Summer Beers: Blonde, Pale and Premium
WHAT IS MORE INDICATIVE of summer in Australia than the backyard barbecue and a six pack of the golden brew?
Nothing really, but even though our love of this summer combination has not changed over the years the diversity of liquid we consume has.
Leading this revolution is premium, boutique and imported beers. So while the snags are still hot we thought we would look at some of the beers that are leading the way this summer.
The AC Nielsen ScanTrack Liquor data gives a clear indication of the dominant growth segments and the outlook over the next twelve months indicates that this growth is set to continue.
So whether you are looking for a truly invigorating, all natural Aussie beer to give you a taste of summer, put gallantry back into your life or satisfy the fussy bastard in you we have got it in our Summer Beer feature. Enjoy.
Gallantry is back
J.Boag & Son is a company with a single, focussed vision to be Australia's Premium Brewer. It is our driving force and directs all of our behaviour, be it in the sourcing of only the very best quality ingredients, in the brewing and packaging of our beers with immense care and pride, through to marketing and selling our beers to customers whom we value and respect.
J.Boag & Son has survived as one of only four remaining major breweries in Australia with more than a century of brewing history, because of this single-minded dedication to brewing and selling quality beers.
Tasting Notes:
Boag’s St George is brewed with a combination of citrus hops, delivering an aromatic premium beer, which is less bitter and highly refreshing.
This award winning, full strength premium beer is brewed to be less filling and has a lower carbohydrate count than most beers.
Brewed exclusively with Tasmanian pale malts, the straw colour of this fine textured, subtle lager gives a clear clue that the beer is exceptionally smooth, leaving the palate highly refreshed.
The beer is crisp, clean and dry, making it particularly suited to a variety of foods.
A taste of Summer...
Summer is upon us, which means it's time to welcome back Monteith’s glorious Summer Ale; an invigorating spiced, bright gold beer with a real flavoursome zest.
A traditional seasonal beer, with origins that date back to the late 1800's, Monteith's Summer Ale is a refreshingly different beer
Now in its sixth year in the Australian market, Monteith's Summer Ale still stands out in the marketplace as an innovative beer, with its spicy notes and rata honey infusion that makes it a unique taste experience within the beer category.
Tasting Notes:
Monteith's Summer Ale is a bright gold beer with great body derived from the use of four different malts to give it a smooth heart. The beer is then carefully brought through the brewhouse and spiced gently with a single hop variety.
With the addition of traditional spices and the finishing touch of a little rata honey, the result is truly unique. A refreshing, herbal spiced summer ale that's a splendid thirst quencher.
Enjoy Monteith's Summer Ale ice cold with a fruit platter or light meals like crisp stir fries or fresh, seasonal salads. This is the perfect beer for summer celebrations and alfresco dining.
All Aussie and all Natural!
Byron Bay Premium Ale is naturally brewed using nature's finest ingredients, with no added chemicals, preservatives or sugar.
A full strength premium ale with a clean, crisp, uniquely refreshing taste inspired by the healthy, vibrant, and youthful lifestyle of Byron Bay.
Containing minerals and antioxidants, Byron Bay Premium Ale is brewed to give you the healthiest beer possible.
A natural product, made purely from malts, yeast, hops and water the beer has no added sugar, preservatives or chemicals.
With hops from Tasmania and New Zealand, malts sourced from Ballarat, Australian grown German yeast and water, this is a proudly Australian made product incorporating nature's finest ingredients.
Tasting Notes:
Byron Bay Premium Ale has a percentage of crystal malt included in the brew, which is high in antioxidants, well known for their health benefits.
A premium golden beer with nice white head structure and fine beads of carbonation, typical of a naturally carbonated product. The initial malt sweetness is balanced with the refreshing finish.
Byron Bay Premium Ale has a fresh, clean feel and taste reminiscent of the fresh ocean air of Byron Bay, NSW Australia.
A Truly Invigorating Brew
For almost 150 years , Monteith's has been crafting its family of fine beers, bringing back to life authentic styles from around the world. Brewed from a small craft brewery in the rugged heartland of New Zealand, Monteith’s prides itself on the quality and complexity of its distinctive beers.
Originally released as a Christmas specialty beer in 2001, the refreshing fruity taste of Monteith's Radler lager proved very popular. Due to high demand, the beer returned in 2003 as a permanent addition to the renowned Monteith's classic range, extending the taste profiles offered within the family of craft beers.
Tasting Notes:
Monteith's Radler Bier is an easy drinking, refreshingly fruity lager with a citrus twist, flavoured with lemon and lime.
Brewed to full strength, with distinctive hoppy notes and a hint of natural lemon juice and a zesty citrus finish, Monteith’s Radler is based on the original style brewed in Bavaria, Germany, in the 1920’s.
Monteith’s Radler is only lightly hopped to ensure the bitterness of the character does not dominate the flavour and has a level of residual sweetness to complement the added lemon juice.
This combination provides balance and a degree of complexity to the flavour mix. A truly invigorating brew.
Midstrength for Fussy Bastards!
Many great ideas have been hatched over a beer. Gage Roads Brewing Co was no different. It was at the end of a long shift, while enjoying the fruits of their labour, that brewmasters Peter Nolin and Bill Hoedemaker first discussed opening their own brewery.
They embarked on a mission – to craft brew natural beers to a world class standard using original recipes designed for the Australian lifestyle and climate.
As craft brewers, Peter and Bill are very hands on. This meant they would have a say in every single part of the craft brewing process. Everything – from the size of the tanks to where the ingredients came from – would be dedicated to producing the best natural beer possible.
In 2005, just two years after that initial conversation, Gage Roads’ first brew – a Pure Malt Lager – hit the shelves in Western Australian bottleshops. It was followed shortly after by a craft brewed midstrength PILS and an India Pale Ale (IPA).
Tasting Notes:
Gage Roads PILS is the first pilsner style midstrength in Australia. It's only 3.5% alcohol by volume but displays all the distinctive qualities of a full strength European pilsner. Crisp and effervescent with a dry refreshing finish, it's a midstrength you’ll actually enjoy drinking.
Packaged Beer Performance
- Packaged beer market now worth over $1 billion
- Queensland packaged liquor market growing at 3.8 percent
- Packaged beer category growing at 5 percent
Total Packaged Wine
The Queensland off premise liquor market has recorded retail sales growth of 3.8 percent over the year ending December 2006. This equates to an additional $96 million dollars in retail sales. All liquor categories have grown, with ready to drinks leading the growth at (+5.8%), followed by packaged beer (+5.0%), spirits (+2.4) and wine (+0.8%).
What's in this Report?
This ACNielsen report takes a closer look at some of the key trends in the packaged beer category. In particular, it examines how each segment is performing within the Queensland market. All data in this report refers to retail sales value to December 2006.