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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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BRIGHT BREWERY SHINES BRIGHT AT 2023 IBA AWARDS: EVIN CRANEY NAMED YOUNG GUN OF THE YEAR

Bright Brewery’s National Sales Manager Evin Craney has won the prestigious Young Gun Of The Year Award and six Bright Brewery beers have been awarded medals at the 2023 IBA Awards held on the Gold Coast on Wednesday 23 August.

With the help of 50 stewards, 65 of the best and emerging judges from Australia, New Zealand & Indonesia spent three days tasting and evaluating some of the best quality beers in the industry.

Head Judge, Justin Fox said: “We are blown away this year at the quality of beers entered. 229 beers were awarded gold, and an incredible 85% of all beers entered received a medal.”

Bright Brewery received the following awards:

Evin Craney, National Sales Manager- Young Gun Of The Year Award
Modern Pale Ale: Bright Pale Ale (Gold)
Amber-Dark Beer: Black Diamond Black IPA (Silver)
Modern Lager: Alpine Lager (Silver)
Modern Pale Ale: POW Pale Ale (Bronze)
Traditional India Pale Ale: MIA IPA (Bronze)
British Style Ale: Hellfire Amber Ale (Bronze)

An elated Craney remarked on his win, “It’s a truly and completely unexpected honour to have been named the 2023 IBA Young Gun of the year. Whilst this award was given to me, it’s also a representation of the Bright Brewery team that I am incredibly grateful for. Receiving this award after over a decade in the craft beer industry is incredibly humbling and was only made possible by the inspiring and supportive Bright Brewery team.” He further added, “A huge thanks to all of those who have helped me so far with a special mention to the Grand Poobah of Bright Brewery himself, Scott Brandon, for the opportunity to give back to this amazing industry.”

The Independent Brewers Association’s (IBA) conference is one of the biggest events in Australia’s beer calendar and was held at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre. The conference concludes with the Independent Beer Awards (the Indies), held to celebrate and support the quality of independent beer in Australia.

Celebrate NYE 2023 at Bright’s Biggest Party with Smoke Stack Rhino!

Bright Brewery is excited to announce that tickets to Bright’s Biggest New Year’s Eve Party, are now on sale. Get ready to rock into 2024 with the electrifying sounds of SMOKE STACK RHINO, one of Australia’s most exciting up-and-coming blues and roots rock bands.

Smoke Stack Rhino, renowned for their high-energy performances and infectious festive vibes, will be headlining the night. Their unique blend of blues, funk, heavy rock, psych, grunge, and roots influences, aptly dubbed ‘The Mojo Funk,’ guarantees a musical experience that will make sure you are dancing right into 2024!

The festivities kick off on December 31st at 8:30pm and will continue until the early hours of January 1st, 12:30am.  With a lively line-up of live music including a DJ to kick start the evening and a late liquor license to keep the spirits high, Bright Brewery is undoubtedly the place to be this New Year’s Eve!

Indoor and outdoor bars will be at your service until 12:15am, ensuring you’re never far from your favourite drinks.

Tickets include complimentary finger food until 11pm, with drinks available at bar prices.

But the festivities don’t end on New Year’s Eve! Join us on  New Year’s Day for a recovery session like no other. Ease your way into 2024 with laid-back acoustic covers and originals performed live by Ash King, setting the perfect tone for a relaxed start to the new year. Ash King will be playing from 1pm to 5pm. This is a free event.

Secure your tickets now and get ready to ring in 2024 with the best party Bright has to offer!

Event Details: 
Date: December 31, 2023 – January 1, 2024
Time: 8:30pm – 12:30am
Tickets: $40 (16+ years)/ $15 (Under 15). Children under 5, free. Group discounts available for 4 or more people. Tickets can be purchased online here

Voting open now in the 2023 GABS Can Design Awards

Voting in the much-anticipated GABS Can Design Awards, presented by Orora, have officially kicked off on Friday 4th August.

These awards applaud the industry’s most inventive ‘outside-the-tin’ thinkers and shine a light on the artistry in craft beer can design. And guess what? By casting your vote, you stand a chance to win one of 100 tickets to a 2024 GABS Festival session. How’s that for a sweet deal?

We’re incredibly excited to announce that our Mecharoo Yuzu Sour Hazy IPA is among the entrants this year. The design, created by the gifted Clint Weaver of Pocketbeagles Studio, embodies a unique blend of Australian and Japanese elements.

Drawing inspiration from our collaboration with Japanese brewery Coedo, the can’s design pulsates with cultural synergy and animated vivacity. The design brief sought an “anime-inspired” illustration style that marries Australian kangaroos and Japanese Yuzu fruit. The outcome? A visually stunning “Mecharoo” – a colossal robot kangaroo that’s as spectacular as it sounds, set against a backdrop that clearly nods to the Yuzu inclusion.

Voting remains open until Sunday, August 20.
To vote, simply click here and search for Bright Brewery. You have 3 votes available.

Wanna try the Mecharoo? You can shop for it online here.

 

Darker Days 2023 – It’s a Wrap!

The Darker Days Festival has come to a thrilling conclusion after three days of non-stop excitement, filled with unforgettable moments of music, delectable food, craft beer, spirits, wine, cider, bonfires, dancing, and even a hot diggity dawg competition!

With all tickets sold out, we welcomed 1200 beer and music lovers who immersed themselves in the vibrant midwinter festival atmosphere.

It all kicked off with our Welcome Party on Friday night where Benny Williams played to a packed Hop Terrace.

Then for the main event on Saturday 17 June, Mother Nature was on our side as the festival unfolded, creating the perfect backdrop for an winter experience that wasn’t too cold (or wet)! The energy was electric as renowned artists such as DJ Saucy Soph, Raging Moby, The Maes, Nicky Bomba, Vaudeville Smash, and the Pierce Brothers took the stage and delivered unforgettable performances that left the crowd in awe (head to our Facebook and Insta pages to see all the action!).

The line up of guest breweries and beers on tap meant that you could quite easily not drink the same beer twice! It really was a remarkable showcase of Australia’s independent beer scene. Special thanks go to One Drop Brewing Co., Sobremesa Fermentary & Blendery, La Sirène Brewing, Co-Conspirators Brewing Company, and the High Country Brewery Trail. Additionally, our local boutique cidery and distilleries, Alpine Cider, Reed & Co Distillery, and Backwoods Distilling Co., who added their exceptional spirits and cocktails to the mix, enhancing the festival experience.

But the party doesn’t have to stop there! Relive your fave festival moments at home with our Darker Days collab beer “Frost Fire Australian Strong Ale”, brewed between Bright Brewery and esteemed guest brewers Co-Conspirators Brewing Co, One Drop Brewing Co., and Sobremesa Fermentary & Blendery. 

This beer, as well as our official Darker Days merch (hoodys and tees) will be available online soon.

In the mean time, mark your calendars for the third weekend in June, because Darker Days 2024 is already on the horizon. Stay tuned for exciting updates as we brew up something truly incredible for next year. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable celebration.

The Stage is all set for Darker Days

Bright Brewery is gearing up to host the highly anticipated Darker Days Festival on Saturday, June 17 – an immersive celebration of all things dark and decadent in the heart of the Alpine winter.

With the festival due to sell out today, a crowd of 1200 enthusiastic attendees will converge on the brewery to revel in a night of unforgettable music, art, and unique craft beer experiences.

Taking centre stage at Darker Days will be Australia’s hottest indie-folk duo, Pierce Brothers. This exclusive appearance at the festival is part of their headline tour across the country this year. Joining them on the line-up are an impressive array of Victorian artists carefully curated to enhance the festival’s vibrant atmosphere:

– Vaudeville Smash
– Nicky Bomba
– The Maes
– Raging Moby
– DJ Saucy

With such an exceptional line-up, festival-goers can expect a night filled with exceptional musical performances spanning various genres, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

In addition to the captivating live music, Darker Days will feature an enticing collaboration between Bright Brewery and esteemed guest brewers Co-Conspirators Brewing Co, One Drop Brewing Co., and Sobremesa Fermentary & Blendery. This collaboration will unveil a limited-edition beer exclusively brewed for the festival: the Frost Fire Australian Strong Ale. Crafted with care and passion, this special release promises a unique flavour profile that captures the essence of Darker Days.

Bright Brewery’s Darker Days Festival is about showcasing the diverse talents of Victorian artists and providing a platform for the region’s thriving music and craft beer scene. As the Alpine winter sets in, Bright Brewery invites attendees to embrace the allure of the darker side and indulge in an evening that promises to be unforgettable.

Darker Days kicks off on Friday 16th June with a Welcome Party (free event, all welcome) from 7pm.
Gates open for the festival 12pm, Saturday June 17.
Please see below for full event schedule or visit our Darker Days website for more information.

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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