Whilst this subject is unrelated to Beer Festivals it does involve communities, which is something my site is [...]]]> As an Australian I have watched in horror as communities in Victoria, Australia have been subjected to some of the most intense bushfires on record. As you know, the deathtoll currently stands at 181 lives lost.

Whilst this subject is unrelated to Beer Festivals it does involve communities, which is something my site is all about. I would like to share with you the following post written by Charles Coll, the owner of the RealBeer Blog
photo credit: SplaTT

As Director of Realbeer Australia and resident of the Yarra Valley since the last bushfire known as Ash Wednesday in 1983, I felt compelled to provide a vivid view of the bushfire we are experiencing at the moment. As I tap out my thoughts we have already lost the Hargreaves Hill micro brewery in Steels Creek owned and operated by Simon and Beth Walkenhorst. Simon is President of the Victorian Microbrewers Association and a tireless campaigner for tax concessions to small breweries and support from local communities. He is also a concert pianist who established his tiny brewery on the grounds of his in-laws idyllic ‘retirement farm’.

Down the road in Healesville we have two local micros also under threat. Buckley’s family Brewery and Giant Steps complex owned by the legendary brewer and winery developer Phil Sexton who operates on the main street of town. His coffee shop, pizzeria, and delicatessen entice visitors in town touring the famous for the Healsville Sanctuary, an internationally recognized open planned zoo featuring Australian creatures great and small. Sexton’s superb Sierra Nevadan styled pale ale developed at his Little Creatures Brewery in Fremantle, W.A. is brewed on-site and along with award winning wines from his vineyard, Giant Steps, just outside town.

To our American readers, the Yarra Valley is eerily similar in geography to the Sonoma Valley in northern California. The area is ideal for grape growing with four distinct seasons that under usual conditions are moderate in temperature and precipitation. But we aren’t under usual conditions with a pronounced drought in the region for over an eight years and record temperatures registered over the weekend of 50+ degrees Celsius with gale force winds over 120 miles per hour.

Having experienced Ash Wednesday in 1983, the conditions on Saturday were extremely similar but more intense. Atmospheric oxygen reduction made breathing like inhaling from a furnace, and the radiant heat quickly penetrated the feet whatever footwear. Whether the cause be a casually flung cigarette butt or a deliberate torching of a paddock, the fire was man made and positioned in an ideal location, the midland plain at the base of hilly terrain. Add to this a lack of scheduled selective burn offs by local authorities due to overzealous environmentalists created a natural tinderbox for the flames. It is expected that over 1,000 homes have been destroyed with loss of life expected to reach 3000.

But this region is not the only area in Victoria to experience bushfire damage. The picture of the fire-fighter providing water to a koala was taken from the area outside the town of Mirboo North last weekend. Mirboo North is the home of Grand Ridge brewery. Thankfully the brewery wasn’t affected but they did loose their cattle farm/ranch which provided the steaks for the brewery’s restaurant. And as we speak, the Beechworth Brewery is under fire watch as the disaster continues to spread.

Those of us outside the fire wall feel helpless and wonder what we can say or do to help. I implore all beer drinkers around the world to unite and show your support by contributing to the Red Cross appeal offered through Realbeer. For Victorians, the Taphouse in St Kilda will be holding a beer tasting to offer financial assistance to Simon and all the other victims of the disaster.

Read more from the RealBeer Blog

photo credit: munksynz

In my last post, “Where are all the Australian Beer Festivals?“, I was wondering why Australia, a country that has such a deep association with beer, has very few Beer Festivals.

Well, their cousins across the water in New Zealand seem to do somewhat better. [...]]]>

photo credit: munksynz

In my last post, “Where are all the Australian Beer Festivals?“, I was wondering why Australia, a country that has such a deep association with beer, has very few Beer Festivals.

Well, their cousins across the water in New Zealand seem to do somewhat better. A search in the Festival of Beer Search Box shows that there are at least two Beer Festivals planned for 2009.

Why is this a better state of affairs than Australia? Australia has a population of just over 20 million, whilst there are only just over 4 million Kiwi’s. This means the Beer Festival Ratio* (a measure that I have just invented!) for New Zealand is 2 million people to 1 Beer Festival, whilst the ratio in Australia is 7 million people to 1 Beer Festival.

Clearly New Zealand is the better place to live!

You can help improve the Beer Festival Ratio in either Australia or New Zealand (or any country for that matter) by going to the Add Your Beer Festival page and submitting the details of the new Beer Festival.

The Liquorland New Zealand Beer Festival

Mark your diaries for The Liquorland New Zealand Beer Festival that is taking place in Wellington on 28 February 2009.

There will be over 20 breweries, with over 70 beers, represented at this Beer Tasting event. Most of the beers will be from New Zealand. However, I notice that the Miller Brewing Co. are included! Yes, Miller of dubious beer and sore heads fame.

If you are going to this event make sure you taste the quality craft beer that is produced in New Zealand by New Zealanders – don’t waste your delicate taste buds drinking rubbish beer. After all, these Beer Festivals are designed to showcase the best that is on offer in a country. The best ingredients, the best brewing processes and the best beer!

Cheers to New Zealand!

* The Beer Festival Ratio is simply a measure of the number of people in a country to the number of Beer Festivals that are held in that country. Obviously, the smaller the ratio the better chance you have of attending a Beer Festival in that country!

This year’s theme is based on railways of old. “All steamed up” is guaranteed to bring you a range of quality beers named after [...]]]>
Courtesy of CAMRA, the 5th Pendle Beer Festival will be taking place from Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 February 2009 at the Colne MUNI Theatre (see on Google Maps).

This year’s theme is based on railways of old. “All steamed up” is guaranteed to bring you a range of quality beers named after railway themes. Names like “Golden Arrow”, “Chipping Steamer” and “Railway Sleeper”. Brewers like Cottage and Ossett will showcase their beers alongside local successful brewery giants Thwaites, Moorhouses and Copper Dragon.

In total over 65 real ales and ciders will be available to sample and judging by last year’s record crowd of over 2000 visitors this event promises to be even bigger!

Session times

• Thursday 5th February 6pm-11pm £2 all day
• Friday 6th February noon-11pm £2 before 6pm, £4 after
• Saturday 7th February noon-11pm £2 all day

CAMRA members FREE ENTRY at all sessions.

Click below for a list of the beers that will be available.

photo credit: Jaxpix50

Brewery Beer ABV
Acorn Barnsley Bitter 3.8%
Allendale Golden Plover 4.0%
Arundel Castle 3.8%
Bank Top Flat Cap 4.0%
Bateman Valiant 4.2%
Bazens Pacific Bitter 3.8%
Beer Engine Rail Ale 3.8%
Blackawton West Country Gold 4.1%
Bowland Chipping Steamer 3.9%
Bowland Hen Harrier 4.0%
Box Steam Tunnel Vision 4.2%
Breconshire Red Dragon 4.7%
Bridestones Beastly Bride 4.8%
Brimstage Trappers Hat Bitter 3.8%
Bristol Beer Factory No 7 4.7%
Broughton Merlin’s Ale 4.2%
Brunswick Steam Forever 4.3%
Caledonian Deuchars IPA 3.8%
Coach House Dick Turpin 4.2%
Coniston Bluebird 3.6%
Conwy Welsh Pride 4.0%
Copper Dragon Challenger IPA 4.4%
Copper Dragon Bitter 3.8%
Copper Dragon Black Gold 3.7%
Copper Dragon Golden Pippin 3.9%
Copper Dragon Scotts 1816 4.1%
Cottage Southern Bitter 3.7%
Cottage Somerset & Dorset Ale 4.4%
Cottage Golden Arrow 4.5%
Cottage Full Steam Ahead 4.2%
Cottage Mallard 4.0%
Dorset Steam Beer 4.5%
Eastwood Black Prince 5.0%
Elland Bargee Bitter 3.8%
Elland Shot In The Dark 8.0%
Fallons Dark Prince 4.1%
Fallons Hex Original 5.0%
Garthella Eccles Cake Ale 4.2%
Garthella Black Pudding Porter 4.5%
Goose Eye Barmpot Bitter 3.8%
Goose Eye Chinook Blond 4.2%
Greenfield Dobcross Bitter 4.2%
Greenfield Black Five 4.0%