BEST GIFT FOR THE BEER CONNOISSEUR: RARE BEERS
For the guy or gal who knows what’s what when it comes to craft beer, why not get them a bottle of the really good stuff from our selection of rare and speciality beers. All will impress a beer expert.
While our focus is on showcasing Australian craft beer, we also have a curated collection of limited-edition international beers from award-winning breweries such as Birra Baladin (Italy), De Moersleutel (The Netherlands) and BrewDog (Scotland). The rarity of many of these beers such as BrewDog’s Anniversary Imperial Stouts make these bottles ideal gifts for craft beer enthusiasts.
Not sure which to get? Loads of people consider Westvleteren XII from Belgium to be the best beer in the world, and we’re not disagreeing. It’s a safe bet!
HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS
Westvleteren 12
It’s not easy to get this classic Belgian Quad in Australia, so we were wrapped to hunt down a limited number of bottles just in time for the festive season. Brewed by the Abbey monks at Saint-Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren (Belgium), this beer is consistently rated as the Best in the World by the likes of the Beer Advocate and RateBeer.com, with people lining up at the Abbey every release to get their hands on it. The taste originates from dark fruits like raisins and plums, also a clear taste of vanilla and honey is recognizable, these ingredients give the beer a sweet aroma.
Adriaen Brouwer Oaked
Produced by the oldest family brewery in Belgium, Roman Brewery, which is known for its rich assortment of beers. Adriaen Brouwer Oaked is a well-balanced, beautifully dark brown, top-fermented beer in which the flavours of caramel and dried fruit perfectly meld with the soft, velvety finish of the sherry and whisky wood. It’s also an organic beer, meaning that all ingredients used to brew the beer are grown organically… and that’s a first for the brewery that has existed since 1545.
Oud Beersel Krieken lambiek (Bag-In-Box) 3.1LT
In Belgium, bag-in-box lambics are common as this traditional beer style lends itself well to being bagged. Lambics get their wonderful complex flavours via wild yeasts and bacteria inherent in the air. For lambic lovers we have three special bag-in-box lambics from Oud Beersel – one of the last remaining authentic lambic breweries of Belgium. It began in 1882!
This lambic beer is particularly pleasing; produced by the addition of real sour cherries for natural fermentation. Once the cherries have been fully macerated and fermented, the Kriekenlambiek is blended with an older lambic to reach the desired flavour. For each litre of Kriekenlambiek, there are 400g of sour cherries. It is not sweetened; no flavourings or preservatives have been added.
Birra Baladin Suzi Dry
All the way from one of Italy’s most awarded breweries, this delicious Plum Ale displays gentle aromas of white flowers and Isabella grape. On the palate you’ll detect a combination of slightly winey flavours and smooth notes of plum, supported by a pleasant and light acidity, which makes this beer very easy to drink and hides the alcohol content. The finish is characterised by hints of pepper. Comes in an impressive 750ml bottle. A terrific gift for an Italian beer lover!
BrewDog Dog C Imperial Stout
Dog C is an extra special brew, marking 7 years of Scotland’s superstar brewery, BrewDog. Like Dog A & B before it, Dog C is an imperial stout, brewed with a potent mix of speciality ingredients. Dog C pours like dark matter into your glass, with a deep tan head. On the nose there’s a subtle but powerful blend of dark chocolate, espresso, chilli spice and molasses, boosted with hints of molasses, cocoa powder and brandy. On the palate, there’s a chewy treacle toffee backbone, supporting the spicy hop flavour and naga chilli heat. The malt bill adds further spice from the rye, and a smooth refined mouthfeel from the wheat and oats.