All great things start with a journey.
Ours started back in 2008, when we first brewed the Original Pacific Ale using a little-known Tasmanian hop called Galaxy. Bursting with tropical fruit aromas and flavours and glowing in golden haze, people first called Pacific Ale a ‘perfumed fruit bomb’, such was its digression from Australia’s more popular beer styles.
Over time, however, beer palates shifted and Pacific Ale opened a new horizon on Australia’s craft beer scene. Today, over a decade later, people across Australia are enjoying the Original Pacific Ale as much as ever, and it remains Stone & Wood’s flagship beer that helped put Galaxy hops on the map.
A decade later, our journey met a subtle twist in 2018 with the arrival of our hazy IPA The Prequel: a hoppier rendition of Pacific Ale brewed in our Pilot Batch brewery in Byron, that was only available on-tap in our Tasting Room.
With the same golden haze but a much firmer bitterness, The Prequel hazy IPA was a vehicle for taking one of our classics to the next level – a way to experiment with hops while honouring the integrity of the Original. With The Prequel, our long-time drinkers could taste a broader spectrum of Pacific Ale flavour and Galaxy hops.
Now, the journey takes another turn – but with Counter Culture at the helm.
The seventh limited release from Counter Culture, G3 is a hazy double IPA (7.6% alc/vol) brewed with the freshest Galaxy hops from Tasmania, pale malts and New England ale yeast, showcasing revved up tropical flavours with a dominant 72 IBU finish – thanks to being 13 times more dry hopped with Galaxy than Pacific Ale.
In celebration of tradition and history, G3 shifts this story into third gear and asks: where might the journey take you?
G3 will leave our brewery gates on Monday 30 March.
If you are a Beer Club member, your G3 pack is already on its way to you! Not a Beer Club member? Sign up today and receive 2x G3 500ml cans plus a welcome pack containing exclusive Beer Club glassware and a cap.
During these difficult times, we hope that G3 brings some hoppy enjoyment to your home. We’ll have plenty of can stock online for those seeking delivery to their door, with packs also available at our Byron Bay brewery takeaway window, plus online content about G3 up for you next week. Stay tuned, take care and get ready to start your engines.
In the meantime, be sure to sign up to the Counter Culture newsletter and follow @counterculturebeer to hear about each release first.
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