Club der Visionaere (Berlin) 25/09/12

"Berlin B.E.E.R.S. begins!"

Attendees: Herr Houghton & Herr Louis-Gleeson
Price: €2 entry, beers from €2.50, €8 pizza
Location: Am Flugtraben 1, Alt-Treptow, along the canal.
Distance (from Castle Kreuzberg): 25min walk (including ice-cream stop - highly recommended)
Ambience: Tuesday night relaxed crowd with bouncy house grooves keeping the vibe positive. Canal-side deck with moody lighting and overhanging willow creates a unique setting and atmosphere.
Character: This former boat shed cum bar / nightclub shows its origins with worn out timber construction and plenty of dark nooks and crannies. Circular portholes add nautical flavour while the views over the water bring it all together.
Decor: A handful of grimy couches, copious spider webs and a bunch of interesting metal sculptural pieces give a haphazard approach to decorating. Along with the funky red lighting the decor creates an unpretentious, late-night ambience for those just starting their night or those finishing it.
Comfort: Plenty of seating options, none particularly comfortable however. A plush couch would seem right out of place here though. A winner is sitting on the deck dangling your feet over the water.
Patrons: Laid-back Berliner crowd ranging from young hipsters to old leather-daddies.
Staff: Cool babes. Friendly and happy to take your order in a range of languages or politely smile at your pitiful German.
Selection: Standard range of good German beer. Mixed drinks and a couple of cocktails as well.
Outdoor: Canal-side open air deck is the most unique part of the venue.
Specials: DJs every night, pizza bar upstairs.
LSR: Optimal. You can get away with anything with this amount of dim red lighting. LSR adjusted to match party levels as the night wears on.
Amenities: Pretty grotty
Top suggestion: Move the DJ booth away from the bar service area to face the dancefloor more.
Field notes: A bit of a mismatch but the unpretentious approach of the venue rubs off on everyone and creates an easygoing atmosphere where you can share a drink with friends or make some new ones.
Memorable quotes: "I'm glad I didn't fart too hard or I might have sharted." - BH
"How do you pronounce Kreuzberg?" "Like Russell Coight, with an R" - BH

Arbitrary Score: 78
Without having checked it out as a late night spot to kick on or for a lazy summer day session, this understated spot is incredibly versatile and is often open continuously for the entire weekend. For the modest door charge of €2, we'll definitely be paying Club der Visionaere another visit. A great venue for our first international B.E.E.R.S!

The Luwow 09/11/11

"Aloha B.E.E.R.S!"

Attendees: Ben, Cam, Paige, Jaffa, George, Ivanka, Michael
Price: $12 - $85. Most cocktails in the $16 range. Or buy a big one to share between 2 or 4! Bottled beer $8
Location: 62-70 Johnston St between Brunwick & Nicholson.
Distance: 15 min walk.
Ambiance: Amazing - you'll feel like you're sipping cocktails after dark on a remote Hawaiian island. Not tacky even if it is totally over the top! Like taking a honeymoon, only in the heart of Melbourne.
Character: Bamboo clad walls and ceiling set the tribal theme, a normal Fitzroy building somehow feels like a beach hut.
Decor: Over the top - huge tiki idols, wooden canoes, masses of palm fronds and colourful lanterns show the amazing attention to detail that's gone into this bar.
Comfort: Vinyl booth seats can stick to bare skin - a little uncomfortable. But the booths themselves work great, giving a great level of privacy for each group. Alternatively, pull up a stool at the bar and watch the fruity cocktails getting assembled.
Patrons: Different groups of people doing their own thing - probably not the type of place to drop in on your own. Come for the spectacle, not an end of day drink.
Staff: A little awkward but they mix a great cocktail. Generous with the garnishes! Could be a little more bubbly & enthusiastic.
Selection: Amazing menu of rum-based tropical cocktails, and not much else. No tap beers and not a great bottle selection.
Outdoor: N/A. A separate room opens up on the weekend to accommodate the larger crowd and any private functions.
Specials: None. Every drink comes with a little finger puppet monster though. Very cool
LSR: Perfect beach bar vibes. Plenty of colourful lanterns and fairly lights and some classic diner type tunes twanging away.
Amenities: Follow the theme, clean & tidy.
Field notes: Definitely appreciate the amount of garnishes that go into each drink. Oversize curly straws, finger puppets, slices of fruit, umbrellas, the works. Be warned though, these cocktails pack a punch! It sounds obvious but the combination of sugar and booze will leave you with a nasty headache if you're not careful.
Top suggestion: Difficult to narrow it down since everything has already been thought through in such detail. Maybe a snack menu or some daily specials to spice things up a bit?
Memorable quotes: "This is the fruitiest B.E.E.R.S we've ever had!" - CLG
"Cam. Cam. Cam. Guess who I am? Crash Bandicoot! Bahahaha" - JW

Arbitrary score: 84
Come along for unique island style experience and some deliciously fruity cocktail concoctions. The key word here is fun, and there's plenty to be had. Highly recommended and the perfect spot to check out with a date or group of friends.

St Jude's Cellars 02/11/11

"St B.E.E.R.S"

Attendees: Cam, Ben, Michael, George, Ivanka, Dom
Price: Pints $8 - $14.50. Some cheap options but mainly high-end brews.
Location: 389 Brunswick St, the quieter end (north)
Distance: 8 min walk
Ambiance: Music wasn't quite hitting the mark and the playlist seemed a little inconsistent - genre hopping around. A classy well lit space - vibrant even without much happening.
Character: We're all a sucker for a polished concrete slab floor. Large central wine shelves divide the room in different areas and put the emphasis on the cellar experience. Off-white painted brick walls help add light and airiness to the space and nice textural element as well.
Decor: Open styled cellar. Quite basic on the decor with factory style hanging light fittings and a generous helping of pot plants. Does seem to lack anything particularly quirky or memorable.
Comfort: Plenty of different options here with some large high tables with stools, dining area or more intimate tables for two by the bar. No couches but its not the type of place you go to slob out.
Patrons: Top shelf Fitzroy. An older, high-end crowd that knows their way around a decent glass of red.
Staff: Top notch. Very cool and friendly but still casual. Came and brought menus as soon as we sat down - good service.
Selection: Not a great range of tap beers but an extensive bottle menu.
Outdoor: N/A
Specials: $10 meals - "Guinea Pig" menu for the chef to test out ideas.
LSR: Wasn't quite hitting the mark. Too light and the music selection was simply not right for the atmosphere.
Amenities: Clean, appreciated the seperate unrinals (no risk of rubbing shoulders here). Heater in the ladies. Good all round.
Top suggestions: Sort the music out. Even chuck a jazz trio in the corner - plenty of spare space for it.

Arbitrary score: 76
A quality dining experience but not the most unique or memorable one. Come here to enjoy a classier Brunswick St crowd on the weekend. More for the wine aficionados than the beer drinkers.

The Raccoon Club 05/10/11

" Executive B.E.E.R.S."

Attendees: Cam, Ben, Michael, Ivanka, George.
Price: $8.80 for all tap beers, $6 for all bottled beers. Great that it is one standard price for good quality beers.
Location: Suburbia! 145 Plenty Rd, in Preston. On the fringe of inner city.
Distance: 27 min tram ride from Wellington
Ambiance: Good background tunes, option to change with a public use turntable.. The bar has a warehouse feel, but they have managed to make what could have been a cold and harsh place into a warm and welcoming bar.
Character: Still maintains its Preston working class vibe, but with an added trendiness. Blends the exposed roofs and concrete floors with nice wooden tables and warm lighting. The bar is refreshingly long, with great bar seating options available.
Decor: Slightly kitsch. Overall is quite good, but some bits seem to be a bit out of place. Although there are some really nice touches like the spray-painted animals on the concrete floor.
Comfort: Even if this place was packed, it would still feel spacious and comfortable. The one long room with the long bar means that you would never feel cramped. Also has a variety of different seating options, with large tables for big groups, down to intimate couches or small tables for couples or for the individual punter there is a number of bar stools to sit and chat to the friendly bar staff.
Patrons: Everyone has their own agenda, as in people come here with their own groups and keeps to them. Not really a place to mingle and meet people, but rather hangout out and enjoy the company of your friends. It is an 'outer-inner city' crowd meaning that people are trendy but not to the extent of your inner city hipster that we normally see in the Collingwood area.
Staff: Very accommodating! Gave us free nuts and nibblies as well as letting us sample some new beers! Very friendly and chatty, seem to know most of the clientele, great place for regulars. The bar is very new so the staff are very enthusiastic and bring a refreshing and friendly bartending vibe that comes with their extensive drinking knowledge.
Selection: Mostly specialty Victorian craft beers with constantly updated beers on tap. Refreshing, but also ballsy considering the area, not to have a crap standard beer like Carlton Draught. Although they do sell Melbourne Bitter longnecks if you feel inclined to get your bogan-ness on!
Outdoor: Ivanka doesn't like the iron railing fence out the front, but it didn't really concern the rest of us. Perhaps it's there to keep some of the Preston riffraff out! It is nice to walk through the beer garden at the front to get into the bar. The beer garden is minimalistic with some token pot plants to jazz it up a bit.
Specials: Free pool, boardgames and cards creates a friendly, relaxed vibe. The fact that you can play your own choice of records, or even bring in your own vinyl is really cool.
L.S.R.: Very good. Nice selection of music and intimate ambient lighting. Although the outside beer garden seems overly bright.
Amenities: Really enjoyed the wall decorations, they have gone to great efforts to completely cover the walls in individual black and white pictures of famous faces. Makes the toilet trip quite an enjoyable experience..
Top Suggestion: Ivanka really wants to get rid of the fence, but for the rest of us...A great addition to the place would be a kitchen that serves good quality meals to go along with the great quality beers.
Memorable Quotes: "A lot less 'ironic' facial hair and a lot more real facial hair." B.H. when comparing the patronage to Collingwood bars.

Arbitrary Score: 78
It's a bit of a trek from Wellington Manor, but it is great bar with fantastic beers, welcoming staff and good times to be had! Well worth a visit.

Grumpy's Green 07/09/11

"Brother B.E.E.R.S."

Attendees: Cameron and Michael
Price: Little bit above your average pub beers, but pretty good pricing considering the quality of beers on offer. Range from $8.60-$11.80
Location: 125 Smith St., towards Gertrude St.
Distance: 8 min walk
Ambiance: Very friendly feel, small space used really well, feels a lot larger than it is as the space is broken up by the mezzanine level, yet still very intimate. Has a Port Fairy Folk Festival vibe.
Character: Feature piece on the wall is awesome, but a bit freaky. Hard to put your finger on the look they are going for here, but it is almost like a mini beer hall meets your loungeroom. High ceilings, exposed beams and long wooden tables are coupled with mismatched sofas, a comfy mezzanine level and assorted reading lamps and coffee tables.
Patrons: Usual inner-city, varied, down-to-Earth types.
Staff: Very friendly and helpful. Casual and easy-going.
Selection: Only source Victorian microbrewery beers for both their tap and bottled selection. Decent range of about 8 tap beers as well as multitude of Victorian bottled beers. The beer menu has the added bonus of having a separate distance column telling you how far away from Melbourne it has been sourced. Highlights the Victorian aspect.
Beer Garden: Very minimal, but surrounded by high walls and a number of pot plants and creepers. Almost has a rain forest or greenhouse feel to it. Blue stone walls and exposed roof beams makes you feel a lot more remote and secluded than even though you're on Smith St! Also has varied, comfortable on-street drinking areas to watch the world go by from.
Specials: Live music, trivia, decent vegetarian/gluten free menu options as well as some meat-eater delights such as rabbit stew.
L.S.R.: Lights were too bright for the live music that was playing.
Amenities: Purple toilet walls covered in extensive, but somewhat semi-tasteful graffiti- it is very Collingwood hipster, but the toilets are also very clean. The graffiti art murals leading up to the bathrooms are intricate and fantastic.
Top Suggestion: Perhaps provide a standard sessional beer on tap- like a Carlton Draught to allow extended sessions.

Arbitrary Score: 82
Solid all-rounder that ticks all the boxes. Can't really fault it in any area, yet something still feels like it is lacking. Hard to say what it is though.

The Local Taphouse 31/08/11

"Happy 30th Review B.E.E.R.S!"

Attendees: Cam, Ben, Michael, George, Dommo, Richo, Patty
Price: For a great and varied selection of boutique tap beers you'd expect to pay more than you do. It is very affordable. Pints range from $9.50-$17, or you can get a tasting paddle of 5 beers for $15.
Location: 184 Carlisle St. in St. Kilda, near the corner of Chapel St.
Distance: Deep in the dirty south side of the Yarra territory. 45 min on public transport.
Ambiance: Soft lighting for such a large venue- retains feeling of intimacy and still has a local pub vibe.
Character: Great old vintage pub building, almost like an old Victorian 'Gentleman's Club'.
Decor: Minimal outside: an old BBQ, an open fireplace and a few creeper plants is all that is need to accentuate the rustic character of the building. Inside has a lot of vintage wooden furniture pieces (sideboards, tables, chairs) and brass furnishings that highlight the historic nature of the venue.
Comfort: Nice big couches downstairs along with a number of other different seating options. Outside beer garden needs 2 extra heaters to be completely comfortable and perhaps a few different seating options rather than trying to fit in as many dining tables as possible.
Patrons: Successfully blends upper class, middle-aged St. Kilda yuppies with a younger more casual drinking crowd. Large Wednesday night crowd, could imagine it would get very busy on the weekends and in the warmer weather.
Staff: Very knowledgeable and helpful. They know their stuff about beer and aren't afraid to educate the masses on the intricacies and wonders of beer. Can get a tasting paddle on their recommendation, or on your own choice and they will order the selection in the sequence that compliments your palate the most. Great beer connoisseurs.
Selection: 20 different beers on tap, with a constant monthly rotation focussing on seasonal and unique beers sourced locally and internationally. Mecca for beer drinkers, with the option to either taste a couple of new and exciting beers or have a session with an old favourite.
Outdoor: Large outdoor dining area on the second level. No designated smoking area which means you can inhale smoke whilst trying to enjoy your meal, a let down on an otherwise nice outdoor area.
Specials: Hold regular beer events such as information, testing and specialty beer sessions. Is in affiliation with an onsite specialty bottle shop to source all the fantastic beers you sample in the venue allowing you to take the experience home with you. Great food menu, that is reasonably priced, also have a special tapas menu to compliment your beer selections.
L.S.R.: No ambient music to speak of. Have live music downstairs, but disappointing that there is no background tunes throughout the rest of the place. Lighting level is optimal but is let down by lack of music.
Top Suggestion: Amp up the comfort levels- i.e. ambient music, more outdoor heaters, varied seating options upstairs.
Amenities: Classy, clean but upstairs is quite small. Nice wooden finishes in the bathrooms.
Field Notes: George wants a greater selection of ciders on tap- only one tap cider that doesn't match the awesomeness of the beer selections. Food was very nice with a particular special mention for the frittes.
The $15 tasting paddle of beers that you would be hard press to find anywhere else is a definite highlight.
Memorable Quotes: "How often...and stop me if I'm getting too personal...How often do you have to update your rip?" P.O'C.
"You'd have to wash all your sheets after a night out." CLG
"Do you take cold meats?" G.K.
"Don't allow people with laptops to come here. Seriously, it's killing me." P.O'C.

Arbitrary Score: 90
The amazingly varied tap selection of unique beers coupled with the local pub vibe makes for a great venue to bask in beery contentment.

Collingwood World 24/08/11

"Page 44 B.E.E.R.S"

Attendees: Ben, Cam, Michael, George, Ned, Mike
Price: $6 Carlton schooner, $8 premium bottles, cocktails $12-$17
Location: 97 Smith St Collingwood, near Gertrude
Distance: 14 min walk
Ambiance: Warm and welcoming. Sensual soul music and candles on the tables set the mood and make it a great room even on a quiet night.
Character: Plenty of personality with a large feature wall of the 1966 Melways map of Collingwood. Great use of raw materials with a quirky flip on the usual - the ceiling is lined with old timber floorboards. Brick walls and a concrete slab floor finish it off.
Decor: Tasteful lampshades create a soft tone for what could have been a more cavernous space. Lazily spinning fans somehow add a smoky dive bar feel while plenty of tea lights create some intimacy. A shrub on the bar is never a bad addition.
Comfort: Plush couches, long tables, side tables and stools at the bar all mean you've got plenty of options. Radiators and a fireplace mean the temperature is spot-on. Actually maybe a little too warm as you might find yourself dozing off on the couch after a beer or two.
Patrons: N/A, very quiet mid-week.
Staff: Friendly and cheerful with a good sense of humour, wasn't at all put out by an accidental broken glass. Able to recommend a beer with conviction and mix a custom cocktail if you're intrepid enough to ask.
Selection: A rather small but decent selection of bottled beer but only Carlton on tap. A tasty looking cocktail menu. No food options.
Outdoor: N/A
Specials: Complementary nuts were a nice touch
LSR: Optimum for the size of the room. Enough lighting to fill the space and open it up while the great music selection had enough volume to appreciate without being overpowering.
Amenities: Neat & clean with the creative anti-graffiti measure of being covered with chalkboard paint. A bucket of chalk by the sink means anyone can express themselves (or their footy team's finals prospects).
Field notes: It's hard to judge without any other patrons but we all feel it would be a great spot to check out on the weekend. Nice to get a view out the window to Smith St down below.
Top suggestion: A few more tap beer options would be a great addition to just Carlton Draught
Memorable quotes: "Have you ever used a poof to root on?" - MLG, after discussing the furniture
"Great for hosing down the blood at the end of the night, Collingwood style" - Ned, on the concrete slab floor.

Arbitrary Score: 80
A very promising spot still in its early stages (open about a year). Come with some friends and relax in comfort with some classy cocktails and local pride. Had it been busier would have gotten a higher score - certainly worth a revisit on a Friday or Saturday night!

Wesley Anne 17/08/11

"Church B.E.E.R.S"

Attendees: Cam, Ben, Michael, George, Jaffa, Paige, Dom, Emma
Price: $9 Boags, $9.60 Coopers. Pretty standard.
Location: 250 High St Northcote - in the thick of it.
Distance: 15 min tram ride.
Ambience: Candles and rough stone walls have a lot of charm. Feels like a medieval tavern. The hushed tones of the chapel meets the rustic charm of the tin roof wooden ceiling beams.
Character: Has a very strong historic character (in fact the building was originally constructed in 1869 as a Methodist church). Iron chandeliers lit by candles softly light the bar while the raw stone walls, minimal decorations and huge vaulted ceiling help to open up the space.
Decor: The character of the building speaks for itself without the need for too much decoration.
Comfort: The bar is quite big and takes up a large part of the room meaning most of the tables are squashed in around it. However we had no problem sitting the lot of us in one of the 'confessional' style booths and the low walls provide a lot of privacy.
Patrons: An older more 'Northcote' crowd . A bit more subdued and wordly, enjoying a quite beer or glass of red. City cool people.
Staff: A bit of a debated area - some thought they were helpful while others found them a little indifferent.
Selection: Limited. Some decent but 'safe' craft options. Semi-boutique. Very impressed with the Estrella!
Outdoor: A very large outdoor area complete with a roaring fireplace. Lots of tables to sit at and some greenery and quirky decorations to finish it off. A definite must-visit for the summer months. On-street seating out the front as well.
Specials: $10 Boags jugs before 6pm. Band room is host to popular local gigs most nights of the week. Very fast food service as well (maybe suspiciously fast?)
LSR: Soft music in the background keeps the focus on the chat and the ambience created by the room rather than smothering it with volume. A tasteful tweak of the dimmer switch at 9.30 kept the lighting spot on as the night went on! Candles also add a classy touch.
Amenities: Basic, nothing too special. Plenty of graffiti but clean enough.
Top suggestion: Rejig the bar and table layout to open up the room a bit more and celebrate the awesome historic space that it is.
Field notes: Doesn't seem like a huge amount of effort has gone into the actual bar and making the place a unique experience but the building makes up for it with oodles of charm. Could be better but it has a lot going for it and the punters keep coming back for more. Definite local hangout.

Arbitrary Score: 75
A big old religious institution sees a new life as one of High St's drinking institutions. While it lacks some of the sophistication of other venues, the charm of the building and generous beer garden make this one a High St favourite.

Grace Darling 10/08/11

"Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum B.E.E.R.S."

Attendees: Cam, Ben, Michael, Ivanka, George, Richo, Louise, Phoebe.

Price: $8 standard pints but gourmet craft beers aren't too pricey. Quite acceptable.

Location: 114 Smith St.

Distance: 10 min walk.

Ambiance: Great mid-week vibe going on with lots of different and varied groups. Warm lighting- tea lights, candles and open-fire place create welcoming and intimate atmosphere.

Character: Classic old pub style. Great bluestone exterior. Separate outdoor dining area is really cool, can eat under the stars, while still feeling like you are inside.
The place has great great materiality- floorboards, timber, natural flame as lighting, etc. adds a feeling of honesty.

Decor: Bit too cluttered. Too many different themes going on. They have a funky nautical theme that works, but it is overpowered by lots of other themes.

Comfort: Very high, specially for winter with the fireplace.. There are so many different options- you can dine under the stars, lounge on intimate couches with a date, or sit a high tables with friends.

Patrons: Trendy indie Collingwood, but still welcoming of other types.

Staff: Very 'cool', but without the attitude. They are 'trend-ly'!

Selection: Fantastic. Great selection of craft beers on tap as well as a wide range of unique bottled beers. It is refreshing to see a pub that has a standard, cheap tap beer that isn't Carlton or Boags Draught (it's Coopers Lager).
Also has a great selection of spirits and cocktails.

Outdoor: Covered outdoor dining area as mentioned before, but also has a happening on-street drinking area.

Specials: Has Big Buck Hunter!! As well as a pool table. Great mix of traditional pub and trendy hotspot. Has a great food menu. Special deals are $12 home-made pies and 1/2 price selected jugs on Tuesdays. There is a band room upstairs and a rave-cave downstairs.

L.S.R. (New category!! Light to Sound Ratio): Great use of gradient lighting. It is quite light at the bar, but still has dark corners and nooks. Music is loud enough to enjoy, but still soft enough to enjoy conversation between friends.

Amenities: Very basic. Doesn't match the rest of the place.

Top Suggestion: Unify the decor. Declutter a bit- stick to one theme (the nautical one!)

Field Notes: As soon as you walk in it has a great welcoming vibe. Knew this place would score well as soon as stepped inside.

Memorable Quotes: "I feel like I'm on Magic Mushrooms!" MLG (talking about the decor)
"It's a rum-elution" I.B.
"This is like a 'trim-the-beard-Collingwood' kinda place" B.H.

"Dark corners so people can dry-hump" Phoebe

Arbitrary Score: 87

Whether you are out for dining, drinking, dating or getting rowdy, the Grace has you covered on all bases.

Town Hall Hotel 03/08/11

Attendees: Cam, Ben, Ivanka, Mike, Louise
Price: Expensive for the craft beers yet they still have a $7.50 Carlton pint.
Location: 166 Johnston St, corner with Napier.
Distance: 9min walk
Ambience: Semi-formal dining & drinking. We're feeling a little out of place in tshirts and being under 25.
Character: New Fitzroy / South Yarra. A bit of southside creeping through to the north. A little too glitzy for our liking.
Decor: Some nice timber tables and stools in the front bar area. Tasteful painted walls with some different red feature walls in the back dining rooms. Lighting is simple but nice enough. The bar setup could be a little more visually interesting.
Comfort: Good comfort. Plenty of different options for couples, groups and even large private functions in a downstairs cellar area with a massive 15 seat table. Stools in the front bar or seats everywhere else. Standing seems a little awkward in the semi-formal setting.
Patrons: Middle-aged Fitzroy yuppies. Its a dining gastro-pub but not much of a drinking atmosphere.
Staff: Checked Ivanka's ID. Massive rookie error. A little snooty and unwelcoming.
Selection: Some nice boutique options that fit with the high end pub experience.
Outdoor: N/A
Specials: Food menu looks impressive and well priced!
Amenities: 'Upmarket community hall'. Felt insincere. Potential hip-rub at the urinal - never great. Flowers in the ladies.
Top suggestion: Create a more informal drinking area eg change the front bar or find space for a beer garden or some on-street seating.
Field notes: Music is fairly lame - 'chillout sessions' cheesy deep house vibes. Some great table options for private functions.

Arbitrary Score: 63
Come here for some great dining but don't expect to come in and enjoy a casual drink in your tshirt and jeans. A slightly older dining crowd and somewhat wooden bar service left us a little cold but this venue could have more charm when filled up on a weekend. High ceilings and spacious seating would be great for a leisurely lunch on a sunny day.