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El Loco at the Slip Inn and Aguila Beer
El Loco Hot Dog and Quesadilla
One of Back of the Ferry’s most loyal correspondents, members and readers is returning to New Zealand, and so began the first leg of his work farewell. Another loyal BotF member was up from Melbourne, and we couldn’t mark the farewell on the ferry, the next best thing was to go to a local pub and try some thing new. I used to be pretty dark on the Slip Inn. My primary reason was quite irrational, and that was that it was in the opposite direction to the ferry. I’ve gotten more used to it over the last couple of years (though only if I visit at lunch, knowing I have to return to work – rather than the end of the day. The food wasn’t bad either, but the beer list never challenged.
El Loco menu part 1
So, when Cam suggested a quick farewell beverage to Kiwisinoz, it was about convenience more than anything new. Well, surprise – surprise, the Slip Inn’s had a Mexican makeover (day of the dead wallpaper) in the front bar and the menu’s been updated to match. There’s a Mexican cocktail list and plenty of tacos, quesadillas and churros as well as some main courses – featuring grilled meats with various Mexican sauces. The menu’s hardly haute cuisine, but the hot dogs we all had and the Chorizo and Jalapeno quesadilla I snuck absolutely hit the spot when speed and substance were key. I’ll definitely be back for another crack at the menu including some of the more substantial specials featuring ribs and the like. It’s all under the name El Loco at Slip Inn, and is apparently the brain child of one of Merivale’s star chefs – Dan Hong.
Menu Part 2
As mentioned above, Slip Inn’s beer list is pedestrian, so I’ve had to reach back to the weekend for this post’s unique beer. I tried this blog’s first Colombian beer on the rooftop of the Glenmore Hotel. The highlight of Aguila Beer is its label. Aguila is made by the Cervecería De Barranquilla, which is now part of the SABMiller group. It probably is made in Colombia, but tastes like any old macro that SABMiller flog around the world. Colombia – ticked off.
Aguila from Colombia
3 new beers at 4 Pines
I don’t need a reason to get to the stationary spiritual home of Back of the Ferry, but extra incentive has been provided by the arrival of 3 new beers to the Keller Door family. Photo says it all really.
Before the local derby, I tried two of the three – the Mosaic Amber and the Belgian Dubbel. Mosaic was the slight winner on the day. A brassy, sharp amber with more hop than malt. Great finish and very sessionable. That’s it next to the chalkboard The Dubbel knits a good beer coat. It holds its alcohol content well and it is a big complex mouthfeel. Big fan of both. Might get to the Oatmeal after the game.
The Chillsner
via Cool Material
You’re probably familiar with the Corkcicle. It’s a super-handy way to keep your white wine chilled and covered without watering it down. Only issue is, white wine isn’t really our go-to drink. That honor belongs to our good friend, Mr. Beer. Well, the folks who created the Corkcicle have heard our cries and have given us the Chillsner. The Chillsner is the first ever in-bottle beer cooler you can drink through. Simply toss it in the freezer for 45 minutes, take a sip out of the beer you’re going to put it in, then pop in the Chillsner and you’re good to go. Each purchase includes two Chillsners, a freezer storage case, and two instructional coasters. No more warm beer and no more funky koozies.
Stylish Suds: Check Out This Font-Tastic Beer Concept
via Food Republic
Chances are, you’ve never heard of Akzidenz-Grotesk, the century-old typeface font that resembles Helvetica in its simplicity and clean lines. Neither had we — until we saw it emblazoned all over these cool longnecks.
In a conceptual series comprising six beer types, the Lisbon-based designer João Andrade gives us all a reason to raise our glasses (er, bottles) to his favorite font. Since Germany is the third-largest importer of beer, and Akzidenz-Grotesk originated in Berlin where it was used by printers, the marriage of the two seemed both appropriate and appropriately random. In the examples below, each label’s typeface varies in weight and width according to the level of alcohol in each beer.
We love the concept — the more innovative and forward-thinking label designs, the better — though we’d probably discourage anyone from actually using the word “grotesk” in a beer name.
In designer João Andrade’s world, Akzidenz-Grotesk beer would exist in five varieties: light, medium, bold, super and extra (shown above).
Full story over at Food Republic
The Buddy Cup
Budweiser Brazil has been at it again… The Buddy Cup (not a sexual position) comes with a QR code and built-in chip that connects it to your Facebook profile, so every time you toast some rando [sic] at a Bud-sponsored event, they gain instant access to your Facebook life.
Because the world needs another uselessly hi-tech advertising innovation, and because the bar for being Facebook friends these days needs to be even more like blinking at a stranger passing on the street.
Brought to you by Agencia Africa, which was also responsible for Bud’s less idiotic Will.i.am magazine ad that doubled as a vinyl record.
The Great Northern – Carlton, Tusk and Dead Guy Ale
Tusk
There’s been plenty of hype in the pointy end of the Craft Beer community about the release of Tusk, Feral Brewing Company‘s infrequently released Imperial IPA. The hype is due to the fact that Feral Brewing Company has won more awards that Ben Hur, the strict conditions under which outlets are able to take on this beer and its blink and it’s gone time frame. To be honest, I didn’t give it much thought because I thought that my chances of getting to a venue serving it in the short window foreshadowed were slimmer than Lamb0 after his return from Sri Lanka.
Dead Guy Ale
Low and behold, I found myself having to do in a fly-in-fly-out trip to Carlton – without any certainty of sneaking any visit into any fine Carlton establishment. Stars aligned and the next thing I knew, I was enjoying a quick lunch in a pub I’d been wanting to visit for a while. The Great Northern has been on the radar and whilst it was a fleeting visit, it ticks many boxes and I’ll be back as soon as possible. The Great Northern had clearly met Feral’s conditions in relation to Tusk and is one about 10 venues selling it. According to Crafty Pint, they are “venues who have guaranteed that there will be cold refrigerated transport from brewery to bar and that it will be tapped the instant it arrives“. Highly regarded US Imperial or Double IPAs like Pliny the Elder emphasise this need to engage in as immediate consumption as possible, so this isn’t hyperbole on Feral’s part. So what’s it like? This is as big a beer made by an Australian brewer as I’ve had. My companion for the day simply went “Phew!”. He immediately commented on the alcohol. Without prompting he reckoned it tasted spirituous. Interesting reaction from a bloke that doesn’t drink craft often. Tusk is a classic sipper, squintly so on the first taste – but one that works up to a magnificent crescendo as it goes on. I was actually keen for a second – but at 9.5%, on this instance, one was enough. Delighted to have had a crack at the Tusk
Worth a visit to Carlton
The Great Northern is putting on an event during “Good Beer Week“, where thirteen of their taps will be turned over to some of the USA’s finest. They are clearly warming up to that event. They have a good range of Bridgeport beers available in their bottle, there’s plenty of Brooklyn Beer paraphernalia up and they have an iconic beer on tap – Rogue‘s Dead Guy Ale. The tap head’s marvellous and the beer’s even better. The back stories of many of Rogue’s beers are pretty interesting – not surprising for a craft brewer that’s been around since 1989. Dead Guy was a private label for a Day of the Dead promo many years ago. It was so popular it became a perennial name for Rogue’s Maibock – and the tap handle is iconic as they come. Bloody fine beer that held it’s own despite coming after the Tusk. I will return to the Great Northern – if that could be during Good Beer Week – even better.
15 Cool Beer Taps
via Cool Material
We can’t help the fact that we’re sometimes attracted to bright, shiny objects. It’s why we do occasionally judge a book by its cover, and it’s also why we may order a beer we don’t know based on the really awesome tap handle associated with it. This doesn’t happen all the time, but we’re pretty sure it would be hard to pass up the suds coming from these guys.
Gun Tap Handle
Video Game Controller Tap Handles
Dogfish Head Steampunk Tap Handle
Deer Antler Tap Handles
Fixed Gear Tap Handles
Beer Ingredient Tap Handles
Lightsaber Tap Handles
Sapporo Sword Tap Handle
Taps at Fette Sau in Philadelphia
40mm Grenade Tap Handle
Mason Jar Tap Handle
Piranha Plant Tap Handle
Vintage Tools Tap Handles
Dirty Robot Hand Tap Handle
50 Caliber Tap Handle
Rhett – a long overdue inductee
It’s been a long time between inductions. The stars aligned on this one and our latest inductee was welcomed by no less than 5 salty seadogs, including Lamb0 who’s
been absent from the BotF for some time.
Our latest member, Rhett, was treated to full blown BotF experience including beverages at favourite BotF haunts before and after the voyage. Frankie’s Pizza didn’t fail to disappoint with its usual eclectic range of tap beers including a Rhubarb Wit. The post voyage venues almost don’t need to be stated – but 4 Pines and Murrays got a run.
So to the questions.
Favourite beverage Tooheys New (seriously)
Favourite sport to spectate Test cricket
Area of trivial expertise War
Induction ceremony witnessed by Pommy_ch, Lamb0, Gerald, Oompaloompa and Bladdamasta.
Groovin’ the Moo, Canberra and Carlton Dry 3.5
Kim rules the crowd
First held in 2005, the Groovin’ the Moo has been growing size and popularity as a musical festival for alternative acts that is held in oddish locations. First held in Gloucester, the 2013 version has been through or will be held in Maitland, Canberra, Bunbury, Townsville and Bendigo. There’s a common line-up at all venues, with local bands opening. 6 bands played in 2005 – at least 27 bands appeared on the 2013. On the weekend, I effectively chaperoned 5 teenage girls to the 11 hour concert in Canberra. They were far more familiar with many of the Canberra line-up than I was, but there were enough acts to keep me interested.
Regurgitator
The big names (those that I’d heard of anyway] included Regurgitator, the Kooks, They Might Be Giants, Tame Impala, Temper Trap and Flume. The first three acts, in particular were fabulous. The ‘Gurge were wonderful. They played at twilight and played during the setting of the sun. Their blend of thrash, tongue in cheek lyrics and ebullient stage craft simply delighted the crowd. A great Australian band – the crowd went beserk. They Might Be Giants played some new stuff, but wheeled out their big hit “Dr Worm” (but not “You’re not the Boss of Me”). Really, really solid set and great show men. The Kooks were simply awesome. They fed off the crowd enthusiasm and just rocked out.
The Kooks
The suprise act for me was Matt and Kim. I had absolutely no idea who these guys were. I’ve spent plenty of time since looking at their clips on YouTube and reading up on their history. Boyfriend and girlfriend, Matt and Kim put on one of the most unique and wild live performances I’ve had the pleasure to see. Matt plays a keyboard and Kim thrashes a very simple kit with the vigour of John Bonham. She takes it to a new level with multiple ascents of her bass drum to engage the crowd with foul mouthed exhortations and gyrations that have to be seen to be believed. Her venture into the crowd, standing on the hands of an adoring audience was visually stunning. Two people creating so much noise is remarkable, even if some of it is computer generated. If you ever see these guys playing near by – get out and see them.
Crap Beer
The beer list was appalling. I was being the responsible chaparone so was grateful for the presence of some mid-strength beers, but gees – I may as well have drunk water. Carlton Dry 3.5 (apparently especially made for festivals) is the worst beer I’ve drunk. It’s water with some carbonation and light dusting of beer flavouring. I’m convinced that when a beer states on a label “Smooth Finish” it really means no discerbible flavour. Once ticked off, I actually moved to real water for the rest of the day.
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