Hoposphere

20/08/2019

18/08/2019

Break Even XXVII: Wine Cask Matured Single Malts is only one week away! We'll be putting the new upstairs bar at Boodle Beasley to the test, lining up 8 different Single Malts from Australia and Scotland.

Including this incredibly rare 41YO Glenglassaugh Single Cask, distilled back on the 18th of June 1975!

Have you got your tickets yet?

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/break-even-xxvii-wine-cask-single-malts-tickets-65380870945

19/03/2019

Had an absolute blast last night, teaming up with at The Texas Pantry to put on one of our best line ups to date! Next to impossible to pick only one winner, but the 1994, the 1999 Tokyo exclusive, and the 1975 all stole a few hearts. Until next week!
@ The Texas Pantry

16/03/2019

Our full line up is now online, and we're bringing a 1975 Glenglassaugh 41 Year Old Single Cask to the party.

Platters + BBQ supplied by the Texas Pantry Moonah, washed down with some serious age statements from the GlenDronach, BenRiach & Glenglassaugh Distillleries.

Tickets are still available via Eventbrite

http://www.hoposphere.com/glendronach-benriach-glenglassaugh-rare-single-casks-part-1-2019-03-19/

02/12/2018

Hoposphere & Gold Bar Hobart invite you to Break Even XXII, on Sunday the 2nd of December.

The 2nd round in our ‘Rare Tasmanian Single Malts’ series will, once again, cover some of a favourite Tasmanian Distilleries.

There will be rare, limited release, and single cask expressions from the Lark Distillery, Redlands Distillery, Hobart Whisky Company, Old Kempton Distillery, Heartwood Malt Whisky & T.I.B.

Once again, we have secured another ‘Break Even’ exclusive Single Cask.

Light finger foods, refreshments and good times provided on the night. Tickets are limited, 24 seats only.

Tickets Limited: $90 Per Person / Sold Out
When: Sunday, December 2nd 2018, 16:00 – 19:00
Where: Gold Bar AU, Salamanca

23/11/2018

Over the last few weeks, we have been working with the local legends at Hobart Whisky to bring you another limited release bottling.

Bottled exclusively for Break Even XXII: Rare Tasmanian Single Malts Part 2, we present to you HBW Batch No: 18-001.5. One bottle only.

Matured in a 20l American Oak Ex-Port Cask, before being decanted and bottled. It's natural colour, cask strength, non chill filtered, and bottled at a whopping 74.1% ABV.

We still have a few tickets available for Break Even XXII, next Sunday the 2nd of December. But, they are moving fast!

Tickets via Eventbrite:

19/11/2018

Another fantastic line-up at our event last night, Break Even XXI. Celebrating our 21st 'Break Even' in style, with a blind tasting of 8 different 21 Year Old Single Malts.

Congratulations to our blind tasting winner, The GlenDronach Distillery.

The full results from last nights tasting will be up on the website shortly.

07/11/2018

Here are a few photos from Break Even XX: Wine Casks + Peat & Greet Round 4.

A blind tasting, but not as you know it. Covering 9 different Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, from the likes of The GlenDronach, BenRiach, Glenglassaugh, Benromach Whisky, Tomatin Distillery, the Bruichladdich Distillery, and more.

And, the crowd favourites?

- Chieftains: 1992 Tomatin 16YO Medoc Wine Cask Finish
- BenRiach - 1975 40YO Peated Ex-Sherry Single Cask
- Glenglassaugh - 2015 Release 30YO Highland Single Malt
- Bruichladdich - DNA Series 04.1 1985 27YO Islay Single Malt

You can find the full line up at; http://www.hoposphere.com/category/events-hoposphere/break-even-events/

Photos: James Spencer @ Czeching Out Tasmania

08/10/2018

Here are a few photos from our Kavalan Whisky tasting last night.
It was the perfect way to wrap up our 'Rare Kavalan Solist Series'. Covering some of the lesser known expressions in the Kavalan range, from one of our favourite Asian Distilleries.

Last night was not only our 18th 'Break Even' whisky tasting, it also marked the 35th bottle of Kavalan Whisky that we have shared with you to date! That's right, 35 different bottles of Kavalan, 28 different Single Casks, 11 Distillery-Only Single Casks, and various expressions from Independent Bottlers around the world.

We have finally covered the entire Kavalan range, tasting whiskies distilled between 2006-2013, and bottled between 2011-2018. US, Japanese, Taiwanese, Australian & NZ Exclusives, 4 Distillery Reserve and 3 different First Release Single Casks.

Or, 6 x Solist Vinho Barrique, 4 x Solist Oloroso Sherry, 3 x Solist Ex-Brandy, 2 x Moscatel Sherry, 2 x Ex-Bourbon, 2 x Fino Sherry, 2 x Ex-Port, 2 x Ex-Rum Cask, 2 x Ex-Peaty Cask, 1 x Amontillado Sherry, 1 x Pedro Ximenez Sherry, and 1 x Manzanilla Sherry Single Cask.... to be more precise.

A huge thank you to Ian Chang & Kim Lu at Kavalan for your ongoing support with getting these events up and running. And, thanks to Larry Schoen at KavaFan, always willing to help out with our events, and supplying our blind tasting winning 1st Anniversary Port Single Cask.

Photography - James Spencer @ Czeching Out Tasmania

And of course, thank you to everyone who came along yesterday, the Break Even crew.
We couldn't do these events without you guys!

See you all on the 21st of October!

Hoposphere - Break Even XVIII - Rare Kavalan Solist Single Casks Part 3/3 [2018.10.07.]

Here are a few photos from our Kavalan Whisky tasting last night.
It was the perfect way to wrap up our 'Rare Kavalan Solist Series'. Covering some of the lesser known expressions in the Kavalan range, from one of our favourite Asian Distilleries.

Last night was not only our 18th 'Break Even' whisky tasting, it also marked the 35th bottle of Kavalan Whisky that we have shared with you to date! That's right, 35 different bottles of Kavalan, 28 different Single Casks, 11 Distillery-Only Single Casks, and various expressions from Independent Bottlers around the world.

We have finally covered the entire Kavalan range, tasting whiskies distilled between 2006-2013, and bottled between 2011-2018. US, Japanese, Taiwanese, Australian & NZ Exclusives, 4 Distillery Reserve and 3 different First Release Single Casks.

Or, 6 x Solist Vinho Barrique, 4 x Solist Oloroso Sherry, 3 x Solist Ex-Brandy, 2 x Moscatel Sherry, 2 x Ex-Bourbon, 2 x Fino Sherry, 2 x Ex-Port, 2 x Ex-Rum Cask, 2 x Ex-Peaty Cask, 1 x Amontillado Sherry, 1 x Pedro Ximenez Sherry, and 1 x Manzanilla Sherry Single Cask.... to be more precise.

A huge thank you to Ian Chang & Kim Lu at Kavalan for your ongoing support with getting these events up and running. And, thanks to Larry Schoen at KavaFan, always willing to help out with our events, and supplying our blind tasting winning 1st Anniversary Port Single Cask.

Photography - James Spencer @ Czeching Out Tasmania

And of course, thank you to everyone who came along yesterday, the Break Even crew.
We couldn't do these events without you guys!

See you all on the 21st of October!

08/10/2018

Hoposphere - Break Even XVIII - Rare Kavalan Solist Single Casks Part 3/3 [2018.10.07.]

Here are a few photos from our Kavalan Whisky tasting last night.
It was the perfect way to wrap up our 'Rare Kavalan Solist Series'. Covering some of the lesser known expressions in the Kavalan range, from one of our favourite Asian Distilleries.

Last night was not only our 18th 'Break Even' whisky tasting, it also marked the 35th bottle of Kavalan Whisky that we have shared with you to date! That's right, 35 different bottles of Kavalan, 28 different Single Casks, 11 Distillery-Only Single Casks, and various expressions from Independent Bottlers around the world.

We have finally covered the entire Kavalan range, tasting whiskies distilled between 2006-2013, and bottled between 2011-2018. US, Japanese, Taiwanese, Australian & NZ Exclusives, 4 Distillery Reserve and 3 different First Release Single Casks.

Or, 6 x Solist Vinho Barrique, 4 x Solist Oloroso Sherry, 3 x Solist Ex-Brandy, 2 x Moscatel Sherry, 2 x Ex-Bourbon, 2 x Fino Sherry, 2 x Ex-Port, 2 x Ex-Rum Cask, 2 x Ex-Peaty Cask, 1 x Amontillado Sherry, 1 x Pedro Ximenez Sherry, and 1 x Manzanilla Sherry Single Cask.... to be more precise.

A huge thank you to Ian Chang & Kim Lu at Kavalan for your ongoing support with getting these events up and running. And, thanks to Larry Schoen at KavaFan, always willing to help out with our events, and supplying our blind tasting winning 1st Anniversary Port Single Cask.

Photography - James Spencer @ Czeching Out Tasmania

And of course, thank you to everyone who came along yesterday, the Break Even crew.
We couldn't do these events without you guys!

See you all on the 21st of October!

20/09/2018

Rare Kavalan Solist Single Casks Part 3/3

http://www.hoposphere.com/breakeven18/

13/08/2018

Break Even XVII: Rare Tasmanian Single Malts Part 1.
Tickets coming soon.

http://www.hoposphere.com/break-even-17/

12/07/2018

Rare Kavalan Solist Single Casks Part 1/3

Our first series will cover the use of American Oak in the Kavalan Solist Series.
We will taste 4 vastly different Vinho Barrique Single Casks side by side, and compare 2 Ex-Bourbon Single Casks.
Including an extinct first release bottling and a 2015 Solist Vinho Barrique, sister cask to the WWA 2015 Worlds Best Single Malt Whisky.

Event details below;

http://www.hoposphere.com/break-even-xiv-kavalan-solist-single-casks/

23/06/2018

Hobart, we have something special in store for you!

We have delved into our own personal collection to put together a line up of the oldest and rarest Kavalan Whisky to have ever reached Australia.

We will be presenting three different events in collaboration with Todd at Destination Cellars Tasmania, covering the Fino, Oloroso, Moscatel, Brandy, Vinho Barrique and Ex-Bourbon range of Solist single casks.

Tickets will be extremely limited, so make sure to like and follow the hoposphere page to be the first to hear about future events.

22/06/2018

Last Sunday we had the pleasure of hosting another Break Even whisky tasting, sampling some of our favourite Port & Sherry cask single malt whiskies from around the world.

With two of the best Australian single malts ever produced in the line up, and some fantastic Scottish single casks ranging from 9 to 23 years of age, it was no easy competition...

But in the end there could only be one winner, and it came down to one of the youngest whiskies of the night. A Port single cask from Kavalan Whisky, hand selected by Larry for the KavaFan 1st Anniversary Release.

Congratulations again to Kavalan Distillery, not only taking out 1st place, but also 3rd place with a 2008 Solist Oloroso Sherry single cask.

You can find future events and read the full line up below;
http://www.hoposphere.com/break-even-x-v-dregs-round-2-2018-06-17/

15/06/2018

Hobart, we still have tickets available for Break Even X.V this Sunday the 17th of June. That's 8 Single Casks from the likes of Heartwood Malt Whisky, BenRiach, The GlenDronach, Glenfarclas and Kavalan Whisky.

You can read the full line up by clicking on the link below;

http://www.hoposphere.com/break-even-x-v-dregs-round-2-2018-06-17/

11/06/2018

Our first event in collaboration with Todd from Destination Cellars Tasmania will explore 7 different single malts from the BenRiach Distillery. Including a little something special from the year 1975! Tickets are now live, 24 seats only.

You can find the full line-up and purchase tickets from the link below;

27/04/2018

Break Even IX.V.

Our first bonus round in the Break Even series will explore Single Cask whiskies from 4 of our favourite distilleries; Heartwood Malt Whisky, The GlenDronach, Kavalan Whisky and Bunnahabhain Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

You can find the full line up and ticket information below;

Break Even IX.V. The Dregs: Single Cask Single Malts Sunday, May 20th 2018, Hobart Tasmania Join Hoposphere on Sunday the 20th of May for Break Even IX.V. Our first bonus round in the ‘Break Even’ series will focus on single cask single malt whiskies from some of my favourite distilleries. …

01/04/2018

Pouring Bruichladdich Distillery Black Arts 4.1 1990 & 5.1 1992 side by side for the Break Even VIII tasting tonight.

We sold out of tickets for this round in just over a week, so make sure you get in quick for Break Even IX.

Break Even IX will pit some serious age statements against each other, comparing American Oak Ex-Bourbon Barrels against European Oak Sherry Casks.

Tickets go live on Tuesday the 3rd of April, 26 people only!

12/03/2018

The results are up from our Break Even blind tasting last Sunday. Congratulations to Kavalan Whisky on taking out 1st & 2nd place with the Brandy and Manzanilla Solist Single Casks.

Break Even VII: Port v. Sherry v. Brandy Casks Sunday, March 4th 2018, Hobart Tasmania Break Even VIII: Port. V. Sherry. V. Brandy Casks. Join Hoposphere at the Worlds End Brewpub on Sunday the 4th of March for Break Even VIII. Walking through 8 different single malt whiskies from around …

23/02/2018

Break Even III: Kavalan Premium Single Casks Sunday, November 5th 2017, Hobart Tasmania Join Hoposphere at the Worlds End Brewpub on Sunday the 5th of November for a Kavalan Single Cask tasting. We will journey through the 4 Premium Single Cask expressions, along with the Vinho Barrique and Fino She...

07/02/2018

Sailors Grave Brewing x Last Rites Brewing Company x Hoposphere collaboration New England Milkshake IPA. Coming to a tap near you... ?

30/01/2018

Here are the results from Break Even IV: Ex-Sherry Cask Single Malts. Once again another fantastic blind tasting, proving that age is not everything in the world of whisky. Congratulations to Tim at Heartwood Malt Whisky for taking out first place with the monstrous Heart of Darkness at 67.1%.

We still have a few seats left for Break Even VI: Peat & Greet this Sunday the 4th of February. We will be exploring 9 heavily heated drams from around the world, including some of the Octomore range. You can find the details and ticket information on the events page

Break Even: Ex-Sherry Cask Single Malts Sunday, December 3rd 2017, Hobart Tasmania Join Hoposphere at the Worlds End Brewpub on Sunday the 3rd of December for a flight of 7 rare and exciting whiskies from around the world. This round we will be exploring the use of Sherry Casks. Featuring …

12/01/2018

Tasmania, you asked for it. Better keep that February calendar free. Details to be announced next week

01/12/2017

On tasting next Tuesday, Vin Folie.
The latest creation in the Avant Garde Collection by La Sirène Brewing, Vin Folie is a Wild Farmhouse Ale brewed with Australian Grenache Grapes.

24/09/2017

Worlds End Round 2: The Art of Barrel Aged Ales.

The people have once again voted, and boy was it close!

Taking out first place by a single 2nd choice vote was Brewdog's Black Jacques Red Wine Barrel Aged Imperial Black Saison. A rich dark ale with plenty of funk, licorice and spearmint, cocoa, oak and a generous amount of red wine on the nose. Sitting at a whopping 11.1% ABV and spending no less than 268 days imprisoned in French Oak red wine barrels.
Here is the full list of results:

#1. Brewdog - Black Jacques Imperial Black Sasion [11.1%]
#2. Hawkers Beer - 2017 Coffee Imperial Stout [11.2%]
#3. Deschutes Brewery - 2015 The Stoic Belgian Quad [10.9%]
#4. Stone Brewing - Farking Wheaton W00tstout 5.0 [13.0%]
#5. 8 WIRED BREWING - Lord of the Atlas Barley Wine [12.0%]
#6. Hawkers - 2017 Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout [11.6%]
#7. Boatrocker Brewers & Distillers - Mitte [3.5%]
#8. Deschutes - 2015 The Jubel Belgian Quad Ale [10.4%]
#9. Stone - Enjoy After 07.04.16 Brett India Pale Ale [7.0%]

Congratulations on the win BrewDog!

12/09/2017

‘Microphone checka, big Mandarin lecture. Lactic Acid Fermenter, be a kettle sour protecta. Cascade’s in the boiling pot, weather’s hottin up. For realzy refreshing Mandreezy, American Ale ye**ty all in the fermenteezy. This sour be pleasin’ with the change of seasons. Mashing with Gladfield, biscuits of Munich mixed with Pilsner to brew it. Reppin that Acidulated Malt, homie’s character be sour going straight to ya dome, sneakin bottles in ya home. Taste that fruit, straight up 72 litres of Mandarin Juice. That’s our Method Man-darin, you know where we been. True philosophisers, ya spring’ll rock wilder. Raise that sour son, it’s really real son, something you can feel son, load it up and try one. We gone.’

Batch Brewing Company Method Man-Darin - Sour Fruit Ale [4.2%]

Big thanks to Ryan at Batch Brewing!

Beer of the Week @ Hoposphere

12/09/2017

We have announced the line-up for World's End Round 2 next Tuesday the 19th of September. A flight of 9 different Barrel Aged Ales from around the world, including BrewDog, Stone Brewing, Deschutes Brewery, Hawkers Beer and Boatrocker Brewers & Distillers. This is a great opportunity to taste some rare and exciting ales, but hurry, we only have 8 tickets left!

Worlds End Round 2: The Art of Barrel Aged Ales Once a month on a Tuesday evening we team up with the crew at the Worlds End Brewpub to present a flight of new and exciting beers from every corner of the globe. Our tastings are about learning and tasting …

26/08/2017

Winner winner, chicken dinner!

The people have voted, and our winner is the Yeast Coast IPA. A juicy collaboration East Coast IPA bursting with mango, peach, pineapple, stone fruit and kiwi fruit. In the words of the great Dennis De Boer "If the finished beer isn’t half yeast pitch and half hop matter then we haven’t made it East Coast enough!". It was a great tasting with an awesome bunch of people, but there could only be one winner. Here are the results from the night:

#1. Modus Operandi - Yeast Coast IPA [6.6%]
#2. Epic Beer - Hysteria West Coast IPA [6.9%]
#3. Modus Operandi - Former Tenant Red IPA [7.8%]
#4. Epic Beer - Stone Hammer IPA [7.0%]
#5. Epic Beer - Roxanne Red IPA [6.5%]
#6. Modus Operandi - Triple Deity IPA [6.4%]
#7. Modus Operandi - Session IPA [4.1%]
#8. Epic Beer - Son of Thor Brave IPA [6.8%]

Our next tasting is on the 19th of September at the Worlds End Brewpub. We will be walking through a flight of entirely Barrel Aged Stouts, Imperials and Ales to name a few. Details and tickets will be available in the next few days.

Congratulations again to Modus Operandi Brewing Co. x Fixation Brewing Co and Wheaty Brewing Corps for taking out peoples choice on Tuesday night at our Modus vs. Epic Beer Masterclass. A big thank you to everyone who joined us, hope you all had a great night, Sam