It really is every beer lover’s dream. There you are, sitting with mates sipping a lazy ale or two when the phone rings; “G’Day Prof – we have a spot for a brewer on Friday. Would you like to create an original beer idea and brew it with us?”

Would I like to?! Would a monkey like to be stuck up a monkey tree full of monkeys? Would a fat bloke like a bucket of chips?! I’m in!! Ross Kenrick, from Bacchus Brewing arranged for a brew day during Queensland Beer Week, with magnificent support from David Cryer and Cryer Malt and a motley collection of brewers in town for the festivities.

Steve ‘Hendo’ Henderson from Brew Cult, Luke Scott from Prickly Moses, Paul ‘Six Foot Six Brewer’ Wyman from The Monk, and Dave Clarke, local homebrewing Champion from Toy Box Brewery and I gathered early to mash in and get some seriously inspired brews going. My enthusiasm was somewhat tempered, however, when it was discovered that my brew concept was not received. Lesson for young players – check the name of the person you THINK you’re sending a text reply to, even if it’s late at night after a rather big event. Prof’s White Pepper Pilsner will just have to wait.

A motley brew crew, perhaps, but talented and creative – spot the odd one out

Dave was more than happy to take the spot left by my inadvertent SMS-ing and came up with the idea for a big, fruity IPA using Cascade and Citra hops as well as some dark malts for his Black Mamba IPA. He was also happy for me to ‘assist’, mostly by keeping well out of the way to make up for my disappointment.

Dave, current Brisbane Amatuer Beer Brewers club Champion (and stunning example of manly flesh in the Males with Ales charity calendar) has produced some fine brews, many of which are available around Brisbane through his gypsy brewing efforts at Bacchus. Luke must have either (A) got there very early, (B) was unable to narrow down his choice or (C) is a sucker for punishment as he had managed to snaffle three mash tuns. He was reday to crank out a White Oatmeal Stout, a Blackcurrant fruit beer and an Australian Bitter-styled ESB designed to be served through a handpump.

Big Paul was thinking big and, in his usual big way, hooked the big double mash tun into which he pumped a big Belgian Dark Ale packed with Magnum Strian Goldings hops, Candi Syrup and some serious looking yeast in big beakers that looked like they were loaned by Dr Fankenstein. Did I mention it was big? Hendo had concocted a beautifully aromatic Super Dank IIPA packed with Citra, Warrior and Simcoe – the latter hops’ ability to impart a ‘nice bit of dank’ providing the moniker.

Safety is everybody’s responsibility

The brew day was ably enabled by the Bacchus Brew team of Gavin, Bill and Matt who ensured the in-house system’s intricacies were prodded, patted and nursed into action and that the brewers recipes were suitably mashed, hopped and fermented before the brewers themselves were hopped and fermented thanks to Ross and his ready supply of brews on tap.

For Brisbane peeps, keep an eye out at regular venues for these cracking beers in the months to come.