Sampling the gifts of GABS
The Sip Editor Ross Lewis takes a look at what the Great Australasian Beer Spectapular offered drinkers this year.
After about 14 hours of imbibing beer via 85ml samples, drinkers can get quite used to the portion size of the little plastic cups at the Great Australasian Beer Spectapular.
The gift of GABS is that attendees at the Melbourne event get to try myriad varieties of beer without having to invest in a large glass.
The sessions at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne are all about experimentation. For the brewer and the drinker.
That is one of two rules for approaching the event, which moves to Sydney for the first time this weekend.
The other rule is to forget making rules.
The vast majority won’t be able to try everything on offer among the 116 unique brews. Trying to follow styles denies the chance to enjoy something different. And it is too difficult to try food matching on the day.
With that philosophy The Sip looks at six beers from GABS that our team would recommend for a session. The GABS Six-Pack isn’t necessarily the best or boldest. But the WA panel found them interesting. And that is the point of the exercise.
GABS SIX-PACK
GABS Tap No.5. - 8 Wired Brewing
Hoppy Berliner
You could easily tell those that had just enjoyed this teaser from New Zealand. Hoppy Berliner was so tart that faces contorted in Gurney-esque fashion as the funk kicked in. At 4 per cent the Berliner Weiss wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea but it got plenty talking at the venue.
39. - Eagle Bay Brewing
Black and Tannin
Listed as moderately challenging but one that is so pleasing. Eagle Bay have had success with Black IPA brews but this one had the twist of being aged in Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River. A great display of two enticing elements coming together. This is a malty special. ABV: 6.5 per cent.
52. - Hawkers Beer
Imperial Red
Hawkers announced themselves at another festival, Geelong’s Great Australian Beer Festival, in February with their Pale Ale. And they have continued a high standard on the production line with a bold but balanced upgrade for their Red Ale. The US and American hops give this beer plenty of flavour and the 7.6 per cent is well hidden.
64. - La Sirene Brewing
Bebe Rouge
Costa Nikias has made an artform of the Belgian-French style of beers, not bad considering they’ve been around for centuries. Last year La Sirene won the GABS People’s Choice Award for Praline. The standard hasn’t dropped with this Fruit Beer that is very red, refreshing with just enough fruitiness to please the palate. ABV: 4.5 per cent.
111. - Two Birds Brewing
Pina Colada
The rule in The Sip’s drinking circle at GABS was that anyone who sang that one-hit wonder Escape by Rupert Holmes while consuming a Pina Colada was immediately banished. No jokes about this beer, please. One again Two Birds have given us a beer that tastes like something else, a la their Taco from a couple of years back. Drinkers can tell it is an IPA but one with a cocktail feel from the pineapple taste. ABV: 6 per cent.
