You've Found The Kween. Or Did The Kween Find You?
It's not every day that you find the Kween.
Let alone the fourth iteration.
If the third time's the charm, the fourth takes it up a notch or 11.
This fourth iteration in the Kween series releases the shackles – dialling it up with the holy trinity of chile de árbol, lime zest and pineapple juice. Hops take a backseat as the Kween reminds everyone what happens when you hit pause on the rules of beer.
We invite you to join the dad dance with our Head Brewer Caolan and explore the inspiration behind the beer, the brewing technique to arrive at this version of the Kween, and immerse yourself in the full tasting notes - just click play below ...
ABOUT SPICY KWEEN
HOPS Hops take a back seat for this one, with a very small amount of Galaxy hops added for bittering purposes only.
MALT Australian Pale and Wheat malts were summoned for the return of the Kween.
FOOD PAIRING This Spicy Margarita Sour works well with all of your favourite Mexican dishes, from pork and pineapple tacos, to kingfish ceviche tostadas and chicken taquitos – the Kween loves to pair with them all.
AVAILABILITY
The Kween won't be around for long, so get your hands on this new limited release at Stone & Wood online, our Byron and Brisbane Tasting Rooms, and at select venues and bottle shops while you can!
For those parched for a drink with a little zing in its tail, say G’day to Little Dragon, a refreshing Aussie take onalcoholic ginger beeravailable nationally from today.
We think Little Dragon is the cheeky thirst-quencher this sunburnt country has been crying out for. Made with natural ginger and a 4% bite, this well-natured little sidekick is perfect for kicking back at home or spicing it up on a night out.
But filling your fridge is not the only thing Little Dragon is about. As the native dragon takes pride of place in everything we do, we thought it was only right to repay this little Aussie legend by supporting wildlife care and conservation organisations.
Before Little Dragon even made its escape from the brewery gates, we donated $10,000 toAustralian Wildlife Conservancy. Moving forward, our aim is to donate 1% of all net revenue back to similar foundations and charities every financial year.
Good natured and loosely nurtured, Little Dragon is here.
Availability
You can wrap your laughing gear around a Little Dragon by heading to bottle shops and venues around the country which you can track downhere, or by heading online toLittle Dragon.
Due to the global events of last year, our annual tradition and brewing ritual, Stone Brew Day 2020 was wound back. Although we kept the fire burning last year…Just…It was very exciting to see the return of an event that brings our close friends from the beer community together, to help us prepare our annual Stone Beer for 2021 – a limited woodfired porter that we release every winter.
At Stone Brew Day, we honour this tradition by heating stones on a woodfire and – while they’re glowing red – lowering them inside a metal cage into the wort (the pre-fermented liquid that later ferments into beer) inside the kettle, lending Stone Beer a rich, caramelly flavour that matches the hints of coffee and dark chocolate – a tradition we have upheld since our humble beginnings back in 2008.
This year we hosted a handful of our close mates and local venues including The Beach Hotel, Brunswick Heads Hotel, Eltham Hotel, Cellar Byron Bay, The Northern, Sun Bistro, The Rails, Nimbin Hotel and Beach Byron Bay. The small local crew enjoyed some beers & conversation, great food by 100 Mile Table and learned the process and history of Stone Beer.
SAVE THE DATE – FESTIVAL OF THE STONE
As Stone Beer sits in tank now, we’re getting excited, as Festival of the Stone is also making a return this year! Festival of the Stone will be held on Saturday 5th June at Stone & Wood Brewery in Byron Bay. Tickets will go on sale on Friday 7th May. Stone Beer will be flowing alongside all of our Stone & Wood beers, Sunly Seltzer, Little Dragon Ginger Beer, Treehouse Cider and Fixation. A full line up of local bands will be bringing the vibes PLUS DJ sets, Malt Disney for the kids and much more! Profits from the festival will go to local non-for-profits. Get in quick, as tickets always sell out before the night!
Our winter Stone Beer will be available to pre-order 31 May. Stay tune for updates.
The hot rocks ready to drop into the brewSully and Timmy up on the brew deck
Responsible drinking starts with our East Point Low-Alcohol Beer
It’s no secret that hazy beers are the go-to choice for craft beer lovers these days. Made from malted barley, wheat and hops, there is no shortage of flavour in here. What you get instead is a pale ale that packs more tropical flavours than you know what to do with.
Best of all, you don’t even have to be a keen beer fan to enjoy one.
WHAT MAKES A HAZY BEER?
Hazy beers get their name from the ‘cloudy hue produced by the type of yeast used. High-protein malts are added, and the beer isdry-hopped during the brewing processto produce a hazy-look.
This results in a beer that is fuller, smoother, and fruitier tasting than your average Indian Pale Ale or lager. You can easily tell a hazy apart from the clear, sparkling finish of your old man’s favourite beer.
The hazy beer’s roots can be traced back to a fairly recent subclass of IPAs known as New England IPAs (NEIPAs). As the name suggests, the origin story begins in the New England region in the North East of the USA (Vermont to be exact) where beers in this category are known for their juicy scents and tangy flavour.
Over time, the “haze craze” took over the local craft beer scene doing the rounds, before eventually making its way over to our shores in the early part of the last decade.
INTRODUCING THE FIRST LOW-ALC HAZY
OurEast Point hazy beeris the first low-alcohol beer on the market, coming in at just 2.7% alc/vol. When less is more, this lightly soured refreshment quenches the thirst without skimping out. We like to think of it like when salt spray lifts off the wave, hits your face and lingers in the air Inspired by Australia’s most easterly point, near whichour Byron Bay breweryis located, the low-alc hazy beer is perfect for long afternoons, midday sessions or anything else that calls for a responsible approach.
HAZY BREWING NOTES
We brew the East Point onsite, using the protein and polyphenols from malts and hops to form a colloidal haze in the beer. The particular type of haze is considered non-biological due to the lack of bacteria and yeast agents here.
The combination of fresh ingredients and a distinctive brewing process gives it that zesty bomb and subtle sourness that you love, without the unintended “after-effects” (you know what we’re talking about).
AVAILABILITY
Pick up the East Point online in 16x 375ml cartons. You can also grab a four-pack from our Byron bay Tasting Room and our brewery in Brisbane and online. This smaller sampler pack is ideal for getting your first taste of this unique low alcohol hazy beer!
Stone & Wood and Brookie’s Gin have come together to ensure that on Mother’s Day 2021, you’re going to be the favourite child.
Delivered in a picture-perfect box, Stone & Wood’s The Gatherer sits lovingly aside Brookie’s Slow Gin, patiently poised for Mother’s Day and the pouring of The Pink Pam cocktail.
Exceptional for sharing and easily made, The Pink Pam is a thing of beauty. With a blush hue, flower garnish and served in Brookie’s glass jars, it’s the ideal refreshment to mark a special occasion.
But golden child beware! In order to get a Pink Pam in your mum’s hand on time, you need to be the proactive present buyer you’ve always wanted to be and order your gift early.
So go ahead, toss aside the choccies and slippers of Mother’s Day past and embrace your status of #1 offspring. Order your Beer Cocktail Box for mum from our online store and check our delivery calculator here to make sure you get in before cut off.
With her bubbly nature and fruity asides, Peachy may seem sweeter than a Kylie float in Mardi Gras, but party guest beware, she also has a refreshing zing that will come at you like a salty slap.Mx Cheeks is from Byron after all.
The brainchild of Counter Culture and Northern Rivers LGBTQIA+ organisation, Queer Family Inc, Peachy is a sassy Bellini sour, that pours sweet layers of peach, mango and apricot puree over a pale and wheat malt, Blue Lake rolled wheat base, rounded out with a lactic sour pitch and ready to roll at 6.69% ABV.
Aiden Gentle (they/them), Managing Director at Queer Family said about Peachy, “Peachy Cheeks is a perfect representation of a queer character, particularly a local queer character. When we were imagining her, she was fun, she was summery, she was local and timely. She’s running down the beach, she wears heels if she wants to. She’s fun, she’s lively, she’s queer.”
Watch our latest Counter Culture video
Get to know Nina Hurr, our Counter Culture collab artist and designer of the Peachy Cheeks can art.
Availability
Peachy Cheeks is now available at vibing bottle shops and venues around the country. You can jump on theBeer Finderto discover your local stockists, as well as seek out the select venues Peachy will be on tap. Be sure to check with them before heading out to make sure it’s in stock!
Mx Cheeks is also taking up residency on ourofficial online storeand at our Byron Tasting Room and Brisbane brewery, so you can also catch her at the source.
NEW limited edition Peachy Cheeks T-Shirt
Vibrant, playful and diverse, the 100% Organic Cotton Peachy Cheeks Tee is a celebration of the Northern Rivers Queer community and the brainchild of local artist Nina Hurr. Out on a limited release, Mx Cheeks is here for a good time not a long time, so get in fast party people.
To find out more about the excellent work Queer Family do within the Northern Rivers region, please head to theirwebsiteand for more on the collaboration with Stone & Wood, please check out our video here.
It’s a matter of being simply the best when a set of legendary limited-releases come out of retirement for one more chance at brewing glory.
After a crushing 10 rounds of Counter Culture, two beers must rise above the rest to become your MVBs and enjoy a comeback brew. It’s a tussle tighter than a pair of AFL shorts, but ultimately, the final whistle belongs to you.
For two heart stopping weeks of ice-cold competition, you have the power to give these small batch beers the chance at another guernsey or send them back to the sheds forever.
WIN A YEAR OF BEER CLUB
Enter our Counter Culture All Stars competition and you’ll go in the draw to win a year of Beer Club!
A welcome pack, beery stories & events and six limited release packs valued at $265.
It’s a momentous challenge to choose a favourite from this line-up, so to help with your selection, let’s recap on each player:
Killer Kween – Imperial Berliner Weisse
Drawing first blood in the competition, this rugged Berliner Weisse lured drinkers in with punches of raspberry and its pink rouge hue, before landing a knockout blow of 7.6% ABV.
Seizing the momentum from Kween and running with it, this hazy IPA had the stands going troppo in May of 2019. Will its bursting hops and truckloads of mango be enough to get it back in the comp after this long out of the game?
Two winters ago, this creamy stout put in a gutsy effort, tackling hints of vanilla and cinnamon to produce a truly patisserie-packed performance. Will its slow and heavy attack prove to be the flavour we need in 2021?
When it comes to surprise, this invisible stout has a stranglehold on the game. With a smooth and creamy delivery, So Long… has a brightness its competitors never saw coming, making it a massive hit with fans.
The showman of the comp, the attack of this flashy brut rose sour is literally, champagne. Will its strawberry tones help it bubble to the top of this star-studded line-up?
At 2.7%, this low alc beer always handles things with a clean set of hands. Brimming full of half-time oranges, this zesty sour has a loyal following with the crowd in the I.M. Wellness Stand.
At 7.6%, G3 equals Killer Kween as the best pound-for-pound hitter in the comp. Taking inspiration from dominating stalwart, Pacific Ale, G3 takes tropical flavours to the next level becoming the only DIPA in the game.
Late 2020, this margarita sour had legions of drinkers heading to the sin bin just to knock one back. A bookie’s favourite to make the top two, can the Queen make it reign again?
There’s no stopping the bruising defence of this purple prince once he hits the glass. At 6.9% and built on berries and cream, the Earl is hoping to convert his sour notes into the sweet taste of success.
This barnstorming finisher made a meal out of February when his honey toasted layers hit the lips of drinkers. Too many knocks to the can may be why he’s so deliciously hazy, so it will be interesting to see how he pulls up this round.
The sacred quest for our Honey Toasted Hazy IPA is complete
Coconuts clap together to simulate galloping horses*
Hear ye, hear ye.
Good Knights of the Breakfast Table, we ask: what is thy quest?
Have you come from far and wide in search of something sweet with toasted flavours, a golden nectar so delicious that you could drink it in the morning?
If so, Good Knights, thy quest – you have reachedThe Holy Grain.
Grab your goblets, Good Knights. Our Honey Toasted Hazy IPA The Holy Grain has delicate layers of honey, vanilla and toasted coconut added to a pale malt, wheat and oat backbone, balanced by Sabro, Galaxy, Citra and HBC472 hops for a wholesome and subtly hazy finish.
From this week, you can commence the small journey to your nearby bottle shop for The Holy Grain500ml two-packs and cartonsor your local venue to taste this sweet, delicious nectaron tap(only a select few).
From today, Good Knights, you can also purchase a two-pack from ourofficial online store($25 + free shipping) or at our Byron Bay Tasting Room and Brisbane brewery, where our crew is pouring The Holy Grain on tap.
Remember, Good Knights:Call ahead to your local stockist/venue to check when The Holy Grain will arrive. Like all Counter Culture releases, The Holy Grain is very limited, so make haste!
You’ve made it, Good Knights, and have proven yourselves worthy. Now, enjoy this blessed bier.
We just launched our first-ever Pacific Moonshine in partnership with our mates at Cape Byron Distillery.
Pacific Moonshine (44 %) is not only delicious – with bursts of tropical fruit flavours with hints of malt and citrus – but it’s an innovation that saved thousands of litres of freshPacific Alefrom being wasted, thanks to the ingenuity of Cape Byron Distillery. Learn more aboutthe story of innovation.
So, how do you enjoy Pacific Moonshine?
The crew at Cape Byron Distillery have got you covered with these delicious and refreshing cocktail recipes.
You probably know that we don’t like wasting things – especially beer. After all, that’s why we started ourGreen Feetsustainability program.
When venues around the country closed earlier this year in line with COVID-19 restrictions, many of our customers were stuck with kegs of fresh beer they could no longer sell.
To support them, we took all unopened Stone & Wood kegs back to our brewery and offered credits to our customers for when things opened back up.
Awesome – but then we had enough excess beer to overflow a swimming pool …
Until our good friends up the road atCape Byron Distillerycaught wind of it and devised an unusual plan: they decided to make a ‘beer spirit’ with our excess fresh Pacific Ale. And so, alongside Cape Byron Distillery, we bring youPacific Moonshine.
Artfully distilled using our Original Pacific Ale,Pacific Moonshine(44%) is subtly salty and bursting with the tropical flavours of pineapple, lychee, passionate and mango, with hints of malt and citrus on the nose and palate.
Get in quick – numbers are extremely limited for this once-only special release!
With community at the heart of everything we do,we will donate $6 from every bottleto our not-for-profit, the inGrained Foundation, to support local grassroots charities in the areas we work and live.
How do I enjoy Pacific Moonshine?
The crew at Cape Byron Distillery suggest serving Pacific Moonshine with cold soda or fresh pineapple juice or try mixing it up with Cape Byron Distillery’s deliciouscocktail recipe ideas.
Pacific Moonshine is available in 700ml bottle from ouronline storefromFriday 4th December.Available only while stocks last.
Set in a dark 1980s dance club, somewhere unknown. Lights brighten to reveal a stage concealed by velvet purple curtains. Suddenly, the curtains draw back to reveal spotlight on an empty stage. Smoke machines hiss. A tempo starts. A figure dressed in ruffles and leather appears.
Dearly beloved,
We are gathered here today to excite the senses with something wild and fruity.
A delectable berry cream swirl brewed for cats who love dark and dreamy desserts.
Are you a cat who loves dark and dreamy desserts?
Then welcome to the party, baby – and say hello to your host:
The Earl of Swirl, our Berry Cream Sour and the ninth limited Counter Culture release.
Hang onto your neckerchief and lose urself in the rapturous additions of over a 1,000L of blackberry, 400L of raspberry and vanilla bean, which swirl together like the flavours of your sweetest fantasy.
That’s enough berry goodness to fill a hot tub … and the party doesn’t end there.
The Earl of Swirl complements its delectable lactose creaminess with a kick of lactobacillus acidity, balanced together on a pale malt, rolled oat and wheat backbone.
Add this to the beer’s sweet-sour swirl and the risqué 6.9% ABV and u got urself a berry sour made of dreams.
Availability
Clad in silk and a pink feather boa, The Earl of Swirl will leave our brewery on Monday 2 November and make its way to select bottle shops and venues around the country. We’ll release the stockist listing on that Monday, too.
We all know it – that feeling when salt spray lifts off the wave, hits your face and lingers in the air.
Crisp and refreshing, East Point is just like that. Hazy and flavourful, this lightly soured refreshment with a zesty tang and just 2.7% alc/vol pays tribute to Australia’s most easterly point, where rolling waves strike the cliffs of Cape Byron and fill the air with salt spray.
Right now, you might be thinking,finally. If you’re like us, you might’ve been on the scout for something lower in booze that still quenches a thirst – a refreshing beer that says ‘early start tomorrow’ to line your fridge doors with.
East Point might also be the beer to reach for when you’re thinking to stay a while. At just 2.7% alc/vol, it’s the beer you’ll grab for midweek sessions, long afternoons and those workday lunches that call for a wise decision. When less is more, East Point is the ultimate esky companion when planning your next move – what will yours be?
Like all our core range beers, East Point reflects the beauty of our home in the Northern Rivers and the sapphire waters that wrap around Cape Byron into Little Wategos – Australia’s most easterly point. Swept in salt spray, it’s a place for doing what you love – and then kicking back in the sun with a few beers to take it all in.
WHERE TO GET EAST POINT
East Point is availableonline in cartons of 16x 375ml cans or in four-packs at our Tasting Room in Byron Bay and our Brisbane brewery. Grab some from your local East Point loving bottleshop or venue, be sure to give them a call before heading out to see if it’s in stock.
Check out the latest Cloud Catcher video - seek & enjoy
With a firm bitterness and crisp finish, Cloud Catcher is our full-flavoured pale ale brewed with all-Australian ingredients.
For our crew, it’s the beer we reach for when we’re in the mood to explore the possibilities – to seek out in the things we love and enjoy them.
This newly released video captures some of the ways we seek and enjoy in the Northern Rivers, where we brew and bottle our beer.
From the lush hinterland to the Pacific Ocean, we’re fortunate to have so many breathtaking scenes at our fingertips. Whether you’re drawn to shaded bike trails that wind through abundant rainforests, free diving deep into the blue or simply kicking back for the view at the end, what better way to top off a day’s exploring with a cold, locally brewed pale ale?
Brewed with all-Australian ingredients and Galaxy, Ella and Enigma hops, our Cloud Catcher pale ale erupts in tropical and stone fruit aromas, matched by a full-bodied mouthfeel from pale and crystal malts, a firm bitterness and crisp finish. Cloud Catcher’s name is inspired by Wollumbin, otherwise known as Mount Warning, whose name means ‘cloud catcher’ in the local Bundjalung language.
Cloud Catcher pale ale (5% alc/vol) is available on tap and cartons and six-packs of 330ml bottles throughout the East Coast of Australia, plus ourofficial online store, our Tasting Room in Byron Bay and our Brisbane brewery.
Enjoy our strawberries & cream sour and help raise funds for The Prince Charles Hospital
Earlier this year, when we heard Brisbane’s annual Ekka – aka the Royal Queensland Show – was cancelled, our team thought about one thing: ice-cream.
But not just any ice-cream; they were thinking about the Ekka’s iconic Strawberry Sundae – a delicious strawberries and cream sensation that every year helps raise funds for The Common Good, the fundraising initiative of The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane.
That’s when our Brisbane brewer Mick had an idea.
We can’t exactly make ice-cream – but we can make beer.
And so, we did. Our Ekka-inspired strawberries and cream sour Strawberry Sundae Kisses is on tap at our Brisbane brewery from today!
Proceeds from our Strawberry Sundae Kisses – and our special beer ice-cream floats – sold between Wednesday 12 and Sunday 16 August will be directed to The Common Good to help fund critical health research with The Prince Charles Hospital.
This beer is a collaborative effort between us and our friends at The Common Good, who even came and helped us add 60kg of Queensland strawberries to the brew in late July – including The Common Good CEO Michael Hornby and Research Manager Dr Stephanie Yerkovich.
Come down and enjoy a Strawberry Sundae Kisses at our Brisbane brewery from today and help us support The Common Good!
For many moons, we’ve heard the people’s cries for Killer Kween – for the return of her royal raspberry highness. But the Kween is gone.
Amid our search for a successor, we heard Spanish whispers of a powerful matriarch ruling over a certain region in Mexico, a land of rolling mountains swept with oak trees and blue agave, where multicoloured opals and jet-black obsidians sparkle beneath the earth.
What is this captivating region, you ask? It’s Tequila, Mexico – and its ruler is the one and only Tequila Queen.
Compadres, all rise for the eighth limited-release from Counter Culture – Tequila Queen, our oak aged margarita.
Tequila Queen is brewed with lime juice, lactobacillus, salt, Cointreau and 50L of premium small-batch Arette Tequila – distilled on the edge of the ancient volcano that rises above Tequila – and is hopped with Galaxy and aged with oak.
Our new ruler, this margarita sour rushes the palate with citrus and salt and brings a Mexican twist to the Age of Queens.Viva la Reina!
Availability
Crowned with cacti, with a skull in one hand and a dagger in the other, Tequila Queen will stride through our brewery gates on Wednesday 12 August to select venues and bottle shops around the country. Watch out for the stockist listing then, too.
Limited Tequila Queen merchandise
For thisespecialrelease, we’re releasing a very limited and very special run of Tequila Queen shirts. These relaxed-fit tees are made from 100%GOTS certifiedorganise ring-spun combed cotton and are printed with eco-friendly inks, making them softer on your skin and the environment. The Queen approves.
We’ve lit the fire for another year of Stone Beer traditions
Whether you’ve heard the story before or you’re new to the tradition, we invite you to join us in another year of storytelling under a starry winter sky, of standing around a campfire with our freshly brewed Stone Beer.
THE STONE BEER STORY
Every May since Stone & Wood began, alongside our friends in the brewing industry, we brew our woodfired porter Stone Beer in preparation for winter. This is called our Stone Brew Day.
We start by brewing a decadent porter with dark roasted malts to give coffee and dark chocolate flavours to the beer. Then, on an open fire, we heat volcanic stones sourced from the nearby hinterland, before lowering them glowing-red into the kettle, which lends smoky caramel notes to the beer. The moment the woodfired stones touch the wort with a loudhisssis a moment for celebration.
A month later, we tap Stone Beer at our annual Festival of the Stone – our biggest beer and music festival of the year where our community comes together to enjoy fresh beer, live music, food trucks and winter cheer.
THIS YEAR’S STONE BEER ONLY JUST MADE IT
Decadent and bold, Stone Beer is close to our hearts, so it was with great disappointment this year that, in response to COVID-19, we had to call both Stone Brew Day and Festival of the Stone off this year.
Additionally, with the period’s uncertainty, we also raised some initial questions about whether to brew Stone Beer at all.
Luckily, our founders Jamie, Brad and Ross couldn’t bear the idea of a year without Stone Beer, so we reigned in our resources and brewed Stone Beer 2020 in the face of all the mayhem, albeit in smaller volumes.
STONE BEER 2020 WITH ALL-AUSTRALIAN MALTS
This year, in a nod to our roots, Stone Beer 2020 is the first brewed with all-Australian malts, including a Red Gum-smoked malt that adds a subtle smokiness to the brew’s roasted barley, coffee and dark chocolate flavours.
A delicious woodfired dark porter with a firm bitter finish, Stone Beer 2020 is best paired with campfires, fresh air and cold starry nights. Cheers!
Brewed in Byron Bay, Sunly Seltzer is our newest member of the family
We all have that kind of friend – the one that ditches their togs for a skinny dip. That friend who inspires you to live a better life.
Sunly Seltzeris like that friend. A bright, clean-tasting hard seltzer brewed at our home in Byron Bay, Sunly Seltzer is gluten-free, vegan and refreshing tipple that has less than three grams of sugar per can in three delicious flavours:Davidson Plum & Berry,Blood Orange & GrapefruitandGinger & Lemon.
We’re excited to welcome Sunly Seltzer as the newest member of the Fermentum family of businesses, alongside Stone & Wood, Fixation Brewing and Granite Belt Cider Co.
Now that you’ve met Sunly, perhaps you’re wonderingwhat hard seltzer is? It’s a pretty new term here in Australia, but basically ‘seltzer’ is another (cooler) name for carbonated water, while the ‘hard’ refers to its alcohol content.
Here in Byron, we brew Sunly Seltzer a lot like beer: we brew using a gluten-free grain called sorghum, along with hops, water and yeast, and infuse all this with natural ingredients at the final stage.
Bright, sparkling and with 90% less sugar than leading vodka RTD premixed drinks, we brew Sunly Seltzer for people love a good time, who love getting up early for sunrise and for those who – given the chance – love ditching their togs for a skinny dip.
You can grab a four-pack or carton of Sunly Seltzer from good bottle shops across the east coast (find where to buy your pack ofhard seltzer near you) and keep up with all things Sunly by following@sunlyseltzeror learn more aboutSuny Seltzeron their website.
Read the full article with our Sunly Brewer Josh Waters and Brand Manager Pat Coulson onBeer & Brewer here.
Who here loves watermelon? Good news – we’ve just tapped a sour loaded with fresh watermelon at ourByron Tasting Room.
Blushed orange with a delicate sour pitch balanced by fresh watermelon fruitiness, our One in a Melon Pilot Batch brew is now available to grab in a 1L sharer bottle from our Byron Tasting Room and Brissy brewery on this Tuesday.
You can now ORDER ONLINE & PICKUP sharers of fresh beer from our tanks. Simply jump onto ouronline store, choose and purchase the Pilot Batch you want and come and – depending where you live – collect from either our Byron Bay Tasting Room or Brisbane brewery.
Thanks to Stone & Wood Beer Club member James Hawksworth who won the naming competition!
Join our mate Daz Robertson in his backyard for a delicious woodfired homecooked meal
Watch the full how-to video feat. Chef Daz Robertson
Iso makes some people stir-crazy, while it makes others turn to the kitchen.
And in the case of Darren Robertson, co-founding chef ofThree Blue Ducksup the road from our brewery, that means the kitchen in his backyard.
A champion for quality and sustainable produce, Darren is the first chef to feature in ourGreen Coast Lager Simple Moment chef series, where we spotlight our region’s standout chefs and their approach to good food and simple moments.
While everyone’s in lock-down, or at least spending more time at home, Darren has taken to his backyard firepit, manned with a couple of pots and some fresh ingredients from his garden, to share his homecooked family recipes in his ownThe Pretty Good Feed series.
Check out the video above where Darren shares his epic recipe forbackyard risottowith butternut pumpkin and corn, plus easy instructions on how tomakericottaover the fire (and utilise all parts of the recipe to reduce waste).
Delicious and healthy, most ingredients for both recipes might already be sitting in the pantry, which makes this a simple go-to dish to pair with a couple of cold beers for dinner.
Cheers!
YOU CAN FIND THE FULL RECIPE HERE:
Ricotta 2lt Unhomoganised milk Put the milk in a pan and heat until 85 – 95 degrees. Turn off the heat. Add the lemon juice, stir it through gently. Cover with a cloth and leave for 30 minutes for the curds to form. Carefully strain through a muslin lined colander over a bowl to catch the whey.
Risotto 1 head corn 1 handful chopped pumpkin 1 diced Brownonion 1 garlic clove (minced) 259g risotto rice 2 tbl butter Herbs lemon Sweat the onions and garlic in butter. Add the rice and pumpkin. Cook down then add flavours whey. Cook till rice is almost cooked, add corn. Add ricotta. Season with lemon and herbs. That’s it!
Get mixing at home with this delicious beer & cocktail recipe.
With a twist of real watermelon, cucumber and mint & hopped with Galaxy, The Gatherer is beer – but not as you know it. With its blush hue and zesty flavour, this beer challenges preconceived notions about ‘regular beer’. Get creative – serve it up with a slice of citrus and fresh mint in a stemless glass, if you like.
The Gatherer cocktail series introduces Brisbane’s brewing and hospitality elite, who we’ve tasked with showcasing The Gatherer in a cocktail.
On the mix-up stage, we have Liam Shephard fromByblos Barwith his The Gatherer x Rosé Vermouth cocktail dubbed ‘Far Far Away’ which landed Liam a spot in the finals of our The Gatherer cocktail comp.
‘I wanted to really bring out & amplify all of the flavours in The Gatherer while creating something absolutely crushable. The passionfruit & peach bring out the fruity notes in the galaxy hops, the mint brings out the freshness of The Gatherer’s ingredients while the lime adds a zesty undertone. The rose vermouth compliments the blush hue of The Gatherer, while adding complexity to the bitter notes of the beer & balancing the sweetness of the honey. The result looks like a tiki drink perfect for the beach & with the lower ABV you could drink it all day long’– Liam Shephard, Byblos.
You can view Liam’s full The Gatherer cocktail recipe below – get creative at home with this one.
Grab a carton of The Gatherer from our online store today and have it delivered fresh from our brewery to your doorstep. We’re offering Free-shipping Australia-wide.
Jess walks us through the magic of beer: malt, water, hops and yeast
We all love the stuff – but what makes beer, beer?
Welcome topart twoof theStone & Wood virtual brewery tour, where our resident Canadian beer geek and Tasting Room manager Jess walks us through the ingredients of beer.
That is, malt, water, hops and yeast, and how these are processed into delicious beer.
This part of the tour is fairlyeducational, so we recommend popping open a fresh beer and sitting down somewhere quiet where you can soak up Jess’s knowledge, covering the German purity law – aka the Reinheitsgebot –, malting, water types and plenty of beer-science fun facts. Did you know hops are related to cannabis?
After watching this video, you should understand how the quality and treatment of these four ingredients influence the beer you drink – and hey, it might help you better choose between beers at your local pub (when it opens – you’ll be ready).
Grab that beer, take a comfy seat and enjoy another round of beer education and laughs.
This might be short and sweet, but given that water makes up more than 90% of beer, the water supply can make a drastic difference in a brew. All over the planet, water supplies vary with mineral contents such as calcium, sodium, magnesium, sulfate, etc.
Traditionally, where a brewery was located geographically and what water supply they had to work with naturally lent itself to being well-suited to certain styles of beer over others.
The most common example of this is a Czech Pilsner from the town of Pilsen in the Czech Republic, whose water supply is very soft, therefore perfect for creating a nice, light, refreshing lager.
Conversely, the deep wells of Burton-upon-Trent in England have a very harsh water supply, which is excellent for making full-flavored pale ales.
These days, brewers can purify and adjust the water with brewing salts to mimic water that will work best with whatever style they are brewing.
Soft Water Beers:
Soft water is water that contains low concentrations of dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium ions.
Pilsners and Pale Lagers: These beers benefit from soft water because it helps showcase the delicate flavours of the malt and hops without interference from minerals. Light Ales: Like pilsners, light ales can benefit from the clean, crisp character that soft water provides.
Hard Water Beers:
Hard water is water that contains a high concentration of dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium ions.
Dark Ales and Stouts: The higher mineral content in hard water can enhance the flavours of roasted malts, adding complexity and richness to these styles. Bitter Ales: Hard water can accentuate hop bitterness, which is desirable in styles like IPAs and English bitters. Belgian Ales: Some Belgian styles benefit from the mineral character of hard water, contributing to the unique flavour profiles of these beers.
What is the purpose of malt in beer?
Malts are the backbone of beer, providing not just sweetness but a myriad of flavours, colours, and textures. They're essentially grains (usually barley) that have been germinated, dried, and roasted to perfection.
Different malts undergo varying degrees of roasting, from pale malts for light beers to deeply roasted malts for dark and rich brews. This roasting process influences the flavours and colours they impart to the beer.
🌾 Pale Malts: These are the foundation of most beers, offering a clean and neutral flavour profile. They contribute sweetness and light colours to brews like lagers and pale ales.
🌾 Munich and Vienna Malts: These malts add depth and maltiness, bringing flavours of bread, toast, and biscuits. They're often used in amber ales, Oktoberfest beers, and bocks.
🌾 Crystal Malts: Known for their caramelised sugars, crystal malts contribute sweetness, body, and colours ranging from golden to deep amber. They're common in ales like IPAs and porters.
🌾 Chocolate and Black Malts: These deeply roasted malts provide dark colors, rich flavours of coffee, chocolate, and roasted nuts, and a touch of bitterness. They're essential for stouts, porters, and dark ales.
🌾 Roasted Barley: With intense roasted flavors and a dry finish, roasted barley adds complexity to stouts and robust porters, often lending notes of coffee, dark chocolate, and even hints of smoke.
Beyond flavour, malts also play a critical role in the brewing process. During mashing, enzymes in the malt convert starches into fermentable sugars, which yeast later transforms into alcohol and carbonation during fermentation.
So next time you savour a beer, appreciate the malts that went into crafting its unique character. Cheers to the diverse world of malts and the delicious brews they create!
How do hops affect beer?
Hops play a crucial role in brewing beer, contributing to both the flavor and aroma of the final product. Here are some key roles and impacts of hops in brewing:
Bitterness: Hops are primarily known for their bittering effect on beer. During the brewing process, hops release alpha acids, which add bitterness to balance the sweetness of malted barley.
Flavor: Hops contribute a wide range of flavors to beer, depending on the hop variety used and how it's added during brewing. Common hop flavors include citrus, pine, floral, herbal, spicy, and fruity notes.
Aroma: Hops also add aroma to beer, enhancing its overall sensory experience. The volatile oils in hops produce aromas that range from earthy and grassy to tropical and citrusy, depending on the hop variety.
Stability: Hops have antimicrobial properties that help preserve beer and extend its shelf life by inhibiting the growth of unwanted bacteria and yeast.
Foam stability: Hops contribute to the formation and retention of beer foam, which is an important characteristic in beer appearance and mouthfeel.
Overall, hops play a multifaceted role in brewing, influencing the bitterness, flavor complexity, aroma profile, stability, and visual appeal of the final beer product.
Different hop varieties and brewing techniques can be used to achieve a wide range of beer styles with distinct hop characteristics.
What does yeast do to beer?
Yeast might seem like a tiny player, but it's a superstar in the brewing world. Just like water, yeast plays a crucial role in shaping the flavours and character of your favourite brew. It's the secret ingredient that transforms sugary wort into the delicious beer we love.
Different strains of yeast bring their own unique flavours and aromas to the party. From fruity esters to spicy phenols, yeast adds layers of complexity that define beer styles and create memorable drinking experiences.
Traditionally, breweries chose yeast strains based on regional availability, leading to iconic beer styles like German Hefeweizen with its signature banana and clove notes, courtesy of the yeast strain used.
But it's not just about flavour. Yeast also plays a vital role in fermentation, converting sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This process not only gives beer its kick but also adds natural carbonation.
Today, brewers have a playground of yeast strains to experiment with, from traditional ale and lager yeasts to wild and funky strains that push the boundaries of flavour.
