Sunday 10 February 2019

Drink trends for the summer

Boatbuilders Yard
From wine slushies to sour beers and even doggy beer - the latest drink trends in Victoria have something for every man and his dog.

Wine Slushies
These frozen summer drinks have been around for a few years but 2019 has seen the popular Frosé – rose wine mixed with fruit and served slushy style - joined by the Freezling and Frigio and others. Customers keen to try the boozy brain freeze can do so at Boatbuilders YardRiverland BarMr Miyagi and The Emerson Rooftop.
Specialty Spirits
Four pillars started it with their Shiraz Gin, Christmas Gin and most recently Sticky Carpet Gin - the latter only available at The Espy – other distilleries have followed suit including the limited edition Aronia Gin from Hurdle Creek Still in Milawa, in Victoria's North East. Using locally-grown appleberries or black chokeberries, the result is a unique seasonal liqueur with a rich red colour and flavour, in the style of a Sloe gin.
Sour beers
An acquired taste perhaps but the lighter sour beer styles in Victoria continue to gain in popularity as brewers experiment with bolder combinations broadening the appeal of craft beer to new palates. Top sours include Stomping Ground’s Watermelon Smash, and Hargreaves Hill and Four Pillars Gin Barrell Gose and La Sirene’s Citray Sour.
Medicinal cocktails
Just in time for Lunar New Year, the Jujube Shrub cocktail at the Dinner by Heston Blumenthal bar is a limited edition available from 1 - 18 February.  Made from dried jujube, verjus, Champagne and soda.  Jujube has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years and is purported to tonify the QI, and calm the spirit. Health conscious boozers should also check out Herbal Lore liquers in Daylesford. Their extensive range of liquers can help to calm, uplift, stimulate or rejuvenate depending on what is required. 
Fruit Spritzers
The U-pick farms are in full swing over the summer months and their loot is not limited to only the fruit itself. Farms such as Cherry Hill Orchards are offering a refreshing repertoire of drinks from the Cherish Spritzer to the Cherry Shiraz Wine. Sunny Ridge Strawberry farm in the Mornington Peninsula also does a non-alcoholic Strawberry Sparkling Wine. 
Mocktails
Feb fast doesn't need to be boring with the increasing range of creative mocktails on menus. In Richmond, 
Hanoi Hannah's Watermelon and Mint Mocktail,is a perfect pairing of sweet watermelon, fresh mint with zesty lemon. Also Stokehouse St Kilda's Blueberry Nojito and Tokyo Tina's Cucumber Yuzu Mocktail in hotspot Windsor.
Doggy Beer
At the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse, the “Beerdog’s Bitter” is a special alcohol-free brew designed to appeal to the taste buds of dogs, mimicking the taste of a pint. Dogs and owners can enjoy a post swim pint together after frolicking in the ocean at Apollo Bay. On offer for owners is the brewery's Pale Ale, IPA or Amber Ale and more. 
Source: Visit Victoria

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