News Archives - Page 15 of 18 - Bright Brewery | MountainCrafted Beer

Applications open: Bright Brewery Bursary for Bright Coworking

Bright Brewery and Bright Coworking have announced a $500 bursary to help a local community member enjoy Bright’s new community coworking space.

The Bright Brewery Bursary for Bright Coworking is open to any candidate living in the Alpine Shire who would benefit from the community facilities provided by Bright Coworking, is willing to give back to the local community, and who aligns with the Bright Brewery Values.

The Bursary can be put towards a Bright Coworking membership or casual-use fees, and is open to new and existing members.

Bright Coworking, a non-profit organisation run under the Bright and District Chamber of Commerce, opened in Ireland Street, Bright in June and provides a fully-furnished office space, with NBN, for those who need, or want, to work away from home.

Bright Coworking president Ally Wilson said Bright was a magnet for ‘tree-changers’ looking to enjoy the outdoors lifestyle while working remotely, and Bright Coworking gave people the opportunity to work in a supportive, innovative environment.

Bursary applicants must demonstrate how they, or their business/project/job, meets at least one of the Bright Brewery values of Active, Sustainable, and Authentic.

Bright Brewery Marketing Officer Laura Gray said Bright Brewery was proud to support an innovative community initiative that provided such a valuable service to locals.

“One of our key values is Sustainability and we see Bright Coworking as an important step in helping Bright retain a sustainable economy and community,” she said.

Applicants must also be able to demonstrate how they will give back to the Bright community and/or Bright Coworking through their work.

Applications for the Bursary close at 5pm on Friday, August 23, 2019 and the recipient of the Bursary will be announced at Bright Coworking’s Official Opening Night at Dumu Balcony Cafe on Thursday, August 29.

Applications can be made at: https://forms.gle/mSgWsDFzHV5r3m4p6

5Zero bike challenge: EARLY BIRD TICKETS NOW ON SALE

GREAT COURSE. GREAT CAUSE.

Ride the best of the High Country’s gravel trails and feel good doing it!

Bright Brewery’s 5Zero gravel bike challenge is back for its second year! We’ll hit the gravel on Saturday, October 26!

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

5Zero is a non-profit, totally-sustainable, zero-environmental-impact social grave bike challenge for all ages, abilities and bikes. Choose a 36km or 53km route and enjoy riding at your own pace, with your mates, around the spectacular trails of Bright and surrounds.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

All profits from 5Zero go to the non-profit Alpine Community Plantation to help build and maintain our local bike trail network. ACP is the community-led not-for-profit body that manages recreational activities within the HVP pine plantations of the Alpine Shire, where 5Zero takes place.

After raising $1000 to help ACP with some urgent repairs to Mystic Park’s Hero Trail in 2019, we’re aiming to raise the bar even higher this year.

WHY SHOULD I DO IT?

Do you love riding in Bright?

Do you want to help keep the trails in tip-top shape?

Do you want to have a super fun day out, knowing you’re doing your bit for the environment and the local community?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Same great format. Same great cause!

Grab your friends and sign up for the 36km or 53km course. There’s no racing, no timing, just fun social rising for a great cause!

Zero impact – no paper maps, no single-use bottles, no packaged food, no gels, no vehicles, no signage, and no footprint!

Enjoy unpackaged, chef-cooked food at aid stations throughout the course and, once you’re finished, head back to the Brewery for food, drinks, live music and a festival vibe thanks to All Terrain Cycles Bright‘s eBright eBike festival.

HOW DO I ENTER?

36km: $56.25 (full price $75)

53km: $75 (full price $100)

Early-bird finishes September 30.

5Zero 2018

5Zero 2018

5Zero 2018

5Zero 2018

5Zero 2018

5Zero 2018

5Zero 2018

5Zero 2018

New beer alert: Sayonara Yuzu Sour

Every year, during the Winter Solstice, the Japanese bathe in yuzu baths. The oil and juice of the yuzu fruit is said to warm the body and relax the mind.

So when Bright Brewery head brewer Reid Stratton walked into the Brewhouse with 36kg of freshly-picked and locally-grown yuzu from Eurobin’s Mountain Yuzu, we were a little concerned…

But Stratton had other plans for the yuzu – an oddly-shaped, lemon-like citrus that originated in China but is now mostly grown in Japan. Instead of bathing in it, he packed it all into a brand new brew – Sayonara Yuzu Sour (4.3% ABV).

The result is a seductively sour ale with a zesty yuzu aroma, a tantalisingly tart citrus flavour and a dry finish, which follows on from Bright Brewery’s hugely successful Sweetart Raspberry Sour earlier this year.

While winter is in full swing in Bright Brewery’s High Country home and darks, stouts and porters are the more common tipples, Stratton said Sayonara Yuzu Sour would sit apart, in a refreshing contrast to the heavier dark beers filling our taps and fridges.

“It’s the perfect season to harvest and use our fresh local yuzu, and it’s ideal for those drinkers who are after a lighter beer this winter,” he said.

Sayonara Yuzu Sour is available on tap and in 330ml bottles from Bright Brewery and selected retailers, as well as online in our Shop.

Silver and bronze medals for Bright Brewery at world’s largest annual beer competition

Bright Brewery has been awarded two medals at the 2019 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA), taking home a medal in each of the two categories it entered.

Bright Brewery’s Alpine XPL (Extra Pale Lager) was awarded a Bronze Medal for Best International Style Lager, while the recently-rebranded Mountaincrafted Range took home a Silver Medal for Label Design.

Alpine XPL is the newest addition to Bright Brewery’s Mountaincrafted Range – six ‘best-of-breed’ core range beers which are available all-year round at both Bright Brewery and retail outlets.

Bright Brewery founder Scott Brandon said he was thrilled with the results and the feedback from the judges.

“Entering the awards gives us valuable feedback about our beers and our brand from industry experts, which helps us improve the quality,” Brandon said.

Bright Brewery marketing officer Laura Gray said the awards confirmed that the brewery was making the right moves, as it continues to push into the competitive craft beer wholesale market.

“Alpine XPL will be a mainstay of our Mountaincrafted Range from now on so it’s really encouraging to hear that the judges believe it’s a worthy addition,” she said.

“And we’re exceptionally proud of our rebranded Mountaincrafted Range, which includes bottle labels, six-pack carriers, and cartons. These vibrant new designs represent the brewery and our beautiful region perfectly and will really connect with craft beer lovers when they see our beers outside of Bright.”

The AIBA, run by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, is the world’s largest annual beer competition, with more than 2500 beers from 400 breweries from Australia and around the world competing this year.

To find your closest Bright Brewery stockist, check out our Beer Locator.

To shop for Bright Brewery beers, including Alpine XPL, online, visit our Shop.

To become a Bright Brewery stockist, or to discuss our range, get in touch with our Sales Manager Tom on sales@brightbrewery.com.au

New beer alert: Sweet treats for Easter

Get egg-cited – we have two new beers on tap at Bright Brewery, just in time for Easter!

Every year, we send our brewers 10 minutes down the road to one of the world’s original, and Australia’s largest, hop gardens – HPA’s Rostrevor Hops – to explore and discover new hop varieties to use in our handcrafted beers.

This year, they came back with freshly-picked Experimental Hop 016 (so new it doesn’t even have a name!) and used it to brew our annual wet Hop Harvest Ale.

Each vintage of our Hop Harvest Ale differs from the previous year and, at 6.3% ABV, Hop Harvest Ale 2019 certainly packs a whole lotta punch with citrus and tropical fruit notes and a tasty malty backbone.

Hop Harvest Ale 2019 is now available on tap and at selected retailers; bottles will be available shortly.

And to add to the Easter treats, we’ve been down to our cellar and dusted off our 2018 English Barleywine, which has been ageing for the past 12 months.

With an impressive ABV of 14.4%, Barleywine (so called because its ABV is closer to wine than beer) has aged to perfection, allowing the rich, malty flavours to mellow into a sweet, warming brew with flavours of dried fruit and toffee – perfect for an adult sweet treat over Easter!

Barleywine is only available on tap and at selected retailers.

For wholesale enquiries, please contact Tom Mullane-Grant on 0439 316 600 or sales@brightbrewery.com.au

DARKER DAYS festival returns for 2019

Winter is coming. Embrace the darkness.

Bright Brewery is thrilled to announce that DARKER DAYS 2019 will set Bright alight on Saturday, June 29, 2019.

DARKER DAYS is a festive celebration of dark beer and the Alpine winter, providing a warming, welcome respite from the mid-winter chill.

With kids’ entertainment including stories and music under the Children’s Teepee, face-painting, wooden toys, and ghost tours, DARKER DAYS is a proudly family-friendly event.

The event will kick off at midday, with live music and entertainment throughout the day and evening, culminating in the lighting of a ceremonial bonfire after dark.

As is tradition, Bright Brewery’s acclaimed Stubborn Russian Imperial Stout will be launched at DARKER DAYS, making festival-goers the first in the country to get their hands on this cult classic. Darker Days midwinter festival highlights

Bright Brewery Head Brewer Reid Stratton said Stubborn Russian had an incredibly loyal following and beer-lovers should be excited for the 2019 vintage.

“We’re doing things a little bit differently this year and the stout will be steeped in oak after fermentation to give it a lusciously roasted finish,” Stratton said.

The 2017, 2018 and 2019 vintages of Stubborn Russian will be pouring from Bright Brewery’s taps during DARKER DAYS, giving visitors the chance to “collect” all three beers. Darker Days midwinter festival highlights

And many of the High Country’s best breweries will be on hand to serve their best warming, wintery brews, as well as local gin, coffee, whiskey, and food producers.

Now in its third year, DARKER DAYS has already become a hugely popular event in the depths of winter, drawing visitors to Bright outside of the traditionally busy tourist seasons.

Bright Brewery Marketing Officer Laura Gray said interest in DARKER DAYS had already started to build and the brewery was planning for 2019 to be the biggest and best event yet.

“As soon as DARKER DAYS finished last year, we had people asking when it was happening in 2019. We’re thrilled that people love this event so much and we’re working very hard to ensure 2019 is better than ever.” Darker Days event bonfire

Entry to DARKER DAYS will be via donation to the Bright CFA and beer-drinkers will be able to buy a collectible, limited-edition Darker Days tasting glass from which to enjoy beers from High Country brewers.

LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE

Harry Jamieson

Liv Cartledge

Seth Henderson

Since We Kissed

Baby & The Kicks

DJ Maverick Gold

BREWERS & DISTILLERS

Bright Brewery

Bridge Road Brewers

Blizzard Brewing

King River Brewing

Black Dog Brewery

Wrong Side Brewing

Billson’s Brewery

Malt SHed

Backwoods Distilling

Reed & Co

Alpine Cider

Billy Button Wines

Bright Brewery welcomes new Head Brewer Reid Stratton

Bright Brewery is thrilled to announce the arrival of our new Head Brewer Reid Stratton.

Reid officially stepped into the Brewhouse on March 21, 2019, to join assistant brewer David Stokie.

Reid joins us from New England Brewing Co, NSW, where he has been Head Brewer since 2014. With prior experience brewing at Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales in Michigan, USA, and Grand Teton in Idaho, USA, Reid brings a wealth of craft brewing experience with him.

“I really enjoy the transformative process of fermentation,” Reid, a former baker, says. “It’s about taking those raw materials that, on their own, aren’t very exciting and turning them into something beautiful and nuanced.

“I love the craft, the science, and the art that goes into that.”

A recreational cyclist and skier, Reid says he is planning to take full advantage of Bright’s High Country location and its proximity to natural attractions like Mystic MTB Park and the Alpine skifields.

“The natural beauty of the area and the outdoor activities on offer are amazing,” he says. “And I am also really impressed by the culture of Bright Brewery and I really identify with the values of being Active, Sustainable and Authentic in what we do.

“If I had to sum up my own values in what I’d want in a workplace, that is it.”

Bright Brewery Founder Scott Brandon said Reid’s local and international brewing background provides Bright Brewery with valuable expertise as we continue to expand our beer production to meet a growing national demand.

“Reid’s passion for brewing and experience at the genesis of the craft brewing movement in the USA is a huge asset for us,” Scott says. “And his experience in brewing very specialised beers such as sour, wild, and barrel-aged beers is particularly inspiring. Having him on board to help take Bright Brewery’s beers into the future is really exciting.”

New Beer Alert: Bunny Hop Wheat Ale

Easter has come early at Bright Brewery, with the release our new Bunny Hop Hoppy Wheat Ale.

Packed full of Azacca and Denali hops, Bunny Hop really lives up to its name with a huge hop punch and bold, strong flavours.

With a pleasant bitterness, and creamy mouthfeel, Bunny Hop uses crisp, clean US-05 yeast which really allows the hops to shine through, with hints and aromas of citrus and tropical mango.

A limited-edition, Brewer’s Choice beer, Bunny Hop Hoppy Wheat Ale was lovingly brewed as part of our Brewer For A Day experience in February 2019 with home-brew aficionados and Bright Brewery’s Head Brewer.

Bunny Hop Hoppy Wheat Ale was launched at North East Food and Wine Festival, Wodonga, Vic, on March 16 and is now available on tap at Bright Brewery and for selected retailers (keg-only).

To order, please contact sales@brightbrewery.com.au or to find your nearest Bright Brewery stockist, visit our Beer Locator.

Bright Brewery welcomes its first Ambassador

Bright Brewery is incredibly proud to welcome the inspirational, energetic, and all-round legend Samantha McMahon as Bright Brewery’s first ever Ambassador.

Sam, or Sammy 9.5 as she’s known (ask her why!), is already a beloved member of our staff as a Cook in our kitchen team, an accomplished mountaineer with an Everest summit under her belt and her sights set on K2 later this year, and a keen MTBer, trail runner, and paraglider. She is a familiar sight around Bright, where she uses the hilly terrain to train for her incredible mountaineering efforts.

Bright Brewery marketing and promotions officer Laura Gray said Sam personified exactly what the Brewery values – living and working in Active, Sustainable and Authentic ways.

“Sam is the perfect ambassador for our brand and we can’t wait to see what heights she hits next,” Laura said.

Sam said she was thrilled to represent a brand which aligned with her personal values and was prepared to invest in her, not just as an athlete but as an employee and a person. She intends to commence her chef’s apprenticeship at the Brewery when she returns from Pakistan later this year.