News

Bright Brewery Shines Bright with New Solar Array at Fred’s Shed

At Bright Brewery, we’re committed to brewing delicious craft beer while also brewing a brighter future for our planet. That’s why we are thrilled to announce the commissioning of a massive 171kW solar array system at our Fred’s Shed brewing facility. This new addition, boasting a staggering 381 solar panels, joins our existing 50kW system at the Great Alpine Road venue, bringing our total solar capacity to 221kW.

This significant investment in renewable energy marks a major milestone in our commitment to sustainable brewing practices. During an average sunny month, these two solar array systems combine to generate an average of 800kWh of clean energy per day, meaning 60% of Fred’s Shed’s daily energy needs are supplied from clean renewable energy. This not only reduces our reliance on traditional energy sources but also helps us significantly reduce our carbon footprint.

And what about the excess solar energy that Fred’s doesn’t consume? Thanks to a cutting-edge Virtual Energy Network (VEN), any unused solar power generated at Fred’s Shed is sent to our Brewery Door venue, further reducing our reliance on the grid. In fact, last month, our Brewery Door consumed 37% of Fred’s excess solar energy, with the remaining 63% feeding back into the grid.

We’re proud to be shining a light on renewable energy within the brewing industry, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for Bright Brewery as we continue to brew a brighter future, one sip at a time.

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.

Cash in on your cans!

Did you know that Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) kicked off on November 1st? That means you can now get 10c per beer can back for every can you recycle (at designated collection points)!

But apart from helping you fill your money box, why does this matter? Well, the CDS aims to boost recycling rates, reduce our reliance on natural resources, and minimise greenhouse gas emissions. Making a beer can from recycled aluminium requires 95% less energy than using virgin aluminium. The scheme applies to other containers too – like PET bottles and some glass bottles.

Other states around Australia that have implemented the CDS have seen recycling rates soar, diverting valuable materials from landfill and easing the burden on our planet’s precious resources.

Brewers like us, who put our beer in cans for you to enjoy, are funding the scheme. This ensures it remains viable, and covers the costs of collecting, sorting, and processing the cans.

As a result, you might have noticed a slight increase in the price of cans, PET bottles, and glass bottles. This is due to the costs associated with the CDS, which are ultimately borne by the manufacturers.

You can still recycle your cans through your regular yellow bins at home or commingled bins at work or in public spaces. However, the CDS offers an additional opportunity to earn a little extra cash or support a local sports club or charity so they can benefit.

There are collection points all over the state, including small towns like ours.

If you’re in Bright/surrounds, you can take your stash of cans to the following collection points:

Crispy’s Hardware, Bright
Settler’s Tavern, Tawonga South
Myrtleford Cycle Centre, Myrtleford

So, what are you waiting for? Start collecting those cans and bottles today and make a difference for Victoria’s environment!

Throwback a lager this summer

VOTE #1 ALPINE LAGER

Oat Cream NEIPA, Smoothie Sours, Salted Caramel Popcorn Ale…we’ve all heard of the weird and whacky beers that brewers come up with these days.

Hell, we’ll admit, we’ve even brewed some of them ourselves (Pineapple Cream Dream Milkshake IPA ring a bell?)!

But while many craft beer lovers think the wilder the better when it comes to beer, some of us just crave the simplicity of a clean, classic Aussie lager brewed with four perfect ingredients…

A beer built for the Aussie summer. The perfect pairing to sizzling sausages on a barbie. The best beer to quench your thirst on a hot summer’s day. The one you crack, ice-cold from the Esky, while the kids spin themselves dizzy on the Hill’s Hoist behind you.

Some of us just want to throwback a lager this summer!

And year after year, the people of Australia have voted Bright Brewery’s Alpine Lager as their #1 favourite indie lager in Victoria (and #2 in Australia)!

Brewed with pure Alpine water and locally-grown Australian hops, Alpine Lager is as clean as mountain air, and as crisp as the summer sun rising over hills. Plus it’s also just a damn good beer.

That’s why it’s our best-seller. That’s why, in a sea of pale ales, craft beer lovers drink more Bright Brewery Alpine Lager than any other beer we brew (and we’ve got a pretty great pale ale, too!).

So, last year, when it came to voting in the GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beer Poll, we asked you to stand up against the tidal wave of pale ales flooding the poll and vote #notanotherpaleale

A year ago, we said craft lagers were on the rise. Today, they’re having their heyday. Right now, in fact (Cerveza, anyone?). But we’ve been all over it for years.

So this Summer – instead of picking yet another pale ale out of the Esky, why not throwback a lager, and remember why it’s the world’s most popular beer!

And if you’re sick of seeing pale ales dominate the countdown, let’s do something about it.

Vote #1 Alpine Lager

#notanotherpaleale

VOTE #1 ALPINE LAGER

Voting closes Sunday January 14, 2024 and the countdown will be on Saturday January 27, 2024.

Bright Brewery Black Friday Sale Focuses on Local Support and Sustainability

Bright Brewery is excited to announce it will be running a Black Friday sale, offering a 10% discount 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.

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*

– FREE GIFT CARD FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $150

– FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $99 (excl WA/NT)

* 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.

Mash Club members and VIP Early Access subscribers will receive 48 hour early bird access, with a code emailed to them on Wednesday 22 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!

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!

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!

Crafting Connections Down South: Embracing Adventure, Beer, and MTB in Tasmania!

With its wild, rugged natural beauty, love for all things adventure, and appreciation of great craft beer, we share a natural affinity with our friends down south in Tassie.

Which is why we’re thrilled to be spreading our wings over Bass Strait!

We’re very excited to announce that we now proud sponsors of Australia’s best-known mountain bike destination, Maydena MTB Park.

We’ve lent our name to one of Maydena’s most popular trails, the iconic Funky Cold Maydena black diamond track. 300m of steep raw Maydena tech and fast, flowing berms – it doesn’t get better!

So next time you’re in Maydena, hit up Funky Cold Maydena and enjoy the ride!

But if you’re not heading that far south, or if the MTB Mecca of Derby is more your jam, you’ll find us there, too!

Head into the Dorset Hotel Derby for a pint of their Derby Draught, brewed right here in Bright, as well as our Bright Pale Ale and Any Day XPA. Or if the island life is calling you, our friends at Hotel Bruny on Bruny Island is the place to go for a pint of M.I.A. IPA or Hellfire Amber.

And when you hit the big smoke, you’ll find us across both Launceston and Hobart – ready to make your trip to Tas a little bit Bright-er.

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

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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/

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