18/365 Beer!

Because one beer event is never enough, on Thursday night, I attended the Australian International Beer Awards. My primary memory of the night is pain due to wearing my work heels out to lunch that day then walking from home to the Belgian Beer Cafe to the casino in even angrier heels. I now have a lot of deflated blisters on the balls of my feet.

Aside from the foot pain, the event was lots of fun. The previous night's record of the most men, aged 23-48 in one venue was quickly surpassed once I arrived and plunged in to the sea of suits. I bravely began the night with a wine but moved on to beer once seated for dinner. Once again, I had entered man heaven as a short-term guest. A large silver bowl at the centre of our table was constantly replenished with different bottles of beer.

As an item of interest, I point out that the evening was hosted by Paul Mercurio. Yes, that guy from Strictly Ballroom who then did the Chesty Bonds ads (I accidentally typed 'Chesty Bongs' then but that is quite a different product). Dinner involved duck, arranged in artfully different ways in the three shallow valleys of my entree plate; ocean trout with some other stuff that escapes me; and an apple tart with cinnamon ice-cream. Normally suspicious of fruit masquerading of dessert, I was pleased to find the apple amply surrounded by fattening pastry and resting lightly in a puddle of cream. Afterwards came coffee, tea and chocolates. I had worked out a plan to chat with people at a lot of different tables so that I could gorge on chocolates without anyone noticing but then I realized I was tired and just wanted to go home.

No awards for us during the night but a lot picked up by a small Western Australian brewery called the Feral Brewing Company. Quite a big achievement for a brewery with only one bottled beer (several more in draught form). The picture above comes from one of a few old beer ads that were screened during the night. I can only hope to be such a good wife as the lady above, bringing her husband a refreshing beer after a long day at work, leading the way with her disturbingly pointy bosom.

General Sumo recommends:

Not turning down an offer to attend the beer awards

Bryson!

Only making one outdoor trip in high heels per day

Stupidly, I then wore the same heels to work the next day. What was I thinking? Caroline was smart enough to wear flats.

Feral White by the Feral Brewing Company

I couldn't say I was big on the name, nor did I try the Feral White but with so many awards and a room full of brewers willing to clap them, I'm guessing they do something right.