The year is 1989 and, that November, something remarkable happens: A change of government takes place in Czechoslovakia. Rather than being the decision of a small committee of old men or a bloody coup, the transition is peaceful. Led by students, thousands fill public spaces and demand that one-party rule must end immediately. They shake their keys, a reference to the sound of the bells that ring at the end of childhood stories: this Soviet-backed fairytale has now come to an end.
That peaceful overthrow of government became known as the Velvet Revolution, and thousands of miles away in a quiet valley in Victoria's High Country, those events inspired Tim Cabelka to name his dark lager Black Velvet Revolution.
Fittingly, the recipe features a diverse lineup of malts to create a smooth, full-bodied lager that's full-bodied and brings milk chocolate, roasted espresso, brioche and even a Milo-like character. It might not lead to revolution, but it will certainly put you at peace.
Will Ziebell
