People love coffee. People love beer. Can you actually combine the two? For all the coffee afficianados and beer lovers the answer is Yes! The folks at Matilda Bay have taken on the challenge of creating a dream collaboration of flavours.  Matilda Bay is best known for the American Pale Ale “Fat Yak.”  Fat Yak has continued to gain in  popularity around Australia.  It is a great tasting beer and is becoming more readily available as word of mouth spreads.  Longshot is a collaboration between Matilda Bay head brewer Scott Vincent and gourmet coffee roaster Toby Smith from Toby’s Estate.  I think credit must go to both for exploring new flavours and coming up with something original.

This beer is a great challenge to the traditional similar tasting beers found in Australia. Infusing something like coffeee was a tricky task.  If the balance was not right it could have been a disaster.  Fortunately, Longshot is a great tasting beer.  It completely works as a beer and the coffee flavour comes in as a great aftertaste.  The coffee is not overpowering. It has a beautiful aroma of chocolate, toffee and coffee.  As soon as you say coffee bear the first thought is, “how could it work?” I think Longshot is a beer you must definitely try.  I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised just how well it tastes.  They have managed the fermentation process perfectly and got the coffee flavour just right.

The coffee used in the beer is a highly aromatic Ethiopian blend called Yirgacheffe.  It compliments the beer perfectly.  If you would like to match Longshot with food, dark chocolate or beef both work well. Longshot comes in a four pack and retails for $19.99.  Only 5,000 cases of Longshot have been produced and it is only available from Dan Murphy’s so if you would like to try it I suggest you act quick.

Longshot 4 pack

Longshot comes in a 4 pack and uses Yirgacheffe coffee beans