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The latest news & jobs from Bright

Want to see your pup’s face on a beer?

For the past four years, we’ve been showcasing and helping raise funds (and awareness) for pets in need, alongside our friends at RSPCA Victoria through our annual beer release, DoggoBrau Tropical XPA.

Doggo has become a beloved part of our beer lineup and it brings joy to so many people – and animals.

Our pups are by our sides for every step of the adventures we take – whether it’s floating down the river, hiking in the hills, running in the trees, or hitting the trails on our bikes. Adventure dogs, trail dogs, and faithful friends – we love them all.

Over the years, we’ve featured Eddy the greyhound, Newton the lurcher/collie-X, Kyari the cat (#cattobrau) and who could forget adorable little, bandana-wearing Phoebe?!

But this year – we need your help! We’re on the hunt for a cover star to be the face – and the tail – of this year’s DoggoBrau beer cans.

So if you have opened your heart – and home – to rescue or adopt a funny, furry, cute, cuddly, fluffy, floofy four-legged (dog) friend, we want to meet them!

Trot on over here to enter now.

The winning pooch will be immortalised in print (and beer) by our design guru Clint Weaver of Pocketbeagles, will feature on all DoggoBrau 2024 cans – and they’ll win a case of beer for their owner!

The only catch is – all doggos must be rescue or adopted pups to be eligible (#adoptdontshop)

Entries close September 11.
Bone appetite!

Kitchen Renovations Update

We’re excited to announce that we have completed our kitchen renovations and our full menu and online bookings will return to normal from Wednesday September 11.

If you would like to make a table booking, please click here or just pop in for a bite between 12pm – 8:30pm.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We look forward to serving you soon!

Cast Your Vote in the 2024 GABS Can Design Awards

Every year, there are awards for the best craft beers in the country, but what about the awesome artwork on the cans themselves?

That’s where the 2024 GABS Can Design Awards presented by Orora comes in! This is a people’s choice award celebrating the creativity behind those eye-catching designs.

We’re super proud of our entry this year – the Fresh Hop Monster Double IPA, a collaboration we made with our friends at KAIJU Beer. The artwork is designed by the talented Clint Weaver from Pocketbeagles.

With this beer being a collaboration with Kaiju, we wanted a monster (thus the name) that felt inspired by their brand but with a Bright twist to it. Using comic book inspired line work, hand drawn typography and a bold colour palette, the Hop Monster in question is raging over the HPA hop farms which sit nearby the picturesque Ovens River which runs through Bright. Is the monster destroying it? Or planting new hops? Who knows, but it’s angry!

Voting is open now until Sunday, August 25.  All voters will be entered into a draw to win one of 100 tickets to GABS 2025!

To vote, simply click here and search for Bright Brewery. You have 3 votes available.

Bright Brewery Shines at the Indie Beer Awards

Bright Brewery is celebrating an incredible achievement after the Australian Independent Beer Awards, taking home 11 medals (6 Silver and 5 Bronze) across their beer range.

While the competition was fierce with a total of 904 medals awarded, every single beer entered by the brewery was recognised by the judges, a testament to the dedication and passion of the Bright Brewery brewing team, who consistently produce exceptional beers that capture the hearts of beer lovers across the country.

Medal Winners:

Bright Pale Ale: Bronze (Can), Bronze (Keg)
M.I.A IPA: Silver (Can), Silver (Keg)
Hellfire Amber Ale: Silver (Can), Bronze (Keg)
Staircase Porter: Bronze (Can), Bronze (Keg)
Stubborn Rye Imperial Stout 2024:  Silver (Can)
Alpine Lager: Silver (Can), Silver (Keg)

We are incredibly proud of this achievement and would like to thank our loyal customers for their continued support. Cheers to another year of great beer!

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.

Bright Brewery’s Community Keg Pours $10,000 Back into Local Groups

Thanks to the amazing support or our Bright community, the Bright Brewery Community Keg initiative has surpassed a major milestone – over $10,000 has been donated to local groups since its launch in July 2022.

This fantastic achievement translates into direct benefits for the very heart of Bright. Funds raised have helped with critical needs like building repairs, purchasing vital emergency rescue equipment, and supporting local events.

Every month on the last Wednesday, we dedicate a keg of our Bright Pale Ale to this initiative. Here’s how it works:
– We provide the beer.
– You choose the cause! Nominations are open for local organisations, groups, and initiatives.
– Your donation, no matter the size, goes directly to the chosen beneficiary.

Over the years, we have continued to find ways to give back to our local community through sponsorships, partnerships, donations, fundraisers, and of course, beer!

The Community Keg empowers YOU to decide where your support goes. This aligns perfectly with our founding values – to connect with and empower the people who make Bright special.

A huge thank you to everyone who’s participated in the Community Keg so far. Your generosity has benefited a wide range of local groups, including:
Bright SES
Bright Bowls Club
Upper Ovens Landcare
Bright RSL
Bright CFA
Myrtleford Savoy Soccer Club
…and many more!

We’re incredibly proud to reach the $10,000 milestone, but this is just the beginning. Come down to Bright Brewery on the last Wednesday of the month, enjoy a delicious Bright Pale Ale knowing that your beer purchase is supporting your local community. Our next Community Kegs events are on:

Wednesday July 31, 2024: Reach Out Wildlife Australia
Wednesday August 28, 2024: Bright Lions Club

For more information about the Community Keg and to nominate a local community group/event/club/individual, please  click here.

Saddle up it’s Tour de Froth time!

The legendary Le Tour de France kicks off this Saturday, June 29th, and for those of you who secured a limited-edition Tour de Froth mixed case, it’s time to get your fridges stocked!

What is Tour de Froth?
It’s a curated selection of Bright Brewery beers, expertly paired with each stage of the 2024 Le Tour de France (including the two rest days!).

Don’t have a Tour de Froth case?
No worries! While the 2024 case is sold out, you can still join the fun. Download the tasting notes and follow Bright Brewery on social media where we’ll be announcing the beer for each stage.

A Glimpse into the Tour de Froth Beers:
Affogato Stout
Alpine Lager
Bright Pale
Hellfire Amber Ale
MIA IPA
…and many more!

Join the Fun!
Will you be cheering on the peloton from the comfort of your couch with a Bright Brewery beer in hand? Share your photos on social media by tagging @brightbrewery and using the hashtag #tourdefroth. We can’t wait to see your Tour de Froth celebrations

 

Darker Days 2024: Another Sell-Out Success at Bright Brewery!

The afterglow of an epic weekend is still upon us at Bright Brewery following the wildly successful Darker Days festival on Saturday June 15!

A massive thank you to the 1200 attendees who joined us for a weekend filled with music, delicious food, and darn good times. For the third year in a row, Darker Days completely sold out, proving once again the festival’s status as a must-attend winter event.

Headliners The Delta Riggs, along with the phenomenal talents of DJ Zabi, Matt Sier, Benny & The Big Wheels, Nicky Bomba, and Steph Strings, kept the party going all day long.

Festival-goers were treated to a diverse selection of craft beers thanks to our guest breweries: Duncan’s Brewing Co., Hop Nation, Dollar Bill Brewing, Dangerous Ales, and of course, our High Country Brewery Trail mates. Backwoods Distilling Co., Reed & Co Distillery, and Alpine Cider kept the spirits high with their delicious concoctions, with lines forming all night for a taste of their winter warmers.

The now-legendary hot dog eating competition was another crowd-pleaser, and for the first time ever, festival-goers could commemorate the weekend with exclusive Darker Days tattoos by Blanc Space Studio.

A huge shoutout to our sponsors, Arc’teryx Australia / New Zealand and Alpine Shire Council, for their unwavering support.

Keep the Darker Days party alive! Our official Darker Days collaboration beer with Duncan’s Brewing Co. – a Banana Maple, Pancake Pastry Stout – is out now.

Check out all the fun in the video and gallery below.

 

Our Top 18 beers of the past 18 years

Today, June 12, Bright Brewery celebrates our 18th birthday! 18 short years since we opened the doors to our little tin shed in heart of Bright. 

Bright has changed a lot over that time – and so have we! Our family-run business now spans three sites in Bright, a commercial scale production facility, and more than 70 staff across three states.  

But one thing has remained constant – 18 years of brewing beautiful MountainCrafted beer right here in the High Country. 

We’ll be celebrating our 18th year with the release of a special birthday beer in a few weeks (dark beer lovers will get their hands on it first in the Carwyn Cellars Black Box). 

So as we look back on the past 18 years and raise a glass to our founder Scott, we remember some of our favourite beers from over the years.  

Our top 18 beers, according to Untappd –   

 #18: WET-HOPPED NEVIPA – 6.7% 

Celebrating the taste of North East Victoria! Wet hops picked fresh from Rostrevor farm formed the base of this hazy IPA brewed and wet-hopped in 2022. A mix of Australian hops were used for the dry hop, and a pinch of locally foraged botanicals, picked by our brewers, create a flavour unique to our hometown. 

 #17 WET-HOPPED M.I.A. IPA – 6.5% 

We refreshed the recipe of our core range IPA in 2023, adding fresh wet hops from Rostrevor Hop Farm in Eurobin to celebrate that year’s Hop Harvest. 

 #16: HYPE BOI OAT CREAM NEIPA – 6.9% 

Introducing – the most heavily-hopped beer we’d ever brewed (in 2020)! 

We’ve joined the haze craze and ramped it up one step further by jamming this hazy New England IPA full of oats and lactose. 

Bru-1 dry hops add pineapple flavour bombs to this creamy, tropical NEIPA that’s definitely a little bit extra.  

 #15: CEASTER AND DESIST CARAMELISED WHITE CHOCOLATE WHITE STOUT – 5.8%  

With a pale golden hue, and a creamy body, C’Easter & Desist (which previously went by a previous, unmentionable name) was a white milk stout brewed for tipplers with a sweet tooth and a wicked sense of humour. Delicate tendrils of caramel blend with cacao nibs, vanilla and lactose to recreate the caramelised white chocolate flavour of the iconic Aussie confection.
 #14: Le Monstres Du Chateau #2 Rum & Banana Brandy Barrel Aged Imperial Stout – 11% 

Release #2 of our Le Monstres collab with Carwyn Cellars, released in early 2024, was a Rum and Banana Brandy blend designed to showcase sweeter notes with candied banana, burnt caramel and hints of coconut. An imperial stout so delicious it is sure to raise even the dead from their slumber.  

 #13: AFFOGATO STOUT – 5.5% 

A perennial favourite – this is a hearty & full bodied stout brewed with locally roasted coffee beans from our friends at Sixpence Coffee, Bright. The addition of creamy lactose & vanilla makes this Affogato Stout sweet, rich & roast, just like our favourite caffeinated dessert. First brewed in 2019, Affogato Stout remains a staple of our year round releases! 

 #12: IMPERIAL LEAF PEEPER RED IPA – 9% 

When the Autumn leaves start to change, all roads lead to Bright! The 2022 version of Leaf Peeper was an Imperial Red IPA with a bigger, bolder, and redder taste than ever! It was bursting with red malt, caramel sweetness, and a huge burst of hops. 

 #11: STUBBORN IMPERIAL STOUT 2023 – 16% 

Stubborn 2023 had a silky mouthfeel with moderate carbonation, strong hints of banana and fruit bowl open up into cherry and caramel as it warms up. There were heavy notes of molasses as it continues to warm. It’s about this point the heat from the rye we used in the brew becomes evident. The ABV was well hidden for something that sits at 16%; it is more reminiscent of something around the 12% range. 

 #10: JAM BAND VOL. 1 Hazy IPA – 7% 

With a recipe concocted by Bright, Molly Rose and Mr Banks, Jam Band Hazy IPA with Bergamot was the inaugural Darker Days collaboration from 2021.
A hazy, juicy IPA by an all-star line-up of the brewers that were scheduled to attend the postponed Darker Days 2021, and lead by a stellar line-up of hops. On lead vocals, Strata brings the tropical juice. Mosaic hops direct the backup dancers, while Idaho 7 lays down the beat on drums. Finally, a late addition of Bergamot citrus zest on jazz flute kicks things up a notch. Expect a luscious hazy IPA with juicy flavours and a hint of seductive perfume from fresh Bergamot 

 #9: O’JAFFA CHOC ORANGE STOUT – 6.7% 

Dripping with chocolate and bursting with vibrant orange, O’Jaffa Choc Orange Stout was an irresistibly delicious treat of a beer, released for St Patrick’s Day 2022.
The only thing better than easting a choc-orange ball, cake or biscuit? Drinking one!
O’Jaffa brings the iconic flavours of a chocolate-orange cake to life. 

 #8: ABOMINABLE S’MORES IMPERIAL MILK STOUT – 10% 

Our GABS2024 Festival Beer – which is still embargoed for sale and has only been enjoyed at one GABS festival so far. Picture this: a moonlit camping trip, where chocolate rivers flow, vanilla bean vines hang low, and graham cracker bridges lead to a marshmallow wonderland. Suddenly, the elusive Yeti appears, armed with marshmallow magic to cast a creamy spell on your beer choices. Heartwarming but a little bit wild. And it smells a lot better. 

 #7: INVERSION NEIPA – 8.4% 

When the weather Gods collide, our mountain home experiences an inversion.
In a wicked twist of fate and science, all the frosty, snowy air is forced into the valley, under a blanket of foggy, hazy clouds – the inspiration for our Inversion HDHC Imperial Hazy IPA, released in 2021.
Hiding amongst the haze is a fusion of juicy flavours and huge hop flavour from the High Density Hop Charge combination of Citra Incognito, El Dorado pellets, Amarillo Cryo hops and Simcoe Cryo hops. 

 #6: STUBBORN IMPERIAL RYE STOUT 2024 – 12% 

Every year of Stubborn has its own story, and this year was no different. The ‘Stubborn Curse’ is alive and well! Whenever we brew this beer, something unusual, unexpected and unpredictable will happen – without fail. Over the years, our brewers have learnt to expect the unexpected with this brew.

2024 Vintage Brewer’s Tasting Notes: “A rich and decadent imperial stout with a complex interplay between caramel sweetness, earthy rye spice, and dominant chocolate notes. The smooth mouthfeel and warming finish make it perfect for sipping and savouring on a chilly night.” 

 #5: KAIJU! FRESH HOP MONSTER DOUBLE IPA – 9% 

Could this be our biggest ever collab? A monstrous collab with our friends at Kaiju!
Fresh Hop Monster is our fresh hop beer for 2024, brewed with 100% HPA hops, right here in Bright, with a unique Kaiju! flavour.
Bursting with a monstrous blend of fresh-from-the-bine Galaxy, Eclipse, Vic Secret and Cascade Hops, we’ve unleashed the raw power of ferocious, freshly picked Aussie hops grown by HPA which will have you howling for more! 

 #4: IMPERIAL DOUBLE SHOT AFFOGATO STOUT 

Make mine a double! A hearty & full bodied Imperial Stout, brewed with a double batch of locally roasted coffee beans from our friends at Sixpence Coffee, Bright in 2021.
The addition of creamy lactose & vanilla makes this Imperial Double Shot Affogato Stout sweet, rich & roasty, just like our favourite caffeinated dessert! 

 #3: PIONEER RUM BARREL AGED STUBBORN IMPERIAL STOUT – 12% 

Dark, decadent and aged in Jamaican Rum Barrels, our Anniversary Pioneer Rum Barrel Aged Stubborn Russian Imperial Stout is luscious, smooth and strong.
Named in honour of our first ever beer – Pioneer Ale – our 15th Anniversary Pioneer Rum Barrel Aged Stubborn Russian Imperial Stout deserves to be cherished, savoured, and revered. 

 #2: INFINITE BARREL AGED IMPERIAL STOUT 2019 – 12% 

INFINITE represents a cyclical collaboration, three years in the making, with our friends at Backwoods Distilling. Our Stubborn Imperial Stout became a barrel-aged whisky and those barrels were then filled to age another vintage of Stubborn Imperial Stout.
INFINITE 2019 seamlessly blends the woody, floral character of the Stubborn Whisky and the sweet, chocolate flavour of the oak barrel-aged Stubborn Imperial Stout.

Brewer’s Notes: In 2019 we distilled Stubborn Imperial Stout into whisky that aged in French Oak barrels for 2 years. Once the whisky was decanted we re-filled those barrels with 2019 Stubborn Imperial Stout we had saved and aged the beer for 1 year in the whiskey casks. 

 #1: INFINITE BARREL WORKS STUBBORN WHISKY BARREL AGED IMPERIAL STOUT – 16% 

Infinite Barrel Works – a project brought to life this year (2024) – was derived in the depths of the High Country with our good friends at Backwoods Distilling.

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. 

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