If you’re a beer lover, you’re probably a fan of local craft beer. There’s nothing like a unique flavour of perfectly crafted beer by small breweries. These people make beer with great love and dedication and the final result is a delicious beer
Australians are known to love their local craft breweries and if you check NSW craft beer offers you’ll find many choices with the amount of alcohol of your choice, flavours and aromas.
What’s a Craft Beer?
Craft beer refers to beer made in a microbrewery or a brewery that makes only small batches of beer. This “small batch” shouldn’t be taken literally, because it varies from country to country. In the USA for example, this number is 6 million barrels per year, while in Australia it’s about 1/5th of this number (and it refers to the largest independent brewery).
But even though craft beer is usually associated with owned breweries, you can find craft beer by big beer names. But, if they continue producing the beer in the same manner, is it still craft beer? Some people agree, and others don’t. The general understanding is that craft beer shouldn’t be made in large amounts and should be a product of love. When people talk craft beer there are two words you’ll hear often – malt and hops. The basic ingredients of beer are water, starch (malted barley), yeast and flavouring (hops).
Instead of starch, brewers use wheat, even though most craft breweries prefer barley. Since it can’t ferment on its own, it’s converted to malted barley or malt. The process requires soaking the barley and letting it germinate; then this is stopped by the heating process. Then hops (flowers from the hop plant) are added to produce bitter and citrusy and floral aromas.
Types of Craft Beer
Amber Ale
This craft beer was named after the colour and smart mix of ingredients. It is neither dark nor pale ale, but an amber ale made by adding amber or crystal malts to the pale ale, which gives a caramel toffee flavour. If you want to try a good locally brown amber ale, my suggestion is Nomad Amber Dream Hoppy Amber. This amber-coloured ale is malty yet hoppy with floral, earthy, orange and citrus notes from Centennial and Amarillo hop additions.
Ales
Ale dates back to 800 BC in Germany and was once the first choice of drink as it was safer than water. Modern ale is the spine for many craft beers. Australian beer lovers love mostly pale ales (it got its name from its pale colour) and if you check NSW craft beer offers you’ll see they have a rich offer of this craft beer. Originally the light colour occurred because of the barley roasting technique or malting. Coke, which is a form of coal, was used instead of wood, which results in a less scorched roast and golden colour.
Lightly roasted barley malt gives a light beer, while heavily roasted barley malt will give dark or black beers. Pale ales are lightly hopped and aren’t bitter. My suggestion for craft NSW beer is Stone & Wood Pacific Ale which was brewed using all Australian barley, wheat and Galaxy hops. It has a cloudy and golden colour and is a dry hopped to deliver a big fruit aroma and a refreshing finish.
IPA or India Pale Ale
This ale dates from the 18th-century English export to India. IPA had extra hops and added alcohol to help keep it on long transport. The ingredients resulted in a unique bitter flavour with citrus and floral undertones; up to this day, it’s the perfect refreshment in hotter climates, just like in Australia. The term double IPA refers to double amounts of hops, that form strong ale with a very hoppy flavour. If you’re checking for NSW craft beers in breweries and seeking something with higher alcohol content, this one is your best choice (it has more than 7%). If you’re searching for a good NSW IPA check out One Drop 444 Double Hazy IPA.
Lagers
Lagers are brewed with lager yeast, which favours cold temperatures. These beers ferment at the bottom of the tank (ales use all yeast and prefer higher temperatures and sit at the top of the tank). Lager is a German word (lagerbier) that refers to the southern German style of brewing that makes a light crisp-tasting beer. Lagers too have different styles. My suggestion for a delicious domestic lager is Sauce Simples Lager
especially for those who enjoy a hint of citrus and floral aromas and appreciate small-batch craft without a hop explosion.
Pale Lager
Pale lager or pilsener comes from England but the techniques were brought there from Germany in the 19th century. Pilsners are dryer with hoppy scents. Dark lagers include Dunkel and Schwarzbiers and are made with special Munich malts that provide the beer with a dark black appearance and chocolaty and liquorice flavours.
A bottle of Weltenburger Kloster Pils will deliver you a classy flavour with yellow colour and a tight long-lasting head. The first aroma is of passionfruit and citrus hops, and a doughy malt scent appears as the beer warms. The beer is refreshingly crispy with an amazing interplay between bitter German hops and the sweet bready malt.
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