#GABS2016
Beer, Cider & Food Fest
Preface: Of the 120 craft beers available on tap, I only had 80. Most of these were in 85ml servings via numerous paddles. There were a few which I took off other breweries separate to my paddles. This quick blog will showcase my top 10 craft beers of the 80 I had from the Sydney event.
I've taken the liberty in placing them in order, from my vote as People's Choice Award to number 10. Additionally, I have a couple of 'special mentions' to make. These beers almost made it, but as each individual taster is different you could say they were unlucky not to reach my top 10.
To make sure all is above board, my list was created before I knew of any official announcement.
Finally, as there were 40 craft beers I missed out on, it's clear this is not a complete list. I have no doubt that three or four more could have made this list (and possibly ousted others). That all said, please enjoy my top 10 list for GABS 2016 here in Sydney.
#1: This beer tops the ratings. My notes on the day described this as "...so far the winner". I guess I'm not a bad judge after all, huh? I also added that this was "...nutty, peanut butter-like, German Sour". Apparently I found it "very weird" but I did "love it". Interestingly, I was also noted as saying that the "...aroma [is] like a lolly buttery nutty type".
I later found out what I meant. It was like those Werther's Original sweets. Still, I'm so glad I correctly picked the GABS 2016 People's Choice Awards.
My only concern: there'd be no way I'd have a couple of pints of it. A small glass will do.
#2: This surely had to be second best? My notes suggested this was "...almost like #12". It was "...like a cream/butter pastry-like 'layer upon layer' Sarah Lee pastry sheet" taste to it. (Digressing, who remembers those infamous Sarah Lee ads on the telly?)
What surprised me about this beer was I've never really been a fan of the Biere de Garde style. I've had them before without it really exciting me. Thankfully, this one did.
An amazing effort, and an amazing beer. Again, my only concern with these types of beers is that I most likely would not want more than a small glass of it.
#3: Without a doubt this beer is my 'dark horse', A very definite surprise packet. I bumped into Yulli's head brewer, James 'Harvs' Harvey, and he gave me the opportunity to try some tasters. It turns out that his Berliner Weisse is an absolutely phenomenal beer.
Maybe it was me, but at 3.3% alcohol by volume this beer deserves a lot of bloody credit. GABS was full of full-strength beers, and lots approaching 10% and over. What a damn pleasant surprise to have one of the best beers on show at only 3.3%.
It's a thirst quencher, and one you can drink all damn day long. I love that. It had the right amount of sourness, with the right amount of everything else. What a great job. A damn fine beer indeed.
#4: Wow. Just WOW! This knocked my fucking head off! I'll admit that I am a sucker when it comes to Russian Imperial Stouts, but for me this was a blinder. This beer is what it says it is.A tricky thing to do in this day and age of craft beer brewing.
Admittedly, this took a second sip for me to realise how good this beer was. What kicked this beer over the line was the fact it was aged in oak Puncheons for 5 months. Phenomenal.
This definitely was what it said it was, and I like that in craft beer descriptions. Are you who you say you are? Yes? That's grand. It was something above the rest, so this gets good marks.
#5: My notes say: "...pretty much fucking sums this up in their title: Hot and Sour". Need I say more?
What a fantastic beer from award-winning home brewer, Paul Morrison. Give him full credit for this beer. A straight-forward description that delivered in bucket-loads.
You know what? When I was sipping this beer it distinctly reminded me of two similar beers I had while in my last US trip in 2015. Check out #37 and #38 here.
This beer rates highly as it was very well balanced and way different to the current crop out there. It gets full marks from me. Awesome job, Paul.
#6: 'Your honor, I plead Guilty as charged,' is what'd I'd say if he'd/she'd ask: you do realise this is a gimmick beer, right?
Sure, there is always a bit of a 'gimmick' tale to some beers. I like that, though. I enjoy the depths at which brewers go to in order to capture the public's imagination.
My notes showed that it was "...absolutely like cherry!" and that the "...aroma is cherry too!". Damn, lots of cherries it appears. "The chocolate comes through first then the cherry". I gave this a higher mark as it is a beer that is what it says.
I reckon that sums it up perfectly, don't you? I liked this one a lot.
#7: Another entrant in my top 10 list from Yulli's head brewer, James 'Harvs' Harvey. And what a ripper this is. It's rare that I come across a fantastically balanced vanilla porter, but I reckon I've found it.
This was a carefully crafted beer with 150 vanilla beans in about 2,000L of Porter. It is exactly how it tastes: vanilla-like and chocolate-like. What a combination!
What I like about this is that it's one of the best Vanilla Porters that I come across. Granted, the best Chocolate Porter I ever came across is something you can read about here (check out #4).
Vanilla Porters? I think Harvs is on a winner. Something different from the rest of GABS 2016. I liked it a lot.
#8: lago's Revenge. A very impressive 9.8% Black IPA rested on American oak and whiskey brewed by the very famous Dave Padden from Akasha Brewing.
Dave's renowned for the superbly crafted and brewed 10% Triple IPA, Wooden Leg. This beer goes some way in reminding us that Dave is fucking good at what he does.
Again, it's a beer that clearly is what it says it is. To me, that's important. It's bold, dark, hoppy and has a touch of complexity that lifts this beer well above the rest.
It's extraordinarily light for it's 9.8% rating, but damn, I could sink a skinful of these! Great job!
#9: And I quote: "In some strange sadistic, lamb-killing ritual way, this beer is fucking awesome!" It's very much a beer that is as it's described, and you already know I like that - right?
I certainly did recognise this as very different from the rest. It proves that if you have a great product that's a little bit 'out there' and fits the bill, people will like it no matter what.
What I would like to point out, however, is that (once again) there is no way I could drink a six-pack of this beer. As good as it is, a small glass is just fine.
Apart from this small critique, I was fully impressed with this beer and am glad it's been included in my top 10.
#10: I can hear that Breaking Bad theme tune in my head. Walter White with his sidekick Jesse Pinkman. And truthfully, when I drank this beer it's exactly what I had imagined.
The use of gin-distilled organic oranges in an Imperial Witbier is something only a crazy person would come up with. The joy I had in this, and it being the first taster on my first paddle for GABS 2016, makes this very unique indeed.
It was one of the few favourites that you could easily have a six-pack or more of. Nothing offensive, clean drinking and lots of character that, for me, beat the rest. I really liked this beer immensely.
A couple of special mentions:
For the record, this is what the GABS Festival were quoted as saying on their Facebook page:
"While Bacchus Brewing Co won the Beer & Brewer People's Choice Best Festival Beer of GABS 2016 (Australia), here is the complete top ten:
I've taken the liberty in placing them in order, from my vote as People's Choice Award to number 10. Additionally, I have a couple of 'special mentions' to make. These beers almost made it, but as each individual taster is different you could say they were unlucky not to reach my top 10.
To make sure all is above board, my list was created before I knew of any official announcement.
Finally, as there were 40 craft beers I missed out on, it's clear this is not a complete list. I have no doubt that three or four more could have made this list (and possibly ousted others). That all said, please enjoy my top 10 list for GABS 2016 here in Sydney.
I later found out what I meant. It was like those Werther's Original sweets. Still, I'm so glad I correctly picked the GABS 2016 People's Choice Awards.
My only concern: there'd be no way I'd have a couple of pints of it. A small glass will do.
What surprised me about this beer was I've never really been a fan of the Biere de Garde style. I've had them before without it really exciting me. Thankfully, this one did.
An amazing effort, and an amazing beer. Again, my only concern with these types of beers is that I most likely would not want more than a small glass of it.
Maybe it was me, but at 3.3% alcohol by volume this beer deserves a lot of bloody credit. GABS was full of full-strength beers, and lots approaching 10% and over. What a damn pleasant surprise to have one of the best beers on show at only 3.3%.
It's a thirst quencher, and one you can drink all damn day long. I love that. It had the right amount of sourness, with the right amount of everything else. What a great job. A damn fine beer indeed.
Admittedly, this took a second sip for me to realise how good this beer was. What kicked this beer over the line was the fact it was aged in oak Puncheons for 5 months. Phenomenal.
This definitely was what it said it was, and I like that in craft beer descriptions. Are you who you say you are? Yes? That's grand. It was something above the rest, so this gets good marks.
What a fantastic beer from award-winning home brewer, Paul Morrison. Give him full credit for this beer. A straight-forward description that delivered in bucket-loads.
You know what? When I was sipping this beer it distinctly reminded me of two similar beers I had while in my last US trip in 2015. Check out #37 and #38 here.
This beer rates highly as it was very well balanced and way different to the current crop out there. It gets full marks from me. Awesome job, Paul.
Sure, there is always a bit of a 'gimmick' tale to some beers. I like that, though. I enjoy the depths at which brewers go to in order to capture the public's imagination.
My notes showed that it was "...absolutely like cherry!" and that the "...aroma is cherry too!". Damn, lots of cherries it appears. "The chocolate comes through first then the cherry". I gave this a higher mark as it is a beer that is what it says.
I reckon that sums it up perfectly, don't you? I liked this one a lot.
This was a carefully crafted beer with 150 vanilla beans in about 2,000L of Porter. It is exactly how it tastes: vanilla-like and chocolate-like. What a combination!
What I like about this is that it's one of the best Vanilla Porters that I come across. Granted, the best Chocolate Porter I ever came across is something you can read about here (check out #4).
Vanilla Porters? I think Harvs is on a winner. Something different from the rest of GABS 2016. I liked it a lot.
Dave's renowned for the superbly crafted and brewed 10% Triple IPA, Wooden Leg. This beer goes some way in reminding us that Dave is fucking good at what he does.
Again, it's a beer that clearly is what it says it is. To me, that's important. It's bold, dark, hoppy and has a touch of complexity that lifts this beer well above the rest.
It's extraordinarily light for it's 9.8% rating, but damn, I could sink a skinful of these! Great job!
I certainly did recognise this as very different from the rest. It proves that if you have a great product that's a little bit 'out there' and fits the bill, people will like it no matter what.
What I would like to point out, however, is that (once again) there is no way I could drink a six-pack of this beer. As good as it is, a small glass is just fine.
Apart from this small critique, I was fully impressed with this beer and am glad it's been included in my top 10.
The use of gin-distilled organic oranges in an Imperial Witbier is something only a crazy person would come up with. The joy I had in this, and it being the first taster on my first paddle for GABS 2016, makes this very unique indeed.
It was one of the few favourites that you could easily have a six-pack or more of. Nothing offensive, clean drinking and lots of character that, for me, beat the rest. I really liked this beer immensely.
- #29 from Australian Beer Co, Beyond The Black Stump. It's a 6% Wild Specialty Beer that is "an Australian take on a classic Strong Ale as native black wattle seeds have been added. Full boded with a gentle sourness that offsets the sweet hazelnut flavours".
- #58 from James Squire, Thaibock. It's a 6.5% Bock. It's a "straw coloured strong lager with a malty and a dry finish. Sorachi Ace and Motueka hops give pleasant herbal aromas while lemongrass gives an exotic touch to this classic German style.
So, there you have it. My top 10 list.
Agree? Maybe you do, maybe you don't. The important thing is to go out there and experience it for yourself. Go checkout GABS in 2017. You will love it!
Email: dannbrew@gmail.com
For the record, this is what the GABS Festival were quoted as saying on their Facebook page:
"While Bacchus Brewing Co won the Beer & Brewer People's Choice Best Festival Beer of GABS 2016 (Australia), here is the complete top ten:
1 Peanut Brittle Gose (Bacchus Brewing, QLD)
2 Loose Lips Sink Ships (Pirate Life Brewing, SA)
3 Beery Ripe Porter (Big Shed Brewing Concern, SA)
4 Tiramibru (Wolf of the Willows Brewing, VIC)
5 Bière Henri (La Sirène Brewing, VIC)
6 Compendium (KAIJU Beer, VIC)
7 Jam Donut (Two Birds Brewing, VIC)
8 Choc Banana Split (Bad Shepherd Brewing Co., VIC)
9 Assault Trifle (Black Hops Brewing, QLD)
10 Project #21: The Reuben Sandwich (Colonial Brewing Co Margaret River, WA)"2 Loose Lips Sink Ships (Pirate Life Brewing, SA)
3 Beery Ripe Porter (Big Shed Brewing Concern, SA)
4 Tiramibru (Wolf of the Willows Brewing, VIC)
5 Bière Henri (La Sirène Brewing, VIC)
6 Compendium (KAIJU Beer, VIC)
7 Jam Donut (Two Birds Brewing, VIC)
8 Choc Banana Split (Bad Shepherd Brewing Co., VIC)
9 Assault Trifle (Black Hops Brewing, QLD)
