ShaunO leads assault on Aussie beer competition...

[skipper]

According to this...http://www.brookston.org/beer/american-craft-brewers-to-enter-australian-beer-awards/

So, Mr O'Sullivan, a few questions from a craft beer starved nation...

Will your (or any of the other entrants) products be available for purchase anywhere in Australia? If so, where and when?

Will you (or any of the other entrants) be making a personal appearance?

Which beers are you entering (assuming this is not confidential information)?

[Thirsty Boy]

Most Excellent,

I have been to the Beer Festival part of this competition for the last 3 years and I will definately be going this year if there is a chance of tasting some of Mr O'Sullivan's beers.

Of course I might even lower myself to trying a couple from Rouge, Dogfish Head, Stone, Jolly Pumpkin etc etc

Send a little extra over Shaun... the winners always get finished off before the plebs get much of a chance to taste them.

mmmmm 21A IPA or maybe even Watermelon Wheat!!

Hey Shaun.... if you cant make it over personally, can I accept your trophy for you? And if you can, better let us know so that we can buy you a beer.

Thirsty

[Sully]

Most Excellent,

I have been to the Beer Festival part of this competition for the last 3 years and I will definately be going this year if there is a chance of tasting some of Mr O'Sullivan's beers.

Of course I might even lower myself to trying a couple from Rouge, Dogfish Head, Stone, Jolly Pumpkin etc etc

Send a little extra over Shaun... the winners always get finished off before the plebs get much of a chance to taste them.

mmmmm 21A IPA or maybe even Watermelon Wheat!!

Hey Shaun.... if you cant make it over personally, can I accept your trophy for you? And if you can, better let us know so that we can buy you a beer.

Thirsty

Who is this Mr. O'Sullivan you are speaking about? We are part of a group of breweries from the Brewers Association Export Development Program that are sending beer over to the AIBA festival in Melbourne. We have sent beer to other intenational events as well and will continue to in the future. Last November there was a group of us that sent beer to the Slow Food Movement's food festival Salone del Gusto in Torino, Italy. I was just back in London and spoke to representatives from the Great British Beer Festival about sending beer as well.

Just to go on too long here...I feel that after traveling all over the world and going to a lot of breweries, the American craft movement as a place in the world beer scene. We are doing unique and creative things at this level and if anything we offer consumers a choice. In many countries you don't have the variety that is offered here in the US. Cans are also great for export.

Also, from a politcal perspective, the US has been trying to export a losing war for a number of years and I personally feel that beer is as best an ambassador of good will as anything else at this point, plus it tastes pretty damn good.

In response to your questions...we sent over cans of our Watermelon Wheat and 21A-IPA. At this time I have no plans of heading over for the awards ceremony, but as many of you know, I have been known to jump on a jumbo spur of the moment. So it's hard to say, although I have never been down under and when Oz was here he said he'd buy me a beer if I ever made it down there. Stay tuned.

Shauno

[Thirsty Boy]

Well Shaun,

I wish you good luck in the competition, but even better luck with the export development thing. There are virtually no US beers on sale here in Melbourne. I can get Sam Adams BL, occasionally Sierra Nevada Pale and I seem to recall once seeing Anchor Steam, but apart from that its BMC.

I would LOVE to be able to get a hold of US craft beer. You are right when you say that the US craft industry has a place in the world beer scene, if anything you understate the situation. The flourishing craft beer scene in the US has driven a revival of good beer pretty much accross the western world.

You guys are at the cutting edge of the beer industry, you are inventing new styles and pushing the boundaries when everyone else is struggling to work out why there is a wedge of lemon in thier corona.

If you get that spur of the moment feeling and jump on a plane to Melbourne. You are welcome at my place anytime. There's a relatively comfy couch to crash on and cold beer in the fridge. Plus (Sydney-siders block your ears) Melbourne has the best restaraunt scene in the country. Bout a hundred good places to eat within 30minutes walk of our house.

Cheers

Thirsty

[bub]

OH this O'Sullivan quote is just too rich.... draw your own conclusions.

but as many of you know, I have been known to jump on a jumbo spur of the moment. So it's hard

BUB

[Sully]

OH this O'Sullivan quote is just too rich.... draw your own conclusions.

but as many of you know, I have been known to jump on a jumbo spur of the moment. So it's hard

BUB

I gotta tell you Bub. I'll take the heat on that quote, but what strikes me as utterly bizarre is while reading your reply is your avatar. What sortof homo-erotic-besitality-tattooed love slave-alcohol fueled life-style have you created back in central Illinois?

I gotta party with you rockstar.

Shauno

[skipper]

And here are the results....http://www.beerawards.com/pdfs/2007-INTERNET-Beer-Catalogue.pdf

[Thirsty Boy]

mmmm, they were picky this year. They only awarded gold medals in 18 of the 52 classes.

There were some bloody great beers that only got awarded silver medals --- Which is what the redoubtable ShaunO picked up for 21A-IPA.

Congratulations Shaun!

I also notice that the Sam Adams longshot beers did pretty well. Silver for the Dortminder and Gold for the Old Ale. Score for the homebrew community!

I'm just pissed off that they decided to cancel the beer festival part of the awards this year. No chance for the punters to taste any of the great beers, and I thought that finally I would be able to taste a 21AIPA and Watermelon Wheat. But tough shit for me as it turns out.

Anyway, well done Shaun

Thirsty