New beer release

A Mead Marvel: Infinite Barrel Works Second Release

Emerging from deep in the heart of the High Country, Bright Brewery proudly announces the second release of its Infinite Barrel Works project. This highly anticipated series celebrates the dark art of barrel aging, with each release showcasing the unique flavours imparted by various barrels.

THE MEAD BARREL AGED IMPERIAL MILK STOUT (10.2%)

The latest addition to the Infinite Barrel Works lineup is a Mead Barrel Aged Imperial Milk Stout. This exceptional beer is the result of a meticulous aging process in ex-Mead casks, a traditional fermented beverage made from honey. The mead’s sweetness and complexity have resulted in a full bodied, sweet Imperial Milk Stout.

A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

This beer’s story begins in 2019, a time before the world was dramatically altered by global events. A collaboration with Backwoods Distilling resulted in the creation of a whisky from Bright’s Stubborn Imperial Stout. The whisky was aged in barrels, which were then repurposed for the Infinite Barrel Works project.

By cycling the imperial stout and whisky through these barrels, Bright Brewery has created a closed loop of aging, ensuring that the barrels are used infinitely.

A TASTE OF THE INFINITE

The Mead Barrel Aged Imperial Milk Stout offers a complex and satisfying flavour profile. The sweetness of the mead complements the smooth chocolate notes of the imperial stout, creating a harmonious blend. Expect subtle notes honey and eucalyptus which round out with a lovely mouthfeel.

LIMITED AVAILABIILTY 

Infinite Barrel Works By Bright Brewery beers are renowned for their scarcity and exceptional quality. Due to the small-batch nature of barrel aging, quantities are extremely limited. This release will be available exclusively online from Bright Brewery.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDAND HOLLAND

The can art for the Mead Barrel Aged Imperial Milk Stout features stunning photography by Bright local and avid skier, Brendan Holland. His images capture the beauty and serenity of Mount Feathertop, Victoria’s second highest mountain peak.

“This particular photo was a result after a day’s skiing with friends.  My friends had gone back to their unit, but I decided to stick around as it was looking like it was going to be a promising sunset,” he said.

“I headed out to the Mt Loch carpark where there are great views of Mt Feathertop from there. So I went out in the ‘blue hour’ and I got this shot. There were a few really nice clouds around that really picked up the colours of the sunset and the blues in the sky.”

Subsequent Infinite releases will feature equally beautiful High Country landscapes and photographers keen to see their work on an Infinite can are invited to lodge an Expression of Interest to have their art featured on future beers. There is more information on that process here.

PRESALE PERIOD

A two-week pre-sale for the Infinite Barrel Works Mead Barrel Aged Imperial Stout will begin on Thursday, September 26th at 10 AM AEST.

Bright Mash Club members will have early access to the pre-sale starting on Tuesday, September 24th at 10am AEST.

The pre-sale will open to the general public on Thursday, September 26th at 10 AM AEST.

To join the Mash Club and get early access to the beer, head here. Or join Bright’s Brew Crew mailing list to be the first to know when the presale goes live.

Bright Brewery Celebrates 18 Years with Decadence Barleywine

To commemorate 18 years of brewing exceptional mountain beers, Bright Brewery is releasing a luxurious barleywine aptly named ‘Decadence’.

“Eighteen years ago, we set out to brew beers that captured the spirit of adventure in the mountains we call home,” says Lewis Kerr, Head Brewer at Bright Brewery. “Decadence Barleywine is a culmination of that journey. At 16% ABV, it’s luxuriously smooth and rich with caramel, hints of fortified wine, and playful pops of candy. As you savour it, deeper notes of raisins and prunes emerge, a testament to the dedication and complexity we’ve poured into every Bright Brewery adventure.”

The brewery’s story began in 2003 with the purchase of land for their current location on the Great Alpine Road. From brewing their first batches at Jamieson Brewery in 2004 to finally opening their doors in mid-2006, Bright Brewery has remained a 100% family-owned independent craft brewery focused on creating a welcoming atmosphere that celebrates the beauty of the surrounding high country region.

So, what is a barleywine? “A barleywine is essentially a beer that is brewed with one or two base malts without being too complex in the base, but you’re relying on the sweetness and the ABV to bring it through, much like a wine itself”, said Lewis on the The Coolroom Podcast.

“The ABV is pushing through anywhere from 10-18% depending on the brewery. You are relying on the sweetness and the body and the high-finishing alcohol to carry it through to hold it’s place side by side with a wine”, he said.

Will Ziebell from Craftypint.com describes Decadence as “decadent from every angle, with ripe and decadent fruit notes of banana, pineapple, and apricot. There’s also decadently sweet layers of honeycomb and golden syrup, while a somewhat oxidative quality and further dark fruits notes bring the beer into decadent dessert wine territory.”

Decadence Barleywine is a limited-edition release and available exclusively online now in 4 x 355ml cans or at the Bright Brewery venue on tap / take away.

Brewing Change: Bright Brewery Launches POW Hazy Pale Ale

Bright Brewery is excited to announce the launch of their new POW Hazy Pale Ale, brewed in collaboration with Protect Our Winters Australia (POW). This refreshing and fruity beer not only offers a thirst-quenching taste experience but also supports a crucial cause: protecting our alpine environment and fighting climate change.

Funds from every POW Hazy Pale Ale sold will go directly to POW Australia, helping them advocate for policy solutions to address the climate crisis and its impact on our mountains.

Brewed in the heart of the Victorian High Country, this hazy pale ale boasts a cloudy appearance and bursts with juicy tropical fruit flavours. Despite its added depth, it remains light-bodied and refreshing, making it a perfect session beer.

Celebrate the launch!
Join Bright Brewery on Sunday, June 2nd, from 1-5pm for a special launch event. Enjoy a “Karma Keg” of the POW Hazy Pale Ale and decide what you pay for a pot – all proceeds will go directly to POW Australia. Click here for more info.

About the Collaboration:
Born in the Victorian mountains in 2021, the partnership between Bright Brewery and POW Australia reflects their shared commitment to protecting Australia’s unique alpine environment. This seasonal brew aims to raise awareness of POW’s vital work and encourage positive action against climate change. To learn more about the work that POW does, click here.

The POW Hazy Pale Ale is available online now and at selected stockists.
Join Bright Brewery and POW Australia in raising a glass to a delicious beer and a healthier planet!

Celebrating the Dark Arts of Barrel Aging: Introducing INFINITE Barrel Works By Bright Brewery

Emerging from deep in the heart of the High Country comes an exciting new range of beers from one of the country’s pioneering craft breweries.

Infinite Barrel Works by Bright Brewery will celebrate the dark art of barrel aging, with only the most exclusive beers seeing the light of day.

Whilst Bright has released highly-acclaimed barrel-aged beers before, like it’s 16th anniversary Pioneer Rum Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, a formal barrel-aging program has long been on founder Scott Brandon’s wishlist.

And now, under the watchful eye of Head Brewer Lewis Kerr, Infinite Barrel Works sees a curated selection of hand-picked barrels reserved only for Bright’s most premium beers.

“Barrel aging is something quite special that all brewers love to work with,” Kerr said. “There’s a bit of black magic to it, and you have to give up a bit of control of the beer that you’re working with to the elements and to nature and to the barrel.”

THE STORY
The first Infinite Barrel Works release will be a Whisky Barrel Aged Imperial Stout – but it wouldn’t do the beer, or the barrels, justice, to just stop the explanation there…

In fact, we have to go way back in time to that peaceful pre-COVID and pre-Russian War on Ukraine period of 2019 when we were blissfully unaware of how the world was about to change.

“This beer was derived in the depths of the High Country with our good friends at Backwoods Distilling,” Kerr said.
“In 2019, we sent off a batch of our Stubborn Imperial Stout (then called Stubborn Russian) to Backwoods for distillation into a whisky. That whisky was then aged in these barrels, and both the whisky and the barrels were given to us when the whisky had matured.

“We then aged another round of imperial stout and whisky in those barrels, and the cycle continued, creating a closed loop of barrels that are infinitely used.”

To be more specific, the beer in barrel is Bright’s 2023 Stubborn Imperial Stout – the notorious 16-percenter brewed by Kerr and his team in the Autumn of 2023. So what has a year in a whisky barrel done for it?

THE BEER
“It’s definitely still boozy, as you’d expect from a 16-percenter, and it’s picked up a lot of the whisky characteristics – a lot of deep plum, raisin and prune characteristics, and the heat has mellowed out,” Kerr said.

Due to its high ABV (16% and 5.6 std drinks per can), this beer is definitely designed to share with other beer lovers, not to consume solo.

“Practice responsible drinking and share it with some mates. Take it to can-share night, take it as a gift, open it with a couple of friends, sit down and take your time,” Kerr advises. “When you finish the beer, you will see it evolve and become a new beer when it’s warmed up to room temperature.”

THE BARRELS
So what can beer lovers expect from future Infinite releases? Kerr is excited but he isn’t giving away all his secrets. “We’ve got an incredible array of barrels, like Madeira, coconut rum, cognac, mead, banana brandy so there’s some exciting things on the cards,” he said. Infinite Barrel Works beers are expected to be scarce and extremely limited in quantity, due to the small-batch nature of the style.

They will be available exclusively online from Bright Brewery.

THE ART
Bright fans will notice that Infinite beers look remarkably different to the rest of its very distinctive, colourful cans. “This beer is so special to us and so unique to Bright that we wanted the can art to reflect that,” Kerr said. The can artwork for Infinite Whisky Barrel Aged Imperial Stout features a beautiful photo of Mount Buffalo, Vic, captured by local photographer Sam Walklate.

“I’m pretty lucky as I live just down the road from Mount Buffalo,” Walklate said. “And from where I live, I can see the conditions up on the mountain. On this day, I saw the cloud sort of dancing around the mountain and I decided to just drive up the road and grab a shot. I just stayed there for about 20 minutes while the clouds danced around the mountain and I came out with this image.”

Subsequent Infinite releases will feature equally beautiful High Country landscapes and photographers keen to see their work on an Infinite can are invited to lodge an Expression of Interest to have their art featured on future beers. There is more information on that process here.

THE DETAILS
Infinite Barrel Works Whisky Barrel Aged Imperial Stout will be available by pre-sale to Bright Mash Club members from Wednesday May 1 and will go on sale to the general public on Friday May 3.

To join the Mash Club and get early access to the beer, head here. Or join Bright’s Brew Crew mailing list to be the first to know when Friday’s release goes live.

Doggobrau heads around Victoria in support of RSPCA victoria

Bright Brewery is very excited to announce that our collaboration beer with RSPCA Victoria – DoggoBrau Tropical XPA – is now available at all Dan Murphy’s stores throughout Victoria.

DoggBrau, which is now in its third year, raises money to support the vital work RSPCA Victoria does in rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals in need.

And with DoggoBrau now available across Victoria, at nearly 100 independent retailers and in all 83 Victorian Dan Murphy’s stores, it’s easier than ever to get your paws on some and help support RSPCA’s vital work.

RSPCA Victoria Corporate Partnerships Manager Chris Doig said DoggoBrau had become a valued part of RSPCA Victoria’s annual calendar.

“We absolutely love the DoggoBrau concept and what it stands for,” Doig said. “We are excited to see the beer – and the cause – touching the hearts of beer, and animal, lovers all over Victoria.

“Bright Brewery is a valued RSPCA Victoria Business Supporter and we’re thrilled that they’re dedicated to helping animals in need.”

Bright Brewery Marketing Manager Laura Gray said DoggoBrau was a beer close to the hearts of the Bright crew.

“We all love DoggoBrau and what it stands for,” Gray said. “And it doesn’t hurt that it’s a cracking beer as well!”

DoggoBrau Tropical XPA was awarded a Gold Medal at the 2022 Australian International Beer Awards, and has long been a crowd favourite due to its fresh, tropical, easy-drinking flavour.

“Inside each characterful can is the same beer that’s been loaded with El Dorado, Kohatu, Azacca, Cryo Azacca and Cryo Mosaic hops. It means that anyone who loves modern XPAs where the malt profile is lean, the bitterness is subtle an the hops provide plenty of citrus and tropical hues – namely grapefruit, pineapple, guava and rockmelon – are just as well looked after as any four-legged friend.” – Will Ziebell, The Crafty Pint

Each new iteration of DoggoBrau cans are designed by Melbourne designer Clint Weaver of Pocketbeagles Studio who helps bring DoggoBrau to life.

“The original doggo was straight out of Clint’s brain but, since then, we’ve recreated rescue doggos that are special to us in some way,” Gray explained.

“The second doggo Phoebe belonged to an RSPCA staff member and we just couldn’t resist her little bandana when we first met her.

“Then there was Bright Brewery founder Scott’s greyhound/kelpie/lurcher-X, Newton.

“And the most recent DoggoBrau doggo is my greyhound, Eddy, who passed away suddenly earlier this year. At 35kg, he was definitely a Big Doggo, so he was perfect for this homage.”

And while the beer has its roots in cute doggos, this year, the Bright team branched out in order to help RSPCA on an even bigger scale.

“We all love cute doggos but cats are one of the biggest, if not the biggest, issue for RSPCA Victoria,” Gray said. “The volume of rescue cats needing help is incredibly high, and we wanted to do something to bring awareness to that as well.”

Enter: CattoBrau Tropical XPA. Featuring Weaver’s own feline Kyari, the first ever CattoBrau Tropical XPA has been a smash hit.

“It’s the same beer inside but we branded this release with both doggo and catto design so animal lovers could choose a beer close to their heart,” Gray explained.

DoggoBrau’s popularity has also helped spawn a range of merchandise including T-shirts, bandanas, and dog biscuits.

In 2022, Bright leaned right into the DoggoBrau brand, making it their theme for Melbourne GABS in collaboration with RSPCA in order to raise awareness with the event’s 25,000 attendees.

“Someone, somewhere granted us permission to bring RSPCA rescue dogs into the Melbourne Exhibion Centre during a beer festival so every day of GABS, we had RSPCA visit with a furry friend and it was an absolute hit,” Gray said.

“Doggos and beer – the perfect combination!”

To grab some DoggoBrau Tropical XPA online from Bright Brewery, please head here.

To find your closest retail stockist, please head here.

Bright beer has gone to the dogs

Beer has gone to the dogs! And we’re here for it…

 

We are dog-gone excited to announce the next instalment of our pawsome collaboration with RSPCA Victoria- DoggoBrau Tropical XPA!

 

And this time around, things are getting even more a-meow-zing with the first-ever release of our new CattoBrau Tropical XPA!

That’s right – the same great beer is now supporting both dogs AND cats!

 

“Inside each characterful can is the same beer that’s been loaded with El Dorado, Kohatu, Azacca, Cryo Azacca and Cryo Mosaic hops. It means that anyone who loves modern XPAs where the malt profile is lean, the bitterness is subtle an the hops provide plenty of citrus and tropical hues – namely grapefruit, pineapple, guava and rockmelon – are just as well looked after as any four-legged friend.” – Will Ziebell, The Crafty Pint

 

We’re thrilled to partner with RSPCA Victoria to help raise awareness about the incredible work that they do to rescue, rehome and rehabilitate dogs and cats in need.

 

Part-proceeds from all Doggo/CattoBrau beer sales go directly to supporting RSPCA Vic to support their incredible work. It’s a barking good cause!

Bright and Carwyn Cellars collab on Australian beer first

What began, as most great ideas do, as a yarn over a beer on cold and wintry day has now come full circle.

A collaboration that has spanned three years, two continents, a global pandemic, 17,000km, four brewers, and countless hours has finally come to life in an exciting Australian first for the for the craft beer industry.

The first release from the Barrel Experiment Program – a collaboration between Victoria’s Bright Brewery and Carwyn Cellars – is Les Monstres Du Chateau #1: what we believe to be Australia’s first Chartreuse Barrel Aged Imperial Stout.

The Barrel Experiment Program, which started pre-COVID in 2020, is designed to showcase the true expression of barrel aging, with the same base beer aged in different barrels to truly highlight the different characteristics of each barrel.

“We acquired six different and distinct French barrels, sourced nearly 17,000km away from our home in Bright and filled them with our an Oatmeal Imperial Stout,” Bright’s Head Brewer Lewis Kerr said.

Release #1 was aged in Chartreuse barrels, with the distinct flavour of the infamous green liqueur infusing the flavour of aniseed and a light herbal finish.

“They called us insane when we chose this monster of a barrel, but we hope you all enjoy what we believe to be the first Chartreuese barrel-aged stout in Australian beer history,” Kerr said.

Release #2 is a Rum & Banana Brandy Barrel Aged Imperial Stout showcasing sweeter notes of candied banana, burnt caramel and hints of coconut.

“That’s part of the black magic of barrel work,” Kerr said. “These releases are all the same base beer, all aged all in barrels of French origin, but with wildly different cask expressions.”

Both beers will be launched, on tap and in cans, at the official Barrel Experiment Program First Release Launch Party at Carwyn Cellars on Saturday, October 21, from 12pm.

Join the Bright and Carwyn teams for an afternoon including:

  • Guided Tasting from Bright Brewery
  • Bright Brewery Beer Showcase
  • Chartreuse Boiler Makers
  • Giveaways and prizes

Releases #1 and #2 will be available from Carwyn Cellars and Bright Brewery exclusively following the launch.

CELEBRATE THE EVERYDAY WITH OUR NEW ANY DAY SESSION XPA

Celebrate everyday moments with Any Day XPA – the new, lower-alcohol addition to Bright’s core range lineup.

Brewed to taste like something much bigger, Any Day XPA is a session beer that packs a punch when it comes to flavour.

At just 2.9% ABV, Any Day XPA is a ‘light alcohol’ option, with each can coming in at less than one standard drink (0.8).

“It’s not every day we bring a new beer into our core range lineup. It needs to be a pretty special beer to be elevated to that status,” Bright’s marketing manager Laura Gray said.

“But we know Any Day XPA is worthy of its place, and we’re delighted that beer drinkers looking for a lighter, lower-alcohol option now have a really good one to enjoy. This is a beer that will take those everyday moments and turn them into something special.”

BBQ with friends? Perfect for an Any Day.

Watching the footy with mates? Time for an Any Day.

Dinner with the family? Make it an Any Day.

Citra and Galaxy hops combine to give Any Day a genuine tropical hop aroma and flavour, despite its light ABV.

And with a bright and fresh mountain-inspired design by local designer James Sadgrove, in keeping with the rest of Bright’s core range, Any Day XPA feels – and tastes – like a breath of fresh air.

Created by Bright’s head brewer Lewis Kerr and his brew team, Any Day is the sixth beer in Bright’s core range, which includes Victoria’s #1 indie lager, Alpine Lager, the Gold Medal-winning Bright Pale Ale, cult favourite M.I.A. IPA, the malty Hellfire Amber Ale, and the rich and robust Staircase Porter.

WIN A YEAR OF BEER!

To celebrate the release of Any Day XPA, we are giving beer-lovers the chance to win a Year of Beer!

To enter, just buy a 4-pack or case of Any Day XPA, scan the code on the can holder, and enter your details online to go in the draw! The winner will receive 12 cases of Any Day XPA to enjoy any day of the week.

Any Day XPA is available now from Bright Brewery, online, and from craft beer retailers.
Find it here: https://brightbrewery.com.au/product/any-day-xpa/

Available Mon 12 June: GABS Drinkin’ Donuts Imperial Jam Donut Golden Ale

After run away success at the 2023 Great Australian Beer Spectapular (GABS) Events In Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, Bright Brewery is excited to announce that their highly anticipated creation, the Drinkin’ Donuts Imperial Jam Donut Golden Ale, will be available to purchase online and at indie liquor stores from Monday June 12.

At 8.0% ABV, this playful toasty imperial golden ale was infused with 400kg of sweet, sticky raspberry puree, and 250 freshly cooked hot jam donuts made by the Bright Brewery chefs.

Originally brewed exclusively for the GABS Festival in May, festival-goers were treated to the Drinkin’ Donuts Imperial Jam Donut Golden Ale at the dedicated ‘Bright Brewery Bakery’ stand. Served with a cinnamon sugar rim and garnished with a donut, this sugar and spice concoction transported drinkers to a true fusion of beer and dessert!

Fans of this indulgent ale (or donuts in general!) can also complement their beer with stylish Drinkin’ Donuts Tees, featuring the striking can artwork design.

Bright Brewery’s Mash Club members will enjoy exclusive presale access starting Friday, June 9. If you’re not already a member, click here to learn more about the Mash Club and take advantage of this exclusive opportunity.

Drinkin’ Donuts Imperial Jam Donut Golden Ale will be available in 440ml cans from the Bright Brewery online store (4 and 16 packs) and pouring fresh from the venue from Monday June 12. 

 

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