The picks are in for The Carlton Draft, with AFL greats heading to country footy leagues across Victoria to help bring even more passion back to local footy in 2022.

After a difficult couple of years for local community sport, eight deserving clubs were recently selected to participate in the inaugural draft, a boost for the community when the star draftees lace up their boots.

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Headlined by Draft Commissioner Jonathan Brown, each club selected their AFL great on a special FOX Footy broadcast last night ahead of the one-off games to be held in coming weeks.

The first selection in The Carlton Draft saw Portarlington Football Netball Club select recently-retired Demon Nathan Jones, a game which will see him don the same red and blue colours he wore in his 15 years at Melbourne and throughout his junior career.

Next, legendary goal sneak Eddie Betts headed to Branxholme Wallacedale Football Club in the South West District Football Netball League.

Three-time premiership hero Cameron Mooney was third and will play a game for Longwood Football Netball Club, a club in much need of a prized goalkicker after a tough couple of seasons in front of the big sticks.

Recently-retired Hawk Shaun Burgoyne will swap the brown and gold for black and white when he heads to Dalyston Football Netball Club.

Former Gippsland Power draftee-turned Hawthorn superstar Jarryd Roughead will head back to Gippsland to play for Gormandale Football Netball Club, just an hour down the road from where he grew up in Inverloch.

Slipping through the cracks, the night’s biggest surprise saw Campbells Creek Football Netball Club select five-time All Australian Alex Rance with the sixth selection.

North Wangaratta Football Netball Club held the seventh selection and selected two-time All Australian Brendon Goddard.

2010 AFL premiership player Dale Thomas was the final selection of the night and will head up the Western Highway and play for the Nhill & Sporting District Tigers.

The final order of The Carlton Draft:

• Pick 1: Nathan Jones, Portarlington Football Club
• Pick 2: Eddie Betts, Branxholme Wallacedale Football Club
• Pick 3: Cameron Mooney, Longwood Football Netball Club
• Pick 4: Shaun Burgoyne, Dalyston Football Netball Club
• Pick 5: Jarryd Roughead, Gormandale Football Netball Club
• Pick 6: Alex Rance, Campbells Creek Football Netball Club
• Pick 7: Brendon Goddard, North Wangaratta Football Netball Club
• Pick 8: Dale Thomas, Nhill & District Sporting Club

Number 1 draft pick and Portarlington Demons recruit Nathan Jones said:

“I have worn the beloved red and blue since I was nine. I played my junior footy for the Dees, I played 300 plus games for Melbourne and to be drafted by the Portarlington Demons for my first game after retiring is something special.

“There is a bit of pressure after being selected with the first pick and it was shock when my name was read out. I can’t wait to play and give the local community a much-needed boost.”

Carlton & United Breweries CEO Danny Celoni said:

“After the challenges of the pandemic we wanted to help bring back the crowds and some extra passion to local Victorian footy, which forms the backbone of many communities across the state.

“Carlton Draught, along with our Victorian bottle shop and pub partners, value our long-standing association with grassroots footy. That’s why Carlton Draught has supported it for generations and plans to keep doing so for many more.”

– ENDS –

For interview requests with playing talent and/or The Carlton Draft spokespeople please contact TLA on behalf of Carlton & United Breweries:

Patrick Lucarelli
M: 0410 038 824
E: Plucarelli@tlaworldwide.com

Carlton & United Breweries is bringing back three of its all-time classics for true blue Australian beer lovers, including iconic brands that haven’t been brewed for decades.

In response to demand, gone-but-not-forgotten heritage beers Reschs Dinner Ale, Melbourne’s Richmond Lager and Cairns Draught are each making a comeback in their home state for a limited time.

CUB marketing manager Marc Lord said classic, local beers had become a popular choice during the pandemic.

“During the uncertainty of the pandemic many beer lovers have felt a strong sense of nostalgia, and that is set to continue,” Mr Lord said.

“Beer lovers have long been calling for the Cairns Draught, Reschs Dinner Ale and Richmond Lager classics to be revived. The people have spoken – and we’ve listened.”

The three CUB heritage beers making a comeback are:

Reschs Dinner Ale: Known by fans as DA, this classic was first made in Sydney in the early 1900s and last known sales were in 1996. A long-running campaign by the Reschs Appreciation Society saw iconic Reschs Silver Bullet cans returned to NSW bottleshops last year and now the passionate society has notched up another victory with the return of the Dinner Ale.

Queensland’s Cairns Draught: “The north’s own beer” was released in 1925 as the first draught beer on the market. Tasting similar to Carlton Draught, the beer was hugely popular – thirst-quenching in the hot and humid climate. The beer was last brewed in 1996.

Richmond Lager: Perhaps lesser-known – but no less popular among its fans – is Richmond Lager. Initially brewed in 1928, Richmond Lager helped to transform the way beer is made in Australia as one of the first to embrace new technology. It was initially brewed in small quantities, but it quickly became renowned for its quality and soon couldn’t be made fast enough. Production ceased in 1962 but it’s since been released in very limited numbers from time to time.

CUB expects the relaunches to help drive consumers into stores, because these drinks capture the nostalgia of beer lovers and remind them of simpler times. The relaunch reinforces CUB’s commitments to listening to our retail partners and helping expand the beer category.

All three beers will be available at Liquorland and First Choice bottleshops in their respective state while stocks last.

For more information contact Simon Pristel at HeadlinePR on 0412 393 433 or simon@headlinepr.com.au

Cascade Brewery is again working with Tasmanian farmers to produce First Harvest fresh hop beer, after the runaway success of last year’s brew.

The return of Cascade First Harvest will give Tasmanian beer lovers a beer like few others on the Australian market, with hops picked fresh from a local farm just hours before being brewed.

This special beer can only be brewed once a year during harvest and tastes slightly different each year depending on which hop varieties are used and the season’s influence on their flavour.

The fresh Cascade and Enigma® hops are picked from Hop Products Australia’s farm Bushy Park Estates outside Hobart and made into an IPA beer.

This year’s First Harvest is focussed on a solid backbone of malts that create clean, biscuit and bread notes to the highly hopped ale. The lightly coloured malts mean First Harvest 2022 is lighter with less malt sweetness than the 2021 release.

As beer lovers become more adventurous, they want to experience different tastes and characters. Fresh hop beers have grown in popularity, with people interested in the stories behind the beer they enjoy and learning about the process and how brewers draw out certain flavours.

Hops are an essential ingredient of good beer. They give the brew its flavour and, while often fruity, spicy and aromatic, hops also act as a natural preservative and balance the flavours from the malt.

Using fresh hops is an ancient method that creates an earthy, vibrant beer with wood, pine and floral characters. Fresh hops offer a softer, more subtle flavour without the bitterness found in many other beers.

Usually, beer is brewed with dried hop pellets as hops are harvested just once a year, in March.

Cascade Brewery head brewer Brendan Flanagan said:

“As brewers, we love to make this kind of beer. Our use of the traditional hop-back process during brewing ensures we are maximising the contact time and extraction of these beautiful hop oils and flavours into Cascade First Harvest. The benefits of our brewing process become evident when the finished beer hits the bottom of the glass and the wet hop aromatics from the Cascade and Enigma® hops are released from the beer for your enjoyment!”

“It also gives us an opportunity to work directly with local hop farmers and draw on their expertise to create something really special.”

The special brew is only available in Tasmania and just 180 kegs will be brewed.

Carlton & United Breweries, which is custodian of the Cascade Brewery and part of the Asahi Beverages family, will distribute First Harvest beer to pubs that currently stock regular Cascade beers. CEO Danny Celoni said: “Publicans and venue owners have told us these initiatives help create interest in tap beer at their venues. As a business, we will continue to listen to our customers and consumers and prioritise initiatives that drive category expansion and value creation.”

Owen Johnston, Head of Sales and Marketing at Hop Products Australia said “fresh hop beers are a chance to remind people about the fundamental connection between Aussie beer and Aussie agriculture, while introducing unique tastes and flavours to beer lovers.”

“We experienced a very mild growing season, with cooler daytime temperatures in spring and summer, which suited our Aussie hops,” said Mr Johnston.

“Working with fresh hops gives brewers a chance to slow down, do something different and celebrate the romance of harvest season and fresh hops with their local community.”

Cascade brewed the inaugural First Harvest almost two decades ago, before bringing it back last year.

Cascade Brewery and Asahi Beverages are committed to supporting Australian farmers, recently announcing a deal to use 50,000kgs of Tasmanian raspberries in products such as Mercury Cider and in cordials, juices and fruit drinks.

For almost 200 years, Cascade has been perfecting its craft with water from Kunanyi / Mount Wellington behind the brewery.

Cascade First Harvest is now exclusively available from the Cascade Brewery Bar, Cascade Airport Café and Bar and select pubs around Tasmania.

For more information contact HeadlinePR:
Lisa Gilbert lisa@headlinepr.com.au 0412 822 673

Welcoming the 2022 Australian Grand Prix back to Melbourne, Peroni Libera 0.0% is proud
to celebrate their global partnership with the Aston Martin F1™ Team through a series of
exciting on and off-track activations leading up to and across the four race days. This
partnership brings together two brands synonymous for their effortless style, passion, and
quality. The Aston Martin F1™ Team includes 4-time world champion and F1™ veteran
Sebastian Vettel, multiple time podium finisher Lance Stroll, and impressive reserve driver
Nico Hulkenberg. All team members exemplify the brands’ ‘Live Every Moment’ mantra
and are excited to be back at the iconic Albert Park in Australia.

Supermodel, Shanina Shaik, will be a special guest of Peroni Libera 0.0% this year at the
glamorous Friday night launch party celebrating the global partnership between the two
iconic brands. Alongside Shanina, Aston Martin F1™ Team Ambassador and James Bond
stunt driver, Jessica Hawkins will be in attendance on and off the track. On the eve of the
race, Shanina, David Wenham, Dan MacPherson, Charlotte Best and Tom Derrickx will join
a range of media and other friends of the brands for a night of style at Melbourne Italian
establishment Di Stasio Citta. Guests will be treated to an intimate performance by the
emerging stars of the Australian indie-pop scene, Cub Sport. The black tie cocktail party
will celebrate Peroni Libera 0.0%’s partnership with the Aston Martin F1™ Team and kick
off the exhilarating weekend of racing.

For consumers wanting an elevated experience off the track, The Commons Collective
has transformed their outdoor space into an immersive Italian-inspired bar where ice-cold Peroni Libera 0.0%’s
and a specialty Aperitivo menu will be served, making it the
premium off-track destination. Fans can enjoy a dj sets, the live races and get up close
and personal with the Aston Martin F1™ team replica race car, making its way from
the home of AMF1™ in Silverstone, England to amplify Peroni Libera 0.0%’s passionate
presence throughout Melbourne.

Peroni Libera 0.0% is crafted with Italian passion and flair, to deliver a crisp and
refreshing beer with 0.0% alcohol content. Its superior taste is delivered through a
unique recipe with signature Italian Nostrano dell’Isola Maize, produced and bottled in
Italy. Peroni Nastro Azzurro exemplifies the traditions of Italian craftsmanship, passion,
and flair upon which it was formed.

For further imagery
and quotes, please
contact:

David Abela
dabela@3dm.com.au
0419 754 757

Brooke Laurie
blaurie@3dm.com.au
0487 400 870

Tasmanian icons Cascade Brewery and Cadbury® are bringing together two Easter favourites in a limited-edition Cascade Stout inspired by Cadbury® Old Gold® Dark Chocolate.

Stout is a popular choice for Easter celebrations every year – in fact it’s the biggest week of the year for Cascade Stout sales – while Cadbury® Old Gold® has been a cult classic among dark chocolate lovers for generations.

The idea for Old Gold® stout came about after Cascade Plant Manager Jesse Cartwright and his partner Penny Wilcher, who works at the Cadbury Claremont factory in Hobart, were talking one night about what the perfect Easter treat for beer drinkers would be.

The limited-edition stout has been brewed at Cascade’s historic Hobart brewery and is available only in Tassie.

Mr Cartwright said: “We’ve all heard the saying ‘name a more iconic duo’,” he said. “I challenge anyone to find a more iconic Tassie duo than these two.

“This is an exciting beer for anyone who loves stout or dark chocolate – with the cocoa complementing Cascade stout’s chocolate aroma and bittersweet flavour. We’re passionate about delivering innovation at Cascade such as this beer, which is a must-try this Easter for beer lovers and sweet tooths alike.’’

Both Cascade Brewery and Cadbury® have a rich history in Tasmania. Located in the foothills of South Hobart, Cascade is Australia’s oldest operating brewery, while Cadbury® is this year celebrating 100 years of making chocolate in Tasmania.

Ms Wilcher, a Cadbury® line manager, said: “I’ve been working in chocolate-making for years, overseeing countless innovations and product developments, but nothing quite like this. What better way for us to celebrate 100 years making Cadbury in Australia, than to partner with another Tassie icon and bring chocolate and beer lovers a special taste of Tasmania.” Ms Wilcher said.

Cascade Stout x Old Gold® is only available in six-pack cans and slabs in Tasmanian independent bottle shops, Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores.

“This is a limited-edition run of 5000 cases available only in Tassie, so if you’re keen to try this taste of home make sure you grab some while you can – we have a feeling it won’t last long,” Mr Cartwright said.

Cascade Old Gold stout is 5.8% ABV. The classic dark chocolate notes from the roast barley are accentuated by cocoa in the kettle to provide a smooth chocolate accent to the palate, subtle toffee and nutty tones support a rounded bitterness with a creamy body and lingering finish reminiscent of Cadbury® Old Gold® dark chocolate.

Australia’s favourite ready-to-drink vodka beverage, Vodka Cruiser, has today announced the launch of its new limited-edition Cruiser Magnums, celebrating its 21st birthday and the reopening of dance floors across Australia.

To help Cruiser fans join in the fun, Vodka Cruiser will give 21 lucky Aussies and their crew the chance to get their hands on the impressive 3.1L Double Magnum bottles – available in fan-favourite flavours Wild Raspberry, Juicy Watermelon, and Lush Guava.

The bottles, which replicate the classic Cruiser in a glamorous Champagne-esque design, can hold almost 11 standard Cruisers and require two bar staff to pop and pour!

Michael O’Donoghue, Brand Manager at Vodka Cruiser says, “It’s been a tough few years for bars and clubs across the country. While we weren’t able to celebrate Vodka Cruiser’s 21st birthday last year with the ups and downs of the pandemic, we are beyond excited to really get the party started in 2022 by launching the Cruiser Magnums with our partner venues!

“These limited-edition Magnums will be available to win, so we hope it brings some needed joy to kick-off this year, with more exciting announcements to be shared soon.”

The Magnum Cruiser experience will be available in Sydney at the Marlborough Hotel; in Melbourne at Billboard The Venue; in South Australia at The Highway and The Jetty Bar; and in Cairns at Gilligans.

To enter, Aussies (aged 18+) can simply head over to Vodka Cruiser’s entry page on Facebook and share their favourite flavour of Vodka Cruiser. Entries will need to be submitted by 7 April 2022.*

As part of the Magnum experience, winners will have a two-hour window to enjoy their Vodka Cruiser Magnums with up to four friends.

For more information on the Cruiser Magnums giveaway, visit Vodka Cruiser’s socials @vodkacruiser. For more information on Vodka Cruiser, please visit www.vodkacruiser.com.au.

##

For more information:
Demi Georgitsopoulos
demi.georgitsopoulos@elevenpr.com.au
0422 304 302

For high-res imagery, please see here.

Please drink responsibly. Competition open to Australians aged 18+.

*For competition terms and conditions, please see here.

About Vodka Cruiser
Established in 2000, Vodka Cruiser is a favourite ready-to-drink vodka brand. With fruit-inspired colours, the Vodka Cruiser range comes with strong flavour credentials and the ‘Premium Triple Distilled Vodka’ signature. Its core range consists of eight iconic flavours that were recently redeveloped to include less sugar and more natural tasting flavours. Wild Raspberry, Pure Pineapple, Lush Guava, Zesty Lemon-Line, Sunny Orange Passionfruit, Bold Berry Blend, Ripe Strawberry and Juicy Watermelon are the house favourites. Vodka Cruiser also extends to other ranges and formats such as Vodka Cruiser Black and Vodka Cruiser Sugar Free.

Venue partners
● Billboard The Venue, 170 Russell St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000
● Marlborough Hotel, 145 King St, Newtown, NSW, 2042
● The Highway, 290 Anzac Hwy, Plympton SA 5038
● The Jetty Bar, 28 Jetty Rd, Glenelg SA 5045
● Gilligans, 57-89 Grafton Street, Cairns, QLD 4870

Please visit venue website for opening details. Winners will be notified by Vodka Cruiser to organise the Cruiser Magnum experience.

Carlton Draught and The Butcher Club have united to create the ultimate football food – a sausage made using Victoria’s favourite pub beer.

The sausages are a celebration of everything we love about footy – BBQs, beer and food with sauce.

The snags have been made by veteran butcher Peter Robinson and his team at The Butcher Club to herald the start of round one of the AFL season, and the return of footy in full force to the MCG.

Each sausage contains 12 ml of Carlton Draught, with the cooking process removing almost all traces of alcohol.

The beef and pork sausages are made using fresh kegs of beer, with the beer replacing the water that’s usually used to make the sausages.

“We are so excited to see footy back with a full house! Bring on the BBQs and beers that go hand in hand with footy season.” said Mr Robinson.

“The Carlton Draught sausage is a celebration of everything we love about football. Topped off with onion and sauce, it’s the perfect combination.”

Hawthorn players Jaeger O’Meara and Jack Gunston joined in at the MCG to try the new sausages.

“We love a snag – whether it’s kicking them on the ground at the MCG or at a barbie with friends. The only thing that would be better is the Hawks winning the flag this year,” said Jaeger O’Meara.

Carlton & United Breweries Head of Classic Brands, Hayden Turner said the sausages were a winning combination, with a flavour hit of fresh, draught beer.

“Carlton Draught and the footy go together like a sausage and sauce. The Carlton Draught sausage takes these famous combinations to new heights and was an idea we couldn’t say no to,” he said.

“Like all footy fans, we can’t wait for round one. A Carlton Draught sausage, washed down with an ice-cold Carlton Draught beer while watching the footy, might just be the best dining experience there is!”

The sausages will be on sale at Butcher Club locations across Victoria for a limited time.

Carlton Draught x Butcher Club sausages photos

Left – Right: Hawthorn player Jaeger O’Meara, Butcher Peter Robinson, Hawthorn player Jack Gunston.

For more information contact HeadlinePR: Lisa Gilbert lisa@headlinepr.com.au 0412 822 673

Because when their flagship Original Ale is this good, its rejects are worth
tasting too.

Melbourne, Australia – Australia’s original craft brewery, Matilda Bay, has today launched Rejected Ales, a limited-edition collection of the 27 near perfect brews they rejected on the way to crafting the award-winning Original Ale.

Obsessed with quality and relentlessly pursuing perfection in everything they do; Matilda Bay’s Master Brewer had no hesitation in rejecting beer that by another brewery’s standards might have been good enough. Rather than keeping these almost perfect beers a secret, the brewery has canned them and made them available to the public to prove just how good their Original Ale is.

Watch the launch film

“We’ve crafted beer to perfection our own way since 1983. If a batch doesn’t meet our impeccably high standards, we reject it. It might be a bit commercially reckless, but it’s just the way we do things around here. So, to demonstrate our dedication to crafting the perfect beer, we’re letting Aussies try our not quite perfect enough Rejected Ales. Which, after our Original Ale, are hopefully the second best beers you’ll taste”, says Phil Sexton.

With names like ‘Yeah…nah’, ‘Keep dreaming’ and ‘Ballpark’, the beers tell a whimsical story of their rejection, and can be tasted for free when you purchase Matilda Bay Original Ale.

You can find the Rejected Ales Australia-wide.
– Buy a 6 pack of Original Ale to receive a free Rejected Ale at participating Liquor
Barons and Ritchie’s stores.
– Buy a case of Original Ale to receive a free mixed 4 pack of Rejected Ales at
shop.matildaybay.com.
– Or find a selection at the Matilda Bay Brewery in the Yarra Valley.
Discover the entire journey to perfection at www.Matildabay.com.au/rejectedales

– ENDS –

For media enquiries, please contact:
Georgia Price
georgia.price@howatsonco.com.au
+61 400 200 943

About Matilda Bay:
Back in 1983 Matilda Bay launched with a mission to prove there was life beyond lager; to wake up drinkers to what great beer, brewed properly, could be. It would be fair to say it birthed the Australian craft movement, brewing now classic beers like the unpronounceable Summer Weizen (quickly renamed Redback in 1987) and the dark lager Dogbolter, with its wildly ranging ABV. After parting ways with Matilda Bay in the 90s, original founder Phil Sexton is back, on a mission to rebuild Matilda Bay, with a brewery and pub in Victoria’s Yarra Valley on the site where Giant Steps Wine used to occupy. Head Brewer Harry Sexton, Phil’s son, and the brewing team have been busy reinventing their greatest hits, and launching a couple of new ones too, taking advantage of the mountain water of the Yarra Ranges and the pristine environment.

Australia’s most iconic beer has joined forces with Australian designers Strateas Carlucci to create a range of luxury clothing and take knock-off drinks to stylish new heights.

The collection debuted this evening at Paypal’s Melbourne Fashion Festival, surprising the well-heeled crowd as models strutted the catwalk in a range of VB-inspired t-shirts, knitwear and much more.

Designed and produced locally in Melbourne, the collection draws on the heritage of VB – incorporating vintage fabrics and the ‘hard earned thirst’ tagline along with images of VB cans and posters. It is combined with Strateas Carlucci’s renowned androgynous style to create a range of unique designs for lovers of VB and high fashion.

VB Head of Classic Brands, Hayden Turner, says they are proud to partner with the fashion powerhouse Strateas Carlucci, a brand that shares many of the same core values.

“The unexpected collaboration brings together two brands that were born in Victoria to redefine the knock-off occasion”, said Turner.

“We know the notion of the knock-off has evolved with work days changing and social outings not being taken for granted. It isn’t just about enjoying a beer, it’s also about bringing style to the occasion”, concluded Turner.

For Peter Strateas and Mario-Luca Carlucci, this is more than a fashion collaboration, with the pair having personal ties to the brand.

“Collaborating with an iconic Australian brand like VB is incredibly sentimental for both of us. The VB long-neck bottle brings back many feelings of nostalgia. Our grandfathers would re-use the VB longnecks when making home-made tomato sauce and enjoyed many a VB over knock-off drinks”, said Mario-Luca.

“We wanted to create a range that challenges the stereotype of traditional ‘workwear’, swapping high vis for high fashion to create unique designs to help VB drinkers knock off in style.”

“VB is more than just a beer, it’s engrained into our Aussie culture. and we wanted to ensure this was reflected in the prints and heritage references we’ve included in the pieces whilst also remaining true to our signature style”, concluded Peter.

The capsule collection is underpinned by three pillars:

FABRIC PRINTS
Inspired by the heritage of VB and humble beginnings of a person’s story, Strateas Carlucci took an archival image of a VB can and morphed this into two faces. These faces for the designers represent modern Australia, and how this idea has evolved over time. The scrunched image also represents the idea of a crushed VB can, however, also ties into the concept of ‘redaction’, where they eliminate key details via the crushing of the image, to encourage the viewer to look at other details of the image.

KNITWEAR
The artworks for the knitwear were inspired by archival VB posters and advertising. The wording and phrases from these posters are used to create a new updated version.

ACCESSORIES
Using the redacted words ‘HARD / THIRST’ and the Strateas Carlucci logo on the back of the caps, this piece will complete any fashion look.

For fans wishing to get their hands on a piece of VB history, the limited-edition capsule will be made-to-order. To place your order, head to http://victoriabitter.com.au/merch/limitededition/SCxVB for your chance to own your very own VB x Strateas Carlucci items.

– ENDS –

Media assets for editorial use can be downloaded from the links below:

Rights-free imagery from the VB x Strateas Carlucci campaign can be found here.
Video News Release including overlay footage of the VB x Strateas Carlucci Runway Show as well as interviews with Peter Strateas, Mario-Luca Carlucci and VB spokesperson, Hayden Turner can be found here.

For all media enquiries, please contact TLA Worldwide on behalf of VB:

Ivana Bogut
TLA Worldwide
ibogut@tlaworldwide.com
+61 478 072 377