Burleigh’s Black Hops Brewery re-creates oyster, trifle and Wagon Wheel-infused beers for one-day revival

BLACK Hops Brewery in Burleigh Heads is serving up your favourite amber liquids with a twist — today only.

QWEEKEND - Women and BeerScottish craft beer BrewDog is setting up Australian HQ in Brisbane, with construction to start in second half of 2018.Director is Zarah Prior, originally from Sydney, who worked with BrewDog in Scotland in 2013 before returning to Oz to work with other craft breweries.

JUST when you thought beer couldn’t get any craftier, along comes Black Hops Brewery at Burleigh Heads.

Founders Michael ‘Govs’ McGovern, Dan Norris and Eddie Oldfield, and master craftsman Curran McCarthy and Satoshi Tamura are today pouring up some exceptionally spectacular drops from their four years at the Great Australasian Beer Spectacular (GABS) in Melbourne.

“The whole point of GABS is to present beers that push the boundary of what a beer is,” co-founder Michael ‘Govs’ McGovern said.

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The boys have leapt into overdrive, creating a four-course meal in liquid form ready for daring and intrigued customers to guzzle them down.

The best part? Almost 99 per cent of Gold Coasters have never tried them before.

Kill Patrick, Assault Trifle, Bandwagon and Trolley’d in Tijuana — and yes they are exactly what they sound like — will be available in limited batches.

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Black Hops Brewing at Burleigh Heads won Champion Small Australian Brewery award at the 2018 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA). Partners and Brewers L-R Dan Norris, Eddie Oldfield, Curran McCarthy, Michael McGovern and Satoshi Tamura. Picture Mike Batterham

“We’re taking a journey back in time,” co-founder Dan Norris said.

“Any GABS beer, it’s rare to be packaged or tasted outside the event. It’s all kegs, and unless it’s a breakout hit, it’s never heard of again.

“So we’ve gone crazy, recreating and bringing our entries home to Queensland.”

Don’t worry though, the boys have not sullied our favourite amber liquid, rather enhanced it.

“Inspiration can come from anywhere, we throw around bunch of ideas and think about what would work in a beer,” Govs said.

“The Kill Patrick, out 2015 entry, is a good, robust stout. We’ve gone one step further than the traditional oyster stout and added some smoked barley to give it the bacon flavour, and broken down the key ingredients in Worcestershire sauce — tamarind, clove, molasses, pepper and lemon zest. The spicing it subtle, but it’s there.

“It’s an edgy brew, but really classy.”

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Dan Norris, Eddie Oldfield and Michael McGovern in 2016 with their trifle-inspired beer. Photo: Richard Gosling

Their 2016 entry, the Assault Trifle, was brewed with the key ingredients of trifle — fresh fruit, vanilla, coconut, sherry, jelly and sponge cake. It was one of only two Queensland beers to finish in the top 10 that year.

Next on offer is a Wagon Wheel for grown ups.

“In 2017 a lot of people were doing a dessert beer, chocolate and caramel flavours, rather than fight it, we jumped on the bandwagon.

“It’s brewed with chocolate, raspberry jam, vanilla, marshmallow and biscuit.”

This year’s entry, Trolley’d In Tijuana, a Sangria Saison, was aged in wine barrels and comes complete with a backstory about a fateful trip to Mexico.

“It was a secret mission, we went to Tijuana to source some spices for authenticity,” Govs said.

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Eddie Oldfield and Michael McGovern sample 'Bandwagon' their 2017 creation, in the Great Australian Beer Spectacular. Photo Glenn Hampson

“Long story short, we found a brewery, bought some spices, had some drinks and after nearly being stripsearched we were let back into the States and could come home.”

The crew is keen for locals to explore something near and dear to them, as well as celebrate their latest victory at the 2018 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) where they were crowned the Champion Small Australian Brewery.

Head down today, from midday, for four wildly spectacular beers, and all the other delights Black Hops has to offer.

THE BEERS:

2015 — KILL PATRICK

A Stout first & foremost, with hints of smoked malts, and a touch of rye. This beer is brewed with fresh unshucked oysters from the Tweed River and spiced with tamarind, clove, pepper & lemon zest. It was brewed originally for GABS 2015 and placed 13th in the People’s Choice award.

2016 — ASSAULT TRIFLE

The Trifle Pale Ale was brewed for GABS Festival 2016 and was one of only two Queensland beers to finish in the top 10. This bold Pale Ale is brewed with all the important ingredients of a good trifle including aeroplane jelly, toasted coconut, flagons of cream sherry, Madagascan vanilla beans, lots of fruit and sponge cake.

2017 — BANDWAGON

This sweet Stout, brewed originally for GABS 2017 is brewed with chocolate, raspberry jam, vanilla, marshmallow and biscuit. It’s a Wagon Wheel for grown ups.

2018 — TROLLEY’D IN TIJUANA

Black Hops’ bodacious adventure to Tijuana to source the spices for this Sangria Saison almost saw them stuck in Mexico but lucky a little trolley journey kept them out of strife. Spiced with cinnamon, orange peel and star anise, it will have you doing the tango in no time.