Mon Dieu..it's Dieu Du Ciel!

We're super excited that all your favourite Dieu Du Ciel beers are back in store!

We've got:
Peche Mortel - Extra Strong Stout brewed with Coffee
Blanche du Paradis - Wheat beer brewed with Spices
Corne Du Diable - IPA
Blanche Neige: Wit Beer with Cinnamon & Cloves
Rigor Mortis ABT - Extra Strong Abbey-style Brown Ale (Quad)  &
Aphrodisiaque - Strong Stout brewed with Cacao & Vanilla

We've still got stock of Derniere Volante and Charbonniere as well.

And just to round out the Canadian contingency - the St. Ambroise 2011 Vintage Ale has arrived.

Perfect hair of the dog for your GABS hangover.

Creatures, Rabbits and a place called The Local.

We've got a special guest blog from our own Rick Bennie this week - beer enthusiast, all around great guy and now Brewer!

Well folks it seems I’ve come full circle. From beer drinker to beer enthusiast, to what is commonly called a “beer geek” and as I sip this Prickly Moses Raconteur I feel the need to tell this beery tale. It was Little Creatures Pale Ale and Roger’s that opened my eyes to beers other than the commercial swill that saturates the market, it was after White Rabbit released their Dark Ale that I discovered the Local Taphouse and the wealth of knowledge that ‘Ale Stars’ brings.

Alex Troncoso (Little Creatures Head Brewer) was to be the guest that night, so I decided this was an event I had to attend. I learnt a lot that night and even though I was new to the whole idea of craft beer (and despite being in a team with Justin and Steve!) I held my own at beer trivia. The night ended with a chat and a beer with Alex and his partner about the life of a brewer, brewing education and beer in general. Full of passion and drive after this encounter it wasn’t long until The Local BottleStore and Provisions was looking for staff and I enthusiastically applied.

Skip forward a year and I’m rocking up to White Rabbit brewery in Healesville to represent The Local B&P/Taphouse and help brew the “Little Rabbit” (collaboration with White Rabbit and Little Creatures) alongside Alex, Linc and the White Rabbit team. Little Rabbit is a hopped up version of a Belgian style blond ale, at approximately 6.4% ABV. Using a Belgian yeast strain, generous portions of NZ (Super Alpha and Pacifica hop flowers) and Noble hops (Czech Saaz and German Hellertau) making use of White Rabbit’s hopback and with a blend of pilsner and wheat malt.

Interested? Get down to the Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular to try the fruit of my labour! For more information click on  www.thelocal.com.au/gabs/  and get your tickets from ticketmaster here.

 

Beer Lovers Guide to Extreme Beers - May 16th

Well, we've already enticed you with our Autumn around the Globe - Beer & Cheese event on Monday of Good Beer Week. Now we've got another reason for you to visit us!

The Local B&P is hosting the Beer Lovers Guide to Extreme Beers on Wednesday, 16th May 7pm start.  - with a copy of the Beer Lovers Guide included in the price.

The line up of beers on the tasting paddle is as follows:

1. Mikkeller, Sur Munk (Quadruple Wild Ale)
2. Birra de Borgo, Keto Reporter (Tobacco porter)
3. Rodenbach Vintage 2007 (Oak aged Flemish red ale)
4. BrewDog, Sunk Punk (IPA fermented at the bottom of the ocean)
5. Nogne O, Sunturnbrew (Smoked barley wine)

Along with this fantastic line up, there will be an additional 7 beers and 1 cider to try should you wish. These are at an additional cost - and very worth it!

The extra special additional line up is:

1. Cantillion, Mamouche (Elderflower)
2. BrewDog, Paradox Jura (Imperial stout matured in Jura Whiskey Casks)
3. Domaine Dupont, Cidre Colette 2008
4. Nogne O,  Ut pa tur (Sahti, a Finnish farmhouse ale)
5. Nogne O, Underlig Jul (Spiced ale)
6. Amager Bryghus, Hr. Frederiksen (Portvinslagret)
7. Mikkeller, It's Alive (Wild Ale)
8. HaandBryggeriet, Krokkebic (Fruit Lambic)

Come and join us and let your taste buds be inspired!
Click  HERE  to book!

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The Italian beers have arrived!

We have recieved some extremely delicious Italian craft beers from Birra del Borgo and BrewFist, including a collaboration beer between Birra del Borgo and Dogfish Head.

So, in no particular order, we have:

Birra del Borgo

ReAle Amber Ale
ReAle 'Extra' IPA
In BraNata Saison
Duchessa Saison
My Antonia Imperial Pilsner ( Dogfish Head Collaboration)
Keto 'Reporter' - a tabacco infused Porter
Ducale Strong Belgian Ale
Enkir Saison

BrewFist

24k Golden Ale
Jale Extra Special Bitter
Burocracy IPA
Spaceman IPA

So get in quick as there are only limited supplies of these great Italian beers.

Not long until you can eat and drink in the Store. Here's a full update!

Over the past few weeks, Ashley and the team have been busily ringing in the exciting changes to the Store adding colourful fresh produce and bread in the windows plus a developing selection of pantry and food offerings in the way of cheese, meats, olives, nuts, condiments, pantry items, chocolate and some fantastic homewares. The new Taphouse kitchen will also be soon making a range of quality take-home meals and other food for the Store to sell.

The range of beers continue to increase and the cider and wine range are also undergoing a few tweeks. Smaller boutique wineries and cider producers remain the target, as well as a broader price range, particularly for the wines. Sandwiches are due to begin in the next week or so with a focus on delicious gourmet ingredients on fantastic Dench artisan bread and rolls. Initially offered Monday-Friday over the lunch hour, there is the option to eat these in store & enjoy them with non-alcoholic offerings.

This is all to prepare us for the biggest change of all. We have completed the council process and are now awaiting final Liquor Licensing approval so you can sit, eat and drink in the Store! The benches will be lowered, vintage chairs added and there will be capacity for 20-25 people to sit in-house and enjoy an extensive range of bottled and tap beer (from bottles, growlers and squealers), cider & wine along with some delicious antipasto boards, spiced nuts and other beer/cider/wine worthy treats.

Stay tuned and connected with the LB&P via Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to our blog. Random acts of kindness will be occasionally bestowed on those who follow us!

The Gypsy, the Goat & The Quiet American...among other things

Lots of great stock has arrived in store and more to come!

The highly anticipated Mountain Goat and Mikkeller collaboration - Cross Breed, The Gypsy and the Goat Black Pepperberry IPA - does not disappoint. We've got loads in stock, but it won't last - get yourself some!

Another Mikkeller collaboration with Bridge Road - the Dark Harvest - has arrived. Perfect for autumn and winter drinking.

BrewDog - Paradox Jura  (imperial stout matured in jura whisky casks).

We've still got some AB:05's  on sale at 15% OFF with a bonus Pint Glass

Also from Bridge Road is the Harvest - a hop forward pale ale with loads of aromatics.

Little Creature's Single Batch -  The Quiet American - an American IPA blended with a Belgium tripel with that classic Little Creature's character.

Stone & Wood's Jasper Ale is very popular and we'll have it back in stock from tomorrow!

Other mentions include:


The NZ Mash Up
St. Ambroise - Pale Ale & Scotch Ale
Holgate Brewery - Temptress - an old favourite is back!
Mornington Imperial IPA and Porter are both in the house
Moo brew - Pale, Dark and Handsome (i.e. the Pilsner)
New Holland Australian Dubbel - Red Duck and Vic Brewer Champion collaboration

Lots to try - hope this inspires some cold weather drinking!

Beer and Cheese Night - Monday, May 14th Autumn around the Globe

A little over three weeks till all the Good Beer Weeks events start - and first up is our Cheese & Beer Experience - Autumn around the Globe!

Come experience some fantastic autumn beers and matched cheeses from all over the world on Monday, May 14th at 7pm.

The beer line up is as follows:
Steen Brugge - Dubbel Bruin (BEL)
Coedo - Beniaka (JPN) - sweet potato lager
Rodenbach Grand Cru - Flemish Red Ale (BEL)
St. Ambroise - Scotch Ale (CAN)
Amager - Sundby Stout (DNK)
Moylan's Barleywine (USA)

The matched cheeses will be a flavoursome mixture from France, Spain, Italy, England and Australia.

Delicious!

There are still spaces and tickets available. Click HERE to sign up and enjoy the flavours of the autumn season.

See you there!!

Big Beers on Sale!

The Autumn specials keep on coming here at the LB&P. We've got some big beers with great discounts.

BrewDog Abstrakt AB: 05 and AB:06 are both 15% OFF + a fantastic frosted BrewDog pint glass thrown in with every purchase!   The AB:05 is a Belgian imperial stout aged on toasted coconut and cacoa, whereas the AB:06 is a triple dry-hopped imperial black IPA.

The 1.5L Mikkeller Red/White Christmas Ale has your name on it - 20% OFF and it's all yours. A spicy combination between a British Red Ale and a Belgian Wit Bier, there's no need to wait for Christmas - crack it now!

We've also got the Cuvee Colette 2008 from Domaine Dupont - a clean, fresh fruit forward cider at 15% off.

Norrebro Brygus's Little Korkny Ale, a Barleywine style ale, malty with a touch of fruity hop bitterness is also 15% off - great after dinner drinking this Autumn.

Last but not least 32 Via Dei Birrai's Oppale - a belgian style pale ale at 15% off it's a steal.

These won't last.....see you soon

Just in case you forgot....

We do Growlers! And Squealers! Fresh take away tap beer poured on-site to take home and enjoy. Perfect host/hostess gift, or for the dinner party & BBQ. Rotating taps mean you can enjoy more of your favourite beers and try some new ones as well.  Remember to check out the growler menu on the LB&P blog as it's constantly updated and changing. Only $15 for the growler bottle (1.89L) and $10 for the squealer (946ml) + the cost of the fill (which varies per style and brewery).   Can I get a hey ya?

April's Brewer's Dozen is ready for you!

1.       Lobethal Red Truck Porter (SA) 6.2% 330ml

2.       Red Duck White Garden (VIC) 4.1% 330ml 

3.       Victory Festbier (USA) 5.6% 355ml

4.       Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot (USA) 11.1% 355ml

5.       Kissmeyer PilNZer (NOR) 5.5% 330ml

6.       Steenbrugge Wit (BEL) 5% 330ml

7.       Petrus Dubbel Bruin (BEL) 6.5% 330ml

8.       Green Flash Double Stout (USA) 355ml

9.       Kooinda Black IPA (VIC) 7% 330ml

10.   Brewdog Punk IPA can (SCO) 5.6% 330ml

11.   Cuvee Des Trolls (BEL) 7% 250ml

12.   Moon Dog Melon Gibson (VIC) 5.6% 330ml

13.   Moa Pale Ale (NZ) 5.5% 375ml

      We're offering different options for getting these beers to you! Pick up in store for $67.23, delivery to Melbourne Area for $82.23 and delivery to our country friends for $91.23.

      Click here to book!

Critics' Choice is in-store now!

The 2011 Critics' Choice Guide is in-store now! Check out Australia's top 100 beers - with a special mention to the Local's own James Smith who was part of the voting panel. Copies are selling fast - so pop in and grab your own copy and some beverages to enjoy from the list.

Cider on Hank - an LB&P First!

True South's Little Miss Muffet (4.6% ABV) is now available on Hank, our grower machine. At a very reasonable $17.90 for a growler fill and $8.95 for a squealer, forget the curds and whey and just drink this goodness!