Great Australasian Beer Spectacular coming to Brisbane

When it comes to craft beer, the weirder and wackier the better. Which is why Brisbanites are rejoicing that a new beer festival is coming to our River City for the first time.

Newstead Brewing Co, which has locations in Newstead and Milton, has created a new beer for the Great Australasian Beer Spectacular (GABS) festival which is coming to Brisbane for the first time on April 27, 2019. Pictured: Staff member Chimay Attenborough. Photo: Kristy Muir

WHEN it comes to craft beer, the weirder and wackier the better.

Which is why Brisbanites are rejoicing that the Great Australasian Beer Spectacular (GABS) is coming to our River City for the first time.

Brewers from across Brisbane and beyond were asked to produce a crazy, one-of-a-kind beer

for the festival which will be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on Saturday, April 27.

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Newstead Brewing Co, which has locations in Newstead and Milton, has created a new beer for the Great Australasian Beer Spectacular (GABS) festival which is coming to Brisbane for the first time on April 27, 2019. Pictured: Owner Mark Howes and staff member Chimay Attenborough. Photo: Kristy Muir

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Newstead Brewing Co, which has locations in Newstead and Milton, is taking part in this year’s event and their brewers have created a new beer called Domestic Ale.

Owner Dr Mark Howes, who has a PhD in cellular and molecular biology, said the Domestic Ale was a soured pale ale with tropical flavours.

“This beer delivers delicate yeast esters, reminiscent of mango, apricot, white peach, and

freshly baked bread,” he said.

“Loosely styled on an Australian pale ale, the malt and hop flavours are kept in check, building a stage for the yeast character to perform.

Staff member Chimay Attenborough. Photo: Kristy Muir

“The flavours are delicate and that is something to truly celebrate. Complexity, understatement, and innuendo — it doesn’t take itself too seriously but you’ll find layers if you dig deep — a true Brisbanite.”

Newstead Brewing Co used a wild, Brisbane-grown yeast strain isolated from a South American tree which was propagated in conjunction with University of Queensland PhD student Edward Kerr.

Mr Kerr, as part of his studies, undertook four botanical surveys at the St Lucia campus and Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, resulting in the isolation of more than 200 yeast species.

Of these, only two have been taken into the brewery for production — one of which is used in the Domestic Ale.

https://www.gabsfestival.com/brisbane-buy-tickets

Newstead Brewing Co, which has locations in Newstead and Milton, has created a new beer for the Great Australasian Beer Spectacular (GABS) festival which is coming to Brisbane for the first time on April 27, 2019. Pictured: Staff members Chimay Attenborough and Mike Slatter. Photo: Kristy Muir