fjamesfranco: Meet Some Brewers, Drink Their Beer

Ever wondered where beer comes from? You don?t grown it on a tree, that?s for sure. Beer is made by men and woman called Brewers. The collective noun for brewers is ?A feast of brewers?. I know! Weird, right?

Through out Sydney Craft Beer Week we have a whole bunch of oportunies for you to sit down and have a pint with the person who made the pint. And I present:

PERSON WHO MADE THE PINT or MEET THE BREWER

Scotty Morgan, Rocks Brewing/Harts Pub
Scotty Morgan is the head for for Rocks Brewing who?s beer you will find all over Sydney and at Harts Pub in The Rocks.?He started brewing at University as a way to make cheap beer but he had a beer revelation involving Samuel Adams beer while working in the USA. Harts has become an institution in Sydney and a craft beer pilgrimage for those living far from a decent pint.

You can thank Scotty in person at Harts Meet The Brewer night.

Richard Adamson,?Young Henry?s
Richard?s brews have been downed at BBQs across Australia, pubs in London, bars from New York to Los Angeles, nightclubs in St Petersburg and pool halls in Beijing. Having established Barons Brewing?s core range of beers, including the innovative Native Range, Richard?s passion is to bring the whole beer experience to new and old drinkers through Young Henrys.

Meet Richard on just about every day.?Young Doctors in the East Village,?Young Henrys at the Little Guy, Young Henry?s Open Day, Young Henry?s House Party, Young Henry?s Tap Takover, Young Henry?s/Two Birds Collab Launch?and at Bloodwood, Newtown.

Paul Holgate, Holgate Brewhouse
Most young Aussies head over seas to check out the world beyond our sunburnt shores, and Paul and Natasha Holgate were no exception. On holiday trips to the USA and Europe in the 1990s they were amazed at the whole world of beer and beer styles out there.?The USA was an inspiration to the young Holgate?s, who saw the thriving microbrewing industry there and decided to just do it! Both of migrant families ? Paul?s family from Manchester England and Natasha?s from Sri Lanka ? they decided to quit their corporate jobs and follow their passion. Paul originally found his love of baking cakes and pastries, making jams and ginger beer from his Mum at home as a youngster and converted that to all-grain brewing from first principles while at University.

Meet Paul at Beer and Bites at The Oak Barrel.

Craig Wealands, Thirsty Crow
About 18th Months ago Craig opened Wagga Wagga?s first brewery and brew pub with his folks. In such a tiny amount of time the chap has achieved an aweful lot. His Vanilla Milk Stout took out Champion Hybrid at last Friday?s Champion Hybrid and a Bronze for their light beer at the?2011 Australian International Beer Awards.?Elsewhere on the lineup you?ll find the likes of a kolsch (their biggest seller), an English bitter and a US style pale, all excellent examples of style.

Meet Craig and show some appreciation at the Thirty Crow Tap Takeover at Yullis.

Brad Rogers, Jamie Cook, Ross Jurisich from?Stone and Wood

Brad, Jamie and Ross established Stone & Wood Brewing Company in Byron Bay in 2008 after many years of working in the beer business. Their dream was to quit ?working for the man?, shed the corporate garbage and get back to basics. This year the lads were took home an award for Best English Summer Ale from the biggest beer comp. in the world ? The World Beer Cup.

Meet the lads at The Big Pig Out?or the Food Truck Ambush

Steve ?Hendo? Henderson from Southern Bay Brewing

In just a few short years, Hendo has turned Southern Bay from primarily a packaging and contract brewery in to one of the best craft breweries in Australia. Sit down with the chap and ask him how he did it, all while having your head blown off by one of his hop?extravaganzas.

Hendo will be at Bloodwood for an intimate 16 person dinner. Join him why don?t you?

Ben Kraus from Birdgroad Brewers

Budding young winemaker Ben Kraus headed to Italy at the start of the Millennium to learn more about the art of making wine. Somewhere along the way, he got distracted on the ski slopes of Austria and ended up working at Tiroler Bier, a traditional microbrewery in Innsbruck, and returned to Australia a brewer, steeped in the traditions of the amber nectar.?Founding Bridge Road Brewers in his dad?s Beechworth backyard, he quickly established himself as one of Australia?s finest craft brewers and later installed his brewery at the High Country town?s old Coach House and Stables. There, visitors can sit among wooden clad tanks sampling a wide range of beers (and occasionally cider) while watching the brewers at work (This bio taken from the?Crafty Pint).

Ben will be at Bloodwood, Three Blue Ducks?and Brewers and Chewers.

Dave Golding ? Red Hill Brewery
Red Hill Brewery is located on the Mornington Peninsula and was founded by Karen and David Golding. Red Hill Produce a bunch of award winning beers and Dave has become known as a master of style. The brew on an 800l steam fired vessel and produce three main beers ? a Golden Ale, a Wheat Beer and a Scotch Ale. Sounds great1

Dave will be at Brewers and Chewers Dinner at The Local Taphouse

Luke Nicholas ? Epic Brewing
Luke Nicholas head brewer and owner of Epic Brewing in New Zealand. He is also the creator of the website RealBeer.co.nz, previously head brewer of the Cock & Bull?s beers, international beer judge, industry commentator, founding president of SOBA, and previously vice president of the Brewers Guild of New Zealand. All round legend, obviously.

Luke will be at Brewers and Chewers, Epic Alestars?and Cuz I?m Epic Bro

Dave Padden ? Riverside Brewing
Dave Padden got the idea to open a brewery a long time ago, fostered out of a love of home brewing. Padden is the founder of the casual western Sydney home brewers? club, and he speaks fondly of brewing as a great personal passion. He says the original plan for the brewery was something smaller???not quite a nanobrewery???although the initial vision has evolved a lot over the eighteen months. One thing that has remained constant, Padden tells me, is the need for a sense of community.

Tim Thomas ? Hopdog Beer Works (New South Wales)

Chris Willcock, Andrew Tweedle ? 4 Pines Manly
4 Pines began out of a desire to offer people great taste sensations through variety in their beer, quality craftsmanship, natural ingredients, traditional time honoured techniques (no short cuts). Something they wanted to drink & that their mates would be proud of! Their?stamp; ?Handcrafted beer brewed naturally? means in a nutshell that when you drink our beer you are getting the best of natures goodness.

Meet Chris at Brewers and Chewers. Andrew will be at the Beer Mimics Food Launch and a bunch of other events unofficially

Jayne Lewis ? Two birds
Jayne?studied a Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Winemaking and worked in wineries in Margaret River and the US, before seeing the light and landing a role as a Brewer at Little Creatures in WA in 2004. She was involved in developing Pipsqueak Cider before moving to Melbourne in 2007. She worked casually at Matilda Bay Garage, Dandenong before accepting the role as Head Brewer at Mountain Goat Brewery, Richmond in 2008. Jayne has completed a Diploma in Brewing through the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in the UK ?and has judged at the Australian International Beer Awards, BrewNZ and the Perth Royal Beer Show.

Meet Jayne at Brewers and Chewers, High Tea at Harts Pub, SCBW Tweet Up At The East Village?and Young Henry?s/Two Birds Collab Launch

Jeff Wright -?McLaren Vale
For the last 18 months Jeff Wright has been heading up the brewing team at McLaren Vale Beer, formulating and brewing some unique and complex boutique amber draughts. Originally a viticulturist by trade, Wright was growing grapes for McLaren Vale wines when he decided that beer was where his heart lay. ?I?ve been home brewing for quite a few years? I suppose it?s where the passion was?. (Bio and pic from Time Out)

You can meet Jeff at The McLaren Vale Meet The Brewer afternoon at The Union.

Chuck Hahn at the James Squire Tour

Shawn Sherlock at Murrays Brewing Co
From humble beginnings in Taylors Arm (population 50) on the New South Wales north coast around, Murray?s relocated to Port Stephens in 2009 where today they run a heck of an operation in a funny place called Bob?s Farm. Recently they opened their first Sydney venue, Murray?s Brewery Restaurant and Bar at Manly. Shawn brews some of Australia?s most innovative beers and Murray?s is without a doubt of the best breweries in Australia.

Meet Shawn at the Murray?s Hoptoberfest Dinner

Rocks Brewing

Andrew Robson, The Lord Nelson
The Lord Nelson is Sydney?s oldest brew pub, having started brewing beer in house in 1985. Head Brewer Andrew Robson will be hosting The?Brewer?s Table gathering and explore the pairing of ale and food with a particular nod to seasonal ingredients. It will also provide an opportunity to sample Lord Nelson Brewery Ales whilst discussing their production first hand with the Brewer.

Andrew will be at The Brewers Table

Neil Whittorn,?Matilda Bay
The longest-established of all Australian craft breweries, Matilda Bay was founded by Phil Sexton in West Australia back in 1984, making small batches of beer for sale in Fremantle?s Sail & Anchor pub. First off the production line was the Redback wheat beer ? the first of its style made in Australia and still winning awards today.

Come meet Neil Whittorn?at?Waltzing Matilda at the King Street Brewhouse

Doc from Doctors Orders
Doc is homebrew royalty around Sydney. He has played an integral role in building the homebrew community in Australia and for the past few years he has been running the most excellent nano-brewery this side of Earth. His beers are always epic ?and beer nerds flock to their locals whenever he has a new release.