Every few months, one of our brewers, this time it's Ira Wurtz, takes charge in Byron. They get to brew up whatever tickles their fancy and run the whole Pilot Batch thing. Cool, right?
Over the last three months Stone & Wood Byron Bay has been graced by Ira's presence as part of our rotating brewers program. He's delighted our tastebuds with several unique beers, including a hop-centric West Coast inspired IPA brewed with rosemary plucked from his very own backyard. Wittily coined the 'IRA', a West Coast IPA with rosemary.
Give us a bit of background about yourself…(how long you been brewing, what got you into it, where you from etc)
Believe it or not, I actually wasn't much of a beer drinker until I moved over from Canada. Splitting cases of beer was the thing to do when you're a 19 year old backpacker in Byron Bay. It ended up being all I'd drink and I eventually started brewing with those cheap homebrew kits from Big W. My friends had to pretend my beers weren't terrible, now that I know what I'm doing they don't have to fake it anymore!
What are your favourite styles of beer and why?
I love the diversity of aromas and flavours that different hops bring to the table so I'm always keen to try a new pale or IPA. On a hot summers day I can't say no to a refreshing gose.
What will you be brewing during your time here in Byron?Any beers you’re really excited about brewing and why?
In the short time I've been down here I've already had the opportunity to brew a variety of different styles. As for my own recipes, I'm looking forward to putting my spin on a west-coast IPA... Perhaps a gose for the summer months. Stay tuned!
What do you like about using the Pilot Batch brewery to experiment?
In a world of technology and automation, I love the analogue component of the pilot kit. Having the control of pushing buttons and spinning valves is part of the art of brewing!
