Inspired by Anthony Boudain’s visit to Cologne, Germany – home of Kölsch – a cool-fermented and lagered ale.  After watching the show we studied the almanac and set to work to brew one specifically for the Passport to Malt & Mayhem winter event. This is our first time brewing a Kölsch, and while it is not as clear as we would like (sorry we don’t add additives to clarify), the flavour is good enough to ensure a keg is in the home fridge. Noble hop aroma and a nice dry finish – perfect with food.

Our mates from Hilltop Hop Farm in Brisbane are now growing Vista – a hop with very high oil content and green fruit forward characters. So when they suggested brewing an Italian-style pilsner using that hop from their winter harvest, we jumped at the chance. So one Sunday we started the brew while they were harvesting and by the time they arrived with kilos of fresh hop cones we were ready to put it in the whirlpool. We are all very happy with the result – lots of pear and green fruit notes on a soft malt bill

After enjoying so many good Pilsners in Europe, Craig set to work to brew a European-style Pilsner, with a multi-step mash, Hallertau Hops and a very long tank-lagering. There has been a lot of sampling from the tank on this one. Silver Medal 2024 Royal Qld Beer Awards

This Version of the Pale India Ale features Mosaic as the Aroma hop, giving distinct passionfruit and grapefruit aromas and a rich flavour. Bronze medal winner – Royal Qld Beer Awards 2021 and Australian Independent Brewers Awards 2021, Silver medal winner – Royal Qld Beer Awards 2022. GOLD medal Royal Qld Beer Awards 2023 and IBA Beer Awards 2023.

This one we have replicated our classic Kveik or the Dead but switched the yeast from Voss Kviek to Verdant.  The result is a big, bold, juicy number full of pineapple and tropical fruit aromas and flavours – delicious and far too easy to drink for the ABV…

Originally brewed on our new pilot kit as a limited release brew. It  has now become one of our core range, featuring Eclipse, El Dorado and Mosaic hops finished on Verdent yeast to give a delicious juicy throwback.

The saying goes when the world gives you lemons make lemonade – well that is what happened here. Epic Mowing gave us kilos of spray-free mandarins, so what better way to say thank you than make a beer or two with them. This one we added pulp in the mash and then peel into the kettle. Finish it with a Belgian Wit yeast and you have a classic European Wheat beer with a Mandarin twist

A small batch featuring 100% Pacifica Hops from New Zealand and brewed with Lallemand’s new lager yeast – Novalager.  The result is a light lemon aspen character with enough bitterness to make it sessionable

A hop-forward Extra Pale Ale featuring HPA’s new Spectrum Liquid Hops, specifically Eclipse, Galaxy and Citra.  A full-flavoured midstrength

A single hop pale ale featuring Citra hops from USA Bronze medal winner – Royal Qld Beer Awards 2023

An easy drinking Lager-like Summer Ale featuring Enigma hops from Tasmania.

Craig was craving an easy drinking stout – something deep and delicious with lots of body without astringency of heavy roast barley. Something you could session on now the days are getting cooler.  He studied the malts we had in stock and set to work on the pilot kit, to create a very lightly carbonated brew, to be finished and served on Nitrogen.

The result has exceeded expectations and created a visual experience as the nitro cascades in the glass.

Thanks to Mark W for the name – Craic = slang for”fun, entertainment, good conversation, news and gossip” .  It describes this beer perfectly!

A brewed ginger beer, full of ginger spice and botanticals with Sorghum Malt. Brewed gluten free, however, brewed on equipment exposed to Gluton