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BYRON BAY BREWERY SHOWCASE
BAYING FOR BEER
QHA REVIEW | 58
Hot on the heels of our last feature piece on Aether
Brewing we thought we would this time shine the
spotlight on the small coastal community of Byron Bay
and in particular a local brewery that was acquired by
Lion not so long ago.
Byron has long been known for its natural beauty and
surf culture. However, increasingly, it has also become
known for the beers brewed in this wonderful corner of
the world. Byron Bay Brewery, located on the site of a
former piggery, was established a little over ten years
ago. Over time it became revered for its beers brewed
on site, winning numerous awards in the process.
In April 2016, Lion announced their investment in
the Byron Bay Brewing Co along with plans for it to
undergo a significant refurbishment. Fast forward a
few years and the plans have become a reality. The
building has been revamped with a fresh new modern
look that has a real vibrancy about it. As for the beers
and the brewery itself, they have also been spruced up.
We recently spoke with head brewer Alastair Gillespie,
who stayed on with the operation from the previous
ownership.
“We underwent a massive renovation. Its completion
has been heralded with the launch of our Hazy One
Pale Lager that is now available in 355ml cans in bottle
shops around Queensland and the entire country for
that matter.”
And that it certainly has. Their Hazy One is an
exceptional drop. It’s the first of Byron Bay Brewery’s
beers now available in select venues around
Queensland. It’s a slightly citrusy tasting pale lager
that’s easy drinking, uncomplicated and light. It forms
part of a six-beer range designed to fit with the town’s
coastal vibe.
“We have two ales being The Pale One and The
Lively One – an IPA. The Pale One boasts hints of
passionfruit, while the India Pale Ale has an abundance
of grapefruit and guava flavours from the large amount
of hops used in the brewing and fermentation process.”
The range is rounded out with a hop-forward India
Pale Lager called the Bold One, a rich dark lager aptly
named The Dark One and a mid-strength red lager
called the Rosy One.
Further to the beers, there is a renewed emphasis
on fresh local food, with their menu designed to
complement the beers.
“There’s a good balance between the beers that we
produce and the food that it’s paired with. We also
have an exciting new emphasis on hosting quality
bands from Australia and around the world.”
Byron Bay Brewery has played host to numerous high
calibre bands such as You Am I who played the venue
in July of this year.
“What I think we have achieved quite simply is we have
created a great place to enjoy a few beers, a bite to eat
and catch a live band after a surf.”
As for what the future holds, Lion has a strong track
record of nurturing craft breweries of all sizes, just
think Little Creatures, White Rabbit and James Squire.
Their plans no doubt centre on continuing to build
the business locally whilst looking to share Byron Bay
Brewery’s great beers with more people across the
country.