News Archives - Bright Brewery | MountainCrafted Beer

Beer, BBQ & Behind-the-Scenes: Bright Brewery Open Day This Saturday!

Ever wondered how we make our beer? Now’s your chance to experience the magic firsthand! Bright Brewery is throwing open the doors to Fred’s Shed– our exclusive production site – for one day only, inviting beer lovers, families, and the local community to a Community Open Day on Saturday, March 15, from 10:30am to 3pm.

This is a rare behind-the-scenes opportunity to witness the passion and craft that goes into every drop of our award-winning beers, including Alpine Lager – recently crowned Australia’s #1 Indie Lager!

What’s in store?

Free brewery tours – Get a guided insider look at our brewing process (11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm)

Beer tastings – Sample our freshest brews, including fan favourites and new releases (11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm)

Meet the brewers – Chat with the experts and uncover the secrets behind your favourite beers

Complimentary BBQ – Because great beer deserves great food

Outdoor games for kids – A fun-filled day for the whole family

Bright Brewery pop-up bar – Sip and enjoy our craft beers and soft drinks on-site

Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering craft beer, this is the perfect chance to immerse yourself in the world of brewing, connect with our vibrant community, and enjoy a day of fun, food, and fantastic beer.

For more information and to sign up for one of the free tours and tastings click here.

Important Info: For safety reasons, all visitors to Fred’s Production Facility must sign in upon arrival and wear the provided high-vis clothing.

Alpine Lager Crowned Australia’s #1 Indie Lager in 2024 GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beer Poll

Bright Brewery is thrilled to announce that its flagship beer, Alpine Lager, has secured an impressive #18 ranking in the 2024 GABS Festival Hottest 100 Craft Beer Poll. This remarkable achievement not only marks Alpine Lager’s debut in the Top 20 but also crowns it as Australia’s #1 Independent Lager.

This year’s result represents a massive leap of 20 places from its #38 ranking in 2023, smashing its previous best result of #32. The GABS Hottest 100 is one of Australia’s most prestigious and competitive craft beer polls, featuring nearly 400 breweries and attracting over 55,000 voters who cast their ballots for their favourite beers of the year. With nearly 1,500 different beers nominated and 70 breweries making the list, Bright Brewery’s Alpine Lager has risen to the top as a standout performer.

Evin Craney, National Sales and Brand Manager at Bright Brewery, shared his excitement:

“This last weekend was a dream manifest for the Bright Brewery team. Our flagship beer, Alpine Lager has for the first time cracked the Top 20 of the GABS Hottest 100. As well as taking out the title of Australia’s #1 Independent Lager. Not bad for a beer made in a town of less than 3000 people, 4 hours north of the city!

“This year’s result is even more special as it’s sweetened by having two independent brewers from North East Victoria place in the Top 20, highlighting the strength of our region’s beer scene. This result is a tribute to the incredible effort and dedication of our team, and we’re so proud to share this success with our community.”

Alpine Lager is one of five year-round core-range beers brewed at Bright Brewery’s state-of-the-art production facility in Bright, Victoria. Crafted by brewers Lewis Kerr, David Stokie, Madi Bruce, and Claire Lock, this crisp and refreshing lager has become a favourite among beer enthusiasts across Australia.

The 2024 GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beer Poll showcased the incredible diversity and quality of Australia’s craft beer scene, with several new lagers making their debut. For Bright Brewery, an independently owned brewery, to compete and excel against internationally owned conglomerates is a testament to the passion, dedication, and craftsmanship of the entire team.

Alpine Lager is available year-round online, at the Bright Brewery Brewpub, and through its network of 500+ stockists across Australia.

Celebration Offer!
To toast Alpine Lager being voted Australia’s #1 Independent Lager, enjoy 10% off cases of Alpine Lager until 7 February, 2025!

Blazing Trails: Fred’s Brew Day 2025

Bright Brewery Honours Co-Founder Fiona Reddaway with Annual “Fred’s” Beer Brewing Day

Nineteen years ago, the late Fiona Reddaway (known fondly as “Fred”) co-founded Bright Brewery with her husband Scott, driven by an entrepreneurial vision to create not just a brewery, but a community hub in Bright that championed opportunities for women in brewing. Fiona’s trailblazing legacy lives on through the culture she helped establish — a culture of inclusivity, empowerment, and innovation.

To honour her incredible contribution, we brew a special beer every year in her honour, affectionately named “Fred’s”. This tradition invites all the amazing women across our team — from admin to front of house, kitchen, and beyond — to take part in the brewing process. Together, they choose the beer style, roll up their sleeves, and get hands-on.

The 2025 Fred’s Brew Day was held on Tuesday, January 22, led by Bright Brewery’s Assistant Brewers, Madi and Claire. Both women first discovered their passion for brewing after attending Fred’s Brew Day themselves. This year’s event included a hop sensory class, guided tastings of Bright Brewery’s core range, and hands-on brewing activities, giving women across the team a chance to immerse themselves in the art of beer brewing.

The 2025 release will be Fred’s Trailblazer Motueka IPA, featuring the incredible Motueka hop from New Zealand’s South Island — a nod to pushing boundaries and blazing trails, just like Fiona did.

Fred’s Trailblazer NZ Motueka IPA will be ready to enjoy in time for International Women’s Day and showcased at a special luncheon at the Brewpub on Thursday, March 6 (details coming soon).

Bright Brewery Pops Up at Mystic Bike Park This Summer

Get ready for the ultimate summer ride at Bright’s iconic Mystic Bike Park! From December 21st to February 10th, quench your thirst at the Bright Brewery pop-up bar, serving up refreshing softies and delicious beers every Friday, Saturday from 12-8pm, and Sunday from 12 PM to 5PM.

Local food trucks will also be on-site to satisfy your hunger pangs with delicious munchies.

Find the pop-up bar at the Mystic Trailhead Carpark (The New Trail Hub Village).

More Details:

For more information and updates, visit https://bit.ly/MBP-summer-sesh.

We hope to see you there!

The Summer of Lager Begins! Vote Alpine Lager #1 in the GABS Hottest 100

The highly anticipated GABS Festival Hottest 100 Craft Beer Poll is open, and the battle for craft beer glory is on!

Remember that crisp, refreshing lager that’s your go-to for scorching summer days, backyard barbecues, and endless good times with mates? Alpine Lager isn’t just a crowd-pleaser, it’s a proven champion, already voted #4 favourite lager out of over 1,800 contenders last year!

This year, we’re aiming for the top! Head over to https://gabshottest100.com/au-vote/, search for Bright Brewery, and cast your vote for Alpine Lager as your #1 choice.

Why Alpine Lager deserves your vote:
It’s Bright Brewery’s #1 Best-Selling Beer: This beloved lager is a true Aussie favourite.
Dominating the Lager Landscape: Currently ranked the #2 independent lager in Victoria and #3 in all of Australia, Alpine Lager is a force to be reckoned with.
Aiming for the Top 30: Last year, Alpine Lager secured an impressive #38 spot overall. With your help, we can propel it into the prestigious Top 30!

Support Independent Craft Beer
By voting for Alpine Lager, you’re not just choosing a delicious beer, you’re supporting a passionate, 100% independently owned brewery.

Voting is open until January 12th, 2025.
#notanotherpaleale

VOTE HERE

Drink Local, Think Global: Bright Brewery’s Black Friday Sale

CODE: BLACKFRIDAY10

Bright Brewery is excited to announce its Black Friday sale, offering a 10% discount storewide* on all beers, merch, and mixed packs. Additionally, the brewery will donate 10% of all online sales to Zero Waste Victoria, a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainable practices.

Don’t forget, this year we’re also participating in Small Business Saturday and Giving Tuesday!

Bright Brewery also hopes to encourage customers to think about where their money is going. “On Black Friday, consider supporting local businesses instead of giving your money to global tech giants or buying another item you don’t need,” explained Laura Gray, Marketing Manager at Bright Brewery. “We believe that supporting local, independent producers in your own community is important. These businesses are the backbone of our economy and they deserve our support.”

In addition to supporting local businesses, Bright Brewery is also committed to promoting sustainability. The brewery’s partnership with Zero Waste Victoria highlights the importance of mindful consumption and reducing waste.

“We’re donating 10% of all Black Friday online sales to Zero Waste Victoria because we believe in their mission to reduce waste in Victoria,” Laura said. “They provide education and resources to help people make sustainable choices, and we’re proud to support their work.”

The Bright Brewery Black Friday sale includes:

10% OFF ONLINE STOREWIDE: all beers, all merch, all mixed packs*
AN EXTRA 10% OFF ONLINE STOREWIDE FOR MASH CLUB MEMBERS (20% total)
AN EXTRA 5% OFF FOR BLACK FRIDAY VIP EARLY BIRD SUBSCRIBERS (15% total)
FREE GIFT CARD FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $150**
FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $99 (excl WA/NT)

Mash Club members and VIP Early Access subscribers will receive early access to the sale, with a code emailed to them on Monday 25 November.

On Black Friday, customers will be able to shop online with coupon code: BLACKFRIDAY10 to receive their discount. Free shipping is available on orders over $99 (excluding WA/NT).

“We hope you’ll join us in supporting local businesses and promoting sustainability this Black Friday. “Laura concluded.

You can start browsing here now!

*Excludes Mash Club subscriptions, gift certificates and sale items. The Black Friday sale is online only. Discounts are not available in the Bright Brewery venue.
**Valid on orders of $150 or more in the one transaction. Gift cards are processed manually and will be issued after the sale ends on Wednesday 3 December.

From the High Country to Your Local: Mountain Juice Hits Shelves Nationally

Thanks to our mates at Coles Liquor, we’re thrilled to announce our first nationally ranged beer – Mountain Juice Hazy Pale Ale.

This is a huge milestone for Bright Brewery. Back in 2019, we were just starting to get our beers out of the Victorian High Country. Fast forward a few years, and we’ve reached a new level of growth thanks to the vision and leadership of our founder, Scott Brandon.

Scott could have built our new brewery closer to Melbourne, but he chose to re-invest in our regional community instead. This decision has been instrumental in our success and is a testament to his commitment to supporting our local community.

Whilst our beers have been available nationwide in some capacity for a few years now, this is a milestone moment in period where victories like this are hard to come by.

Mountain Juice is a true reflection of our passion for crafting delicious, high-quality beer in the heart of the Victorian High Country. It’s the culmination of years of hard work from our incredible team and the dedication to brewing exceptional beer.

Grab a tin of this delicious mountain nectar at your nearest Coles Liquor First Choice or Vintage Cellars store and experience the taste of Bright today!

A Fur-bulous Beer: DoggoBrau 2024 is Here!

Bright Brewery is thrilled to announce the release of DoggoBrau Tropical XPA on Friday November 8 2024. This year’s edition features a heart-warming tale of bravery and loyalty, starring Kona, a majestic Maremma.

Kona, a rescue dog from Tiki Animal Rescue, captured hearts with her heroic act of saving a baby goat from an eagle’s attack. This incredible story, shared by her owner Andrew Frith, perfectly embodies the spirit of DoggoBrau.

The same great beer, a new paw-some look.
DoggoBrau 2024 offers the same delicious tropical XPA you’ve come to love, now with a captivating new design showcasing Kona’s stunning image.

A Pawsitive Impact
Since its inception, DoggoBrau has been committed to supporting animal welfare. By partnering with RSPCA Victoria, Bright Brewery aims to raise awareness and funds for animals in need.

Join us in celebrating the power of rescue and the joy of good beer.
Grab a can or a pot of DoggoBrau 2024 from the Bright Brewery Brewpub, online and at all barking good independent liquor retailers and raise a glass to Kona and all the amazing rescue animals out there.