Carwyn Cellars Canvent 2024

|Hannah Baars
Carwyn Cellars Canvent 2024

Australia's OG beer advent calendar, Carwyn Canvent, is back and pushing some of Australia’s best breweries to their limits, in a showcase of what’s trending with the most exciting brewers in the country in 2024.

Canvent 2024 Line-Up

Finally that time of the year! We are super excited to hear your thoughts on these unique and exclusive brews made by some of the best independent breweries in Australia - plus a few USA collabs joining the mix!

Slap on a CANVENT™ stubby holder and let’s get this party started! (Yes, each Canvent includes a Canvent™ stubby holder to keep your beers cool in the Aussie Xmas spirit!)

#1 • FERAL (WA) - NAKATOMI PLAZA

🍺 WC IIIPA⁠⁠ • 🥴 10.0% ABV⁠

Big notes of dried orange, pine, breadcrust and caramel. The flavour follows the nose with the fruit character leading to apricot jam and marmalade and a light jube-y sweetness with a constant underlying dankness and a huge dose of bitter hops! Smooth with a slightly warm finish.

#2 • ONE DROP (NSW) x TIRED HANDS (PA, USA) - SUBTLE ERA

🍺 Feijoa DIPA w Phantasm • 🥴 8.0% ABV⁠

MASSIVE feijoa character with ripe kiwi fruit and pineapple gummies! In mouth tastes like muscatel grapes, passion fruit and Big Fizz. Solid bitterness in this very juicy treat with a soft velvety texture.⁠ Like a velvet feijoa pillow to fall asleep and go into a tropical wonderland.

#3 • 3 RAVENS (VIC) - PEONY KING

🍺 Barrel Aged Wild Ale w Hibiscus & White Pu-erh Tea • 🥴 7.3% ABV⁠

The aroma is quite floral, with old-school strawberry hard candy and raspberry noted and a small touch of Flanders-esque balsamic. That tartness hits really quick! Like a sour Turkish Delight with herbal/floral complexity. L⁠ight umami and savoury, and very tea-like (with a hint of tannin) and some dried cranberry character. Thoroughly earthy and layered, it only continues giving more unique notes as it warms up.

#4 • DANGEROUS ALES (NSW) - CHRISTMAS TREE IPA

🍺 West Coast IPA w Pine • 🥴 7.2% ABV⁠

The resinous pine really dominates the nose, and as it starts to warm up some of the fruiter notes start coming through (like honeydew and citrus). In flavour, this pine rollercoaster carries on (and on), with big notes of wood, yellow grapefruit peel and cereal. A real showcase of what an unusual ingredient can add to a beer! The bitterness is quite high and long lasting in the aftertaste, with a hint of the Devil’s lettuce (or should we say Devil’s Xmas tree?)

#5 • SLOW LANE (NSW) - ANYTHING BUT PLAIN

🍺 Vanilla Stout • 🥴 7.0% ABV⁠

Indeed, this is anything but plain, with delicious notes of confectionery chocolate, mocha and vanilla Frappuccino. This sweet aroma matches the flavour, which also carries notes of tiramisu, hazelnuts and dates from the complex malt bill. Bringing summer memories like getting a 50c cone with a flake (of course). Unctuous, rich and creamy.

#6 • GOOD LAND (VIC) x RAR ( MD, USA) - OUT OF POINTS

🍺 Smoothie Sour • 🥴 6.3% ABV⁠

Look at this thick liquid pouring just like a Boost Juice smoothie! Wafts of Tutti Frutti, with a hints of Bubble O'Bill ice-cream & pink frosting, with some underlying lime character. In flavour we get notes of Neapolitan Ice cream (have you ever blended all the flavours together?), yogurt, cheesecake, strawberry candy and a hint of cake batter. Creamy and full bodied.

#7 • CORNELLA (VIC) - DEVIL IN A MIDNIGHT MASS

🍺 Belgian Golden Ale • 🥴 8.3% ABV⁠

Boozy pomme-like notes in nose, with light fresh quince character. A bit wine-like, particularly Riesling, with a supportive bready character from the malts. In flavour we have the same bready character with an array of different flavours that keep on popping as the beer warms up: banana, watermelon rind, prickly pear, and honey, with a hint of preserved lemon. It’s warming, lightly puckering and bitter.

#8 • MOUNTAIN CULTURE (NSW) - LUCKY DIP

🍺 Double NEIPA • 🥴 8.3% ABV⁠

Big fruity tropical nose with lashes of mandarin, cantaloupe and papaya. The flavour is just pure absolute fruit ripeness bliss. Bursting with Stonefruit, Tropical juice and Mango Daiquiri. A bit syrupy but juicy, with a drying finish. Creamy AF.

#9 • RECKLESS (NSW) - LIME & SAMBAL

🍺 Lager • 🥴 4.5% ABV⁠

Aromas of fresh cut lime, mild salsa and lime jubes. The flavour takes us to tropical lands with spicy margarita vibes, and some savoury notes, with light capsicum and very mild heat at the back of the throat. Just a really easy but flavour packed beer!

#10 • AETHER (QLD) - OAKED DUNKEL

🍺 Oaked Dunkel • 🥴 4.5% ABV⁠

The nose holds subtle notes of toast and dark caramel, with an underlying nutty character that pops up. In flavour the character resembles milk chocolate, hazelnuts and golden syrup. The oak starts coming out as it warms up with light umami and notes of kopiko candy. An assertive drying bitterness gives a clean finish.

#11 • SLIPSTREAM (QLD) - THE ROYAL TREATMENT

🍺 West Coast IPA w King Louis XIII Terpenes⁠ • 🥴 6.5% ABV⁠

Those terpenes really shine and the combination with the hops is just wonderful. The dankness is plentiful, with fruity notes like honeydew and citrus (it also kind of smells like that weird cousin that goes out for a long walk just before xmas family dinner...). In flavour, caramel notes are quickly followed by a minty dankness, with apricot and candied orange character. Those wacky tobaccy notes are carried throughout the sipping experience, with light sweetness that ends in an off-dry finish.

#12 • RANGE (QLD) - NICE OUT

🍺 IPA w Pineapple Express Terpenes⁠ • 🥴 6.4% ABV⁠

Such a delightful fruity character! Notes of underripe pineapple and canned peaches with a light herbal note in the background. The flavour is like a tropical punch with overripe pear and pineapple gummies. There’s a light hint of acidity and an overall creamy mouthfeel. Juicy and appropriately dank; Dale and Saul would surely approve.

#13 • BONEHEAD (VIC) - GET PSYCHED

🍺 Imperial Mecha Pilsner⁠⁠ • 🥴 8.2% ABV⁠

Notes of hay and breadcrust, with the hops bringing some grassy aromas and the yeast’s esters providing some blackcurrant pastilles notes. In flavour the breadcrust notes follow the nose alongside some cereal flavours like corn flakes or cheerios. Light honey and sultana sweetness dried out by an assertive bitterness. Finishes off dry with that bitterness lingering.

#14 • BEERERATNE (VIC) - SERENDIP

🍺 Tropical Stout⁠⁠ • 🥴 7.7% ABV⁠

Not enough of this estery dark beer in the market! The ‘tropical’ has been taken even further with tropical hops in the mix. Notes of craft cola, fresh tobacco leaves and roasted macadamias in nose, followed by coffee, Ferrero Rondnoir chocolate and roastiness. Finishes dry with a lingering bitterness.

#15 • PHILTER (VIC) - THE CHERRY MACHINE

🍺 Cherry Lichtenhainer⁠⁠ • 🥴 4.0% ABV⁠

Beautiful peach/salmon colour as it’s poured. Aromas of cherry candy cane and glazed christmas ham (while sitting around a bonfire). In flavour there’s ripe strawberry, charred lemons, and barbecued leeks and pork. A nice puckering acidity on this light brew, with just enough bitterness to make this a dry and refreshing drop. The lingering smokiness is pleasant and not harsh. A unique low ABV beer style that is just absolutely packed with flavour!

#16 • BOATROCKER (VIC) - ROOT BEER

🍺 Root Beer⁠⁠ • 🥴 4.0% ABV⁠

We feel immediately transported to an American diner! Flavours of cola and sarsaparilla with hints of aniseed and mint in the background. Quite spicey as well, almost like pepper! In flavour vanilla comes up front, with crème de menthe herbalness, cola gummies and prunes in the background. Light bodied and creamy-ish, with an off dry finish.

#17 • BANKS (VIC) - WHY ARE YOU DRESSED LIKE A CHICKEN

🍺 West Coast Pilsner⁠⁠ • 🥴 5.0% ABV⁠

Beautiful and bright in the glass, with dank character upfront, but followed by sweet notes of peach candy, fresh tropical juice, stone fruit, and orange peel. It is slightly creamy, and the assertive bitterness it holds dries up the palate from that sweet character, while we go through a ride of grapefruit, pineapple skin & mandarin. Finishes dry with a lingering resinous note.

#18 • KING RIVER (VIC) - BELGIAN SESSION IPA

🍺 Belgian Session IPA w Krush Hops⁠⁠ • 🥴 4.0% ABV⁠

As we pour this golden nectar, we find some delicate banana esters with some citrus like character from the hops, resembling overripe orange flesh. The malt is supportive and reminds us of Belgian waffles for extra Wallonian/Flemish vibes. In flavour the bready malt supports a blend of hops and yeast: herbs, plantain and ripe pear. Spritzy and refreshing, medium-light bodied and just enough bitterness for quaffability.

#19 • SOBREMESA (VIC) - COUCH TO COUCH

🍺 Barrel Fermented Belgian Xmas Ale⁠⁠⁠ • 🥴 7.4% ABV⁠

Another Belgian brew but wildly different! Notes of caramelised apple & banoffee with spice. Hints of reindeer blanket and sherry/calvados character come through as it warms up. In flavour we find red apples, dates and cloves, with Brettanomyces coming like North Pole leather gloves and earthy notes, the complexity keeps on building as it warms up. It’s spritzy & highly carbonated.

#20 • DAY TO BE (SA) - CAREFREE

🍺 Imperial Mocha Stout⁠⁠⁠ • 🥴 12.8% ABV⁠

Just by the pour and aroma you can tell that this beer will be BIG. Lashes of chocolate and coffee cake, with a hint of milo in the background & notes of freshly roasted coffee beans. In mouth it resembles rich chocolate brownie, with a light coffee acidity. Notes of chocolate truffles and vanilla slice. It’s full bodied and warming, with a high roasty bitterness that lingers in the palate.

#21 • WORKING TITLE (QLD) - RED SNOW

🍺 Toasted Pine Double Red IPA • 🥴 8.0% ABV⁠

Brown in colour with a reddish hue and a prominent tan head, this beer is bursting with aroma! Lashes of Strawberry Danish, pine needles, caramel and dark cherries hit the nostrils and linger. In mouth we find notes of toasted pink marshmallows, pine, strawberry jam, cherry wood and dry tangerine peel. Feels initially sweet but it quickly dries and slaps you with bitter dankness.

#22 • SAILORS GRAVE (VIC) - WHITE CHRISTMAS

🍺 White Chocolate Dessert Sour • 🥴 6.7% ABV⁠

Channelling a vintage Women's Weekly xmas dessert, we find a beer that pours quite normal, but as soon as you start perceiving the aromas you realise you’re in for a wild ride: Marshmallows, Coconut, Raspberry Jelly, Strawberry Milk, etc. It’s so incredibly aromatic, like walking into a candy shop! In mouth it’s creamy and resembles white chocolate, Turkish delight & hard raspberry candies with underlying nuttiness. Yes it’s sweet, but it hold enough bitterness to not be OTT.

#23 • ROCKY RIDGE (WA) x BOTTLE LOGIC (CA, USA) - DOPAMINE DRIP

🍺 West Coast IPA • 🥴 7.5% ABV⁠

What a beer! Dank AF, with aromas of dried mangos, pineapple, passion fruit and peach. The flavour follows with peach, mango pip & apricot, but underlying resinous notes and a slightly spearmint character. It’s lightly warming, and finishes off dry, with a light sweetness that lingers into long lasting bitterness…

#24 • FOX FRIDAY (TAS) x ONE DROP (NSW) - CHECKING IT TWICE

🍺 BBA Salted Caramel Imperial Stout • 🥴 11% ABV⁠

At first a good whack of bourbon hits the nostrils, like dunking a caramello koala in a glass of Beam, with sweet notes of toffee and roasted peanuts. In flavour it’s sweet and boozy, with caramel, chocolate syrup & dulce de leche. It’s slightly savoury with lotsa bourbon and lotsa wood providing a light but pleasant oxidative character. Quite thick, unctuous and warming.

#25 (MAGNUM) • DOLLAR BILL (VIC) - FRAMBOISE

🍺 Raspberry Sour Ale⁠ • 🥴 7.2% ABV⁠

For this year’s festive magnum we’ve once again reached out to a brewery specialised in mixed fermentation and wild ales, and we’re super excited to have the Award-Winning Dollar Bill Brewing as part of Canvent for 2024! The Ballarat-based brewers are here to elevate our Xmas celebrations with a flavour packed-brew.⁠ This time Ed and Fiona have conjured up a Fruited Sour Ale, made to be refreshing and a perfect fit for a hot Aussie xmas.

Very effervescent beer with an incredibly gorgeous red and dark pink colour. In aroma is like picking raspberries straight of the bush, with a light acetic but pleasant character. As it warms up the fresh raspberry takes on a candy characters. In flavour the raspberry stands out the most, with a light grassiness, followed by funk with a lingering earthy bitterness. The acidity is evident, but really well balanced. Not too full on at all as all the flavour are very well integrated.⁠

It’s honestly super easy drinking, slightly puckering and juicy, but mostly refreshing. It’s different from other wild ales and mixed ferms as it gets sweeter as it warms, and not harsher on the palate like others could. Share this with the non-beer drinkers too - cocktails fans will likely enjoy this, it's almost like a melted daiquiri...