So we’ve come across 5 weird beer commercials that have just made us go WTF? Check these out – amazingly bizarre.

1. Kids and Japanese beer

2. Bud Light

3. Heileman’s Old Style Lager

4. Wildeman

5. Wildeman

Over the last while we have been busy like beavers, working away, renovating the space above our shop into a tasting room. While we still have a bit to do to get it perfect, we couldn’t waste a chance to have our first tasting – the Moa Beer Sip & Sample!

Two weeks ago on a wet Saturday afternoon, twenty thirsty beer lovers and beer novices made the first visit to what was nicknamed “The Beer Cave”. The sip and sample involved five of Moa’s Reserve range, matched with simple snacks which could be easily replicated at home.

While each beer was served Geoff and the amicable Devon Tong from New Zealand’s Moa Brewing Company took drinkers on a journey with a range of beer banter, and plenty of healthy, but not heated, discussions about all things beer.

As with the unveiling of any new project, we had a bit of trepidation as to how things would go. But it looks like we needn’t have worried. Everyone loved the beers, the food, and the company! The beers and matched food pairings we had included:
₋Moa Original (Pilsner Lager) with Swiss cheese and water crackers
₋Moa Methode (bottle fermented Pilsner Lager) with Tropical Fruit skewers
₋Moa Blanc (Wheat Lager) with Smoked Salmon toasties with Cream Cheese and Dill
₋Moa Pale Ale with Spicy Chicken Wings
₋Moa Noir (Dark Lager) with Chocolate Brownies (homemade by Geoff’s better half)

After the success of the tasting session, we can’t wait for our next one! We’ve got a couple of great ideas for different tasting, but at the moment things are all under wraps – watch this space (or Facebook), for the next event!

So the 2012 Royal Sydney Show beer awards are out. Good to see a few breweries from outside of New South Wales putting in entries. We just hope that one day this turns into a real beer comp that really brings in breweries from near and far to put forward their beers. Check out the awards below – very Matilda Bay dominant.

2012 FINE FOOD – BEER COMPETITION RESULTS

Note: Results for each class are displayed as follows: Award, Catalogue Number, Exhibitor, Exhibit, Website

BOTTLED BEER

CLASS: 1 Golden Lagers – Pilsner Style

BRONZE
1 BOWRAL BREWING COMPANY PTY LTD MITTAGONG NSW 2575
PIGSFLY PILSNER
Website: www.pigsfly.com.au

BRONZE
2 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
BOHEMIAN PILSNER

SILVER
3 MALT SHOVEL BREWERY CAMPERDOWN NSW 2050
JAMES SQUIRE FOUR WIVES PILSENER
Website: www.malt-shovel.com.au

BRONZE
4 MOO BREW PTY LTD BRIDGEWATER TAS 7030
PILSNER
Website: www.moobrew.com.au

CLASS: 2 Golden Lagers – Australian Style

SILVER
5 JOHN BOSTON PREMIUM BEVERAGES ULTMO NSW 2007
JOHN BOSTON PREMIUM LAGER
Website: www.johnboston.com.au

CLASS: 3 Golden Lagers – International Style

6 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
BIG HELGA DRY MUNICH STYLE LAGER

CLASS: 5 Dark Lagers

BRONZE
7 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
DOGBOLTER DARK LAGER

SILVER
8 REDOAK CAMMERAY NSW 2062
RAUCH

BRONZE
9 HUNTER BEER CO. CESSNOCK NSW 2325
HUNTER BOCK
Website: www.hunterbeer.com.au

CLASS: 6 Pale/Golden Ales

10 BLACK DUCK BREWERY HERONS CREEK NSW 2443
PROPER BITTER

11 TWO BIRDS BREWING WOLLSTONECRAFT NSW 2065
GOLDEN ALE 330ML

12 MALT SHOVEL BREWERY CAMPERDOWN NSW 2050
KOSCIUSZKO PALE ALE
Website: www.malt-shovel.com.au

BRONZE
13 ENDEAVOUR BEVERAGES PTY LTD MACQUARIE CENTRE NSW 2113
ENDEAVOUR TRUE VINTAGE 2011 RESERVE PALE ALE
Website: www.endeavourbeer.com

SILVER
14 LONGBOARD BEER BREWING COMPANY THIRROUL NSW 2515
PALE ALE
Website: www.longboardbeer.com

SILVER
15 BOWRAL BREWING COMPANY PTY LTD MITTAGONG NSW 2575
PIGSFLY PALE ALE
Website: www.pigsfly.com.au

16 NAIL BREWING AUSTRALIA APPLECROSS WA 6153
NAIL ALE
Website: www.nailbrewing.com.au

BRONZE
17 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
FAT YAK PALE ALE

SILVER
18 MOO BREW PTY LTD BRIDGEWATER TAS 7030
PALE ALE
Website: www.moobrew.com.au

19 JOHN BOSTON PREMIUM BEVERAGES ULTMO NSW 2007
BOSTON’S MILL PALE ALE
Website: www.johnboston.com.au

BRONZE
21 TOOBORAC HOTEL & BREWERY TOOBORAC VIC 3522
STONEMASONS PALE ALE
Website: www.tooborachotel.com.au

GOLD
22 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
ALPHA PALE ALE

23 HUNTER BEER CO. CESSNOCK NSW 2325
HUNTER PALE ALE
Website: www.hunterbeer.com.au

BRONZE
24 THE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
WICKED ELF PALE ALE

BRONZE
25 MALT SHOVEL BREWERY CAMPERDOWN NSW 2050
JAMES SQUIRE STOW AWAY I P A
Website: www.malt-shovel.com.au

CLASS: 7 Amber and Dark Ales

26 BLACK DUCK BREWERY HERONS CREEK NSW 2443
DARK ALE

BRONZE
27 MOO BREW PTY LTD BRIDGEWATER TAS 7030
DARK ALE
Website: www.moobrew.com.au

BRONZE
28 REDOAK CAMMERAY NSW 2062
SAISON

BRONZE
29 ENDEAVOUR BEVERAGES PTY LTD MACQUARIE CENTRE NSW 2113
ENDEAVOUR TRUE VINTAGE 2011 RESERVE AMBER ALE
Website: www.endeavourbeer.com

30 TOOBORAC HOTEL & BREWERY TOOBORAC VIC 3522
WOODCUTTERS AMBER ALE
Website: www.tooborachotel.com.au

CLASS: 8 Stouts and Porters

SILVER
32 NAIL BREWING AUSTRALIA APPLECROSS WA 6153
NAIL STOUT
Website: www.nailbrewing.com.au

BRONZE
33 MOO BREW PTY LTD BRIDGEWATER TAS 7030
IMPERIAL STOUT
Website: www.moobrew.com.au

CLASS: 9 Wheat Beers. Minimum wheat content 30%. Grain content to be specified on Application for Entry

SILVER
34 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
REDBACK ORIGINAL WHEAT BEER

SILVER
35 THE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
WICKED ELF WITBIER

BRONZE
36 REDOAK CAMMERAY NSW 2062
FRAMBOISE FROMENT

BRONZE
37 MOO BREW PTY LTD BRIDGEWATER TAS 7030
HEFEWEIZEN
Website: www.moobrew.com.au

BRONZE
38 MALT SHOVEL BREWERY CAMPERDOWN NSW 2050
MAD BREWERS HOPPY HEFE
Website: www.malt-shovel.com.au

CLASS: 10 Strong Beers – Belgian. Minimum alcohol content 6%. Beer strength to be specified on Application for Entry

SILVER
39 THE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
MAD ABBOT DUBBEL

SILVER
40 THE LITTLE BREWING COMPANY PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
MAD ABBOT TRIPEL

CLASS: 11 Strong Beers – English, Scottish, American or Other. Minimum alcohol content 6%. Beer strength to be specified on Application for Entry

BRONZE
43 REDOAK CAMMERAY NSW 2062
BALTIC PORTER

BRONZE
44 REDOAK CAMMERAY NSW 2062
SPECIAL RESERVE

CLASS: 12 Other / Specialty Beers. Minimum grain content 30%. Grain content to be specified on Application for Entry

SILVER
45 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
BEEZ NEEZ HONEY WHEAT BEER

FINE FOOD – BEER COMPETITION BOTTLED BEER

CLASS: S001 CHAMPION BOTTLED BEER (Classes 1 – 13)

Winner
22 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
ALPHA PALE ALE

DRAUGHT BEER

CLASS: 14 Golden Lagers – Pilsner Style

SILVER
47 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
BOHEMIAN PILSNER

48 SCHWARTZ BREWERY SURRY HILLS NSW 2010
PILS
Website: www.schwartzbrewery.com

CLASS: 15 Golden Lagers – Australian Style

SILVER
49 JOHN BOSTON PREMIUM BEVERAGES ULTMO NSW 2007
JOHN BOSTON PREMIUM LAGER
Website: www.johnboston.com.au

CLASS: 18 Dark Lagers

BRONZE
50 PINCHGUT BREWING CO. EASTWOOD NSW 2119
PINCHGUT BLK PLZ
Website: www.pinchgutbrewing.com.au

BRONZE
51 SCHWARTZ BREWERY SURRY HILLS NSW 2010
SCHWARZ BIER
Website: www.schwartzbrewery.com

SILVER
52 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
DOGBOLTER DARK LAGER

CLASS: 19 Pale/Golden Ales

GOLD
20 REDOAK CAMMERAY NSW 2062
HONEY ALE

BRONZE
53 ROCKS BREWING COMPANY GLADESVILLE NSW 2111
THE GOVERNOR GOLDEN ALE
Website: www.rocksbrewing.com

SILVER
55 NAIL BREWING AUSTRALIA APPLECROSS WA 6153
NAIL ALE
Website: www.nailbrewing.com.au

BRONZE
56 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
FAT YAK PALE ALE

57 ROCKS BREWING COMPANY GLADESVILLE NSW 2111
THE HANGMAN PALE ALE
Website: www.rocksbrewing.com

SILVER
58 JOHN BOSTON PREMIUM BEVERAGES ULTMO NSW 2007
BOSTON’S MILL PALE ALE
Website: www.johnboston.com.au

BRONZE
59 SCHWARTZ BREWERY SURRY HILLS NSW 2010
PALE ALE
Website: www.schwartzbrewery.com

GOLD
60 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
ALPHA PALE ALE

GOLD
61 ILLAWARRA BREWING COMPANY FIGTREE NSW 2525
ILLAWARRA PALE

GOLD
62 ILLAWARRA BREWING COMPANY FIGTREE NSW 2525
ILLAWARRA KOELSCH

CLASS: 20 Amber and Dark Ales

SILVER
31 REDOAK CAMMERAY NSW 2062
SPECIAL STRONG BITTER

BRONZE
64 ILLAWARRA BREWING COMPANY FIGTREE NSW 2525
ILLAWARRA RUST AMBER

CLASS: 21 Stouts and Porters

BRONZE
65 ILLAWARRA BREWING COMPANY FIGTREE NSW 2525
ILLAWARRA PORTER

SILVER
67 NAIL BREWING AUSTRALIA APPLECROSS WA 6153
NAIL STOUT
Website: www.nailbrewing.com.au

CLASS: 22 Wheat Beers. Minimum wheat content 30%. Grain content to be specified on Application for Entry

GOLD
68 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
REDBACK ORIGINAL WHEAT BEER

SILVER
69 ILLAWARRA BREWING COMPANY FIGTREE NSW 2525
ILLAWARRA WIT

CLASS: 23 Strong Beers – Belgian. Minimum alcohol content 6%. Beer strength to be specified on Application for Entry

BRONZE
70 SCHWARTZ BREWERY SURRY HILLS NSW 2010
BELGIAN
Website: www.schwartzbrewery.com

CLASS: 24 Strong Beers – English, Scottish, American or Other. Minimum alcohol content 6%. Beer strength to be specified on Application for Entry

SILVER
42 REDOAK CAMMERAY NSW 2062
100% AUSTRALIAN OWNED REAL CRAFT BREWERY BREWED REAL HAND CRAFTED REAL AUSTRALIA DAY ALE

CLASS: 25 Other / Specialty Beers. Minimum grain content 30%. Grain content to be specified on Application for Entry

SILVER
71 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
BEEZ NEEZ HONEY WHEAT BEER

CLASS: 26 Reduced Alcohol Beer (Alcohol content not less than 1.15% and not greater than 3.5% v/v)

BRONZE
46 REDOAK CAMMERAY NSW 2062
BITTER

72 SCHWARTZ BREWERY SURRY HILLS NSW 2010
LEURA LIGHT
Website: www.schwartzbrewery.com

73 ILLAWARRA BREWING COMPANY FIGTREE NSW 2525
ILLAWARRA MID-LAGER

FINE FOOD – BEER COMPETITION DRAUGHT BEER

CLASS: S002 CHAMPION DRAUGHT BEER (Classes 14 – 26)

Winner
68 MATILDA BAY BREWING COMPANY PORT MELBOURNE VIC 3207
REDBACK ORIGINAL WHEAT BEER

Now on the Growler Konig Ludwig Weissbier – a great hefeweizen. Check out the review here.

We recently read an article that although beer is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, few actually know how it is made. As a result we chose to dedicate this month’s article to the art of brewing to help ensure we all know how our beloved beer is made!

Brewing is the production of beer through steeping grains (or another starch source) in water and then fermenting with yeast. It has taken place since the 6th millennium BC, with archaeological evidence suggesting that this technique was used in ancient Egypt.

The basic ingredients of beer are water; a fermentable (convertible into alcohol) starch source, such as malted barley; a brewer’s yeast to produce the fermentation; and a flavouring, such as hops. More adventurous brewers add almost any other ingredient to the brew, e.g. spices, oranges, tea, honey, chocolate and coffee! There are several steps in the brewing process (illustrative diagram below):

1. Malting – converting barley into malt by allowing grain to germinate

2. Milling – here the malt is crushed to break apart the grain kernels and expose the starches, key for fermentation

3. Mashing – converts the starches released during the malting stage, into a sugar rich liquid or "wort" that can then be fermented

4. Lautering – during this stage the wort created during the mash is then strained through the bottom of the mash tun

5. Boiling – where the wort is moved into a large tank, known as a kettle and boiled with hops to help create the flavour, bitterness, and aroma of the beer

6. Fermenting – yeast is added to the wort, converting sugars into alcohol

7. Conditioning – here the yeast starts to settle to the bottom of the tank once fermentation has finished

8. Filtering – is undertaken to stablise the beer’s flavour, and give its polished shine

9. Packaging – putting beer into containers which will leave the brewery