OK, so even though my nomination, a beetroot-infused stout called Get Rooted, was the first entry, it didn’t make the cut. Consolation for that disappointment does come when you see some of the great suggestions for The People’s Pint. Vote for your favourite and see it made.

I normally wouldn’t play favourites, but my choice also comes from Brisbane so I just have to give it a plug. Double Hoptendre, I’m sure that the beer will be magnificent, but I just love the sales line:

“A girl walked into a bar and asked for a Double Hoptendre…so I gave her one.”

Vote now.

MEDIA RELEASE: VOTING UNDERWAY FOR AUSTRALIA’S FIRST PEOPLE’S PINT

The hunt for Australia’s first ever People’s Pint is nearing the end, with voting now open for the final six beers invented by the Aussie public. For the past six weeks, beer lovers have been asked to submit ideas for their fantasy beer, knowing that one would be crowned The People’s Pint – a beer invented by the people and chosen by the people for the people.

The winning beer will be brewed by leading Victorian microbrewery Temple Brewery & Brasserie then launched at a special event during Good Beer Week in Melbourne in May. Kegs will also be delivered to top beers bars around the country.

Beer ideas flooded in from all over the country, with submissions including spiced beers, smoky beers, fruity beers and beers made with native herbs. There were those with a nod to Aussie icons, from Vegemite to the Caramello Koala and AC/DC, those that told tales or evoked memories, and a fair few that were far too crazy to ever make a drinkable beer.

“The whole idea was to get people talking about beer and to highlight just how versatile it can be,” says James Smith, founder of craft beer website The Crafty Pint, which is running the competition.

“It seems there is no end to people’s creativity and, whichever beer from the final six is chosen, it will be a beer deserving of the People’s Pint title.”

The final six were chosen by judges from Temple and The Crafty Pint. They were judged on beer name and description alone. Despite a strong showing from Australia’s female beer drinkers, who came up with beers as varied as a spiced, candied pumpkin ale, a Slip, Slop, Slap pale stout and a Princess Porter, the six chosen to go to the public vote were all from men. The six are:

Grassy Noel – “A hoppy, spiced American Brown Ale” from Daniel O’Grady, a sparkie and avid home brewer from the Yarra Valley
Burning Red Heart – “Designed with a nod to our volunteer fire service” from Dean Leishman, an IT consultant, firefighter and fly fisher from North Warrandyte
Double Hoptendre – “A spicy, flamboyantly hopped, cheeky beer” from Leo Hede, a DJ with a sensible day job doing his bit to make the world a better place from Brisbane
Chocolate and Cigars – “Can be swirled around like a fine Cognac” from Andrew Braithwaite, a Melburnian living in Sydney who is currently driving a van around NZ
WalkAbout – “As red as the desert … a bit of a mongrel” from Adam Kenyon, a mechanic into horse racing and animals from Belmont, WA
This One Goes To 11 – “11 different malt. 11 different hops” and a nod to Spinal Tap from Dan Summers, a beer specialist at Camperdown Cellars in Sydney.

Full details on the beers and how to vote can be found on The People’s Pint website – peoplespint.com.au. Voting is open until midnight on March 29 with the winner announced on March 30, allowing Temple head brewer Ron Feruglio time to work out a recipe and brew the beer ready for May.

“We tried to choose the ones that were most inspiring and creative but also beers that were brewable and we knew would work,” says Ron. “They had to be inspired but work within the timeframe and be appropriate for a draught beer. We also looked for beers that fitted the context of The People’s Pint.”

The first chance to sample The People’s Pint will be at the launch at Temple Brewery & Brasserie on May 14, during Good Beer Week. Details can be found on the Good Beer Week website – goodbeerweek.com – or at craftypint.com.

The person who submitted the winning idea will be a guest at the launch. As well as seeing their beer released in craft beer bars, they will receive a case of the beer – a prize worth winning as the beer will be a draught only release and not otherwise bottled. All ingredients for the brew are being donated by Bintani and Grain & Grape.

For more information, visit peoplespint.com.au or The Crafty Pint.
For media enquiries, email crafty@craftypint.com.

Temple Brewery and Brasserie is at 122 Weston Street, East Brunswick. w: www.templebrewing.com.au
Bintani is at 65 DeHavilland Road, Mordialloc. w: www.bintani.com.au
Grain & Grape is at 5/280 Whitehall Street, Yarraville. w: www.grainandgrape.com.au
Good Beer Week features around 100 events at venues across Melbourne and Victoria from May 12 to 19. w: www.goodbeerweek.com