General Manager, Peter Willis talks about the motivation behind the new beer in their stable, “The response we received from our very limited keg only run in Winter 2012 told us that there was a wider market for our IPA and so it made absolute sense to make this a bigger release, both in kegs and packaged. IPA is a very popular beer style and coupled with this feedback is certainly a beer that HBC wants to produce for its loyal followers.”
Their Chief Brewing Officer, Hamish Reed has promised a beer with “a big taste and plenty of hoppy bitterness, with a uniquely Australian spin on an old favourite”. Reed now quotes directly from his tasting notes as be explains the brewery’s credo further, “Australian IPA is our local take on this celebrated international style. Made from five locally grown malts and four Tasmanian hops, this beer is all Aussie!”
Willis adds “It is important to offer a wide taste profile to give our customers options. The IPA is certainly at the upper end of beer favours/bitterness (IBU 63) so will appeal to those wanting the ‘big beer’ experience, whereas the Pilsner for example is lighter flavoured and easy drinking so will appeal to those perhaps taking the first step into the world of craft beer. It’s all about having a diversity of products to suit the consumer”
The lads from Hawthorn have a fairly simplistic approach to their new releases. They brew a small limited release keg run to test the market. If the market says “yes” then that beer becomes their seasonal keg/packaged beer for the following year. “You can’t ask for a better barometer than the market” says Willis “and brewing a beer that the punters have already given their stamp of approval too, and are waiting for, is pretty satisfying” . For 2013 they have a few brews ready to go but it’s all about timing. As Reed points out “we are currently tossing up between a Porter and a summer Ale, but it’ll be the launch date that dictates which one gets the nod. I love a Porter but in summer, probably not. Vice Versa with the Summer Ale.”
Hawthorn Brewing co started in 2008 as the backyard idea of 3 mates with a long history of home brewing . After living abroad for many years the boys experienced first hand the huge variety of styles and flavours in the international beer scene. It was here that the idea started to take hold, and drawing on this experience, prompted the lads to “give it a go” upon returning home. “We’d had some pretty good results on the home brewing front (they have run an invite only beer festival for over ten years) but to transition to a commercial brewing company was a big step….but very rewarding” says Willis.
While the lads don’t currently have their own fully operational brewery, they do have the ‘Hawthorn brew shed’ where Reed tinkers away developing, tasting and tweaking their many recipes in small batches. These are then up-scaled at commercial breweries where Reed works with the in house brewer to ensure the taste, style and specs achieved in the Brew shed, are replicated.
Since inception the company has gone from strength to strength gathering a loyal following of dedicated craft beer fans and winning many awards along the way. ”The support for Hawthorn Brewing Co’s beer has been astounding to creators and recognition of a major talent. Head to their website today to see their full range of beers and find out here it is stocked.
