We took receipt of a used pinot noir barrel from Curly Flat winery last week. We’ll be filling it with about 200 L of Double Trouble, adding extra fermentables and some champagne yeast, and letting it bubble away and age on oak for as long as we can stand it. Keep tuned for updates!
I’d like to say we had specifically cellared a keg of the 19 August 2008 batch of Double Trouble in anticipation of tapping it this winter. In fact, we just forgot about it and happened across the keg at the back of the cold storage room.
Regardless, the 2008 vintage will go on tap this week at the Brewhouse just as soon as the current keg of Nut Brown Ale is finished, so drink up!
Preliminary studies indicate that the D.T. has aged well. The higher alcohol level has preserved it for posterity, and the melanoidins that lend this beer its deep garnet colour have contributed to sherry-like flavours.
The brewers are certainly looking forward to tapping this treasure!
The pub has reported back that they’ve sold the last of the Christmas Ale. At the moment there are no plans to brew an ‘09 batch as we have some other projects underway, but one or two cartons may have been squirreled away by the brewers for cellaring.
Christmas in July 2010 might be a good place to bring them out and try them. Stay tuned!
UPDATE: A few bottles have been spotted in the cooler at Essendon Cellars (corner of Albion and Primrose Streets)
Fans of the ESB can find it on tap at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Spencer Street in Melbourne’s Central Beer District.
And our limited release Nut Brown Ale is now on tap at the Cherry Tree Hotel in the Cremorne neighborhood of Richmond. Get it while the gettin’s good!
Lovers of our hand-pumped ESB will soon be able to enjoy the real ale experience at the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville. Featuring fine food made with local produce, local wines and – now – local beer, the folks at the Radio Springs have been too busy to update their website, but you will find the address there!
And in Castlemaine you will be able to enjoy BOTH our Pilsner and Mt Macedon on tap at the Railway Hotel. The pilsner has displaced a lager from a certain mega-brewery that will remain unnamed… score one for the little guys!
Further east you will soon find the Mt Macedon on tap in the Dandenong Mountains, courtesy of Kelly’s On The Hill.
See what we’ve been up to in the Brewhouse without making the trip to Woodend! We’ll be featured as part of this Sunday’s “Postcards” program on Melbourne’s Channel 9 at 5:30 pm. If I recall correctly, we were doing a brew and a bottling run that day, so you should see us at our busiest!
For our readers south of the Bass Strait, Ian will be in Hobart this Friday and Saturday for two great events courtesy of Coolwine Cellars (Shop 8, Midcity Arcade, Criterion Street).
TUTORED TASTING
WHAT: A sit down tutored tasting of some of the Holgate range and the beers that inspired Paul Holgate to start brewing his magnificent beers.
DATE: Friday July 17, 5.30 – 6.30pm
WHERE: Meet at Cool Wine, Tasting will be held inside the Mid City Hotel’s Oval function room.
COST: $10 per person
DEGUSTATION
WHAT: A stand up beer degustation featuring 6 Beers from the Holgate Brewhouse (Woodend, VIC) with 6 matched mini courses of food. Note; 5 smart wines can be offered to guests or partners who are non beer connoisseurs; this must be booked in advance.
DATE: Saturday July 18, 6pm – 8.30pm
WHERE: Criterion Street Cafe with Chefs George and Claire Falconer.
COST: $45 per person – includes your very own Holgate Brewhouse pot glass to keep.
To secure your place for either event payment must be made at time of booking. Contact Coolwine Fine Wines, Spirits & Beers at 03 6231 4000
With the 4th of July coming up, our assistant brewer (the token Yank), has Revolution on his mind. We might stick to more modern methods this Saturday, though:
Take a large Sifter full of Bran Hops to your Taste — Boil these 3 hours. Then strain out 30 Gall. into a Cooler put in 3 Gallons Molasses while the Beer is scalding hot or rather drain the molasses into the Cooler. Strain the Beer on it while boiling hot let this stand til it is little more than Blood warm. Then put in a quart of Yeast if the weather is very cold cover it over with a Blanket.
Let it work in the Cooler 24 hours then put it into the Cask. leave the Bung open til it is almost done working — Bottle it that day Week it was Brewed.
George Washington, “To Make Small Beer”, 1757. Available at the New York Public Library.
Mark your independence from ordinary, run of the mill beers with a day at Holgate Brewhouse!
We’ll be brewing on Saturday the 4th of July, and free tours will be available during the afternoon.
Or just sample our “Randallised” Mt Macedon Ale on tap, a hand-pulled ESB or Temptress Chocolate Porter, or any of our 6 other beers on tap.
Our ESB continues to be the judges’ favorite, picking up another Gold Medal, this time at the 2009 Cryer Malt Royal Perth Show, in the packaged British style Pale Ale category.
It then went on to take on other ale categories and walked away with the Baird Malt Trophy for Best Packaged Ale!
Congrats to all the other winners and thanks to the good folks at the RPS for their good graces. Wish we could have been there!
Cheers
Ian and Paul