Biero seldom fails…and a black bear with a bike

and tonight is no exception. Had a few quiet beers at Biero this fine Friday evening with Jas, Seg and a slightly late Jugga. On my tasting list was a Mountain Goat (big foot stout I think), a Hargreaves Hill Russian Imperial Stout, a Feral Karma Citra Black IPA and a Meantime London Stout.

I think the boys struggled with the big stouts. Seg drank cider. I loved the blackness. Actually I have just attempted to recreate some of the black goodness by trying to blend a 50/50 pale ale dry/choc stout to have a crack at recreating the Karma Citra, or at least the flavor profile but the keg of pale ale blew so no go for that idea. Bugger.

Hang on you didn’t think I said big black bear did you? no I didn’t think so. Here’s a picture of one with a bike though. Bears like bikes, and big black beers I’m guessing. Kind of hard to tell since they don’t speak.

I texted Glen, brewer at Hargreaves Hill that I was drinking his Russian Imperial Stout (I added I enjoyed it, which I did) and he replied that I was drinking it way to young. I don’t disagree with him but that is the conundrum of the Australian beer scene. There are a bunch of beers that really need some age but who either can afford to or wants to sit on them? I know that the Red Hill Russian Imperial Stouts that I put in the back of the wardrobe for a year or two come out all the better for the time. But time is such a strange economic commodity. Worth so little if you are lying on the couch doing sweet fuck all. Worth so much if it’s a product you’ve paid for sitting on a shelf. The brewers know the beers need the time but have to pay the bills??

Still didn’t have a bad beer tonight. The one that stood out, perhaps for all the wrong reasons was the Meantime London Stout. So smooth, so understated, yet so enjoyable. Really nice beer I think I could drink a lot of. Had a kind of soft finnish to it. Nice work Biero.

Well that’s it for me tonight. Need to get that starter going and get some sleep. Early start, IPA’s to brew, and it all needs to be done in time to get back and do something for Saturday evening with Jacqui. Well that’s the plan at least.

Cheers D

Friday = Beer o’clock = perhaps Biero

Its Friday and I have to go talk to a group about wild dogs. I know that as a productive member of the work force I should be working right through till 5 but I’d rather be having a beer.

My grain is ordered for tomorrows double brew day, Cosmic Tex Rebooted (had some issues figuring out the grain amounts, only had the % not the actual measurements) and an English style IPA, more to style than the Cosmic Tex Rebooted.

Anyway must focus on the dogs and doing some good lobbying.

Oh but there is a bunch of big bad black beers at Biero tonight. They are calling it Black Friday. I am calling it a hangover manufacture session. A really nice selection of Russian Imperial Stouts and Black IPA’s as listed below, none of which I’d recommend if your driving tonight. Looking at the list I really can’t pick a dud, all good choices. I’m keen to try the Hargreaves Hill and Bright interpretations of an RIS, but think I will be happy with whatever lands in my glass.

C’mon 5pm, and at only $10 a throw you can’t really go wrong (unless you are a non drinking vegan but then you wouldn’t have any mates to share a beer with). OK need to finnish work, drink some good beer, not too much, get home make up a yeast starter, get up early, pick up grain, drive, brew, brew, drive, then have a nice relaxing weekend. Its good not to have to rush things.

Cheers D

Good beer Week 3 or is that 4???

Image by zagor64 via Flickr

I am not going to write anything of substance now, its about 10.40pm, I’ve just got home from Biero and have made myself a very dodgy burger. OK make that a toast and meat sandwich. It is good beer week though.

I was drinking good beer at Biero with assorted good people (and some scumbags). My good friends Nik and Dan were there, but more of note was Hendo. I drank some awesome Boon sour beers with Hendo, talked some shit and hugged more than once. The beer was good I must say, and included more than just the sours, I had great IPA’s, stouts. harvest beers etc. That’s what Biero is about. What was new was Hendo giving me an earful about being the best I could be. He was talking about me manning up and brewing for real instead of just dreaming (and writing about it). Perhaps he’s right. maybe not. I’m not certain yet, but I do want to make beer, just not at any cost. time will tell, Dazzapalooza first, next the world.

Cheers D

Oh and Biero was weird, there were hot chicks there? surly they weren’t there for the beer nerds? Perhaps its just for good beer week??

Tokyo apology

Image via Wikipedia

I am sad to have to tell you all (OK not very many of you) that I was wrong. Unlike Andres Bolt I am OK with saying when I have got it wrong, my research is off and I just have an unreal view on what is happening. I said there would be Brew Dog Tokyo on tap tonight at Bireo and there was not. Sorry if you went there expecting it and it wasn’t there. I know I was disappointed in myself.

However they still have a shite load of awesome beers on tap and Tokyo is on tap tomorrow night at a charity thing they are doing for the Tsunami in Japan. Go there. Drink. Give some cash to the people in Japan who got a hiding from the big wave.

As for beers other than Tokyo which you must drink, don’t have the Bling IPA it is an over satiating beer that is not what I want an IPA to be, they need to be a hoppy drinkable yet not gut busting beer. That’s just my opinion though. Still go there and drink. It is a good beer and a good cause. Have the Mornington IPA instead. Much more digestible.

Anyway drink beer, give money to charity and forgive those who blog not quite the most accurate info. dont forgive Andrew Bolt thought. He is a douche.

Cheers D

Danger – Biero has Brew Dog Tokyo on tap tonight!

Brew Dog Tokyo is an awesome beer. Biero $5 pint night is an awesome drinking experience. The two of them together is scary.

Why you ask – this is what Brew Dog say about Tokyo, an 18.2% ABV stout.
The irony of existentialism, the parody of being and the inherent contradictions of post-modernism, all so delicately conveyed by the blocky, pixelated arcade action have all been painstakingly recreated in this bottles contents.


This imperial stout is brewed with copious amounts of speciality malts, jasmine and cranberries. After fermentation we then dry-hop this killer stout with a bucketload of our favourite hops before carefully ageing the beer on French toasted oak chips.


It is all about moderation. Everything in moderation, including moderation itself. What logically follows is that you must, from time, have excess. This beer is for those times.

I love this beer, it is a triumph of modern brewing. And it does not taste like an 18.2% beer but it will kick peoples arse well and truly. I don’t know what they will charge, surely not $5 a pint. When it landed at Slowbeer a week or so ago the guy there didn’t know what to do with it. I wanted it on growlers but they would have been in the range of $90 ish a fill. Worth it I’d say but it would be a business risk so fair call to him.

Tokyo is an intensely complex beer that everyone who loves a stout should try but treat it more like a fortified or a spirit. This is a beer that is well suited to a winters evening by the fire after a big day drinking red wine. It will cut right through any big rich flavours that are hanging around in your mouth and set up camp in your taste buds. It will also, if over consumed result in you eating a burger shirtless like the Hoff. Bad Bad.

I always like to have a bottle in the fridge, but as I don’t I will have one at Biero tonight.

Cheers D