Welcome back to Ask a Brewer, our Q&A series where our head brewer Caolan answers the questions you’ve always wanted to ask.

In this special episode, we crack into all things Stone Beer – from how it’s brewed using hot volcanic stones, to the meaning behind the brew and how it came to be core to Stone & Wood’s yearly calendar. Plus, Caols gives us the lowdown on our tasty Husk Distillery collab and what makes this year's release extra special.

Whether you’re a beer nerd or just here for a good yarn, this one’s worth a watch. Got a question for Caolan?

Drop it in the comments and we might feature it in the next episode!

Introducing Ask a Brewer, Stone & Wood’s Brewing Q&A Series Ever wondered what goes into brewing your favourite Stone & Wood beer?

From hops to hazies, our head brewer Caolan is here to answer your questions. No jargon, just good beer chat.

Got something you’ve always wanted to ask Caols? Drop it in the comments and we’ll send it his way.

Say g'day to Hinterland Big Pale – the latest release in our All-Australian Hops Series.

In this episode of Taste Test With Jess, our in-house Cicerone Jess takes us through this bold, full-flavoured Pale Ale, brewed with all Aussie Eclipse and Vic Secret hops. Expect light tropical notes of mandarin and pineapple, a clean malt profile, and a dry, balanced finish. 

It’s the perfect companion for post-hike hangs, long weekends and campfire sessions.

It’s that time of year again, Stone Beer is back! Join our in-house Cicerone Jess Flynn as she dives into the 2025 release of our iconic woodfired porter.

Brewed with hot stones and designed for slow sips by the fire, this year’s vintage is rich, roasty and full of dark chocolate and coffee notes, with a smooth, lingering finish.

Say hello to Easy Pale, the newest addition to the Stone & Wood lineup! Our in-house Cicerone Jess is here to give you the lowdown on this mid-strength, full-flavoured Pale Ale that’s balanced, refreshing, and loaded with tropical notes of mango, guava and mandarin.⁠

In this episode of Taste Test with Jess, we’re cracking open Easy Pale – a go-to beer for when you want something lighter without losing flavour. Jess breaks down the tasting notes, the perfect food pairings, and why Easy Pale is set to be your new fridge favourite. Hit play, crack a tin, and get tasting.

Step inside the sunlit shed of Byron Bay chairmaker Will Burke, where timber is transformed by hand, and every chair tells a deeper story. On a quiet stretch of Myocum Rd, we spent the afternoon talking craft, connection to country, and the beauty of slowing down.

From traditional techniques to a philosophy rooted in regeneration and patience, Will’s work is a meditation in making. 

Tucked away in Byron’s misty hinterland, Simon Clarey crafts surfboards by hand, each one a collaboration between maker and surfer, shaped with intention and feel.

At A Mano Surf, the process is everything. From the first cut to the final coat, it’s a dusty, delicate dance of focus and patience. Every board is shaped through a deep understanding of flow, form, and individuality.

For Simon, shaping is more than a skill, it’s a shared language between surfer and sea.

There’s something about Aussie summer that calls for a beer that’s light in the hand but big on refreshment, something that plays nice with sunshine, salty skin, and the sizzle of the barbie. So, when life gave us lemons, we didn’t just make lemonade… we brewed a Radler.

Our Citrus Radler is our freshest take on a classic thirst-quencher, part beer, part citrus hit, and all easy drinking. Crafted with real Aussie lemon purée, with notes and aromas of grapefruit and orange, and our go-to Galaxy hops, it’s a little zesty, a little juicy, and unmistakably Stone & Wood.

Born and brewed for long summer days, Radler is our way of saying: you don’t need to pick between beer and refreshment. You can have both, in the one tin.

Brewed for the Good Times

Radler isn’t just beer with a twist. It’s a full-on refresh. A mid-strength quencher that still tastes like beer (because it is beer), but with an added hit of natural Australian lemon puree, plus grapefruit and orange flavours to round things out.

It starts with a base not too far from our beloved Pacific Ale, pale and wheat malts, a little less haze, a touch more colour, and of course, Galaxy hops doing what they do best. But what really brings it to life is when we throw in real lemon during the whirlpool and layer on citrus post-ferment. Think zesty, fresh and bright, like a lemon tree in full sun.

Radler vs the Rest

Let’s be clear: Radler isn’t a gimmick, or a shandy in disguise. It’s a style with history, depth and a whole lot of sessionable charm.

Compared to our Pacific Ale, Citrus Radler pours with a touch more colour, a little less haze, and plenty more citrus character. Our brewers spent years perfecting the recipe to strike just the right balance, refreshing and approachable, without being overly sweet or fake fruity, and still appealing to beer lovers who enjoy the real thing. The result is a crisp, citrus-forward beer that tastes natural and spot on, brewed the way we do best.

It’s also 4% ABV mid-strength, making it the perfect plus-one for beach hangs, park hangs, backyard hangs… you get the vibe. If Pacific Ale is your go-to, think of Radler as your summer fling.

A Beer for Everyone

Citrus Radler is brewed with more than just the classic beer drinker in mind. It’s for people who usually reach for a spritz, cocktail or RTD, but still want something refreshing and a little different, and it’s for the beer lovers too. After plenty of trial and testing, we’ve found that even the most dedicated beer drinkers have fallen for it. That’s because it’s crafted to sit in that sweet spot: approachable, balanced, and full of real character.

At its core, you’ve got a smooth blend of pale and regen malts, malted wheat, and a good hit of Galaxy hops, enough to give it that satisfying beer backbone without tipping into heavy or bitter territory. Then comes the fruit notes and aromas: lemon, grapefruit and orange, which bring a bright, zesty lift that feels more like summer in a glass than a typical “fruit beer.” Nothing fake, nothing over-sweet, just crisp and refreshing flavour that feels familiar and new all at once.

It’s the kind of beer you can bring to any occasion and know it’ll go down well, whether you’re sharing a round with your best mates, cracking one with your partner after work, or passing a can to your mum or dad at a long lunch. Citrus Radler is a beer that doesn’t draw lines between beer fans and non-beer fans. It’s brewed for everyone, made for sunny afternoons, and ready whenever the esky is.

Built for Summer Moments

From beach days and backyard cricket to long lunches that turn into lazy afternoons, this beer was made to keep up with you, not slow you down.

Bring it to your next picnic, pull it from the esky after a surf, or crack one open while you wait for the prawns to hit the grill. However you spend your summer, Radler’s the kind of beer that just fits in.

Same Purpose, Different Path

We’re proud to brew Citrus Radler here in Byron Bay as part of our broader commitment to good beer, good times and doing good by the planet. As a certified B Corp, we’re always thinking about how we can leave things better than we found them, from sourcing locally to supporting our community.

And honestly? If that means brewing a zesty, sessionable beer made for sunshine and sharing… we reckon that’s a pretty good place to start.

You know how it goes. You’re standing around the esky, crack open a cold can of our new Citrus Radler, and someone throws it out there:

“So... it’s just a fancy shandy, right?”

Fair question. At first glance, they might seem similar, both easy-drinking, citrusy and built for hot arvos. But when you dig a little deeper, you’ll find that a Radler and a shandy are more like distant cousins than twins. They might show up to the same backyard BBQ, but they’ve definitely taken different roads to get there.

Let’s unpack it.

What’s a Shandy?

A shandy is your classic mix, usually one part beer (like a lager or light ale), one part lemonade or lemon squash. It’s blended on the spot, whether it’s your local bartender pouring it from the tap, or you mixing one yourself at home. 

It’s casual, nostalgic and has its place. But here’s the key, a shandy isn’t brewed. It’s a half-half combo. Part beer. Part soft drink.

So, while it’s refreshing, the flavour is usually sweeter, less structured, and definitely not designed for beer lovers chasing real depth or balance.

And a Radler?

A Radler, on the other hand, is a purpose-brewed style of beer that’s been around for over a century. It was first poured in Germany for cyclists looking for something cold, light and sessionable post-ride. (Fun fact: “Radler” actually means “cyclist” in German.)

But unlike a shandy, a true Radler is brewed from the ground up. It’s not beer mixed with lemonade, it’s beer infused with real citrus during the brewing process. The result? Something light, fruity, naturally zesty and still proudly beer.

Enter: Our Citrus Radler

We’ve always brewed with the Northern Rivers lifestyle in mind, long summer days, salt in the air, backyard hangs that roll into the evening. So, when we decided to create our take on a Radler, we knew it had to tick a few boxes:

• Light and easy on the palate
• Full of fresh citrus character
• Brewed with intention, not mixed after the fact
• Mid-strength, sessionable, and undeniably refreshing

Our Citrus Radler is all that, and then some. We brew it with Galaxy hops, regenerative malts, and add 100% Aussie lemon purée during the whirlpool. Once fermentation’s done, we finish it with natural orange and grapefruit flavours to dial up the citrus.

At 4.0% ABV, it’s crisp and refreshing without compromising on taste, with just enough zing to make you want another.

And unlike a shandy, there’s no lemonade or soft drink in sight. Just beer, crafted with care, and a little citrus twist.

Same Purpose, Different Path

Both Radlers and shandies exist for the same reason: to quench thirst. They're made for summer, for sweaty afternoons, for post-surf chill outs and backyard hangs with the crew.

But where a shandy leans on lemonade, a Radler is brewed with integrity, it’s real beer, made with real fruit, and built from the ground up to be bright, citrusy and sessionable.

At Stone & Wood, we don’t just want to make something “like a shandy.” We want to make something that’s uniquely us, something brewed with the same purpose and care as everything else we make. And we want it to reflect who we are and where we’re from.

That’s why we use locally grown fruit, regeneratively farmed grains, and why we’re proud to be a Certified B Corp, committed to leaving the Earth better than we found it. From our solar-powered brewery to our community-focused inGrained Foundation, we believe good beer should do good too.

The Verdict?

Next time someone asks if our Citrus Radler is just a fancy shandy, feel free to smile and say:

“Nah mate, it’s a proper beer with a citrus twist.”

Same thirst-quenching vibe, different story in every can.