Sharing wonderful wine is and always will be CellarHand’s raison d’être. But the business is underpinned by family, a fact reflected by the evolution of our portfolio. Thus Mosel Riesling (Dr. Loosen) begat Oregon Pinot Noir (J. Christopher) and biodynamic Alsace (Ostertag) spawned Chilean Pinot (Montsecano). And now we bring you Napoleone Brewers, whose stream of small-batch beers has started to flow from a Yarra Valley source.
We’ve enjoyed a tremendous relationship with Napoleone’s sister winery, Punt Road, having taken on the role of Victorian distributor in 2001 and extended the arrangement into New South Wales earlier this year.
The Napoleone name comes from the fruit-growing family that planted the Coldstream vineyard in 1987 before founding Punt Road Wines just over a decade later. The family added award-winning ciders to their repertoire in 2008, and in 2014 started to pour their passion and artisanal expertise into beer.
With restlessly inquisitive, perfectionist head brewer Ben Waymouth at the helm, the team’s approach to brewing reflects the same balance of flair and focus that characterise Punt Road’s wines.
Ben comes from a home-brewing background, having picked up the hobby during university when he worked part-time in a local vineyard. A self-confessed obsessive fermentationist, he began volunteering at breweries, developing his production-brewing experience over several years in Ballarat until he joined Napoleone.
Each beer crafted by the team reflects the place it comes from and the people who made it. But most of all, it’s about making great beer they’re happy to drink and even happier to share.
NAPOLEONE: THE BEERS
NAPOLEONE HELLES LAGER
ABV: 5.1%
IBU: 16
YEAST: Saflager w- 34/70
MALT: Gladfield Pils, Munich and Vienna
HOPS: Magnum (bittering), Saaz (whirlpool)
TASTE NOTES: It’s in the title. This lager is ‘light’ in every sense. German Pils malt, bittered with Magnum hops with a touch of Saaz for spice. This is a bright, clean and refreshing take on the classic German-style Lager.
NAPOLEONE SAISON DUVAL
ABV: 5.9%
IBU: 25
YEAST: Bella Saison, Wyeast French Saison
MALT: Gladfield Pils and Gladfield Rye
HOPS: Magnum (bittering), Saaz (whirlpool)
TASTE NOTES: A simple take on this traditional farmhouse style ale. No spicing or dry hopping in this ale allows the Saison yeast to play off the Belgian Pils malt. Lemon pith, touches of spice from the rye addition, a bit of funk and coriander characters with dry, crisp finish.
NAPOLEONE PALE ALE
GOLD MEDAL 2015 SYDNEY ROYAL BEER & CIDER SHOW
ABV: 4.5%
IBU: 35
YEAST: US- 05, SO- 04
MALT: Gladfield Pale Malt, Munich, Medium Crystal
HOPS: Magnum (bittering), Summer, Cascade and Columbus (whirlpool and dry hop)
TASTE NOTES: Brewed more as a traditional pale ale, this beer is well balanced with dry hop additions of Summer, Cascade and Columbus giving it floral citrus and stone fruit characters. Rounded out with a reserved malt character and subtle bitterness this is an easy drinking, sessionable APA.
NAPOLEONE BREAKNECK PORTER
ABV: 5.1%
IBU: 35
YEAST: SO- 4
HOPS: Magnum ( bittering), East Kent Goldings (whirlpool)
MALT: Pale Malt (Gladfield), Munich, Medium Crystal, Chocolate and Brown.
TASTE NOTES:
An impressive specialty malt bill gives this beer plenty of dark chocolate, caramel, burnt toffee and coffee with a dry espresso finish. Let this one warm up and watch it develop, you won’t be sorry…
REVIEW
“This is a black beer with the appearance of a stout, but not as heavy or strongly malted. Chocolatey aroma with subtle hops on the finish. Hearty, with a rich middle and long, satisfying palate. 92 points.” Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald