Stone Beer is back! Brewed using one of brewing's oldest traditions, Stone Beer 2026 is a rich porter made with wood-fired stones, delivering layers of roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee and subtle smoke.
In mid May, we gathered in the brewery for one of our favourite annual rituals: Stone Brew Day. Heated over a wood fire before being lowered into the brew, the stones caramelise the malt, creating the rich, distinctive flavour that makes Stone Beer what it is.
Brewed just once a year and worth the wait. Stone Beer is available soon online, in our Byron Bay Tasting Room and at select bottle shops.
Our next Pilot Batch Brewer heading up our Byron brew deck
Our Pilot Batch beers are experimental brews created by our team of talented brewers, with occasional help from collaborators within our community, all at our Pilot Brewery in Byron Bay.
These small batch brews are special, limited and, once gone, may never return. The Pilot Batch brewery is a space for our brewers to get creative – an opportunity to trial weird and wonderful things, turning the brewery into an experimental playground to get a little fruity.
Every three months, one of our brewers takes up the helm in our Byron brewery, running the day-to-day operations. During this time, they have the chance to brew their favourite beers and run the Pilot Batch program.
Meet our latest Pilot Batch brewer, Lucas Leczkowski. Say G’day to him if you see him kicking around our Byron Brewery.
Give us a bit of background about yourself…
Having grown up near the Hunter Valley my Career started 15 years ago in working a Vintage in a winery. I absolutely loved the experience and that led to my first homebrew kit. I’m sure the wife might regret buying it for me now. In 2006 I got an opportunity to work a vintage in the Napa Valley California USA. There I found the craft beer scene and beers like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I’ve been hooked ever since. This year is my 11th as a pro brewer. And I’m not planning on stopping anytime soon.
What are your favourite styles of beer and why?
Toughest question ever. Umm, All of them because it’s all beer. I go through phases really. At the moment I’m loving darker malt driven beers. But I still love a good hoppy hazy IPA also.
What will you be brewing during your time here in Byron?
I’ve already brewed a Nutella inspired Chocolate Hazelnut Porter that is currently pouring, and I’m working on my next offering, but you’ll need to visit Byron tasting room to find out what.
Any beers you’re really excited about brewing and why?
I just love experimenting and trying to do things a little different, there are so many great beer styles out there and I just love adding my own personal touch to add a point of difference.
What do you like about using the Pilot Batch brewery to experiment?
Just having the opportunity to play with that kit, it’s soo much fun. Then seeing your hard work being tasted and enjoyed by punters at the bar is really satisfying.
Get the inside scoop on the life of a road warrior.
We spent a day on the road with Matt, our Newcastle sales reps and all-round top guy, to find out the tricks of the trade and what goes on in the world of beer sales around the traps of Newy, the hunter region and the surrounding area.
Take a read of our Q&A with Matt and find out a little more about the essentials for being on the road, what he loves most about the industry and some words of wisdom for anyone wanting to be a road warrior. He’ll give you his best spots to hit in Newy, so you can also experience it like a true Novocastrian.
How long have you been a part of the S&W Road crew for?
Just over 2 years covering Newcastle, Hunter Region & surrounding area.
What do you enjoy about your customers?
My customers are legends. Most of my industry education has come from conversations with the passionate people I get to interact with daily. My territory is incredibly diverse, and as such, the people I meet and the conversations I have are different every single day. The products lend themselves to such a range of occasions, and it’s always amazing to see that our story resonates with people regardless of where they are.
What do you enjoy about your territory?
The diverse territory, the conversations and the people you’re meeting are different every day. The product lends itself to a lot of these areas, it’s also great to see the brand and its story resonating and see the value in working with us.
Any words for people that want to jump into the world of beer sales?
I think there’s a misconception that a sales role demands a specific type of personality. That may be the case for some industries, but our team and the wider indie beer community attract a truly diverse mix of different people from all different backgrounds and walks of life who share a common love for sharing good beer. If you truly believe in the company’s values and the quality of the products you’re working with, it’s the best job!
Any life hacks for days on the road?
Make sure you love the voice on your GPS/Maps app. Don’t overload on the coffee, no one likes a jittery roadie.
What are you drinking at the moment?
I’m a massiveEast Pointfanboy! I love getting outdoors and making the most of my mornings/weekends and having something super refreshing at a lower alc to unwind with at the end of a long day, so I can wake up and get on with the good stuff!
What’s your favourite beer and food pairing?
Stout and oysters. I’m a seafood lover but was sceptical about this one for a long time. When I finally tried it, mind = blown.
What are the best spots in Newy to hit up?
Merewether Ocean Baths, The Yuelarbah track Glenrock, a sunrise at Nobby’s break wall. I’m still yet to hit up Stockton Sand Dunes… the list goes on.
We’ve hit up our Byron Brewer, Josh, for more intel on the Barrel Aged process.
A popular style come winter, barrel aged beer is any lager, ale or hybrid beer that has been aged in a barrel or in contact with wood.
It’s a brewing technique that results in some outstanding beer, so we’ve hit up Stone & Wood’s Byron Brewer, Josh Waters, for more intel on the process.
What is the purpose of barrel-ageing beer?
The purpose of barrel ageing beers is to draw flavour from the oak and the previous spirit or wine that was in the barrel, also to increase its ABV%.
Can you tell us the process behind barrel-ageing?
Once we receive the barrels, it’s just a matter of transferring our fermented beer into the barrels and putting it in storage until we’re ready to bottle or keg it. Some beers like theÜber Stone Beerwill be stored for up to 24 months. We can also ferment in barrels for our sour/ funky style beers.
What beer styles lend themselves to barrel ageing? What beer styles in recent times have become popular to barrel age?
We tend to barrel age bigwinter beersmost frequently, beers like porters and stouts. We also barrel age saison and Flanders style beers forForest For The Trees. You can barrel age whatever style of beer you like as long as it will taste great blended with the flavours and aromas from what was previously in the barrel and the barrel itself.
Give us a quick rundown of this years’ Barrel Aged Stone Beer
This year’s barrel agedStone Beerwas brewed using a range of pale and roasted malts to give a nice balance of malty goodness with strong bitterness and heaps of flavour. The addition of extremely hot volcanic rocks to the boil is to add a caramel like sweetness to the wort. We brewed this beer to 8% ABV in the brewhouse and once fermented it was stored in whisky barrels for 12 months. The result is a super smooth 10% ABV Barrel aged porter.
Six Northern Rivers not-for-profits are to share $115,180 in funding
We’re thrilled to announce six local not-for-profits have been awarded aNorthern Rivers Large Grant, with a total of $115,180 being divided between the organisations.
After receiving a strong pool of outstanding applications from many people doing great work in our community, theinGrained FoundationGrants Committee and Board are pleased to announce the successful recipients for the 2021 inGrained Northern Rivers Large Grants Program are:
AGAPE OUTREACH
Agape Outreach Incis a street-level organisation actively working to alleviate poverty and homelessness in the Tweed Heads area and beyond. Since COVID, they have seen a 468% increase in client numbers needing support. Agape will be putting their grant towards ongoing support and outreach services for people in need.
BANGALOW KOALAS
Steadily building the koala, wildlife and reforestation corridor around Bangalow,Bangalow Koalasare looking to plant over 4000 trees in the area by August 2024 regenerating land and protecting the local wildlife for years to come. Their grant sees a key section of the wildlife corridor progressing within the next 12 months.
BYRON COMMUNITY CENTRE
TheByron Community Centreare at the forefront of the region’s homelessness crisis. Currently renovating the Fletcher Street Cottage to reopen late this year, BCC will be using their grant to help provide the homeless and disadvantaged community with shelter and support in extreme weather events.
COMMUNITY OWNED RENEWABLE ENERGY MULLUMBIMBY (COREM)
COREMinstalls solar systems on community organisations for free, which is then paid back by the savings made on the electricity bills. The solar systems are provided interest-free and when paid back, the funding is re-purposed for the next installation. COREM’s grant is going towards a model of delivery that allows them to sustain this great work.
GREEN HEROES
Recently rescuing three loggerhead turtle nests from the Fingal and Pottsville areas,Green Heroesbuilt a makeshift incubator and successfully hatched and released over 150 baby turtles with a 96% hatch rate. Their inGrained funding will help them to build a proper and permanent incubator to continue to revive these endangered sea creatures for many turtle hatchings in the years ahead.
HUMAN NATURE ADVENTURE THERAPY
Through their Activ8 Outdoor Youth Mentoring program,Human Nature Adventure Therapyoffer immersive outdoor counselling services for teens in need in our community. Their inGrained grant will support the delivery of many more one-on-one outdoor counselling sessions building mental health and resilience.
We at Stone & Wood and the inGrained Foundation are stoked with the results of this year’s Grants Program. We congratulate each of the successful applicants and look forward to seeing their projects come to life, and thank all the organisations who took the time to apply this year.
inGrained’s work in the community continues throughout the year with the help of Byron locals and visitors to our Byron Brewery. For every beer sold over the bar, $1 goes towards supporting additional local grass roots charities.
Sustainable goals are coming into fashion. In a world where we hardly have the chance to sit down and smell the roses, we have even less time to look at what’s in our own wardrobes.
Not many of us consider how our clothing gets from the field to our backs, and you’d be among the majority if you didn’t know all the processes involved in landing a singular piece of apparel on the shelf. Clothing production is a huge problem for the world and just like the challenge we’ve undertaken to move our beers to a high standard of sustainability, we’re also determined to take all the steps we can forour range of sustainable merchandiseas well.
WHY IS SUSTAINABLE FASHION IMPORTANT?
Over 65% of all clothing is currently made from synthetic materials, derived from crude oils and fossil fuels. On top of this, the dyes used to colour cheaply made fabrics are often toxic to the environment and harmful to the labourers who breathe them in.
As if pollution wasn’t bad enough, the craftsmen and women making these fabrics may be working in sweatshop-like conditions with little pay and no consideration to their health or wellbeing.
But there’s emerging hope, and it rests in the hands of forward-thinkers within the growing trend of sustainable fashion and management. A new wave of ‘consumers’, including people like you are seeing greater value in responsibly sourced apparel and merchandise.
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE FASHION?
Sustainable fashion is the act of producing clothing and accessories while paying attention to its environmental and socio-economic impact. This means more natural dyes, fabrics, and ethical working conditions.
The best way to get there is to be educated on making the most of our clothing, rather than purchasing the newest seasonal trend. If anything, 2021 has opened our eyes to many issues happening both globally and in our communities, making it more important now than ever to have these conversations.
Responsible brands are looking to make sustainable fashion not just a trend, but a permanent fixture in the industry. Sites likeGood on Youare leading the way in sustainable merchandise and fashion education, offering a directory full of brands and information on how their products perform in terms of sustainability. Well-known names from Asics to Zara are up for scrutiny as Good on You provides all the details on what it takes to be an informed fashionista.
We also know how important the earth is to us and are making our own mark by our ownGreen Feet Initiative. Through this program, we have brought in sustainable practices that recycle water usage, increase our use of efficient energy systems, and have introduced innovative waste management programs, within our brewing process.
But this initiative extends past our main operations, as we’re also working to promote sustainable fashion in Australia through our beer clothing range. These are an exclusive collection of Stone & Wood-branded products just as clean and refreshing as a cold beer on a summer’s afternoon.
HOW DO WE MAKE OUR SUSTAINABLE MERCH?
There are so many reasons to focus on sustainable habits in and out of fashion. Not only is it great for the planet, but it helps every seamstress and craftsman along the supply chain make a living wage in working conditions that see them as more than just human sewing machines.
The best fabrics for sustainable fashion are natural, biodegradable, and easy to recycle. Materials like organic cotton, linen, recycled polyester, and spandex yarn are some of the many fabrics used to make our merchandise.
Not only are they good for the environment due to their ease of access, lack of chemicals in production, and recycling measures,but they look good too! This means you can both look and feel good while wearing your purchase of eco-friendly merchandise; knowing it is also supporting smaller communities to create a more incredible earth. We’re also working towards introducing packaging that is chemical-free, plastic-free, andmade with less water and energy than ever before!
OUR COMMITMENT GOES BEYOND MERCHANDISE
The Green Feet sustainability program is our way of making the world better for today, tomorrow, and every day after. We aren’t perfect, but we work every day to lessen our impact on the world we love.
At our brewery events, we’ve introduced reusable cup programs at events that minimise the output to landfill, while our and community clean-up projects are actively involved in reducing the occurrence of waste in the environment. Through the initiative, we’ve even created thefirst recycled water beer for World Water Day!
From personally separating our waste by hand before bringing it to the landfill to talking with other breweries to raise awareness of eco-friendly and sustainable practices, The Green Feet Initiative ensures do our best to keep you looking your best while drinking the best.
The Stone & Wood team are on a mission to learn about more ways in which we can introduce sustainability and ethical practices while making changes along the way. We will continue to work towards our ultimate goal of providing a 100% sustainable fashion range with an entirely traceable supply chain.
Check out our range of beer clothing today, and join us as we attempt to be the champions of sustainable merch in the brewing industry. Let’s make our apparel and brewing habits not just a trend, but an established expectation.
Our 2021 Winter Seasonal - Find a stockist near you
Brewed using wood-fired stones in homage to brewing history, our annual limited-release woodfired porter Stone Beer 2021 is now available in our Byron and Brisbane Tasting Room, selected bottle shops and venues.
Brewed for when the days are short and the nights are cold, our 2021 Stone Beer is a wood-fired porter brewed with dark roasted malts to give coffee and dark chocolate flavours to the beer. Then, on an open fire, the brewer’s heat volcanic stones sourced from the nearby hinterland, before lowering them glowing-red into the kettle, which rouses the boil and intensifies the beer’s malt character.
Stone Beer 2021 will be pouring through taps and available on shelves in venues across Australia from today onwards. See our listing of stockists and venues below, be sure to call ahead with your local watering hole to see if it’s in stock.
Our 2021 Winter Seasonal - Find a venue near you. Brewed for when the days are short and the nights are cold, our Stone Beer 2021 is a wood-fired porter.
Winter 2021 has heralded a beer bounty like never before. The mighty Stone Beer has returned and is available from today.
Our annual Stone Beer is brewed using wood-fired stones in homage to brewing history and focuses on high quality Australian craft malts and barrel aging techniques.
2021 STONE BEER – 6.4% ABV
In homage to brewing history, 2021 Stone Beer was brewed using wood fired stones and focuses on high quality Australian craft malts and barrel aging techniques. Pouring dark brown, Stone Beer starts with a rich and chocolatey aroma followed by coffee, dark chocolate and biscuity flavours that envelop the palate before a firm bitter finish.
Perfect for cold winter nights, our wood fired porter was made for moments by the fire with friends, beer in hand and tales unfolding.
Smooth and complex, Über is an Imperial Porter that is double barrel aged. Patiently it sat for 20 months in rum barrels before it was finished in fresh whisky barrels for a further four months.
A seductive midnight black beer with aromas of rich Belgian Chocolate and molasses that flood the senses before decadent layers of vanilla bean, chocolate truffles, rum cake, and ripe cherries take hold.
With an ABV of 15.5%, Über is an experience best savoured and shared with friends. A very limited run of 750ml bottles in a gift box.
Brewed for when the days are short and the nights are cold, our winter seasonal honours the ancient techniques of brewing. We squirreled away some of last year’s Stone Beer in to a handful of 2nd use Starward Whiskey Barrels to age. We’ve all waited long enough to try it, so enjoy this special limited release sooner, rather than later.
Exclusively available to our Beer Club members next month. Sign up to Beer Club to receive this limited release.
STONE BEER WINTER PACK
Embrace the best of the season by grabbing the Stone Beer Winter Pack and set yourself up for the fire.
Included is a four-pack of our coveted wood-fired porter, 2021 Stone Beer, a Stone Beer Beanie and a Stone Beer Soaked Salumi 2-pack. This Italian treat was created using a recipe created specifically to eat with Stone Beer and was soaked in the beer itself for a week to pick up some of the flavours and colour.
Sticky Nectar and Tequila Queen’s comeback has officially kicked off with the All Stars legends now hitting venues and cans across the country.
Sticky Nectar, voted as the #1 Most Valuable Beer by Counter Culture Fans, is a Hazy IPA so chockers with mango puree that it will immediately transport you to a hot Queensland night under the lights at Lang Park.
Generous with hops, Sticky calls on Galaxy, Citra and Amarillo for his trademark tropical fruit aromas before he peppers the game with the sweetness of vanilla and mango. With pale, wheat and caramunich malts adding balance to his skillset and a solid 6.5% ABV, there’s no wonder this can is back on top of his game.
Tequila Queen, the comp’s Aged-oak Margarita Sour entry, showed no mercy as she scaled her way to the top of the Counter Culture ladder. Fuelled by a heady mixture of lime juice, lactobacillus, salt and Cointreau, nothing could hold back her Arette Tequila attack as she made her return to the brewery gates.
Refreshing and flavourful, you’d be stone cold loco to miss catching the Queen the second time around.
From today, you can purchase your All Stars 500ml two-pack (one Sticky and One Queen) and 12x500ml cartons of each from ourofficial online storeor at our Byron Bay Tasting Room and Brisbane brewery, where you’ll also be able to enjoy this duo on tap.
With ourBeer Finder, you can also find your local All Stars stockist or venue that has these legends on draught.
Counter Culture giving you white line fever? Then be sure tosign up to the Counter Culture newsletterand follow@counterculturebeerto stay ahead of the game.
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.
A neighbourhood party of epic proportions, we’re thrilled to announce the return of Festival of The Stone to our Byron Brewery, Saturday 5 June!
With live music and food trucks on-site, our family-friendly festival is set to welcome in the colder months ahead, as our prized winter limited release, Stone Beer, waits for the pour behind the bar.
With our music line-up soon to be announced, a portion of every ticket sold will be going back into supporting the community via the inGrained Foundation, our charity organisation.
The pride of the festival, Stone Beer – a wood-fired porter – will be yours for the drinking alongside all of your other Stone & Wood favourites, Sunly Seltzers and new kid on the block, Little Dragon ginger beer.
For those who call the Northern Rivers home, it’s time to come for a dance and enjoy the good times. For those further afield, it’s time to make the beer pilgrimage east as the mighty Stone Beer makes its brief return.
An epic line-up of bands and DJs will be hitting the stage featuring:
JK-47 | SEASIDE | TAYA
The Hombres | The Booty Affair | Casimir
Cashew | Club Raiders DJs | Richie Carter
Ticket sales contribute to the donation amount for the chosen local charity. Grab your tickets via Eventbrite.
