A west coast GABS Festival beer invasion

A little-known brewery from the Peel area and a champion amateur feature in the GABS Festival beers from WA.

Twelve beer makers from this side of the beer have put forward their unique brews for the annual event in Melbourne. One is from Cheeky Monkey - a rum and raisin bock pictured above.

Part of the Sandgroper crew is Wedgetail Brewing from Bouvard. The operation has been producing beers for 12 months and featured in South of Perth venues.

Wedgetail have made a Moko Imperial Pilsner for GABS. Hitting 7.5 per cent the tasting notes have “crisp” well featured.

Bernie Glass won the 2016 Australian Amateur Brewing Championship and like WA’s Jeff McGrath, who took the prize in 2015, he gets the opportunity to showcase a beer at the festival.

Glass has delivered at Belgian Dubbel at 5.7%.

There will be about 160 unique beers and ciders available at GABS with plenty of other brews at stalls throughout the Royal Melbourne Exhibition Building.

GABS starts next Friday.

WA BEERS AT GABS FESTIVAL

BLACK BREWING CO

BAO BAO PORT ROYALE

Yarrrrrr, a Stout for pirates! Black Brewing have taken a Milk Stout, added smoked malt, and aged it in both Rum and Port barrels. Hoist yer mizzen and set sail toward this beauty.

Style: Wood-Aged Beer. ABV: 6.8%

Character: Malt Fruit and toffee

BOOTLEG BREWERY

ROCKETSHIP IPA

Bootleg gave us notes on this. There was mention of Forester's Beer Hall, a Rocketship and Thirsty Crow brewery. Apparently it's an IPA and they want you to drink it. So we guess you should?

Style: American IPA. ABV: 6.1%

Character: Hop Bold, herbal and citric

CHEEKY MONKEY BREWERY

RUM AND RAISIN BOCK

This Bock, a style which originates in Germany, has rum-soaked raisins and was aged on oak. Under German brewing regulations (Reinheitsgebot), raisins would be banned. Good thing this is Australia.

Style: Dunkles Bock. ABV: 7%

Character: Malt Toasty and nutty

COLONIAL BREWING COMPANY

RYE 'N GOSE SLING

A lightly soured Gose with rye malt, Margaret River seawater and a dosing of The West Winds Broadside gin. Finished with a few US hops, if Gin Sling was a beer, it'd be this. *Part of the GABS Festival Beer Mixed Six Pack

Style: Experimental Beer. ABV: 4.5%

Character: Tart/Funk Delicate

FERAL BREWING COMPANY

DARK MATTER

An English style Porter infused with Dutch cocoa, Madagascan vanilla pods and Tanzanian coffee, rounded off by some creamy lactose.

Style: Porter. ABV: 6%

Character: Roast Soft and silky

GAGE ROADS BREWING CO

AMERICAN BROWN

Gage Roads describe this as 'good, honest beer'. Then they go on to say it has rich caramel and chocolate flavours, with lovely bitterness and subtle pine and citrus hop characters. Sounds good to us!

Style: American Brown Ale. ABV: 6.3%

Character: Hop Malty backbone

INDIAN OCEAN BREWING

BRETT NOT BRETT

Recently we found out that Brett Trois was really Sacch. To brewers, this was huge. To you, maybe not. How about tropical aromas, juicy stone fruit and tart pineapple in a soured, refreshing beer?

Style: Wild Specialty Beer. ABV: 4.5%

Character: Tart/Funk Fruity and vinous

LITTLE CREATURES

FESTOON IPA

This combines hops of American style India Pale Ales and the yeast driven phenolics of Belgian Wit beers. Add a twist of native lemon myrtle, and you have a real party for the senses.

Style: White IPA. ABV: 7%

Character: Fruit/Spice Bright

NAIL BREWING

SUPER VPA

Born of the planet Hoptom, this is a Super VPA sent to planet Earth to make the world a better place. The powers of hops will give strength to all those who imbibe.

Style: International IPA. ABV: 8%

Character: Hop Bold, herbal and citric

OTHERSIDE BREWING CO

ORANGE IS THE NEW ENGLAND BLACK

A blood orange-infused Black IPA given the “New England” IPA treatment. Loads of late hops, rolled oats and wheat give this a thick, luscious mouthfeel. It finishes crisp, with a tickle of citrus goodness.

Style: Black IPA. ABV: 6.2%

Character: Hop Malty backbone

WEDGETAIL BREWING

MOKO IMPERIAL PILSNER

Marrying a firm malt backbone with New Zealand hops, this delivers an elegant taste sensation that will delight your palate and tease your senses.

Style: Imperial Pilsner. ABV: 7.5%

Character: Crisp Brisk hoppiness

AIBA CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN AMATEUR (HOMEBREWER 2016)

DUBBEL DATE

Bernie Glass, the 2016 Australian Amateur Brewing Champion, used 3.5kg of dates to accentuate classic Dubbel flavours of toffee, caramel and raisin. Expect spicy and floral aromas and low bitterness. Perfect for a cheese plate.

Style: Belgian Dubbel. ABV: 5.7%

Character: Fruit/Spice Dark