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Free Hop Beer Tasting
The Merri Mashers’ May 2014 meeting kicked off this last Tuesday May 28 at Temple Brewery, East Brunswick. On this mild, late autumn evening the tastefully decorated venue was lit up as a beacon to passing brewers. Renata from Temple was extremely accommodating, providing the club with glassware, snacks and an excellent atmosphere in which to meet. The Merri Mashers are very grateful to Temple for their support for the local brewing community, cheers!
The night kicked off with registrations of official members. Now that the Merri Mashers were incorporated the time had come to make membership official and collect fees. It was decided that a reasonable annual membership fee would be $50 for new members, subsidised by a gift to every applicant of four packs of Mangrove Jack’s Craft Series yeasts, courtesy of Cryer Malt. The yeasts went fast as eager brewers took their pick from several varieties: the Belgian Ale and Workhorse proving especially popular.
In total the club registered eleven members on the night, providing a solid base of club funds to be put toward events and equipment in the future. The President then addressed the club and a wide discussion ensued on the recent Good Beer Week and GABS festivals. In the meantime Luke, the steward and administrator of the comparative brew tasting, set the glasses, jugs, growlers and bottles in motion for the epic tasting session to follow.
Earlier in the year the club had the good fortune to receive over a kilogram of Select and Horizon hops which were distributed to potential members with the stipulation that all brewers must craft a beer using either one, or both, of the hops. These beers would then be compared at a later meeting and a winner would be judged. The motivation behind this comparative brew was both educational – to improve the clubs’ knowledge of hop varieties – and fun (for obvious reasons!).
Well the date for the tasting had finally arrived and the Merri Mashers were confronted with ten proudly brewed beers by nine individual brewers, seven of which were present on the night. The beers were tasted in careful contemplation with occasional eruptions of energetic conversation. These Select beers set the brewers’ Saison senses tingling and provided light at the Horizon at the end of a long day. The beer styles tasted included a Pale Ale, three Saisons, two Altbiers, a Stout, two IPAs and a Red Ale.
But in the end there could only be one winner, and after much discussion of recipes, styles and hop profiles the scores were tallied and the winner turned out to be:
Shannon Brooks with his inimitable Irish Red Ale!
This was a complex and fascinating beer, perfectly balanced and exciting on the palate. It won by a substantial margin – although no beer tasted had any serious faults – and caused quite a sensation in the club. Shannon was humble in response to victory and was awarded a further four packs of Mangrove Jack’s yeast courtesy of Cryer Malt as his prize. More from Shannon and the recipe:
Check out Shannon's recipe here
I have made this beer a couple of times now. It was inspired by Bridge Rd Brewery’s Celtic Ale. Both my brother in-law and I enjoy drinking these beers so I thought I’d make something like it. The comp beer was the similar malt profile as the previous two with the only major changes the hops and yeast. The previous beers were with 1084. The beer didn’t finish as low as I would have liked it to. Was hoping for a 1.012 but wouldn’t budge from 1.018. This may have resulted in a little residual sweetness? The beer is very dark. Darker than other reds I have drank before. Maybe something to do with the Melanoiden? Oh wait that’s bubbles!
Thus ended a very successful meeting with a merry time had by all. In particular the club again thanks Renata of Temple Brewing for her generosity and enthusiasm. The Merri Mashers love Temple’s beers and encourage all and sundry to head down to Weston St on Thursdays and Fridays from 5PM and on weekends from 12PM to try their tasty beverages: currently they have a delicious Rye Hard IPA on tap that comes recommended. Big thanks also to the whole committee including Nathan for manning the door and taking registrations and of course to all the club members for sharing their beer knowledge and being part of the community.
See you in June!