If there was a place to be drinking in quiet satisfaction right now, it’d probably be somewhere in the beer lover’s haven of WA’s Margaret River region.
With nary a COVID case to mention, and as restrictions ease to somewhat normal, I know it’s where I’d rather be.
For the crew at the Black Brewing Co, and the punters lucky enough to be heading back through their doors, it’s certainly the case.
Just over three months to the day they closed their Margaret River venue’s doors, the team are back and raring to go as the WA government lifts restrictions within the state.
Head brewer Shannon Grigg said it’s a great feeling to be back after such a period of flux.
“The last few months have been pretty trying. It was an impossible situation to plan for,” he said. “Changing our entire model around packaging, just to continue sales, was our every day, along with having to still run 24/7 to produce hand sanitiser. It’s great to be back and fully operational again after such a trying period. Our focus is now trying to get back on track to our ‘normal’ production model.”
Grigg and brewing partner Adam Brookes didn’t skip a beat over the past three months and released two new beers in time for their reopening back on June 25.
Their Cacao Hazelnut Stout (6.4%) is the latest addition to Black Brewing Co’s seasonal releases, while the 2020 release of the Bad Boy Bao Bao Milk Stout (8.5%) will be music to the ears of its many fans.
And there’s more good news to come as well.
“We have another exciting collaboration with Kuld Creamery in the pipeline that takes inspiration from one of their zany ice cream flavours,” Grigg said. “We also have a barrel-aged nectarine Saison ready. This will be limited to 400 bottles and available at the Black Brewing Co venue as well as at selected stores and online. Our Spring Release, as part of our seasonal range, will be a new style that we haven’t produced in a while.”
Alongside happenings in the brewery, Black Brewing’s restaurant has also been busy during the slowdown, and is bouncing back with a refreshed menu and the addition of a pizza oven in the kitchen.
“The key focus still remains on using high quality local ingredients while offering a delicious and uncomplicated range of dishes that are created to share,” head chef Hayden Vink said.
Head to Black Brewing Co’s website for more information.
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