Beer week continues ... should it ever end?

I was excited during Melbourne Beer Week to see that some of my favorite breweries would be holding events around pubs and bottle shops.  On the 16th of May, Renaissance Brewing and Yeastie Boys had a beer tasting.  It was great to ask questions of the breweries, ingredients, and secrets.  The beer was great and it was essentially all you can drink by the end of the session.  One of the interesting beers from the Yeastie Boys was a beer made from peat malt, which is what they use for Scotch.  It was an interesting flavor that no one seemed to like, but it grew on me.  I left the event with a bottle of Renaissance barley wine, and I will be aging it until I leave Australia.  It's one of my favorite styles from one of my favorite breweries... so quit your whining (apologies for the horrendous pun).

Crusading in Melbourne

Well, well, well.  After watching my favorite rugby team in Christchurch, I decided to watch their next game, which was in Melbourne.  So, I went with some friends, wearing my Crusaders support gear.  Amazingly, as one of the biggest upsets, Melbourne won the game... the one time when I was rooting for the other team.  I had to zip up my jacket to avoid the Rebel fan heckling.   

burs

After visiting Christchurch, I took a 3 day week, while taking the Friday off to go to the Melbourne Beer Spectapular.. part of Melbourne beer week.  If I remember right, it was ~60 beers on tap, but if you are feeling spunky and want to call me out on that number, you can count the taps in the picture.  There were some interesting brews.  One beer was flavored with rose pedals... another with chili peppers, and one tasted like the warhead candies.  While, interesting, I have to say that my favorites were some of the classic styles.  My absolute favorite was a Simcoe Imperial IPA by Liberty Brewing in NZ.  Each brewery was supposed to submit an original beer that they don't sell commercially... at least not as of the event.  Anyhow, whenever you're looking around and think hmmm this may taste good in a beer... I say try it.. but be warned that you may not get many takers on that style.  Barley and hops remain the #1 ingredients ni my book... with maybe a touch of wheat.