Mountains Culture Beer Co owner DJ McCready talks beer
EXCLUSIVE: Brewer DJ McCready throws open the doors to Mountains Culture Beer Co and reveals the native ingredients giving his craft beer a distinctly Blue Mountains flavour.
The Blue Mountains News
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He’s the American interloper who has transformed an old video rental store into the hottest venue in Katoomba.
Craft brewer DJ McCready threw open the doors to Mountains Culture Beer Co on Parkes St last month.
It’s a brewery built with the Mountains front of mind by a brewer whose beer philosophy takes inspiration from nature including Australia’s distinctive eucalypt vegetation.
“(While out adventuring) we have collected native yeasts from local canyons and wildflowers from the area, such as eucalypts, and we’ve played around with different yeast strains and malts,” DJ said.
DJ’s love-affair with the Mountains began on visits with wife Harriett to Leura during which they’d go canyoning, rock and mountain climbing, and for hikes.
“We do everything except base jumping,” he said.
McCready, who hails from Asheville in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, has put a microbiologist on staff to help achieve his goal of producing beer that appeals to his primary audience: craft beer aficionados and outdoor enthusiasts.
“It’s a big rock climbing community here — that’s why we moved here (to Medlow Bath),” said DJ.
“They have been spending a lot of time outdoors (and) are coming here to relive some of their day outside.
“But you also have your millionaires, your artists, retirees and weekenders, a crazy mix.
“I’m really impressed by how receptive the local (Blue Mountains) crowd has been to the bigger, more bold beer styles we make; it gives me incentive to be more creative.”
Asked to give his recommendations for the “non beer drinker” and “hardened beer drinker” he suggested a lager beer and guava kettle sour for the former — “it’s a little tart” — and a Red IPA for the latter — “it has a big profile of malt and hops in it”.
Mountain Culture Beer Co. in Parkes St, Katoomba, has a capacity for 225 patrons and also serves wines without sulfites, made by small producers from NSW and Victoria, as well as meals.