Our local brewers take good care of our beery needs throughout the year and as the weather warms up and we spend more time at the beach and in beer gardens, our brewers continue to spoil us with new beers to try.
Dunsborough’s Eagle Bay Brewing have released a steam ale, a style that originated in California in the 1800s. It’s a style not often seen in Australia and Eagle Bay’s head brewer Nick d’Espeissis brings it to life, this beer bursts into life with apricots, a little citrus, toasty flavours. The steam ale is part of their limited release range and available in bottles and on tap in selected venues.
Across the highway in Margaret River, Cheeky Monkey Brewery will add another beer to the core range in December. The Golden Summer Ale is head brewer Ross Terlick’s new brew and with hints of stone fruit and a crisp finish it promises to be perfect for warm days. Bootleg Brewery, who celebrated their 20th anniversary this month, have commemorated their milestone birthday by bringing in brewers past and present to make a golden ale. It’s 5.1% ABV and at this stage will only be available from the brewery so be sure to add this to your next Margaret River trip. The beer features Enigma hops, a bold variety giving the beer a fresh tropical fruit flavour up front and dry finish.
Still in Margaret River, Colonial Brewing have added a shiny new canning line to their brewhouse family. Colonial Draught Kolsch Ale is the same Kolsch we all know and love but now in cans for easy transport, better recycling and to be the perfect solution to your camping needs.
In Fremantle we can expect a big hoppy seasonal release from The Monk Brewery & Kitchen. Craig, the head brewer, hasn’t finalised the brew yet but it’s looking like a west coast style American pale ale featuring a good whack of Australian Galaxy hops, a variety famous for distinctive passion fruit and citrus flavours.
Perth’s own Nail Brewing continue to release seasonal beers under their Brew Log Collection label, all of which have been met with satisfied palates. Currently available is the Nail Hefeweizen with supply expecting to last until the end of the year. January will see Nail bring us two new beers, Hoppy Hefe and a 2.9% ABV beer called Dark Lite.
Even Perth’s newest breweries who opened their doors just a few months ago have new beers out with plans for more. Northbridge Brewing Co. have released a mango wheat beer that should accompany a sunny day overlooking the piazza quite nicely. Homestead Brewery in the Swan Valley also have their first limited release beer out now. It’s a Belgian dark ale called Curvèe Special made with two different types of rye, three types of yeast and aged in shiraz barrels. It sounds complicated but it’s simply beautiful and surprisingly easy drinking.
Brewers Ron and Jackson will be releasing not one but two Berliner Weisse beers over summer. These sour German wheat beers will be the perfect refreshment to satisfy beer geeks and surprise those who would normally choose a glass of wine over a glass of beer.
This is just a glimpse into what WA brewers have recently released and have planned for the coming weeks. Not long ago Gage Roads Brewing also added new beers to their lineup and Matso’s released a Session Ale for another great mid-strength option in the WA craft beer market. Little Creatures limited edition Saison is now pouring in venues across Perth and Cowaramup Brewing have their annual release Lightsign Summer Ale almost ready to pour fresh for your next south west visit. Summer brings fun, sunshine and new beers a plenty!
PIA POYNTON
Read more of Pia’s work at girlplusbeer.com
