Bad Shepherd Brew Crew Series 12: Bayside Golden Strong

Style
Belgian Golden Strong Ale
ABV
8.0%
Bitterness
30 IBU

For the first eleven entries in their Brew Crew Series, the Bad Shepherd gave their team members the chance to design a beer with the brewers. It's an approach that's led to some interesting results, from dessert beers to a purple unicorn-inspired release; here, as they notch up a dozen, the doors were (sort of) thrown open to outsiders.

They decided to bring in members of their Black Sheep club, kicking things off with a Zoom call back in May then, thanks to ongoing restrictions, being forced to continue the process from a distance: the collaborators were unable to come to the brewery for tastings, brew day or canning day. They did get to taste the beer early, however, with the chosen style a Belgian golden strong ale, the fourth trad Belgian ale to land in our hands since we ran an article naming such beers as one of a few categories forgotten by the contemporary beer world...

Theirs comes with the addition of lemon myrtle, which we've found can contribute a distinctive, sometimes dominant, character when used in beers. Here, however, it's merely a team player within the 8 percent ABV beer, one in which you'll also pick up gentle spices from the Belgian yeast: cloves; white pepper; a herbaceousness. As much as anything it's the honey malts, which come at you with the manner of a full, sweeter white wine, that demand your attention, before the hops and yeast rein them in for a just about dry finish.

James Smith

Published October 5, 2020

Name
Bad Shepherd
Address

386 Reserve Road
Cheltenham
VIC 3192

Phone
(03) 8555 3175
Open Hours

Mon & Tues: 4.30pm onwards
Wed to Thurs: midday to 11pm
Fri & Sat: midday to midnight
Sunday: midday to 8pm

Regular events

Wednesday: 50c wings all evening, with around seven different wing sauces and rubs available.

AIBA 2024 dinner B2 BONUS

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