The Queensland Homebrewing Conference - That's a wrap!

What a day! 125 attendees, 570 litres of beer, 13 Speakers, including one that flew in from Colorado, 4 commercial brewers, a live link up with the States, a 4 course meal with 5 beers and after-dinner entertainment and a heap of give aways.  It was full on.  Everybody left wiser and more enthusiastic about brewing and the feedback has been so positive we now have to look at running another event next year.

Special thanks needs to be made to a bunch of our sponsors who provided an  incredible range of beers - Yamanto Tavern and Bitter Suite Beer Cafe in New Farm provided heaps of six-packs of great craft beers for give aways, Archive Bar put on a spectactuar range of beers for the Friday night pre-conference warm up, Brewhouse Brisbane pub at Mater Hill provided an awsome one-off Wit beer as well as their great Brisbane Pale Ale, MT Brewery at Mt Tambourine matched them with two very different lagers and Wade Curtis supplied two of his new 4 Degrees beers, now found around town.

So if you missed this one, don't let it happen twice.  Book early when we release the dates for next year's event

Brewers Choice Supports Men's Health

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in Australia and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and depression in men.

This month, Wacol Store Manager James, and Joe from Head Office are cultivating Mo's and collecting donations. You can donate to their team collection at our Wacol store or by following this link.

Movember - Face Grown, Hand Brushed.

VIP VOUCHERS ARE COMING!

Finally, after threatening letters and a lot of phone calls, our software suppliers have taken action.  This will be the last time you hear about the vouchers - by the time you get our next newsletter, you will have received any vouchers owing - and there are going to be a heck of a lot of them!

So, once again thank you for your patience and we will be getting them in the mail ASAP.

Staff Profile - Garry Rodgers

Name:   Garry Rodgers
Position:  Manager of the Yamanto store
Star Sign:  Libra
Why do you love your job?   My customers and starting at 9.30
Favourite Brew:  IPA
What are you doing when you’re not at work? Playing golf, doing up my EH ute, car shows, the odd movie, spending time with my loved ones and enjoying my new car.
If you were a beer, which one would you be? Why?  IPA, cause it’s yummy just like me.
Favourite quote:  Paris Hilton proves you don’t have to be smart to be a millionaire.

Have you changed your details?

Have you moved? Have you got a new phone number? Changed Email address? If so, you should update your VIP membership details. That way, you wont miss out on great deals, VIP Points vouchers or Birthday Letters. Keeping your details up to date is easy, just let us know via email or tell your local store manager next time you drop in.

XXX Summer Bright

After an easy, good tasting, refreshing lawn-mower beer?  Try our new Summer Bright recipe.  Refreshing and guaranteed to taste better than the latest batch of commercial summer releases.

For the full recipe, click here. 

Time Is Running Out - A friendly reminder.

Only 6 weeks until Christmas

- Haven't got your Christmas beers ready yet? 

- Expecting friends and relatives over during the Christmas break? 

- Want to serve beers you can be proud of? 

If so, you had better get brewing now, while you still have time and the temperature is still not too hot.  Time is running out to make good beer, so hop to it and get down a brew this weekend.

Get Yourself a Brew Bother

Many of you have brought in mates to our stores because they have been so impressed with your brewing that they've wanted to get started themselves.

This month we'd like to reward you for introducing your friends to us!  Bring a friend with you to one of our stores this month and when they sign up to our VIP Program, Brewers Choice will reward you with a 10% discount on your next purchase and give your friend a great price on a starter kit.

Australia's Cheapest Keg Set???

There's no doubt that bottling your home brews is less fun than flogging yourself with a piece of barbed wire.  So we've decided to ease the pain for all you bottlers with our new Budget Keg Set.

Each keg set includes:

1 x 19l Stainless Steel Keg
1 x Coppertun Twin Dial Regulator
1 x Gas Disconnect
1 x Liquid Disconnect
3m Professional Beer Hose
Stainless Steel Hose Clamps
Beer Gun AND
2.6Kg CO2 Gas Cylinder

Yes, for less than the cost of an average Keg Set, this kit also includes an Australian Design Standard-appoved 2.6kg Gas Bottle, filled and ready to go (not a dodgy Chinese import!). This mind blowing value will be available in stores on Thursday 17 November

See if you can find a better deal than that on the internet!

LAST CHANCE to fill out the customer feedback survey

As a customer of Brewers Choice, we really appreciate that you support our stores and hope that it is because we provide you with all the expertise and support you need to be a great brewer.  But I suspect we could do even better, so we would really like to know exactly what you think of us and how we can improve!

We have put together a little survey - it will only take 4 minutes to do and may mean that you have an even more satisfying exprience when shopping with us.  Please click on this Survey link and fill it out as truthfully as you can.  We would really appreciate it.

In return, when you provide your details, you will go in the draw to WIN 2 nights accomodation at Mantra Resort - Kingscliff! Its a beautiful resort and you will feel like you have been away for a week.  And don't worry, those who have already provided their details will be in the running too!

Thank you very much in advance.

New Super Beer Yeast In Store

WLP090 – San Diego Super Yeast

Super Quick, Super Clean!

No longer do you need to wait a week or more to ferment out a great tasting beer.  The very clever people at White Labs Yeasts, have introduced a new, hi-speed yeast. If you need a beer brewed yesterday, grab a San Diego Super Yeast and get your beer done in three or four days!

The San Diego Super Yeast is a super clean, super fast fermenting strain. It's a low ester-producing strain that results in a balanced, neutral flavor and aroma profile, even though the brewing occurs so rapidly.  Normally, a rapid fermentation requires higher temperatures, resulting in unpleasant flavours in your beers, but not with this yeast. The yeast is alcohol-tolerant (good for high gravity beers) and very versatile for a wide variety of styles.

The Super Yeast is a whole new world for us, so come on in, give it a test and we would love to hear your results.

For more info on the WLP090, click here.

Large Classics Bonus

Great value essences this month. 

Buy any Large Classic and get another 1 Ltr Classic Essence sachet for FREE!  That's more than 40% extra, at no cost.

That's enough to make up 3.25 litres for just $13.50.

Essences covered are: Kentucky and American Bourbon, Whiskey and Finest Reserve Whiskey, Dark Jamaican Rum, Brandy and VSOP

AG Recipe Using Topaz Hops

Everyone who attended The Queensland Homebrewing Conference should have recieved some goodies in their bag from Hop Products Australia. One of these is their new Topaz hop. So we thought we'd give you a recipe that gives you the chance to try it out. Click here for Cook's Discovery Amber Ale all grain recipe.