Held in the Markets Hotel at Flemington ( also the home of Paddy's Brewery ), the Hop Harvest Festival showcased many of the Craft Breweries of NSW. With brewers ranging from HopDog and Illawara on the south coast; through to Sydney's Redoak, Lord Nelson, Ekim, Happy Goblin and 4 Pines brewing; west to Mudgee Brewing and north to Black Duck brewing in Port Macquarie.
As you would expect from a Hop harvest festival, Pale Ales, IPAs and Bitters dominated the day with special mention going to Black Ducks Indian Runner IPA and Ekim's Berserka Ale. Both are malt driven and not overloaded with bitterness but with plenty of hop freshness and aroma. We managed to be the first punters to try 4 Pines new release Hop Harvest Lager which is so well balanced you don't notice the 50 IBU that goes with it.
Paddy's offers 6 of it's own beers of which we tried the Ginger Beer ( great taste and spice), the seasonal Belgium Dubel 6.4% ( more alcohol with some esters ) and the double White Wheat ( packed full of citrusy taste )
In a great contrast to the Canberra festival not only were the beers poured by the brewers themselves but it cost them nothing to attend and show off their beers and the $3 a midi or $2 a pony went straight to the brewers themselves allowing them to take something away for their efforts on the day
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