In their new brewery the guys have 8 - 2500L fermenters, fed from a 1250L boiler and mash tun which are heated with a 1979 steam generator of which the guys are justly proud. With demand for their beers at a record high and contract brewing for some of the biggest names in the craft beer industry as well as some of the newest, the guys are kept pretty busy brewing upwards of 6 batches a week. Think of these blokes when you are having one of their beers, as all the grain is hand carried from the crusher to the mash tun - about 200kg per batch - and hand stirred. Not much fun there...and even less when shovelling it out again. ( The spent grain is sent to a beef farmer )
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| Ashur (left) and Shaun |
The next seasonal coming up will be a Spiced Pumpkin Ale ( possibly called Smashing Rumpkins ), which is fermented normally and then aged in ex - rum oak barrels.
From the brewery we made our way to the WIN Entertainment Centre for more beer and some lunch. We were pleased to see that all seven of the Illawarra Beers were available on tap, and as a bonus, a Mountain Goat and a HopDog for good measure. We met up with Zak the bar manager, who has a passion for craft beer and knowledge of how they are crafted.
So thanks to Shaun, Ashur, Dave and Zak for an excellent time with Illawarra Brewing.
1 comment:
Relaunched In 2010 is a key phrase in your excellent write up. Before Shaun, Ashur and Dave took over, the place was dingy and very ordinary, as was the beer. At one stage, under the founding management, I wouldn't give you two bob for it. Then, the boys took over and we couldn't believe the pace and quality of changes they made, nor that they were starting to win awards and be widely recognised. We then started, tentatively, to taste their brews to see what all the fuss was about and...wow!! - a miraculous transformation. From nowhere to somewhere - fast - through dedication, thorough professionalism, creativity and hard work. From dingy and over-ratedto superb by any standards, including internationally. Our Illawarra star brewery is nowadays right up there with Burleigh Brewing and Stone and Wood and that's a high and thoroughly well-deserved accolade. Right across from Wollongong main beach with views across to the Five Islands, this is a jewel in the crown of superb craft brewing and well worth a visit. Food's great too, nowadays. Very very highly recommended for anyone who appreciates world class beer. John Roach, Austinmer, NSW.
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