WE CHOOSE BREW
COAST’S BEST DRINKS
Call yourself a boozehound? Make your way through this boozy Gold Coast checklist of local liquor lovers’ creations to earn your stripes, and maybe a hangover to boot. It’s fine when it’s in the name of supporting local business ...
BURLEIGH BREWING TWISTED PALM
This brew is essentially Burleigh in a bottle, a tropical pale ale crafted to taste just like Burleigh feels. “Like the place it calls home, the flavours in Burleigh Brewing Twisted Palm Tropical Pale Ale are relaxed and uncomplicated,” Burleigh Brewing owner Peta Fielding said. “The unique hopping regimen delivers tropical aromas and characters of orange, mango and papaya. All sitting comfortably together. Perfect for enjoying in Burleigh. Or when you just wish you could.”
BLACK HOPS PALE ALE
Defined by a balance of pale malted barley and tropical hop aromas, Black Hops co-owner Dan Norris said their Pale Ale is light in colour and big in flavour – but don’t overthink it. It is what it says on the tin, a Pale Ale, the Black Hops beer for every occasion. “Our Pale Ale is one of the highest rated Australian pales on beer app Untappd and won Gold and silver at the AIBAs for the beer and can design,” Mr Morris said.
WITCHES FALLS 2017 UNWOODED CHARDONNAY
The perfect chilled drop for a Gold Coast summer – tropical fruits, citrus and herbaceous aromas greet the nose and follow through to a well balanced palate with flavours of lemon zest and honeydew melon. The fruit for this chardonnay was grown in the Ballandean district of the Granite Belt where the winters are cold and frosty and summers are warm, producing a continental climate. The Witches Falls Winery team recommend you pair this Chardonnay with chicken and pasta dishes.
BALTER BREWING XPA
The Balter crew reckon this might be pale but there’s nothing weak about this bad boy. “This XPA’s tropical and floral aromatics set off a fruity palate that will punch your tastebuds in the pleasure zone,” their description read. “Tailored for those who enjoy a fullyhopped beer that’s still easy to drink.”
STONE & WOOD PACIFIC ALE
Arguably the pale ale that thrust craft beer into popularity on the Coast. Inspired by our home on the edge of the Pacific Ocean and brewed using all Australian barley, wheat and Galaxy hops, Pacific Ale is cloudy and golden with a big fruity aroma and a refreshing finish. After being dry hopped at the end of fermentation, S&W’s Pacific Ale is then drawn straight from the storage tank at the brewery into kegs and bottles. S&W said leaving out the filtering means the beer tastes fresher, just as it tastes from the tank at the brewery.
MOUNT TAMBORINE VINEYARDS & WINERY 2014 BLACK SHIRAZ
The Black Shiraz is the flagship of Mount Tamborine’s range and is purpose grown to produce their finest drop. “The 2014 vintage was exceptional,” managing director Danielle Hart said. “Deep red hues royally rimmed with bright purple and mauve – the Black Shiraz sits boldly in the glass, its appearance as commanding as its flavours. Our premium wine, the peppery finish is lifted by ripe black berries, cloves and silky toasted almonds. Our Black Shiraz cellars well in optimum condition but drinks well now.”
HUSK DISTILLERY INK GIN
The incredible colour-changing gin (right) is a masterpiece in quality as well as science. It’s a premium dry gin made with 13 organic botanicals, including a mix of traditional and Australian natives. Like all true gins, juniper berries are the largest botanical component, however the defining character of Ink Gin comes from the second tier botanicals led by locally grown lemon myrtle leaf, coriander seed, Tasmanian pepper berry and freshly peeled sun-dried sweet orange peel. Then, when the floral-infused Ink Gin is mixed with something of low pH (including gin’s best friends; tonic water, lime or lemon), the colour changes dramatically from blue to blush pink. Not magic – just science.
SIRROMET 2014 SEVERN RIVER MERLOT
Sourced from Blocks 2 and 52 from our Seven Scenes Vineyard, this is a unique Granite Belt regional Merlot style. Sirromet’s Merlot tends to be quite fruit driven, soft varietal and plump, ripe red blood plums, vanillin oak, firm but soft chestnut tannins, and tapered acidity with elegant French and American oak. On the eye it’s rich violet red with purple hues, and on the nose it’s a young, elegant Merlot showing fruitcake aromas of redcurrants, dried spices.
O’REILLY’S VIOLA CAB SAV
This is a full bodied, complex wine. Distinctly Cabernet Sauvignon aromas of mint and dark berries are complemented by restrained “cedary” oak characters. Lifted upfront fruit on the palate is supported by a perfect balance of tannin and acid.
LOST PALMS PORTER
The new kid on the block at Miami, Lost Palms have a range of beers on offer and many of them are a reflection of our sunny, happy Gold Coast lifestyles, such as the porter. Traditionally a dark, British ale, these guys have mixed 18th century brewing with modern day GC. Coowner Jarrod Blanning said their porter was created for our weather, with notes of chocolate and coffee and a well balanced body, bitterness and malt characteristics.
BEENLEIGH COPPER POT DISTILLED RUM
Australia’s original rum. Still pot stilled the traditional way, before being craftily blended after a minimum of two years ageing in both ex-brandy vats and ex-bourbon barrels. Unmissable caramel undertones and pronounced vanilla notes, thanks to its time in oak, with a subtle infusion of floral elements from the ex-brandy vats. Well-crafted, well-balanced with an approachable style suited to simple mixed drinks and cocktails.