Stone & Wood Brews An Easy Drinking Yet Flavour-Full Pale Ale.
Easy-drinking yet full of flavour, Easy Pale is a well-balanced, mid-strength Pale Ale crafted with all-Australian hops and pale malts. Brimming with tropical notes of mango, guava, and mandarin, this refreshing beer delivers a light, crisp body without compromising on taste. Perfect for those moments when you want to take it easy but still enjoy a proper beer.
ABOUT EASY PALE
OVERVIEW
Mid-Strength Pale Ale, 3.5% ABV
INGREDIENTS
Malt, Water, All Aussie Hops, Yeast.
CHARACTERISTICS
A refreshing, light-bodied Pale Ale with tropical mango, guava, and mandarin aromas. Smooth and well-balanced with a crisp finish.
THE FINER DETAILS
HOPS
Showcasing Australian Vic Secret and Eclipse hops for bright tropical aromas and a subtle citrus finish.
MALTS
A carefully crafted blend of Pale Malt, Voyager Pale Regen Malt, and SM40 for a smooth, full-flavoured base.
FOOD PAIRING
Easy Pale pairs effortlessly with almost anything! Enjoy it alongside BBQ meats, fresh seafood, or a summer salad. Its tropical notes also complement spicy dishes and umami-rich flavours like miso-glazed eggplant.
AVAILABILITY
Available online, in our Byron Bay and Brisbane Tasting Rooms, and at select BWS & Dan Murphy stores nationwide.
Listen up les amis, our Counter Culture brewers have been busy cooking up a collaboration between the vine and the bine – a white-wine inspired ale, Plonk!
With pale malts and wheat, it’s a delicious drop with hints of vanilla and tannins imparted by American Oak.
Plonk tickles the tip of the nose with subtle tropical aromas then gets in full swing with a refined white-wine soul.
Coming in at 6.8%, Plonk! Is perfect for sharing with lovers…or for keeping it all to yourself.
WINE & BEER?! IT CAN’T BE DONE 🤯
But it can…and it has!
The first reported combination of this winning pair came back in the 1970s, when legendary Belgian brewers, Cantillon, used Muscat grapes to produce a delicate beer called Vigneronne.
Dogfish Head Brewery in the US expanded further on the idea in the 1990s and with the explosion of the craft beer industry over the two decades, more and more brewers have been trying their hand at combining the two arts.
Currently in the US, brews that are a beer-wine hybrid are being termed an ‘oenobeer’.
So far, the fun police haven’t put any restrictions around what actually determines an oenobeer, so brewers are free to put their own spin on things. Some beers are produced using grapes in the brewing process, some use just the juice, others consider a brew to be oenobeer if it was aged in a wine barrel.
With no limitations on the field, it means the category is wide open for experimentation and we’re stoked to throw our hat into the ring with Plonk!
PLONK! SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Plonk! is delicate, tart and refreshing, which means it lends itself to foods that are on the lighter side of life – think seafood, a light aromatic curry, or a beautifully balanced cheeseboard.
As we’re well and truly in the cooler weather, PLONK! could be perfectly paired with a starter or entrée, before the menu moves onto heavier, richer mains.
BEHIND THE PLONK! POP DESIGN
Our incredible in-house designer, Anders Rudin, got on the tools to create the amazing artwork for our latest Counter Culture release, drawing on inspiration from mid-century Italian and French design.
AVAILABILITY
You can pop Plonk in your basket from today with 500 ml two-packs and cartons available from our official online store, at our Brisbane and Byron breweries and select bottle shops around the country.
LET US KNOW!
Hit us up with your thoughts on Plonk! on Insta or on Facebook.
We’re thrilled to announce that Hinterland Hazy, originally a limited release in our All Australian Hops series, has become a permanent member of our core range. Your enthusiasm for this hop forward Hazy Pale Ale has turned this once seasonal delight into a year-round favourite.
From a fleeting fling to a long-term relationship, this love story for Australian hops just grows stronger. Cheers to all of you who made it possible – welcome to the core range, Hinterland Hazy!
The Background.
Watch Australian Hop Series Episode 1The Harvest & Episode 2The Brew.
Since Day One, Stone & Wood has walked in step with Australian hop farmers.
In 2008, when we first brewed the Original Pacific Ale, we chose a little-known Tasmanian hop called Galaxy to produce the now iconic tropical fruit aromas and flavour in the beer.
At the time, our “perfumed fruit bomb” was completely left field compared to the more popular Australian beers, but in the years since, beer palates have shifted, the Australian craft beer scene has exploded, and the humble Galaxy hop is well and truly on the map.
Our Head Brewer, Caolan Vaughan said about this star hop, “Galaxy was one of those varieties that really put Australian hops on the scene, particularly in the craft beer space. To have a hop come out that was Australian and completely different to anything else in the market, it just set the world on fire.”
To shine a spotlight on Galaxy and some of the other amazing produce from our friends at Hop Products Australia, we’ve created the All-Australian Hop Series.
Australia’s hop industry is mostly based in regional Tasmania and Victoria, where the hop bines enjoy long daylight hours in summer and the moderate climate. The hop history around these regions stretches back over 150 years, with some of the current workers 3rd generation hop farmers.
Recently, Caolan ventured down to the Victorian Hop Fields for this year’s hop harvest and grab a handful of Galaxy hops fresh off the bine. His first trip back since 2018, Caolan was stoked to be back at the source of our great beers and among old friends at HPA.
“I love the celebration of hop harvest. To be able to go down and see it and smell it, it’s a very special time of year,” says Caolan.
Stone & Wood and HPA, the suppliers of Galaxy, have grown together. Galaxy came on the scene; Stone & Wood came on the scene right at the same time really – it was a match made in heaven.
On his visit, Caolan also checked out one of HPA’s latest varieties, Eclipse, a hop our brewers have been tinkering away with in our Byron brewery. After weeks at work, Caolan and the team have produced a beer that champions Eclipse and are ready to share it with thirsty beer lovers all over Australia.
The Beer
By using three Aussie hops: Vic Secret, Eclipse and Galaxy our brewers have produced a beer that’s juicy, vibrant and flushed with tropical fruit aromas and flavours. Low on bitterness with a golden haze and full-bodied finish, Hinterland Hazy sits at 5.2% ABV and is best enjoyed freshly chilled from the fridge.
AVAILABLITY
As part of our Core Range Beer, Hinterland Hazy is available all year round from Stone & Wood online, and Stone & Wood Tasting Rooms. From March 5th 2024, Hinterland Hazy is now available at Dan Murphy’s, BWS, Liquorland, First Choice, Vintage Cellars, and other good beer stockists nationwide.
Stay tuned for updates on our Beer Finder as more independent retailers embrace this beauty.
Supporting The Northern Rivers From The Grassroots Up
Since Day One, Stone & Wood has aimed to be a conscious business that takes care of the communities where we work and live. Part of that story for us has been the establishment of our not-for-profit charity, the inGrained Foundation.
As our HQ is in the Northern Rivers, it made sense that our work started close to home. For the past five years, the inGrained Foundation has run a Large Grants program that provides local grassroots charities and organisations in the area with support for their next big project.
This year, the inGrained Foundation have announced a $200,000 funding pool for the 2023 Northern Rivers Large Grants Program, opening Tuesday, 4 April 2023.
It’s open to not-for-profits with DGR status and grants will range between $5,000 and $30,000.
With the aim of addressing a broad spectrum of challenges experienced within these communities, inGrained are seeking to support projects that fall into the following categories:
Conservation of natural resources and habitats.
Action on climate change.
Mental health and wellbeing.
Accommodation and homelessness.
Inclusion and diversity.
In 2022, some of the organisations who received a grant through the program included: Bangalow Koalas, Human Nature Adventure Therapy, Murwillumbah Community Centre and Zero Emissions Byron.
WATCH: 2022 GRANTS ROUND RECIPIENTS RECAP
These teams are just a few of the amazing groups that are working hard to make their community and its surrounding environments a better place for all. Open soon to not-for-profits with DGR status, applicants are encouraged to read the guidelines and submit before Friday 28 April, by visiting www.ingrainedfoundation.com.au, so if you have friends or family doing incredible things in the Northern Rivers, please let them know.
Back with a bang – our Festival Of The Stone returns on Saturday, 3 June 2023 and for the first time ever, we’re giving you the chance to play the first set of the day.
Held across our Byron Brewery site, we’re getting ready to welcome locals and lovers of beer along for a night of music, food, fresh ales and community.
Joining a huge line-up of local and well-known acts, we’re also pumped to announce a competition for emerging and experienced musicians to nab the festival’s opening set…
WIN A SET AT FESTIVAL OF THE STONE!
We’re giving a set to an outstanding artist/s who are willing to put up their hand and slay for beer, merch and money (Yep. It’s a paid gig).
Entry requirements:
Enter up to 4 tracks or a live recording.
Must be available to play Saturday, June 3rd (from 3pm onwards) and able to play a 45-minute set
You must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
Entries close May 1st at 7am
The winner will be selected by the Stone & Wood and Club Raiders crew. Includes performance fee, Stone & Wood prize pack and more!
Profits from tickets sales and raffles throughout the evening will be going towards the Fletcher Street Cottage, a community service providing meals, showers, laundry, advocacy and support to Byron’s homeless community.
Held across our Byron Brewery site, we’re getting ready to welcome locals and lovers of beer along for a night of music, food, fresh ales and community.
Stone & Wood x Brookie's x Flow Hive. Cheers to B Corp Month.
To celebrate B Corp month, we invited a few of our friends in the local B Corp community to come on down and brew a beer to celebrate the amazing achievements of the forward-thinking businesses in our region.
The beer, titled Too Mac & Bee-yond, is a Honey Macadamia Wheat Beer and was brewed using local Byron drop, Brookies Mac liqueur, and Flow Hive Harvested Honey.
For those lucky enough to live in, or be passing through, the Northern Rivers in the next few weeks, this delicious small-batch brew will be pouring at our Byron Brewery for a limited time only.
Wait, the beer sounds delicious, but…what’s a B Corp?
A B Corp company is a business that is meeting high standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
Put simply, the B Corp movement proves what’s possible when businesses think beyond profit. When they go beyond the expected. When they come together to prove beyond doubt that there’s a better way to do business.
Cool Cool Cool…so B Corp Month is??
Each year in March, the global B Corp community comes together to celebrate, educate and motivate broader audiences on what can be achieved if we choose to do business a little differently.
Follow the hashtag #WeGoBeyond on Insta or FB to see some of the amazing work that’s being done across the planet right now. It’s the kind of internet rabbit hole that will leave you feeling uplifted and pumped about what good business can look like.
One little overseas gem we discovered was Padstow Holliday Village in the UK who are making holidays more sustainable, including hiring out wooden body boards to their guests for free 🤙
Where can I find other B Corps?
We’re lucky in Australia to have some outstanding companies working hard to make the world a better place as part of the B Corp community.
Here’s a list of just a few of our faves for you to check out. Hollar back with any of your best B Corp suggestions too!
Pacific Ale & Seafood = The perfect combo. Try this easy ceviche recipe perfect for those warm days and evenings with cold Pacific Ale.
RECIPE
Pacific Ale Cevichè
Citrus Cured Prawns, Crab, Kingfish & Tuna
BEER
The Original Pacific Ale
INGREDIENTS
450g raw prawns, peeled & deveined
170g crab meat
150g raw salmon
1 cup fresh lime juice (about 5 limes)
1.5 cups Pacific Ale
1 tsp salt
1 jalapeño, minced
1 cup red onion, minced
1 cup yellow capsicum, diced
1 cup red capsicum, diced
½ bunch coriander, chopped
1 tsp ground cumin, toasted
¼ cup olive oil
METHOD
Cut the prawns in half lengthwise.
In a bowl, combine the prawns, salmon lime juice, beer, and salt.
Mix well and chill for 60–90 minutes to cure the seafood. While the seafood is curing, combine the remaining ingredients, mix well, and chill until needed. The prawns will be bright white and firm once cured. Salmon may have also changed in colour, this is the natural acidity of the cure.
Drain the liquid from the prawns (reserving ½ cup).
Combine the reserved crab meat/salad mixture with the seafood, add the reserved curing liquid, and mix well.
Pacific Ale & Seafood = The perfect combo. Try this easy ceviche recipe perfect for those warm days and evenings with cold Pacific Ale. RECIPE Pacific Ale Cevichè Citrus...
Our recent Pilot Batch Brewer hopping around the 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 recent Pilot Batch brewer, Tom Iacono.
Give us a bit of background about yourself…
I’m originally from the Yarra Valley in VIC (home to some of Australia’s best wines).
Prior to coming to Stone & Wood, I’d been working as a cheesemaker for about 10 years across VIC, NSW and QLD. Most recently, I was running my own cultured butter business out of Byron.
I accidentally fell into beer, starting off in kombucha and then making my way to the big brewery in Murwillumbah. I’ve been brewing for about 5 years now and, like cheesemaking, I love the variety it brings.
What are your favourite styles of beer and why?
I’m a lover of IPA’s and hop forward beers but I also enjoy and appreciate all beer styles.
What will you be brewing during your time here in Byron?
As many different types and styles as possible!
Any beers you’re really excited about brewing and why?
I recently created a Whole Hop Cone English Pale here at Byron. This requires taking fresh hop flowers (or leaf) and using those in the brew rather than a pellet. They are a more intense flavour, so it means adjusting brewing techniques to get it just right.
What do you like about using the Pilot Batch brewery to experiment?
I love the hands-on experience and manual labour that working in a smaller brewery brings.
Searching for a delicious recipe you CAN dazzle your mates with? Look no further than our Pale Ale Beer Can Chicken. Beer can in a chicken???? Yes, you CAN friends.
RECIPE 🧑🍳
Pale Ale Beer Can Chicken
BEER
Cloudy Pale Ale
INGREDIENTS:
Fresh Whole Chicken
Cloudy Pale Ale
Butter
Lemon Rub mix:
2 tbsp brown sugar
3 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
2 sprigs fresh thyme – stems removed
1 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
METHOD:
Prepare grill for medium-high heat.
Mix dry ingredients in a small bowl.
Pat and dry chicken inside and out.
Under the skin, slice small incisions to slide in slithers of butter.
Season chicken with spice rub all over inside and out.
Crack and pour half of a Cloudy Pale Ale can into a separate glass - drink the glassed beer while cooking, and keep the remaining half in the can.
Searching for a delicious recipe you CAN dazzle your mates with? Look no further than our Pale Ale Beer Can Chicken. Beer can in a chicken???? Yes, you CAN friends....
Stone & Wood Brewing Co. are recalling the above product. The recalled product has been available for sale; online nationally; in Bottle shops and retail outlets in NSW, VIC and QLD; and Paul’s IGA Ringwood East in VIC.
Problem: The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen – Milk. Food safety hazard: Any consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed.
What to do: Consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance should not consume this product. Customers should return the product to the place of purchase for a full cash refund. We apologise for any inconvenience.
For further information contact: Stone & Wood Ph: (02) 6685 5173 Email: [email protected]
Celebrating International Women’s Day With Our Crew.
This year for International Women’s Day
In celebration of IWD held on Wednesday 8 March, we’d like to shout out to all the amazing women who are a part of the Stone & Wood story.
From the Tasting Rooms, to the Quality Lab and the Brew Deck, Stone & Wood have over 50 permanent female employees who are making their mark on what can traditionally be a male-dominated industry.
This year, to celebrate their efforts, a crew of Stone & Wood employees and industry friends came together in early February to create this year’s International Women’s Day Beer. At both our Byron and Brisbane breweries, they began to brew an epic Czech Bohemian Imperial Pils to mark the occasion.
After a few weeks’ fermentation, 2023 IWD will be tapped in both breweries for staff and visitors to enjoy on March 8.
For anyone in Brisbane looking to kick up their heels in celebration of IWD, our Fortitude Valley brewery is the place to be after the workday is done. Keep reading on to find out more!
Whether you can make it to one of our breweries and sample our 2023 IWD beer, or if you’re just enjoying a quiet one at home, let’s raise a glass to all the amazing women in our lives who are out there making change, making beer and generally just making things great.
About International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. IWD 2023’s theme of Embrace Equity challenges people to deeply believe, value, and seek out difference as a necessary and positive element of life. To embrace equity means to understand the journey required to achieve women’s equality.
With fresh beers and wine, great food and DJ Anna Sonnenburg on the decks into the night, it’s the perfect place for women (and allies!) to come together and #embraceequity.
Just in time for St Patrick’s Day, the bustling brewers behind our Counter Culture range have created a beer that pays homage to the beloved island of Ireland – Éirinn.
That such a green and misty island could play home to such rebellious hearts,
And bear generations of saints, scholars and sinners fond of ale.
To your fine traditions, we pay homage from across the seas.
A brew of rich, dark beauty that swells with the spirit of Éire and continues the tapestry the exiles of Erin have stitched across the world.
Éirinn is an Irish Cream Stout with notes of Irish cream, coffee and chocolate. Pouring black, with an off-white head and a silky-smooth finish, Éirinn comes in at 7% ABV making it a beer to be savoured, to be sure.
The STATS:
Irish Cream, Roasted coffee, chocolate aromas.
Dark, roasted malts.
Certified Sustainable Grain.
7% ABV
Vanilla, and Caramel notes.
Contains: Lactose
Availability
Éirinn is available from today on our online store, hallowed venues and bottle shops around the country.
Over the next two months, Rossco, our main man with the flowing mullet, is bringing a slice of summer to a beer garden near you.
Revving up old Trev the Troopie, Rossco will be hitting the open road, visiting epic East Coast locations and spreading the delicious word about Stone & Wood beers.
Not just there for refreshments, Rossco has also organised live music and giveaways for each place he pulls up, so every stop will feel like a party.
Starting early Feb in Melbourne, Trev & Rossco will be visiting the South Coast, Eastern Suburbs, Northern Suburbs, Newcastle, Coffs Coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.
It’s free entry, just round up the crew and turn up.
Supporting local communities
Working in partnership with legendary venues along the way, Trev’s Troopie Tour will also be supporting local clubs or charities at each stop, with money from each beer sold from a Karma Keg going straight back into the community.
Before the endless summer begins, let’s get to know the enigma that is Stone & Wood’s Rossco.
Where in the world do you hail from?
I’ve lived all over this wide, brown land! Born and raised in country SA, but completed my high schooling and university degree in Ballarat, Victoria. Since then, I’ve quite literally ‘seen the light’ 😁 and moved to Ballina in 2020, and I’m lucky to now call the Northern Rivers home.
What inspired your move up to the Northern Rivers?
There aren’t too many Aussies that didn’t feel the impacts of COVID-19, Victorian’s especially! 2020 was meant to be a big year for my athletic career (basketball), and I had grand plans for the season ahead.
When the lockdowns hit, I had plenty of reflection time (and beer drinking time!). I had a change of heart and decided I was more suited to the laidback surfer lifestyle that Byron promises. Mum’s side of the fam also live in Ballina, so it made a lot of sense to relocate up here.
What’s been your greatest adventure?
When I finished high school in 2014, I decided to take a gap year and backpack Europe. This would easily go down as my greatest adventure! I was young, naive and had a hunger for exploration and new experiences. This adventure taught me so much about the world but also about myself and so I always recommend travelling as much as you can!
Some of the lessons I learned along this journey weren’t cheap. In Beijing I was scammed by two sweet old Chinese women – but that’s a story to share over a Pacific Ale…or 3!
Favourite place you’ve discovered on a road trip?
This is an easy one! When I was 11, my parents sold the house and bought a caravan to circumnavigate Australia. It was on this voyage that we stopped in a small place in northern WA called Ningaloo Reef. Ningaloo was nature’s theme park to an 11-year-old grommet like myself. We went diving with whale sharks, snorkelling with sea turtles, reef sharks and dolphins…right off the beach we were camping on!
What’s your all-time Aussie holiday spot?
For this one I would have to go with Kangaroo Island in South Australia. I have an uncle and Aunt who live in Kingscote there and my family have holidayed there for as long as I can remember. I have so many special memories from that place such as learning to fish and catch crabs from my uncle’s boat. The beaches are pristine and the island itself has such a low population that you can escape all the noise of the mainland.
You’ve just come in from a swim on the beach, what do you choose for lunch – fish & chips, old school burger or vegan sushi?
Fish & Chips is a timeless classic but to be completely honest, I would have to say that a burger hits the spot most often. Anything from Wagyu patty with the lot or something southern-fried…I think the burger wins! (Providing it comes with chips). Check out our fav Fish & Chips recipe.
And finally, best beer to crack open after a long day on the dusty road?
Nothing beats a Pacific Ale after a day on the road! I’ve been drinking these from back in my Ballarat days and I haven’t found a better beer to share a sunset with.
Stay tuned for more details and to follow Ross & Trev’s on the road adventures, make sure you’re following us on Instagram & Facebook.
Donning your new merch or posed up in front of Trev? Tag us in your posts on Insta, Facebook & Snapchat @stoneandwood
Fresh from the marvelous minds of our best brewers, Disco Queen is the latest addition to our Counter Culture limited edition beer range.
On the floor of 54, a majestic beauty rules them all.
A dancing queen with a bright, pink presence, fills the room with her effervescence.
She lures you in with her berry scent then spins you round with her tart intent. The coolest cat on the scene, never pass up a dance with the Disco Queen.
DISCO QUEEN – The Beer
Disco Queen is a pink, lemonade sour that is fruity, vibrant and tart. Made with pale and regenerative malts, handle this Queen with the respect she deserves by enjoying slowly or with a lover.
Raspberry and Lemon aromas
Pale Malts
Certified Sustainable Grain
6% ABV
Availability
Like all the limited-release beers in the Counter Culture range, Disco Queen will be sold in packs of two 500ml cans and cartons our online store, in their Byron Bay and Brisbane breweries as well in excellent venues and bottle shops across the country. Disco Queen is now SOLD OUT online, you can try our breweries or selected stockists.
And for the true disco lovers, we have a VERY limited run of Disco Queen shirts to collect, but as all.
About Counter Culture
Launched in March 2019, the Counter Culture beers will release a new brew every 10 weeks or so, after which they’ll disappear. The range will also feature recipes never tried at Stone & Wood, as well as popular Pilot Batch beers from the past, collaboration brews and beer inspired by the broader brewing community.
Chicken & Pineapple Grilled Skewers with Pacific Ale BEER The Original Pacific Ale 🍺 INGREDIENTS: Marinade: 3 tbsp Soy Sauce ½ cup Brown Sugar 2 tsp Ground Ginger 2 tsp...
We’re stoked that most drinkers can spot a chilled Pacific Ale in the fridge from miles away, but when it comes to our other beers, well…they get a bit lost.
That’s why we’ve decided to give our othercore range beers–Green Coast Lager,Cloud Catcher Pale Aleand Crisp – a glow up, so you can spot them, grab them and drink them, because…they’re also ridiculously refreshing and deserve some of the spotlight.
The upshot of this – is now all our core beers look like a family. One big, delicious family.
SO, WHAT’S CHANGED?
We’ve dialled up the Stone & Wood logo in the middle, so you know you’re in good hands straight away. Next, we’ve made the style of the beer (lager, pale ale, crisp) more obvious to take away any of the guess work.
HAVE YOU CHANGED THE LIQUID?
Crisp is staying as refreshing as it is, but we are giving Green Coast and Cloud Catcher some minor tweaks aswe move to include regenerative grain(sustainably grown malt) into these beers. In doing this we know we are doing the right thing by the only planet we know with beer on it, and are 100% sure our drinkers are with us on this environmentally positive move. With this change in the malt bill they may even notice a slight change in taste that’ll help how refreshing and drinkable the beers are too.
WHAT ABOUT PACIFIC ALE??!
Nothing aboutPacific Alehas changed: it’s all staying the same, brew method, taste, design. You don’t mess with an icon.
DOES THIS MEAN I’LL BE ABLE TO FIND THESE BEERS IN MORE PLACES?
That’s the plan, but it’s a journey we’re just at the beginning of. Keep your eyes peeled and ask your local to get them in if they don’t stock them.
WHEN WILL THESE BE AVAILABLE?
Our new look tinnies and bottles are hitting the shops this week, so you can take us everywhere with you this summer.
No doubt, one of the most heated debates in beer over recent years has been: what’s better – cans or bottles?
With the rise of brewers packaging up brews in both options these days, the attitude of ‘beer tasting better in
bottles’ seems to be on its way out, as the preference for cans is on the rise.
Like most breweries, we started out only producing Stone & Wood in bottles, but over the last few years, we’ve
released most of our range in cans as well. In fact, as the craft beer crowd prefer cans, our limited-release range,Counter Culture,is a can-only release.
At time of writing, our two most recent Counter Culture can-only releases.
So, does it have much of an effect on the final product? Some people think so – and no doubt you probably have a
preference too. Let’s dive into the some of the key differences.
THE BREWING PROCESS
Let’s start at the beginning of our journey – the brewing process. Traditionally, beer was always brewed in dark glass
bottles to prevent over-exposure to sunlight and oxygen – both of which can upset the delicate brewing process and
turn beer bad.
Aluminium cans are very effective at blocking out sunlight and oxygen, due to their totally opaque outer shell and
airtight seal. However, dark glass bottles are similarly effective. So, there’s no clear winner in this category, both
hold the liquid effectively.
WINNER: Draw
STAYING COLDER FOR LONGER
Due to the thickness of your typical glass beer bottle, there is a natural resistance to heat that can help keep your
beer colder for longer when compared to an aluminium can.
This is likely more of an issue when enjoying a beer outside in the sun, or when you’re without a stubby cooler to
insulate from the Aussie heat.
WINNER: Bottles, just.
Please always remember to be sun safe and protect your beer from the heat.
Beer cans and bottles come in a range of different sizes and pack set ups, all of which can affect the price point,
as will the quality of the product.
In our case, our cans hold 375ml and come in a block of 16, with bottles holding 330ml and come in a case of 24. Our
cans come in at a cheaper price point, making it the better choice for the hip pocket… but you do get slightly less
beer.
WINNER:Cans for the cash concerned.
PORTABILITY AND EASE OF TRANSPORTATION
There’s no hiding the fact that beer bottles come in a bit heavier than cans. Although the difference when you’re
holding just one is negligible, it’s definitely more noticeable when carrying 16 or 24 in a carton.
As a result, cans are the probably the better choice if you’re packing up an esky or if you’re taking some beers
away with you on your camping trip.
WINNER: Cans (for the froth lover on the go).
FRIDGE STORAGE
If fridge space is at a premium, stackability of cans gives it the edge here, unless you have a big fridge where you
can stand all those beautiful bottles up on one shelf. Nothing quite like opening the door to that sight after a
long summer’s day.
WINNER: Cans.
THE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
The great news here is that both beer cans and bottles are recyclable.
With most Australian states now having can and bottle buyback schemes either already in place or planned for the
future – recycling your beer cans and bottles has never been more accessible to the Aussie public.
WINNER: Draw.
OUTCOME
Judging by this criteria, cans come in as the rational choice in the Cans vs. Bottles debate, but how we love our
beer is the same as how we love a lot of things in life – with the heart. So as rational as these facts may be…maybe
you’re just a bottle-lover? And we’re quite ok with that.
STONE & WOOD’S RANGE OF BOTTLES AND CANS
Currently, we offer our Pacific Ale, Cloud Catcher and Green Coast Lager in both bottles and cans, with our Jasper
Ale, Garden Ale and Counter Culture beers all exclusively can-only. Take a look at ourfull range of beers today, all available for
purchase online!
Good beer may be our reason for being, but great people are at the heart of our company.
From the dedicated Sales Crew out on the road to the friendly voices on the phone in our Customer Service team, every member of the passionate Stone & Wood family has a story to tell.
With that in mind, we thought we’d open the brewery gates and introduce some of the legends who bring their best to our beers every day.
Introducing Hugh “Hughie” Doyle, one of the O.G’s of Stone & Wood and basically part of the furniture here at the brewery.
WATCH ON FOR A DAY IN THE LIFE OF HUGHIE:
Hughie started with the business during our humble beginnings back in 2012, a huge 10 year milestone we’ve all had the pleasure to be a part of.
From his infectious laugh to his one-liners, Hughie brings tonnes of energy and fun to not only the business but the pubs and venues he visits regularly during his weekly rounds of Brisbane.
In honour of Hugh and his 10 year milestone with Stone & Wood, he had the opportunity to hit the brew deck with our Brisbane Brewer, Barnsy, and brew is very own Kolsch, a favourite style he has always loved.
“I’ve always been mesmerised how it’s a lager style beer, brewed like an ale,” Hughie Says.
Get to know Hughie and check out our next episode of Meet The Crew.
The Crew. The crew here are all A-1. We’ve all got a similar buzz and we’re all here for the same reason, for something better.
HUGHIE’S DAY-TO-DAY:
Taking care of his Brissie Sales team and hitting the road making sure we’re getting the good stuff out into the hands of those thirsty Brisbanites!
WHEN HE’S NOT AT WORK, YOU CAN FIND HUGHIE:
Enjoying the fruits of his labour in the backyard at home or smelling the taps at some of Brisbane’s best establishments.
HUGHIE’S 10 YEARS WITH STONE & WOOD!
Hugh has been flying the flag for Stone & Wood in Brisbane for 10 years and as tradition goes, if you make it to 10 years with S&W, you get to brew your very own beer.
With Brisbane head brewer Mick Barnes at his side, Hugh turned his hand at brewing his very own German-style Kolsch. After four long weeks of waiting, you can now sample Hugh’s Island Kolsch at our Brisbane and Byron Breweries.
If Hughie’s tale has inspired you to become a part of the Stone & Wood family, head here to check out ourcurrent vacancies.
THE FINAL RESULTS OF HUGHIE’S SPECIAL BREW?
A delicate Kolsch but with a tropical twist. Steering away from tradition, this delightful number boasts all the nostalgic characteristics of a Kolsch but is bolstered by tropical aromas of passionfruit, mango and coconut. Sorry if you wanted to try this one, frothers, it’s all gone.
We’ve collaborated with HPA to create Edge Of The Galaxy. A strong hazy pale ale with 6% ABV, and 20 IBU. Delivering aromas of tropical stone fruit and a juicy lifeforce that holds the bitterness at bay for a full body finish.
MALT
Voyager Regen Malt, Barret Pale Malt, Barret Wheat Malt, Big O Malted Oats, Carared, Munich T1.
HOPS
Galaxy, Vic Secret, BRU-1
Brew Notes from Head Brewer – Caolan
“Mash high to achieve full-bodied flavour and mouthfeel, and dry hop at start of fermentation to promote a stable haze.”
FOOD PAIRING
Beef, chicken or veggie burger with a side of chips.
With a beer in hand we invite you to immerse yourself among the bines of the HPA farm in Tasmania. From seedlings, to harvest, and on into the packing shed, let us take you on the journey
