The Australian Hotel and Brewery

     The Australian Hotel and Brewery is located in Rouse hill on the out skirts of Sydney just up the road from Parklea Markets. Situated in a brand new purpose built premises the hotel and brewery combine to give you a spacious layout centred around the bistro and massive dinning / lounge area complete with a viewing spot to watch the brewery in operation. On the other side is the TAB, gaming lounge and pool tables, these are around the corner and as such are not the main focus.

     While having our tasting panels and watching the brewery operate, we were approached by Head Brewer Neal Cameron ( formerly of Di Bortoli's craft brewery The William Bull brewery ) who was  more than happy to chat with us not only about the brewery but also all things beer related. The brewery has a 20 hectolitres ( 2000L ) capacity with some very nice double skinned temperature controlled fermenters ( yes I'm jealous ) and is kept fairly busy with their range of 6 Beers (1 seasonal ) and a Cider.

Now for the Beers:

Pale Ale - 4.8% - Cloudy and all about the Hops, with galaxy hops used in each part of the process  this beer is a showcase for the Galaxy variety and is left to stand alone with no real malt taste.

Cerveza ( Mexican Lager ) - 4.4% - Served with a slice of lime, taste it before you squeeze the lime and you will be rewarded with a clean fresh beer tasting of lemon. With little body to it this beer goes down very easy and is a match for it's better known cousin. Remember if you squeeze the lime into it all you will taste is the lime.

Pilsner - 4.8% - Tasting of nothing but hops, its hard to get past the big hop taste and the bitterness to what you know should be there somewhere, a clean malt.

Dark ( Dark Lager ) - 5.1% - Roasted malt and caramelly notes with a recognisable NZ Motueka hop finish this beer is is a genuine credit to dark beers. Take a bow.

Smoked IPA ( seasonal ) - 5.8% - Smoked beers seem to be coming back into favour these days and this one is up there with the best, it's smoky bacon flavoured with a good bitterness and will take you straight back to any smoke house you've ever visited.

Light - 2.9% - Dry with a full mouth taste, you start off tasting rye and then move to the hops.

Spider Cider - 4.5% -  Dry with a measure of sweetness this Cider has a big apple taste. My Cider loving wife rates it as one of the best craft Ciders we have found to date.

Tasting Paddles - 5 glasses for $10 with a free schooner of your favourite.

Steve's Pick  - Dark Lager          Wife's Pick - Spider Cider

     Now for the food, whoever thought of a steak sandwich on pide with a check of roasted capsicum, 3 huge sauteed mushrooms and tomato and lettuce is a bloody genius and for $17 with a side of the most delicious chips, good value too. The peperoni pizza with mint was Divine and well worth the $20. I highly recommend that you check out the menu online and that you don't eat the day before as the meals are very generous.

     With an eye on the future The Australian hotel and Brewery will be installing a canning line into the brewery around September, when asked as to why cans, Neal's reply was they keep the Beer fresher, are easier to store, fill and distribute although not so good for home brewers who reuse bottles.

      All beers are currently only available in growlers for the take away option.

      Brewery tours are available daily but its best to book.