Future Mountain brewing opens in Reservoir, with some brews more like wine than beer

A new Reservoir brewery’s founders promise no discrimination on bevvy choices. Their eclectic mix of ales, pilsners and sours includes some frothies closer to wine than beer.

Co-founders Shane Ferguson and Ian Jones have opened up Future Mountain in Reservoir. Picture: George Salpigtidis

If you love beer you’ll love them, and if you don’t like beer you’ll probably still love them.

That’s the message from the co-founders of Reservoir’s funkiest brewery, Future Mountain.

Sick of pale ales and crisp lagers, Shane Ferguson and Ian Jones have opened with a menu full of farmhouse ales, pilsners and an assortment of sours.

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The pair promise visitors will find something to sip on, no matter their favourite beverage.

“A lot of people who don’t like beer don’t like the bitterness. Well sours have no bitterness,” Mr Jones said.

With less of a focus on hops and more on yeast, Mr Jones said some of their range were closer to wine than beer.

Especially their barrel aged range.

If you’re used to chardonnay, they’ll recommend the barrel aged golden sour.

But they do have a collection of craft-distilled wine and spirits too.

Mr Ferguson said the brewery name reflected their approach of mixing new technology and techniques with old style beers.

The lyrics of rock songs inspired names such as Two Wheeled Gypsy Queen, an apricot sour, and Stranger on a Train, a barrel aged peach sour.

The most popular beer, Wonders of Nature, is a barrel fermented farmhouse ale.

Open Friday to Sunday the taproom offers a rotating cast of seasonal beers but some bestsellers will stay.

Mr Ferguson said their first four weeks of opening had been “awesome”.

“Beer enthusiasts have travelled from across Melbourne, but we’ve been amazed at the support of the locals,” he said.

The pair met while working in a brewery together and are backed by partners Elisa Jones and Kara Rasmanis.

One side of the circular bar is a darker modern wine bar while the other opens up into a bright and airy warehouse, where the fermentation tanks and oak barrels are on full display.

Future Mountain Brewing and Blending is at 703-707 Plenty Rd, Reservoir.

For more details visit their website.

@richardapearce