Bunker Buster | Balter

This week, the Gold Coast’s Balter Brewing released its Bunker Buster. It was initially made to go in kegs, said Balter, but it was turned into a canned release when venues closed.

The Bunker Buster release is the result of an experimental batch of beers, for which brewer Scott Hargrave took inspiration from three different styles of beer.

“We had a lot of success with the Hazy beers last year and went, hang on, what if we take that Hazy template and go back in abv?” explained Hargrave.

“When I changed the gravity of the beer, you didn’t just have Hazy with 30% less alcohol. It changes that whole character and mouthfeel. I maintained the bitterness of a San Diego Pale Ale and added a dry brut IPA finish.”

The 4.5% abv Bunker Buster is a combination of a San Diego pale ale, part hazy and part dry brut. US hops deliver lime, passionfruit and hints of coconut, while rolled wheat adds a creamy base, said Balter.

Bunker Buster is available for takeaways at venues all around Australia from Wednesday May 13th. Find your stockist at Balter.com/beer-locator

Sabbath Pastry Stout | Otherside Brewing Co

WA’s Otherside Brewing Co has featured artist Madeleine Beech on its Sabbath Pastry Stout for its latest Creative Release.

Beech’s work Metamorphosis will feature on the can, as part of the Tapped By Otherside initiative, which features four local artists on cans of beer for three months, as well as a $1,000 grant and a three-month artist residency at Freo.Social.

Sabbath, a dessert stout that sits at 6.6% abv, is brewed with local coffee from Little Owl Coffee Roasters.

“We also added and vanilla beans and lactose post ferment that ensure this beer is well balanced between sweet flavours and gentle bitterness,” said Otherside head brewer Rhys Lopez.

Sabbath is available online at www.othersidebrewing.com.au and in selected retail stores from 11th May 2020.

FALL and Quick Fix | Fixation Brewing Co

Melbourne’s Fixation Brewing Co has released two new beers as part of its Incubator Limited Release series.

FALL is an oat cream IPA with additions of Mosaic Sabro and Amarillo hops.

The 6.5% abv beer has notes of coconut and pineapple, with Golden Promise, Rolled Oats and Wheat Malt.

Second up and released last week was Quick Fix, fermented hot at 35 degrees Celsius with Kviek yeast, Fixation describe the beer as a “juice haze bomb” with pineapple and agave notes.

Sabro, Falconers Flight and Mandarina Bavaria hops were added, along with Maris Otter, Vienna, Wey Caramunich 2, Caraaroma malt.

Coming in at 5.9% abv, Quick Fix along with FALL are available online until sold out. Delivery is available in greater Victoria, and cases only nationally. Same day delivery within 10kms if ordered before 3pm.

Tro-pi-local | Modus Operandi Brewing Co

Initially brewed as a summer keg-only release, Modus Operandi Brewing’s XPA Tro-pi-local has a sweet pineapple and passionfruit aroma, said the brewers.

It launched nationwide on 8th May.

The 4.2% abv beer is available in 375ml cans and on tap at the venue which is reopening today (Friday 15th May). Order here.

Zeus Gold | Helios Brewing

Helios Brewing’s Zeus Gold is back in stock at the drive-through, as well as new cans of Red IPA.

They’re limited editions and only available at the drive through. Check the Helios Facebook page for more details.

X5 FRUITS X1 BEER | Burnley Brewing

Melbourne’s Burnley Brewing has launched its latest tinnie, a X5 Fruits X1 Beer.

The Berliner Weisse contains passionfruit, strawberry, blackberry, blueberry and raspberry.

The 4.5% abv beer is available with limited stock at Burnley’s online store and Richmond bottle shop.

Shirazzaweiss | Beerfarm

Beerfarm are celebrating the wrap up of the Shiraz season with their annual Shirazzaweiss.

This year’s Shirazzaweiss was filled with over 1.5 tonnes of Shiraz grapes from Dawson Creek Vineyard in Yallingup, thanks to our Beerfarm collaborators LS Merchants.

“Every year we make this brew, we are always looking at ways to improve it by trying something new, while still maintaining the heart of what the Shrazza is,” said Beer Farmer, Josh Thomas.

“We wanted to justify the grape and show what it’s capable of in a beery form, so we added almost twice as much Shiraz grapes as previous years, which bumps it up to 6% abv and bolsters those brilliant raspberry and blackcurrant flavours.”

It’s the fourth year that Beerfarm have brewed it, this time with Magnum and Melba hops, and Pale, Wheat Malt, Caramel Pils and Rolled Barley, and the third year it’s made it into the can.

Peanut Butter Porter | Bad Shepherd

Victoria’s Bad Shepherd has brought back its Peanut Butter Porter, inspired by a peanut butter fudge ball treat partially dipped in chocolate called Buckseye Candy, said the brewers.

The 6.4% abv beer is brewed with chocolate malt chocolate wheat and hazelnuts, and Bad Shepherd said it is creamy and full bodied (does not contain peanuts though) .

Available in 355ml cans and 4 packs. Keep your eyes peeled as it’s already sold out once.

Bad Shepherd have also launched a competition as part of the launch. If customers find a Golden Lid on a Peanut Butter Porter 355ml cans, they can win a Golden Fleece membership worth over $300. Find out more.

Albury Black IPA | Billson’s Brewery

Beechworth’s Billson’s Brewery has taken inspiration from Billson’s Albury Brewing and Malting Co, which was awarded first price for their IPA at the 1889 Melbourne International Exhibition.

130 years later it has reimagined the beer into a 4.3% abv beer with three different hop additions. Billson’s Black IPA is made with four grains and was double dry hopped to become a sessionable black IPA.