Murray’s Craft Brewing Co is about to ‘bomb’ the Aussie beer scene with a limited release of two of the most extreme beers ever let loose on the market.
Yes, finally! You can enjoy Murray’s Icon Imperial Indian Pale Ale (Icon 2IPA) and Murray’s Grand Cru at home, or out with friends. As many of you already know, they are extreme beers – packed full of flavour and aroma, yet balanced and eminently drinkable. Just 1000 bottles of each beer will be released this month.
They even look radical, packaged in 750ml ‘bomber’-style bottles – corked and caged like champagne – with bright and provocative labels by Melbourne artist David Lancashire* showing Murray’s iconic kangaroo having a bit of fun.
The beers themselves are examples of our brewers’ art at its most remarkable. They are the antithesis of bland beers, designed to challenge people’s perceptions of what beer is. Icon and Grand Cru are seriously big beers made for sipping, not swilling. They are beers to enjoy with food.
Murray’s Icon 2IPA is one of the hoppiest beers brewed in the southern hemisphere. It is made in the American version of the Imperial Indian Pale Ale style. The beer’s extensive hopping (more than 1kg of hops per 100 litres) creates intense citrus, passionfruit and peppery characteristics, balanced by sweet biscuity malt and a full bodied, rich-and-rounded bitter finish. Murray’s Icon 2IPA has 7.5% alcohol by volume.
Icon is a challenge to brew. The huge hop content literally overloads the brewery. We cannot physically put any more hops into this beer.
Murray’s Grand Cru is a hybrid of the Belgian Trippel and Golden Strong Ale styles, made with an authentic Belgian yeast. Hints of banana and bubblegum and the dry-hopped spiciness of Hallertau hops dominate the aroma and flavour, balanced by silky, biscuity malt and a mellow bitter finish. Murray’s Grand Cru has 8.8% alcohol by volume.
Grand Cru is a sophisticated, out-there beer - our interpretation of two classic beer styles from one of the world’s greatest brewing nations, Belgium.
Murray’s extreme beer philosophy
Making extreme beers is part of Murray’s brewing odyssey to become the leading Australian-owned craft brewing company with an international reputation for brewing interesting and adventurous beers.
Our Icon and Grand Cru challenge the palate, but not at the expense of drinkability. Some extreme beers are brewed with the emphasis on one ingredient, usually hops. While our beers have this focus too, they are balanced by the other ingredients.
Where to get ‘em
Murray’s Icon 2IPA and Murray’s Grand Cru will be available through the following retailers – and online HERE for a recommended retail price of $17.00 per 750ml bottle.
NSW North Coast
The Pub With No Beer, Taylors Arm
Porters, Coffs Harbour
Newcastle/Port Stephens
Bottle’o Kahibah, Newcastle
Mary Ellen Hotel, Newcastle
Warner’s At The Bay, Warners Bay
Jagged Reef, Newcastle
Port Stephens Winery
Sydney
Sackville Hotel Bottleshop, Rozelle
Waverton Cellars, Waverton
Lisa’s Wine Vault, Sydney CBD
Liquor On Parade, Kingsford
Porters Liquor, Hornsby
Macquarie Hotle Bottleshop, Sydney
Glebe Point Diner
Restaurant Balzac (Grand Cru Only)
3 Weeds, Rozelle
Brookvale Cellars, Brookvale
North Shore Liquor, Cammeray
Newport Bottler, Newport
Mosman Cellars, Mosman
Porters Pyrmont
Porters Northbridge
Porters Northwood
Yowie Bay Cellars, Yowie Bay
Melbourne
Olinda Cellars, Olinda
Purvis Wine Stores, Surrey Hills
Homestead Inn, Fitzroy North
Westgarth Cellars, Westgarth
Montmorency Cellars, Montmorency
Cloudwine Camberwell
*Artist David Lancashire, born 1946 United Kingdom, was only 11 years old when he began to study at the Circle Studio in Stockport and Liverpool Polytechnic. He moved into advertising and design before migrating to Australia in 1966. David is a member of Alliance Graphique Internationale and was admitted to the Victorian Design Awards Hall of Fame in 1999. He continues to make images with Australian themes
Tasting Notes
Murray’s Icon 2IPA
An international award winning beer that we believe is the hoppiest beer brewed in the southern hemisphere. Icon 2IPA is a hybrid of an Imperial India Pale Ale and American India Pale Ale. It’s deep golden in colour, with a creamy white head. The extensive hopping creates intense citrus, passionfruit and peppery characteristics in the aroma and flavour. This is balanced by sweet biscuity malt and finishes with a full body that is rich with a rounded bitterness.
Availability
Limited release, from 17 September 2007
Alcohol Content
7.5% by volume
Original Gravity
1077
Serving Temperature
6˚C
Cheese Pairing
Morbier-French Cow’s Milk, Semi-hard cheese
Other Food Pairing
Mexican, Indian and Thai cuisine
Awards
Silver – New Zealand International Beer Awards 2006
Murray’s Grand Cru
A hybrid of a Trippel and Golden Strong Ale made with authentic Belgian yeast that pours a pale straw colour with a fluffy white head. Hints of banana and bubblegum, backed with dry-hopped spiciness of the Hallertau hops dominate the aroma and flavour. This is balanced by silky biscuity malt flavours. This intense ale finishes with a mellow bitterness.
Yes, finally! You can enjoy