On Saturday 18 June we celebrated the 6th birthday of our Burleigh Heads brewery and taproom (HQ).
To commemorate the occasion we brewed six limited run birthday beers as well as an exclusive birthday t shirt design, which is available from the Black Hops Taprooms and online store.
From midday through until closing time HQ at Burleigh and the adjoining AWOL taproom were pumping – a massive shout-out to everyone who joined us for beer, cake and good times!
Cheers To Our Six Birthday Beers
To honour the occasion and keep the party vibe flowing we unveiled six new beers to celebrate HQ’s 6th birthday. If you missed them on the day, never fear, as we still have a limited run of these beers available from the Black Hops Taprooms and online store.
The can designs were created by one of our newest designers, Aidan Howes, who I’m sure you’ll agree has done a wonderful job. Each of them feature an iconic specimen of local wildlife that can be typically found within the vicinity of Burleigh HQ.
Here are the beers, together with their locall ‘animal spirits’ ..
Lemon Myrtle: Hazy IPA (6.6%)
Hopped with an onslaught of citrus heavy hops, is this smooth soft and juicy Hazy IPA. Paired with local lemon myrtle added to the kettle expect big lemon, citrus and lemongrass aromas.
When the summer days are long and the sun is shining, take a stroll around the Burleigh Headland tracks and you might just spot one of these Eastern Water Dragons basking like statues on the rocks. Often passers by don’t notice them happily posing for photos.
Sloe Berry Gose (4%)
Light, delicate pink in colour & lightly salted with local sea water. Sloe berries were added during the brew to bring subtle plum notes whilst sloe berry gin added during fermentation brings some tartness.
Bottlenose Dolphins are often seen frolicking in the waves around Burleigh Point, these cute friends of the sea can give a good fright to unsuspecting surfers but are better admired for their athletic curiosity.
Banksia & Pine: Red IPA (6.6%)
Coastal Banksia foraged from the banks of the Tallebudgera creek & local pine from the Miami forest bring sticky resin, pine and some unique melon characteristics to this Burleigh Heads inspired Red IPA. Darker malts and dank, fruit, resin and pine forward hops support these characteristics lifting it into full blown IPA territory.
Any Burleigh local can tell you when it’s 6pm as that is the precise time these colourful larrikins (lorikeets) arrive en masse to congregate in the Norfolk Pines and commence their daily screeching.
Cranberry Saison (5%)
A winter saison brewed with the addition of citrus peel and a traditional Belgian yeast delivering zest and spicy saison aromas. A large addition of fresh cranberries brings incredible colour and tartness. A stunning looking beer.
The iconic Australian Brushturkey is an unusual self-starter, learning the ropes early without much help from Mum & Dad. They can be found lurking in the bushes of Burleigh headland usually making an awful mess as they dig their signature mounds and forage for food.
Chilli Stout (6%)
A blend of smoked chocolate and roasted malts make up the specialty malts of this stout whilst jalapeño and red peppers bring a distinctly spicy aroma with a very mild lingering warmth.
The Fireflies of Burleigh Heads are a special sight reserved for those who are willing to stay out past sunset in search of them. If you are lucky enough to spot them, you will be rewarded with a breathtakingly beautiful light show as they fly through the dark forest.
Salted Potato Porter (6.6%)
Jet black in colour, the salt helps to showcase the chocolate malts and the potato added to the mash brings a uniquely creamy, full mouthfeel and sweetness whilst remaining quite dry and highly drinkable in its finish.
The game is afoot, the infamous chippy thief (seagull) is on the loose and his victims lay strewn across the white sands of Burleigh Beach. Be on guard for these winged picnic assassins who are always watching out for a free snack opportunity.
