Beer Radar for Friday 16th March 2012
By John Krüger
Cascade First Harvest
Tuesday this week was the day that the fresh hops were picked at Bushy Park Estates in Tasmania for the 2012 Cascade First Harvest ale. Three experimental hops will be used this year; Campania for bittering, Triabunna for flavour and Ellandale for aroma. The hop names all come from historical hop growing areas of Tassie. First Harvest ale is all about using green fresh hops for maximum aroma and taste. They exhibit a resiny grassy herbaceous character rather than papery oxidised notes. Head Brewer at Cascade, Mike Unsworth said “Based on this year’s hop selection and the traditional style of First Harvest, we anticipate the 2012 brew to exhibit aromas and flavours of peeled fruits and blackberries over nettles, green leaves and ground spices. The finish should deliver a resinous bitterness which should blend in with the malt base to give a well-balanced hoppy beer.” Here at Beer Radar we’re looking forward to trying the new 2012 batch for ourselves in May when it’s released. We’ll keep you posted on our thoughts.
Call for entries for second beer brewers’ competition
There’s been a lot of work behind the scenes organising this year’s Royal Adelaide Beer Show, I’m on the committee and there’s no beer involved in any of the meetings, much to my disappointment. Things are revving up for the 2012 judging and I encourage anyone involved in commercial brewing to start getting their plan together for which beers they’ll enter. I definitely encourage more entries, especially across the gamut of beer styles. Here’s the latest update from the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society before it’s even hit the presses:
Low-carb, hybrid and exotic-style beers will be among the new sub-classes judged at the second Royal Adelaide Beer Show in July.
Boutique and mainstream brewers from around the nation are urged to enter the contest, which is part of the 2012 Royal Adelaide Show. The competition had great success last year, being the first staged by the RA&HS since the 1800s, with 80 entries from South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania.
Chief judge and planning committee member Simon Fahey, also a technical manager in beer systems at Adelaide’s Coopers Brewery, says they hope to attract more than 100 entries from around Australia this year, including more from interstate.
“This year, there is also a vast expansion of the beer classes, including a sub-class for low-carb dry beer to cater for that expanding market, one for Belgian and French-style ales, and a hybrid class for beers using herbs and spices, smoked beer, aged beer and more.”
Categories encompass lagers, ales, stouts, reduced alcohol beers and wheat beer, with exhibits judged from both a technical and consumer appreciation perspective. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded, with gold medal-winning beers considered for trophies.
Judges will include industry experts from both large and boutique brewers, and all trophy winners from last year’s contest have been invited to judge also. Female and interstate judges have been invited to take part for the first time, as well.
Last year, Adelaide Hills boutique brewer Lobethal Bierhaus dominated the show, winning four of the 10 trophies including Champion Exhibitor.
Entries for the 2012 Royal Adelaide Beer Show will open soon, with judging scheduled for July 3-5. Winners will be announced on July 6. For entry details, visit www.theshow.com.au or contact RA&HS representative Brad Ward on ph (08) 8210 5253.
*Cascade First Harvest was supplied by the brewery
