Where have the good beers gone in Sydney lounge?

[Kevin Scrimshaw]

You do have a keen eye don't you!
Yes our new catering contractors started Monday, and yes, we have a new beer range.

Beez Neez has been swapped out in the Summer refresh (is this where i should duck?), but Fat Yak stays - it may simply have temporarily out of stock due to the thirsty crowds we've had through of late!

Other changes that your taste-buds should be aware of:

We have consolidated to a core range of 6 beers - Corona (or Great Northern in QLD), Fat Yak, Crown Lager, Pure Blonde, Cascade Premium Light, Strongbow Apple Cider, which means that you can no longer expect Beez Neez, Asahi, Pure Blonde White & Pure Blonde Naked.
We have also introduced Victoria Pale Lager, Carlsberg, Cascade Premium, and VB in selected lounges as part of the extended range, and swapped out Strongbow Clear for Apple Cider (Pear also included in some extended ranges).

Why the change?

This is simply a refresh for the new season. All feedback is welcome!

Also, our Wine list also change over quarterly and we are in the transition period from the early October change.

As for food, stay tuned for menu refresh, based on member, AFF and Guest feedback in the not too distant future.

When do you think you might introduce spirits to The Lounge? It's great to see them finally available in-flight, but the absence of spirits in The (VA) Lounge is about the one and only thing Qantas still has on you in the lounge stakes.....

 

[straitman]

When do you think you might introduce spirits to The Lounge? It's great to see them finally available in-flight, but the absence of spirits in The (VA) Lounge is about the one and only thing Qantas still has on you in the lounge stakes.....

Hi Kevin Scrimshaw,

Welcome to AFF.

A good first post IMHO.

 

[medhead]

Man! Disappointed! I loved asking for a naked blonde in the lounge.

yeah I would PM quickly - before the new company buys up on VB :shock:

If they got crown they got VB.

I am a beer snob, so micro brews are my go. Coopers red is good if i want a mainstream brew.

You said coopers red! that's my beer snob moment, if you can't use the proper name well.....

Besides the real test is if you can drink coopers pale ale.

Nothing wrong with a crownie providing it is so cold there are ice crystals forming in it:mrgreen:.

I feel that way about carlton cold. Crack the twist top and watch the ice crystals form with the pressure change. Awesome in summer.

As for my beer choices, I like a wide range. Coopers pale, fat yak, guinness, Germany lagers all for winter. Carlton cold, 4X gold, corona, heineken and such for summer. Even crown at times. All time favourite is weissbier, erdinger in my world cup glass. plus just about any Munich brew, even hofbrau. About the only beer I couldn't drink was Pepperjack brew, they make a good wine but the beer is dodgy as!

Anyway, I got a couple of batches laid down for summer and I'm going to enjoy my brew.

 

[serfty]

Coopers pale ale is the standard I use - any lounge with this available (or sparkling ale) gets my nod.

(I used to like my travel through ADL and the availability of Coopers Sparkling ale in the old QP - pale ale on tap in the new one is good as well.)

 

[cityloop]

I am a fan of Beez Neez but drink more wine than beer. I also agree with a few sub standard wines creeping in to the mix. Best to stick with boutique labels rather than sub standard labels (Rosemount).
Excited for the new food options coming. I also have reached my salami limit. I need something more substantial than antipasto!

 

[JohnK]

As long as Pure Blonde is still around then I am happy....

 

[Demented Freak]

Disappointed to see the Beez Neez go but Fat Yak is a fine substitute. Now, if only Little Creatures were to make an appearance at some point... ​

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Now, if only Little Creatures were to make an appearance at some point...

Just as long as they're not in the food :shock:

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I need something more substantial than antipasto!

Hear, hear!

It does seem like the most common negative comment about the new look DJ is the less than ordinary offering of food......

Please, please, please add something more interesting than ham sandwiches :idea:

 

[stredinnick]

At least with a VB you get a full 375ml. Not like these foreign ponce beers with their wussy 330 ml whatevers.

 

[Mh4k]

I was in the Sydney lounge around 7am on Wednesday. New staff in evidence. A marked decline on the previous staff.

A huge line for coffee and very slow service. A worse coffee, too. Tables not being cleared. I sat at one of the high tables with bar stools for 40 minutes, it was covered in plates, food debris and spilled liquid when I arrived and remained uncleared by the time I left. I didn't see a single table cleared in the time I was in the lounge.

Slow to refill the food selection too. Very poor.

 

[777]

Coffee was unusually bad in Melbourne this morning. Cleaning was fine. I will cut them some slack for teething period.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

This may sound really dopey in this age of specialist everything, but why would DJ outsource the lounge catering? Surely they could employ a single catering guru to manage all the lounges including staff training?

That way they're not beholden to the catering Co. and they could instill the same level of customer focus in the catering crew as they seem to have done with all their other teams.

 

[kamchatsky]

I will miss Beez Neez. The first and last time I tried was at my last visit at VA SYD lounge. There was a big group of people (maybe AFFers?!) hanging around the lounge for a long time (probably ATA) and one of the guys recommended me to try Beez Neez. It was great. They should bring it back if possible!!!

 

[oz_mark]

I will miss Beez Neez. The first and last time I tried was at my last visit at VA SYD lounge. There was a big group of people (maybe AFFers?!) hanging around the lounge for a long time (probably ATA) and one of the guys recommended me to try Beez Neez. It was great. They should bring it back if possible!!!

I rather like Beez Neez myself.

 

[LiamR]

Sitting in the Sydney lounge now.

There seems to be noticeably less staff around the Sydney Lounge today, two of the meat/cheese choices are empty and haven't been refilled since I've been here. There seems to also be a higher than average amount of plates sitting around the place.

I believe they have outsourced services to Alliance Catering, I've dealt with them in the past, they can be quite hit and miss frankly.

As 777 said, I'm giving them some slack for a little bit since they are new.

 

[Kevin Scrimshaw]

Hi Kevin Scrimshaw,

Welcome to AFF.

A good first post IMHO.

Thanks straitman!!

 

[N860CR]

In fairness, I believe all the QP catering staff are contractors as well.

Interesting to note that there are no imported beer options in QLD. I will miss the Asahi.

 

[ajw373]

Yes a new company has started, though would have thought the menu would be directed by Virgin, not the company.

With the change my wife worked for the old company, but decided the stupid hours were not worth the pitance they get paid, especially when to continue she would have had to pay for her ATSIC again (beleive it or not guys the employees pay this themselves not the company). Just hope the old company pays her and the other lounge emplyee's super before they close up shop. Ahh the joys of outsourcing.

 

[StevePER]

The usual selection including Fat Yak and Beez Neez are still available in the PER lounge.