In search of a good brew

Since Archive Beer Boutique opened its doors a couple of years ago, the Brisbane "beer scene" has really come into its own.

No longer is a Corona with lime considered the beer of choice and although I'm still quite impartial to that light mexican flavour, it makes me ridiculously happy that there is more choice in both beer and in bars around Brisbane these days.

I'm going to warn you here, I'm no beer aficionado but I do like to enjoy a glass or two of golden goodness in the company of friends on occasion, and so I was a teeny bit excited when I finally crossed another two places off my 'Resolu-fun list on Friday night.

Beers at Tippler's Tap - Image from Brisbane Devoured

First up was Tippler's Tap in Newstead. I just knew I would love this place after receiving a cheeky, comical response from the Owner/Manager when I enquired about bringing a Birthday cake for the boyfriend (in case you're wondering they don't charge cakeage).

Tippler's looks like nothing from the street, but when you walkthrough those doors you're immediately transported to The Rockies. Decorated like an American log cabin and offering up traditional favourites like chicken wings, pork sliders and onion rings the food at Tippler's Tap is reasonably priced and extremely tasty. We also had the Corn on the Cob and Ploughman's Lunch both were top notch. The only real negative observation was the lack of Gluten free options available which made it difficult for some members of our party.

Onion Rings at Tippler's Tap - Image from Brisbane Devoured

The beer at Tippler's Tap is of course the standout selling point. There is sooooo much to choose from! The staff are super friendly and very knowledgeable in relation to the huge range of local and imported beer on offer and our group certainly did our best to order a plethora of different beers over the few hours we were there. We'll definitely be returning to sample some more Stone and Wood on tap in the near future.

Just a short walk from Tippler's Tap is the recently opened Green Beacon Brewing Co. We headed here for a few beers and a change of scenery and a change it was. The beer was great and set up of long bench style tables in the brewhouse was cool but after the cosiness of Tippler's Tap, Green Beacon seemed a little bit...clinical. The staff were equally friendly and knowledgeable about the beers on offer but the atmosphere didn't win me over 100%. Still the brews could not be faulted and in my opinion you should give Green Beacon a go and support a great local business.

Green Beacon Brewing Co - Image from The Weekend Edition

Green Beacon Brewing Co - Image from ArchitectureAU

Next up in the great Brisbane Beer Adventure? Scratch Bar and Bitter Suite...stay tuned

P.S. I was a bad blogger and didn't take any photographs on Friday night so please forgive me and note my acknowledgments.

 

Zombie’s and Getting Lei’d…a typical Birthday Bash really

Birthday girls! B, Caz and I

We've been friends for almost 15 years...hopefully we'll celebrate many more Birthday's together

As you know it was my birthday waaaaay back on the 7^th of February, but it wasn’t until Saturday night that I celebrated the occasion alongside my fellow February birthday girl friends – one of whom is the beautiful B. 

I'm wearing the Gorman Cherokee Teadress (Christmas gift from my amazing boyfriend), Tony Bianco wedges from the Iconic and clutch from Colette by Collette Hayman. B is wearing a dress from Kitten D'Amour.

In previous years we’ve held parties at AllOneWord and Limes Bar but this year the call of Coconut and Lime Margaritas and Scorpion bowls of Jamaican Divorce was too strong to resist and we headed to the White Lightening Tiki Bar at Alfred and Constance to celebrate turning another year older. What a night it was.

I already feel like a regular at this joint despite it only opening up in the silly season last year -  I just can’t get enough of the place. I’m not even kidding when I say that if I could move in, I would.  Yes it is overpopulated with twenty-something hipsters which can be annoying for the rest of us, but the beauty of A&C is that you feel like you’re at the best house party you’ve ever been to.

Which isn’t really a surprise because it is essentially two old Queenslanders' converted into what I like to imagine Heaven is like.

It’s kitschy and cute with its tiki-mugs and Hawaiian-shirt clad staff but it also offers up delicious food, tasty tiki cocktails and an eclectic mix of tunes including all those 90s classics that people love after one or two cold bevvies… (‘Steal my sunshine’ by Len and ‘Jump’ by Kriss Kross proved particularly  popular on Saturday).

All in all our whole party seemed to have a great night at Alfred and Constance. We started early enough on the Tiki-deck to drink Pina-Coladas as the sun set over Brisbane then we danced the night away in our leis and shimmied out the door before the taxi queues becoming unbearable.

Although a fledgling on the scene, Alfred and Constance really is one of Brisbane’s best bars if you’re looking for a super fun and relaxed atmosphere – in my opinion two things that are key to having a great night out. I'd highly recommend stopping by for a cheeky drink or a bite to eat  if you're in the area...I guarantee you won't regret it!

I know you can't really see but on my nails I wore these nail stickers from Kit Cosmetics

I mean how can anyone have a bad night surrounded by their friends with a Zombie in hand and a bartender wearing a sailor hat?

My blogging partner Ina and I

The awkward crouch

Until next time you'll know where to find me xx Kirst

Adventures...in Food and Drink

On this last day of January, I am beginning to wonder how all those New Year’s resolutions so passionately declared a month ago are coming along.

Have you quit the Kardashians and started training for that Marathon yet? Perhaps you gave up sugar or promised to floss your teeth more.

If you’re doing well and sticking to your resolve I offer you my warmest congratulations…go you! But, if you’ve crept quietly back onto the couch with a tub of Haagen-Das and a sheepish grin I’ve got a proposition for you.

Why not make a new resolution. A fun one. We’ll call it a ‘Resolu-fun’. I guarantee it will be easy to keep because I did this on good old December 31^st and you know what? I’ve kept it going for a whole month now.

Wow! I can hear you exclaim (Ok more like ‘Meh who cares’) but still I bet you’re curious as to what this crazy resolu-fun is. Am I right?

Image courtesy of Kettle and Tin

Ok here it is: My 2013 Resolu-fun is to visit/try 50 places I haven’t been to in Brisbane this year.

That’s a new Bar, Club, Restaurant or Café almost every week. Ok so it’s not the cheapest of ideas but it’s certainly a lot of fun! This decision was spurred by the sheer number of new joints popping up all over Brisbane and the significant number of places I’ve just never made it to (living at Paddington just a short walk from the amazingness that is Anouk makes a girl lazy).  

I realised that although my love for Kettle and Tin’s corn beef hashcakes is deep and the nights I’ve spent with Black Bear Lodge will never be forgotten…as a young woman I really should be playing the field more. Call me hussy if you will but I’m going to get all over town and have a bloody good time doing it.

In the month of January alone I’ve already knocked off 8 places on my ‘to-do’list (yes 8!) and I have another 2 lined up for the next week which makes me well ahead of schedule. I’m going to blog about everywhere I visit from now on and I’d encourage you to let me know your favourite cafes or bars that might not be on my list (see the list below) and deserve a visit.

I’m sure many of you are regulars at some of the places listed and will be shocked that I’ve not yet walked through their doors but like I said, living within walking distance to some of Brisbane’s best food makes you lazy.

So I’m going to continuing my resolu-fun this weekend and will be venturing out ACROSS THE RIVER to breakfast at Sourcer Grocer with my partner in blogcrime Ina…and you know I might pop into Sixes and Sevens one night at New Farm even though I’ve already crossed it off the list…I’m kind of crazy  like that.

We’ll let you know how we get along with the hipster crowd and amazing beverages…

What do you think of the Resolu-fun and how are your regular News year’s resolutions going? Are you going to make a resolu-fun for yourself? I’d love to hear your resolu-funs for 2013 so don’t be shy now!

No. Name Visited

1 Alchemy

2 Aria

3 Bitter Suite

4 Botanica - Cross it off the list!

5 Brunswick Social

6 Bunker

7 Champ Bar and Kitchen

8 Chouquette

9 Cove

10 Dandelion and Driftwood

11 Fourth Wall - Cross it off the list!

12 Foxy Bean

13 Green Beacon Brewhouse

14 Hampton's Home Living

15 Harajuka Gyoza

16 Iceworks

17 InCider Trading

18 Jazzcat

19 Jude

20 Kerbside - Cross it off the list!

21 Lady Marmalade

22 Moda  - Cross it off the list!

23 Mr and Mrs G - Cross it off the list!

24 Next Door Kitchen and Bar

25 Oh Hello

26 Ole

27 O'lea

28 Ortiga

29 Pintxo Spanish Taperia

30 Pony - Cross it off the list!

31 River Bar and Kitchen

32 Saabi  - Cross it off the list!

33 Scratch Bar

34 Sixes and Sevens - Cross it off the list!

35 Sky Room

36 Sourced Grocer

37 Sparrow and Finch

38 Stokehouse

39 Super Whatnot

40 The Burrow

41 The End

42 The Hideaway

43 The Little Panda Bar and Kitchen

44 The Loft

45 The Survey Co

46 The Walrus Club

47 Tiplers Tap

48 Two Trees

49 Vinyl

50 Willow and Spoon

51  ???

52  ???

53  ???

54  ???

55  ???

56  ???

57  ???

58  ???

59  ???

60  ???

Oh and in case you’re wondering, I’m leaving 10 spots free on the list (to make it 60 new places) for digs that open up throughout the year.

xx K