub & Brewery. Across the Pacific, the United States was a standout, winning four trophies; New Zealand breweries claimed two and Belgium, Brazil, Germany and Norway picked up one each. But it was Feral Brewing Company that stole the show locally winning three awards for Western Australia including Best International Pale Ale for the third consecutive year and Best Scotch & Barley Wine. Celebrating the brewery's 10th anniversary this coming October, head brewer Brendan Varis (pictured right hand side, with Feral's William Irving) said the award comes as Feral prepares to open a new brewing facility next month that will take their production capacity from 400,000 litres to 2.5 million litres each year. "It is quite fitting that after a decade of hard work, we are expanding to meet our consumers' demand with our range of highly awarded products," he said. "We hope that winning this award will encourage more people to enjoy the unique experience of our hand-crafted range of beers." The complete list of winners of the 2012 Australian International Beer Awards is as follows: Champion Large Australian Brewery ? Feral Brewing Company, Western Australia, Australia Champion Large International Brewery ? Deschutes Brewery, Oregon, USA Champion Small Australian Brewery ? Wig & Pen Brewery & Tavern, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Champion Small International Brewery ? Pelican Pub & Brewery, Oregon, USA Best New Exhibitor ? Cervejaria Bodebrown Ltda, Paraná, Brazil Best International Lager ? Hahn Super Dry, Tooheys, New South Wales, Australia Best Pilsner ? Croucher Brewing Pilsner, The Croucher Brewing Co, Rotorua, New Zealand Best Amber / Dark Lager ? Weltenburger Asam Bock, Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg, Kelheim, Germany Best International Pale Ale ? Hop Hog, Feral Brewing Company, Western Australia, Australia Best European Style Ale ? Koelsch, Illawarra Brewing Company, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia Best IPA ? Caldera IPA, Caldera Brewing Co, Oregon, USA Best Amber / Dark Ale ? Doryman?s Dark, Pelican Pub & Brewery, Oregon, USA Best Porter ? Akkevit Porter, Haandbryggeriet Brewery, Drammen, Norway Best Stout ? Stout, 4 Pines Brewing Company, Manly, New South Wales, Australia Best Wheat Beer ? Redback Pale, Matilda Bay Brewing Company, Victoria, Australia Best Beligan & French Ale ? Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel, De Halve Maan, Brugge, Belgium Best Scotch & Barley Wine ? Razorback, Feral Brewing Company, Western Australia, Australia Best Speciality ? Summer Sommer, Garage Project, Wellington, New Zealand

Rum brand offers respite from winter

18-05-2012

By Sacha Delfosse Gosling?s Rum is bringing the traditional Caribbean celebration, Bermuda Day, to Australia by encouraging locals to wear bermuda shorts to work from May 21 to 27 and getting bars to host parties throughout the week. Formerly known as Empire Day, and orginally held to celebrate Queen Victoria?s brithday on May 24, Bermuda Day is now held to mark the first day of summer, and is also the first day many local residents head to the water, and begin wearing bermuda shorts as part of their business attire. Think Spirits, the local distributor of Gosling?s Rum, said that as Australia didn?t have much of a summer this year,?the event is an opportunity?to defy the weather and celebrate the Bermudian national holiday. The company has teamed up with several bars across the country to encourage people to celebrate the day with plenty of Gosling rum cocktails and giveaways for people wearing bermuda shorts. Bars that will be hosting Bermuda day events include Eden Bar, Assembly, Corridor Bar, The Forresters and the Hive Bar in Sydney, Hula Bar in Perth, as well as Lily Black?s and LuWow in Melbourne. Click here for more information.

Discounted trade tickets to Time Out Shakedown

18-05-2012

By Sacha Delfosse The 2012 Time Out Shakedown finals will be held in Sydney on June 18 at The Standard, and readers of TheShout are being offered discounted tickets to the event, courtesy of Time Out. Apart from being able to watch some of the top bartenders from Sydney and Melbourne showcasing their skills in this winner-takes-all cocktail contest, guests will also be able to help decide the winner by voting on the night for their favourite. With SouthTrade on board again this year as the competition sponsor, there will be plenty of Patrón Silver tequila, Agwa de Bolivia, Alizé Pomegranate, Green Fairy Absinth, Buffalo Trace, Pusser?s Rum, Hayman?s London Dry and Ultimat Vodka cocktails to enjoy on the night, which will be made using a range of Coca Cola Amatil mixers including Appeltiser, Kirks and Goulburn Valley. In addition there will also be Sunshack cider, Grill'd mini burgers and Gelatissimo Bambino cones being served as well as lucky door prizes on the night and entertainment from Slide Cabaret's El Circo team. To get your discounted tickets click here and type in the promotional code ?oldpal'. ?

RTD brands in distribution shake-up

18-05-2012

By Amy Looker The RTD category is set to get a shake-up, as one brand switches distributors and a new brand launches onto the market. Suntory Australia announced today that they will be taking over the national distribution of the WKD range of RTDs from BDS Marketing, who launched the brand in Australia in 2006. WKD is owned by the UK-based Beverage Brands, where it is among the top selling RTDs on the UK market. ?This is a very exciting time for WKD to be working with a company which has a fantastic global background and a solid structure of brands in place,? said Nicola Randall, brand manager in Australia for Beverage Brands. ?We look forward to entering into a new era with Suntory and taking the brand to the next level.? Suntory managing director Ian Atherton said?the company was excited to welcome WKD to the Suntory Australia portfolio. "It is a great brand which has seen impressive growth in the domestic market, something we are looking forward to capitalising on as we build the brand further." BDS Marketing, who will continue distributing WKD up until June 1 when it officially hands over to Suntory Australia, has launched Vodka Sinsation, a vodka-based RTD range inspired by the seven deadly sins (pictured). ?The Vodka Sinsation range is a refreshing addition to the popular light spirit RTD category,? said Craig Stewart, national sales manager at BDS Marketing. ?We believe the Vodka Sinsation premium quality vodka, in conjunction with the exciting flavour choices such as Iron Brew, Arctic Blue and Cloudy Apple will have a strong affinity with the target market, giving strong initial consumer uplift and repeat purchase.? The launch of the range will be supported by an integrated marketing plan including a 'sinful' viral campaign, point-of-sale displays and gift with purchase items featuring the Vodka Sinsation ?Live in Sin? strapline. Vodka Sinsation has an ABV of 4.5 per cent and an RRP of $13.99 per four-pack.?

Brewers big and small unite to grow craft

18-05-2012

By James Atkinson With a newly elected board comprised of representatives ranging from tiny pub breweries to large, foreign-owned players like the Malt Shovel Brewery, Australia's craft brewers have set aggressive growth targets for the category over the next five years. After celebrating the recent changes to excise for microbreweries, close to 30 brewers voted in elections held? on Wednesday to elect the new board of the Craft Brewers Industry Association (CBIA), at the inaugural AGM attended in Melbourne. The new board consists of: Jayne Lewis (Two Birds Brewing, category - contract brewer) Matt Bebe (Mornington Peninsula Brewing Co, category - pub & nano brewery) Jeremy Good (Cowaramup Brewery, category - pub & nano brewery) Owen Johnson (Moo Brew, category - micro brewery) Dave Bonighton (Mountain Goat Brewery, category - regional craft brewery) Brad Rogers (Stone & Wood Brewing Co, category - regional craft brewery) Chuck Hahn (Malt Shovel Brewery, category - national craft brewery) "Rather than having seven people from one category, we really wanted to make sure we had a voice from those five categories," Stone & Wood's Rogers told TheShout. Founding member Jamie Cook said that the approach the CBIA's taken from day one is of an "inclusive approach to grow". "Growing the pie is what it's about," he said. "Not trying to argue who's got the biggest slice or the smallest slice of the pie, but actually focusing on growing the pie in total ? that's going to benefit everybody." Cook said craft beer currently has a two per cent share of the Australian beer market, and the association has set itself a goal of increasing this share to five per cent over the next five years. "It's relatively aggressive, but based on the growth we've seen in the US, it's achievable," he said. Cook said the craft beer sector is already growing at nearly 30 per cent year on year. "It can continue to grow at that rate providing there's demand and demand has to be led by an industry body," he said. "It's great to have 100 breweries out there all trying to drive demand, but with an over-arching approach to driving consumer awareness and education it's going to help the whole process." Rogers said that in the coming financial year the association will already have upwards of $100,000 in fee revenue, just on the current members it has signed up. "That's a great start to actually get some things done." "As we grow we'll get more brewers coming along for the ride, we'll also have suppliers being able to join, various sponsorships and events like trade shows and conferences." Rogers paid tribute to the vital role played by the CBIA's steering committee of Dave Bonighton, Jamie Cook, Brendan Varis, Bruce Peachy, Miles Hull, Adam Trippe-Smith and Owen Johnston in bringing the association to fruition over the last 12 months. ?

Alcohol-related violence takes a blow

18-05-2012

By Clyde Mooney A special meeting of over 400 stakeholders has heard police figures that alcohol-related violence has dropped nearly 30 per cent in one of the nation's busiest entertainment precincts. The meeting, opened by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, was made up of licensees, police, politicians and community representatives involved with the City North Liquor Accord (CNLA). AHA NSW CEO Paul Nicolaou said the positive results come from a collaborative effort by licensees, police and Sydney City Council. "There has been a real focus here on educating staff and managers who work after midnight as well as those security personnel that are the front line and it?s obviously paying off when you see such a huge drop in the figures. "Educating patrons on taking personal responsibility is another key to success." The CNLA covers an area from Market Street to the Rocks and from Art Gallery Road to King Street Wharf, and is one of the busiest and most popular weekend entertainment precincts in Australia. ?

Are you ready for a New Sinsation?

17-05-2012

Vodka Sinsation, the new triple distilled vodka ready-to-drink (RTD) range from BDS Marketing is set to hit retailer's fridges and shelves this month. At 4.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), Vodka Sinsation is available in seven ?sinsational? flavours uniquely themed and marketed around the Seven Deadly Sins: Iron Brew (Pride), Arctic Blue (Gluttony), Raspberry (Wrath), Pineapple (Greed), Cloudy Apple (Envy), Passionfruit (Sloth) and Pink Blush (Lust). Vodka Sinsation is produced using premium triple distilled vodka infused with the highest quality flavours to deliver a smooth, fresh and invigorating taste. The range will be packaged in 275ml glass bottles complete with quality foil embellished labels and 4-packs. ?The Vodka Sinsation range is a refreshing addition to the popular light spirit RTD category? said Craig Stewart, National Sales Manager of BDS Marketing. ?We believe the Vodka Sinsation premium quality vodka, in conjunction with the exciting flavour choices such as Iron Brew, Arctic Blue and Cloudy Apple will have a strong affinity with the target market, giving strong initial consumer uplift and repeat purchase.? Available from leading liquor outlets, pubs and bars nationally, the Vodka Sinsation range has a recommended retail price of $3.99 per 275ml bottle and $13.99 per 4-pack. The launch of the range will be supported by an integrated marketing plan including a sinful viral campaign, point-of-sale displays and gift with purchase items featuring the Vodka Sinsation ?Live in Sin? strapline. For further information please contact: BDS Marketing (Aust) Pty Ltd Tammy Emmins ? Marketing Manager Telephone: +61 (0) 3 9490 6000 Email: tammy@bdsmarketing.com.au

Coopers releases Celebration Ale

16-05-2012

? By James Atkinson A new beer released by Coopers to mark its 150th anniversary could become a permanent fixture in the brewer's range.? Coopers said its Celebration Ale is a hops-driven traditional ale with a dark-red hue that is distinctly different in style to Coopers' other beers.? "It incorporates three different hops varieties ? Centennial from the USA, Nelson Sauvin from New Zealand and Pride of Ringwood from Australia ? to produce a beer that displays strong estery characteristics," the brewer said.? Coopers managing director, Dr Tim Cooper, said Celebration Ale had been specifically brewed to mark Coopers' 150th anniversary. However, if it proved popular, strong consideration would be given to making it a regular Coopers line.? "We think Celebration Ale will appeal to those who enjoy slightly hoppier styles of beer," he said. ? "At 5.2 per cent ABV, it has a rich aroma of fruity esters with a slight hint of citrus and has a warm finish on the palate. It is also slightly more bitter than other Coopers ales."? Dr Cooper said the release of Celebration Ale had been timed to coincide as closely as possible to 150 years from the day that Thomas Cooper made his first commercial brew, on 13th May 1862.? Coopers chairman and marketing director, Glenn Cooper, said Celebration Ale's packaging was outstanding with the use of vibrant colours and graphics.? "The bottles will be packed in basket packs, while cartons will be predominantly black with gold writing to complement the neck labels on the bottles," he said.? "It has been an open secret that Coopers would release a special beer to mark its 150th anniversary and there has been a large amount of interest about what we would produce and when it would be available.? "People understand that if Coopers is going to release a beer to mark a special occasion, it will be a special beer.? "We are confident that the beer itself and its packaging tick all the boxes.? "Early indications are that the initial production run will be quickly snapped up and we have already scheduled additional production to keep up with demand."? Cooper said the beer would be available in 355 ml bottles only.? Celebration Ale is expected to retail for around $55.00 per carton.?

CUB and Lion resolve Origin stoush

16-05-2012

By James Atkinson Carlton & United Brewers has withdrawn elements of its audacious Victoria Bitter ambush marketing campaign that features Cameron Smith, skipper of the XXXX-aligned Maroons. VB, the NSW jersey sponsor, signed Smith as an ambassador and featured him alongside Blues captain Paul Gallen on displays and life-sized cut-outs destined for bottle shops and pubs across Queensland and NSW. The move angered Queensland Rugby League (QRL) and Lion, which through its XXXX brand is the Maroons' longest sponsor. Both Lion and QRL appeared keen to deprive VB of any further oxygen when contacted by TheShout yesterday. The company line was that the dispute had been "resolved satisfactorily, however the precise details of [the] agreement are confidential". CUB was slightly more expansive in its statement about the resolution. "The QRL and Lion Nathan instituted legal proceedings against CUB however, proceedings have since been withdrawn and the matter has been satisfactorily resolved," the brewer said.? "CUB is making some small changes to elements of the promotion but the limited edition Cameron Smith & Paul Gallen VB 30-pack cartons continue to be available in Queensland." It's believed retailers were required to withdraw the point-of-sale elements of the campaign. ?

Whisky drinkers go blind

16-05-2012

By Clyde Mooney Whisky aficionados and lovers of the ?water of life? will compete blindfolded in this year?s prestigious Australian Malt Whisky Tasting Championship. The biennial event is sponsored by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) and will take place in Sydney?s Australian Museum Dinosaur Gallery Friday, June 15. Eight malts will be served to blindfolded competitors, who will be asked to identify them from a list of nine well-known producers. First prize in the competition is two places on the SMWS? four day long weekend in Tasmania, the Ultimate Single Malt Whisky & Wine Autumn Tour in August/September, including flights and accommodation. Speaking to TheShout, SMWS director and cellarmaster Andrew Derbridge said the championship is about bringing real Scotch whiskies to those that will appreciate them. ?The Society might be the leading and most active authority on malt whisky in the country, but on-premise and retail is the ?front line? where 99 per cent of our members are introduced to single malt. ?We?re thrilled at the way more and more retailers are taking their whisky portfolios seriously and have set about trying to educate their customers about malt, and give them more information about their favourite tipple.? ?The Society runs whisky tasting nights all through the year in every city, and we love it that so many publicans, bar operators, bottle shop owners, sales reps and the like come along to our events and join in the fun. And we?re also chuffed that so many corners of the industry support what we?re doing and get involved.? The SMWS began in Scotland in 1983 and now enjoys over 26,000 members worldwide with branches in 14 countries. It has been active in Australia since 2002 and has hosted the Australian Malt Whisky Tasting Championship since 2008.