On Saturday 19th May I attended one of my Good Beer Week highlights held at historic Taminick Cellars, also home to Black Dog Brewery.
On the night over 100 guests were treated to 5 delicious courses prepared expertly by respected chef Adam Pizzini of Rinaldo's Casa Cucina which is situated in nearby Wangaratta.

Each course was matched to a beer and a wine hand crafted by 4th generation winemaker/1st generation brewer James Booth, a classic contest of Hop V Grape at the end of the night the guests would vote as to whether the beer or the wine matched the accompanying menu best.

Upon arrival, guests were treated to 3 starters being handed around by the waitstaff of Rinaldo's, they were matched to the Lazy Dog Ale and the 2011 Taminick Cellars 1919 series Trebbiano.
The starters consisted of Saffron and pecorino arancini with aioli, a bream/prawn coriander filled dumpling, and my favorite the pan seared scallop with fried chorizo on cauliflower puree.
My wife chose the wine, I naturally grabbed a beer at the bar, we mingled and chatted for a short time, before all guests were asked to find their seats to get the more formal part of the evening underway. Vote Lazy Dog Ale, didn't try the wine.

The Menu.

Pan seared scallop.

Once seated, bottles of the 2011 Taminick Cellars Chardonnay were bought to the tables as the Howling Pale Ale was being dispensed by James behind the bar, the entree's were arriving, a terrine of smoked trout and salmon with fennel watercress and a hazelnut salad, this course matched perfectly with the Chardonnay, did I just say that?.. but it also worked beautifully with the hoppiness and bitterness of the Pale Ale, my wife even enjoyed this beer, but my vote for this course went to the Chardonnay a perfect match.

Entree.

James behind the bar.

Tables of guests.

Next up was the main course, a confit of duck twice cooked, potato fritters porcini puree, with fennel and orange jus. This was matched to the recently released 2010 Durif and the Dead Dog Stout.
Stout you say with main course, yes you heard correct stout.
But there was something different with the stout tonight, it wasn't too cold and it didn't have it's usual thick creamy head, but a fluffier lighter version.
Upon further investigation I found out it was poured through James' newest toy an English Handpump, and did it make a difference to the beer, this course had the WOW factor.
The duck was pure magic on a plate, absolutely delicious with the flavours lingering on the palate, some guests on our table couldn't believe they were eating duck, it was the perfect meat for the Durif, and the handpumped Dead Dog stout, with the soft tannins and spiciness of the Durif, and the chocolate/coffee roasty bitterness of the stout complimenting each other as well as the main course.
In a word magnificent. Vote to Dead Dog Stout, but very very close.

The 3 D's Duck, Durif and Dead Dog Stout.

James' new toy.

Next up dessert, an apple and cinnamon pudding with caramel sauce and walnut ice cream, matched with Taminick Cellars Gold and also from the handpump making it's debut on the night the Black Dog Barrel Aged Bonecrusher Barleywine. Served in a wineglass this beer really popped. Weighing in at 11.8 % it was a brilliant copper colour with an excellent balance of malt and hops that lingered at the finish, this ale warmed all the way down strangely exactly the same way the Taminick Gold did, they were again both excellently matched to the sweetness of the pudding, ice cream and caramel. Sublime was how I described this course, and I am not a sweet tooth by any means.
Vote to the Barleywine. How could you not vote for it, pure bliss.

Dessert.

Barrel Aged Bonecrusher Barley Wine

James busy on the handpump.

         
Before we knew it the night had passed quickly with delicious food paired to magnificent wine and beer all made at Taminick Cellars/Black Dog Brewery.
To a rousing round of applause Chef Adam Pizzini was introduced to the guests and told us about the dishes served on the night, why they were chosen and how they were prepared.

Chef Adam Pizzini

As the Petite Four came out, some guests were being treated to the 2009 Vintage Fortified and having coffee or tea.
I on the other hand (being the beer nerd I am) headed straight to the bar hoping to get a wee bit more Barleywine.
Sadly there was no more Barleywine to be had, BUT in it's place also making it's debut AND from the handpump barked The Junkyard Dog Double IPA.
James was kept very busy supplying the masses as the word got out about this beer, I was more than a little pleased to get a generous sample of this delicious robust 9% DIPA, it reminded me of the Mornington Peninsula IIPA regarded as one of Australia's best IIPA's.
This DIPA was BIG malty and hoppy to the max, on the nose it reminded me of Epic Beer's Hop Zombie, it was beautifully balanced and a great end to a magnificent evening.
Vote to Junkyard Dog didn't try the Vintage Fortified.

Candle lit ambience.

Petit Four

All night we were entertained by a local solo artist and by nights end there were quite a few people dancing to the great music.
Everyone in attendance will agree this event was a great part of Good Beer Week and North East Victoria High Country Harvest  hopefully returning for both events in 2013.

Big thanks must go to Adam and his team for the awesome food and all their hard work on the night,  a special mention must also go to the Booth family for their hospitality and tireless work all day and night setting up and finally cleaning up after the contented guests had all gone home.

It goes with out saying James did a great job serving all the beers up for each course and he must have got a touch of RSI from the handpump as it got a bit of a workout on the night.

Oh the result........................

Hop V Grape, no points for guessing I voted Hop as did many in the room.

On the night Grape was adjudged the victor, either way a win for James, but hopefully next year a rematch will reverse this result now the craftbeer movement is moving on in leaps and bounds.

I recommend this event to all beer and wine lovers, you don't even have to drive out to Taminick Cellars as shuttle buses were available to ferry the crowd in and out from neighbouring Glenrowan and Wangaratta, a great initiative.

Bar decoration.

Barrels by candlelight

You can find Black Dog Brewery on Face Book here
or Taminick Cellars on Face Book here
If you tweet follow James here @thehowlinghound or here @taminickcellars or on the WWW here

Thanks for reading.
Cheers.
I also must thank my son James who gave up his Saturday night to drive his parents out to Taminick Cellars and bring us home after a memorable evening of fine food, wine and beer.

The Launch of Black Dog Brewery (A Howling Success).

Now in what seems an eternity ago I was privileged to be invited, and lucky enough to attend the launch of a brand new brewery in Victoria's picturesque Nth East.
Black Dog Brewery is situated in the Glenrowan wine region at Taminick Cellars and is the new venture of 4th generation winemaker and now head brewer James Booth.

Cellar Door entrance.

Overlooking the vines.

On a sultry day back in November we ventured out to this very beautiful part of the countryside for the official launch of the Black Dog beers brewed by James at his family winery at Taminick.

Front Bar at Taminick Cellars.

On debut this day were Lazy Dog Ale, Howling Pale Ale, Leader of the Pack IPA and Dead Dog Stout. Four beers I had previously tried as cleanskin bottles generously given to me by James, from memory all the recipes had been tweaked since I tried my samples, so I was eager to evaluate the latest offerings and enjoy them on tap, draught beer fresh from the source.

The Beers.

Also as well as the Brewery launch and debut of said beers guests at the launch were treated to delicious home/farm grown spit lamb and salad, Taminick wines of course and an afternoon of South American music played passionately by next door neighbour Freddie and his family band.

Macca guarding our lunch.

Ned guarding the band's instuments.

Freddie and the band played all afternoon.

Lunch with a 2007 Durif and a couple of IPA's.

Dead Dog Stout.

As we ate and drank James and his family worked tirelessly to meet the large crowds needs, we all enjoyed the hospitality, the food, the music, the wine but we were all here for the beer, sadly James worked so hard he didn't get much respite from the bar, so I didn't get a chance for a chat or to have a celebratory ale with him, but if you saw my untappd and twitter feed you will know I enjoyed myself immensely. 

Looking towards the bar.

The crowd enjoying the day.

Now to the beer as already mentioned there were four delectable ales on debut.
Lazy Dog Ale a Golden Ale, has a great malt/hop balance, it was possibly the crowd favourite on the day, it is a very crisp sessionable ale, and a perfect summer beer.
The Howling Pale Ale was completely different to the cleanskin version I tried, it was hoppier and more aromatic without being too bitter, a great Aussie Pale Ale that will find favour with a lot of Pale drinkers it would be a great ale to drink whilst fishing, a great adjustment to the recipe James.
Our tables pick and my personal favourite was the Leader Of The Pack IPA, this is one big deep copper ale with an inviting hop presence and delicious big bitter finish, full bodied and a great interpretation of the style, I love hoppy beers and this one hits the spot perfectly.
Dead Dog Stout was our dessert, like a fine fortified wine this ale is to be savioured, a rich dark thick creamy stout with roasty flavours lots of chocolate and coffee notes, it is very well rounded and smooth to drink, did we stop at one of course not.....we had 3 or was it 4 ?

Hmmm by this time of the day we had lost count (thank you twitter and untappd for a timeline).

James minus his head pouring a Howling Pale Ale. I really only wanted to show you the Tap Fonts.

Of course the day had to end and to our dismay it came far too quickly, we purchased some wine, some T-shirts and of course some beer, James generously gave us some more beer and I got a glass, we headed home content knowing the beautiful Nth East of Victoria not only has great scenery, it also is home to some of Australia's best wineries and breweries too.
Will we be back, silly question I already have, it's far too close to home.
Apologies for not posting this sooner but honestly I have been busy. 

Head Brewer and winemaker James Booth, hard at it. P.S. that's my empty glass on the bar.

Macca AKA The Howling Hound.

So do yourself a favour next time you are up near Glenrowan, Wangaratta or Benalla or even on your way to the Snowfields, yes I know its summer but it will soon be winter again, or is it already???
Pop into the brewery/cellar door Black Dog Brewery at Taminick Cellars, say gidday to James who knows what he might have brewing.
Now that reminds me where did I put that other cleanskin James gave me ???

T-Shirts.

Welcome.

My goodies.

You can purchase Black Dog beers at the Cellar door at Booth's Taminick Cellars 335 Booth Rd Taminick just follow the signs you wont get lost, or drop James an e-mail and I'm sure he'll arrange for some to be sent to you.
You can also follow James on twitter @thehowlinghound and @TaminickCellars or find Black Dog Brewery on Facebook, go on now you know you want to.
Cheers for now.
Mmmmm must be beeroclock.