Six Craft Beers to Pick When You're in Charge of Drinks at Your Next Barbecue
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Your mates grabbed the snags, sauce, bread and all the extra trimmings for a successful Aussie barbecue. There's just one thing missing and it's up to you to supply it: the beer. There's quite a lot of pressure when you're tasked with bringing the beers. Do you go for the safe mainstream beer at the risk of looking painfully boring? Or do you grab the most expensive European craft beer you can find in the hopes you'll seem interesting (and clear out your bank account in the process)?
The answer: find something that sits perfectly in the middle. We've teamed up with BWS to showcase a bunch of Aussie craft beers that will have both your VB-loving mates and your spent-two-years-abroad-in-Berlin buddies nodding along in approval. Cheers to being the favourite person at the party.
NEWTOWNER PALE ALE — YOUNG HENRYS
Sure, Newtowner may not be the most out-of-the-box suggestion. But chances are even your most mainstream beer-loving mates have heard of it. Named after the suburb in which Young Henrys was born, Newtowner has become somewhat of a Sydney icon. The brewery was founded with a simple idea: to brew beer the community would enjoy and be proud to call their own. And it's safe to say, Newtowner nailed the brief. At 4.8-percent ABV, it's a sessionable beer with light, smooth and malty notes with a slightly dry finish. This Australian pale ale is not too sweet and not too strong — and is a crowd-pleaser for a reason.
XPA — PHILTER BREWERY
While you impatiently wait for Philter Brewing's new Marrickville brewery to open, use this time to get your mates into its brews so they're as excited as you are. If you're looking for the best tipple to tantalise them with, look no further than the legendary XPA. This easy-drinking pale ale is as refreshing as they come — and it's ideal for a beachside barbie. So, it's no wonder the XPA is the brewery's golden child both literally and figuratively — it scooped up Champion Pale Ale at the 2017 Craft Beer Awards just months after launching. Expect tropical fruit aromas in this sessionable brew, thanks to its mix of mosaic, galaxy, simcoe and citra hops.
BIG HEAD NO CARB LAGER — BURLEIGH BREWING CO
Craft beer often brings with it high levels of carbs and calories, so it's not a terrible idea to have a lighter option in the esky to help minimise the post-barbecue bloat. Well never fear, 'cause Big Head No Carb is here. This lager may have zero carbs — the first in Australia to do so — but it certainly doesn't lack flavour. This light, clean and dry brew is ideal on a hot day and will go well with any feed — and even your Tooheys-loving dad will like it.
PASH THE MAGIC DRAGON — BATCH BREWING CO
The legends behind Marrickville's Batch Brewing Co are handcrafting funky, small-batch brews for their uber-creative inner west community — they even have a second space behind Public House Petersham dedicated precisely to this experimental ethos. And, boy, do they know how to have some fun with it. Take Pash the Magic Dragon — this funky brew mashes together passionfruit and dragon fruit flavours to create a tart but fruity combination. You won't find this sweet-but-sour beer at any ol' pub, making it a top-notch choice for when you want to rock up with something a little different. Plus, it's an ideal beer to kick things off on a hot day.
ZESTY PALE ALE — ZYTHO BREWING
The Zytho Brewing Zesty Pale Ale lives up to its name. With passionfruit and fresh citrus notes, this brew has a real zing to it. It's crisp, easy-drinking but with a hint of bitterness, so it'll pair well with snags and burgers. Brewed out of Tribe Breweries in New South Wales, this newcomer is worth adding to your list of new beers to try. Plus, you won't miss that bright yellow can as you pass it in the bottle-o.
SINGLE FIN SUMMER ALE — GAGE ROADS BREWING CO
Single Fin Summer Ale celebrates Australian summer in a bottle (or can). The beer is brewed near Gage Roads in Western Australia, the strip of ocean between Rottnest Island and Fremantle. So it makes sense that Gage Roads Brewing Co team makes beers with this beautiful and relaxing location in mind. Blow the froth off with this slightly bitter, clean and light-bodied brew at your next barbecue.
Update: Due to the current situation, we understand that throwing or attending parties may not be a possibility right now. But there's a silver lining — you can still order all of these drinks online to enjoy at home. Head to the BWS website to browse the full range.
