The genie’s out of the bottle: beer cocktails have reached the hills! Just weeks after Crafty revealed Beer DeLuxe had launched a range of beer cocktails, some using beer as an ingredient, others featuring hop-infused spirits, Kelly’s in Olinda has announced plans to introduce a beer cocktail every week in the run up to Christmas. Under the name “Decembeer”, it kicks off with a Lagerita before moving on to the Vote For Pedro, Gingerlee and Dirty Sanchez, using beers from 2 Brothers, Otway Estate and St Arnou in the mix.
Tim Dundon, from the log cabin-like bar and restaurant on the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, says: “We have a massive interest from quite a good cross section of the local demographic – especially the younger crowd – for new craft beers and thought this was a cool way of combining our love of beer, good spirits and cocktails.”
Kelly’s is one of a handful of places in Victoria outside Melbourne – and the state’s microbreweries – introducing craft beers to its drinkers. They’ve stocked the likes of Holgate, Hargreaves Hill, Jamieson, Stone & Wood, Mountain Goat, Matilda Bay, Little Creatures, Lord Nelson, Knappstein and Coldstream as well as the breweries mentioned above and are planning to add up to another ten packaged craft beers in the coming weeks, as well as a range of Yarra Valley ciders.
Given The Local Taphouse St Kilda’s last Ale Stars session featured beer blending and beer cocktails, it seems there’s an interesting little niche growing here. Perhaps it’s something you’ve tried at home. If so, why not let us know and we can share your recipes with the wider world, whether it’s a favourite black ‘n’ tan or an actual cocktail.
As for Kelly’s Decembeer, it kicks off with the Lagerita on December 1 – a blend of tequila, lime juice, agave syrup, which is shaken and strained over ice into a tall glass, topped with lager, stirred gently and garnished with a lime wedge.
