The Critic’s Choice Top 100 Beers of 2012

Over the past week at The Local we have been tapping the daily countdown for The Critic’s Choice Top 100 Beers of 2012.  These are the top twelve beers in Australia according to The Beer Lovers Guide and that are on tap today.

Elusive Limited's land in Darlo....

Limited Brews: 

Today we've added three very exciting new beers to our bottle list. Each extremely limited, rare and elusive, we must admit its been a challenge not to hide them away for our own consumption. 

 Wookie IPA; A collaboration between the Danish lords of BIGGER beers 'Amager Bryghus' and Californian legends of the West Coast IPA 'Port Brewing Co.'. Expect a vibrant and vivacious carbonation lifting a quizzical cacophony of hops through an elegantly 'light' body of beer. Wow!
One batch brewed.....ever!
 Hop Bach Symphony #1; Collaboration between Ballarat's home of bottle conditioned brews 'Red Duck' and yet another Danish master brewer, Anders Kissmeyer. This beer completely sold out within 24 hrs of its release. 9.8% 'If your favourite hop isn't in this ale, bad luck! But it probably is'. One batch brewed....ever!

Moo Brew, Barrel Aged Imperial Stout; 2011 Vintage Release; Very limited amount, each bottle is numbered. This is the annual release we've all come to love from Moo Brew, only it's spent the last year maturing in oak. Wahoo! Worth the price, and can be cellared for that special occasion.

 If you're interested in learning more about beer, join our very own Beerista Jordan McDonald for Beerista on the 14th August at 7pm for only $15, book here

4th July - Star Spangled SpecTAPular - Line Up Confirmed

OK, so lots of people have been asking me what the final line up is for the next installment of The Local's seasonal beer festival, the 'Star Spangled SpecTAPular' on 4th July.

So here goes....(drum roll please)....

From the famous and spectacular Rogue Ales, we have the following awesome beers for the first time on tap anywhere in Australia:

Dead Guy Ale (German Maibock)

Chocolate Stout (American Stout)

Saint Rogue Red (American Red Ale)

Hazelnut Brown Nectar (American Brown Ale)

XS: Imperial IPA (American / Double India Pale Ale)

XS: Imperial Stout (Imperial Stout)

For anyone who wants to know a little more about Rogue Ales, it's worth checking out their web site. The About Us page is a great little story too.

And, for the Aussie beers that we've managed to squeeze into this somewhat looseley defined theme.....(another drum roll please)....

2 Brothers Voodoo, VIC

(Baltic Porter - 1st time on tap in Oz!)

Arctic Fox Amber Lager, VIC

(American Amber Lager - 1st time on tap in NSW!)

Bootleg Brewery Epic 2IPA, WA

(American / Double India Pale Ale - 1st time on tap in VIC & NSW!)

Brewboys Brown Bomber, SA

(American Brown Ale - 1st time on tap in Oz!)

Bridge Rd Candied Quince Saison, VIC

(Fruit Beer - 1st time on tap in Oz!)

Colonial Brewing APA/IPA, WA

(American Pale Ale - 1st time on tap in NSW!)

Holgate Brewhouse Nut Brown Ale, VIC

(American Brown Ale - 1st time on tap in Oz!)

Hunter Beer Co. Cranky Pants IPA, NSW

(India Pale Ale - 1st time on tap in Oz!)

Moo Brew Pale Ale, TAS

(American Pale Ale - 1st time on tap in NSW & 2nd time in VIC!)

Mountain Goat Steam Ale, VIC

(Steam Ale / California Common - 1st time on tap in NSW!)

MT Brewery Yippy IPA, QLD

(India Pale Ale - 1st time on tap in VIC & NSW!)

Murray's Icon 2IPA, NSW

(American / Double India Pale Ale - back by popular demand!)

Red Duck Bengal IPA, VIC

(India Pale Ale - 1st time on tap in Oz!)

Two Meters Tall Cleansing Ale, TAS

(Real Ale / American Blonde Ale - 1st time on tap on the mainland!)

So there you have it peeps! I'm pretty excited about the line up packed full of sensational beers and plenty of exclusives. A couple are being brewed specifically in time for the event and don't officially have a name yet, so we're feeling pretty lucky. The line up is almost good enough to get Steve on a plane and back here to taste all the beers before they run out!

Looking forward to seeing you all at both Melbourne and Sydney for the next installment of the SpecTAPular series of beerfests....