Ever since craft brewing first took off in South Australia in the early 2000s our small but energetic industry has punched above its weight, producing a continuous and diverse stream of tasty brews.
While we may not have quite as robust or substantive a craft beer industry as Victoria or WA, we’re home to some of the finest and most innovative brewers in the country. From Mount Barker’s Prancing Pony to Hindmarsh’s Pirate Life, SA is making a name for itself as a centre for niche brewing.
Here are seven brews from Adelaide (and its surrounding regions) that are guaranteed to excite your taste buds.
Prancing Pony – Amber Ale
Based in the Adelaide Hills, Prancing Pony is a boutique family owned brewery that prides itself on producing big flavoured beers with amazing malt and hop flavours.
While most of their beers are worth a try, the Amber Ale is a standout. There’s just something about the malty mouth feel, coupled with its big caramelly flavour, that goes so well with red meat.
From the brewer’s mouth:
“This is a full bodied amber ale. An unfiltered, caramelly, malty and citrusy hop flavoured brew that blows the rust off our brewery shed every time we brew it.”
Recommended food pairing:
Try it with a char-grilled steak or long slow cooked meats.
Pikes Beer – Sparkling Ale
First brewed in the late 19th Century, but discontinued following a takeover in 1971, Pikes has a long and rich history. But while Pikes Wine is a household name across Oz, Pikes Beer isn’t nearly as well known. This is surprising considering the quality of their beer offerings.
Ever since they got back into brewing in the mid 90s with their Oakbank Beer, Pikes has expanded their beer offerings to incl. a stout, pilsener larger and their absolutely glorious sparkling ale.
From the brewer’s mouth:
“Our Sparkling Ale is a bit of a hybrid between an American Pale Ale and an Aussie Pale Ale, it combines a big malty caramel backbone with some classic American Pale Ale tropical hop notes that make this beer so refreshing.”
Recommended food pairing:
Give it a go with some deep south style spicy fried chicken.
Pirate Life – Pale Ale
Founded in 2013 and based out of Hindmarsh, the lads at Pirate Life have been taking the SA craft beer scene by storm. While they only produce three different varieties for now, an IPA, double IPA, and their signature Pale Ale (a rare Golden Ale created with Golden Era Records also occasionally appears), the Pirate boys are set for a bumper 2016.
From the brewer’s mouth:
“The brief we gave ourselves for our flagship beer was that it should stand proudly alongside the many great Pales produced in, and around, the US west coast. The schematic for a West Coast Pale is loads of big US hops, full malty backbone and a characterful yeast. That is what our Pale is all about.”
Recommended food pairing:
Best enjoyed with a charcuterie style plate of cured meats, olives and cheese.
Gulf Brewery – Dunkel Sturm
Founded in 2004, Gulf Brewery is one of the more established SA micros. Easily found at the top end of Hahndorf’s main drag, this aquatic-themed micro-brewery offers beer lovers a diverse, and at times, strange array of hand-crafted brews. For those among you who are game enough to dare, there’s even a smoked meat flavoured offering aptly named the ‘Smoke Stack Rauchbier’.
All of Gulf’s offerings are worth a try, but for us, their Munich Dunkel is an obvious standout.
From the brewer’s mouth:
“When you first inhale the aroma of this Munich Dunkel, you get a hint of the complex character of the deep copper coloured beer straight away. This beer has a lot of character with a mix of aromas and flavours of caramel, toast and nuts, but still finishes crisp and clean.”
Recommended food pairing:
Try it with some kangaroo cooked on the BBQ marinated in a pepper berry sauce or even a pot roast.
Mismatch – Session Ale
Mismatch are unique in the world of SA brewing. A self-proclaimed ‘mismatch’ of industry professionals and beverage specialists who launched a brewing company that utilises the equipment of other breweries to craft their ales. These nomadic brewers offer a few different varieties, but during the summer months its hard to go past their supremely refreshing Session Ale.
From the brewer’s mouth:
“It’s an easy drinking ale with a light yellow appearance, a slight cloud and a nice malt character balanced with enough bitterness to make this beer drinkable and moreish.”
Recommended food pairing:
Mismatch’s Session Ales is dry and refreshing ale that’s best enjoyed with spicy Indian food or a vibrant Thai green chicken curry.
Steam Exchange – India Pale Ale
Located on the Goolwa Wharf, Steam Exchange has been at the forefront of micro-brewing in SA since 2003. Offering four tasty drops, including their famous Steam Ale, no trip to Encounter Bay is complete without a visit to the Steam Exchange Brewery.
While the Steam Ale may be the brewery’s best known brew, we can’t get enough of their rich and delicious India Pale Ale.
From the brewer’s mouth:
“Brewed with plenty of Maris Otter Barley and East Kent Sourced from the UK, our IPA is a traditional English style IPA (rather than a US derivative). Huge malty backbone to balance out the bitterness with a good measure of crystal malt for a touch of sweetness.”
Recommended food pairing:
This malty brew is best paired with good solid fare. Pair it with some slow-cooked lamb shanks on a sweet bourbon mash and some caramelised gravy.
Barossa Valley Brewing – Imperial Milk Stout
Situated just outside of Tanunda in the heart of our most famous wine region, Barossa Valley Brewing (BVB) is one of South Australia’s most awarded breweries. Home to the well-known Bee Sting Honey Blonde and an absolutely delicious Double IPA, any number of BVBs delicious creations is worthy of featuring on this list.
However, we can’t look past the most unique of their tasty selections, the 7% Milk Stout.
From the brewer’s mouth:
“This is a rich and complex stout brewed with rolled oats, barely and also an addition of Lactose to smooth out the roasted character of the dark malts.”
Recommended food pairing:
Since this is such a decadent beer, BVBs milk stout is best coupled with desserts. Try it with a dark chocolate mousse or dark chocolate cake, and experience the full force of this full bodied brew.
Any tasty Adelaide brews that we missed? Let us know which Adelaide beers you think we should be drinking.
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Photograph:
Pirate Life Brewing
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