Big tins for backyards and the couch: Burnley Brewing releases first batch of Pale Ale and Vienna Lager in 440ml cans.

New Melbourne brewery Burnley Brewing has just released its first batch of beer in cans, with its flagship Pale Ale and Vienna Lager now available in a larger-than-average 440mL format.

While many breweries can and have already brewed these beers, none do it quite like Burnley. That’s because many of the beers we brew here, including our Lager, are made according to strict German Purity Laws, thanks to the expertise of head brewer Michael Stanzel.

Stanzel, who started winning home brewing awards at just 15, has spent the past 6 years brewing in Germany, where he was one of the first Australians ever to complete his Brewer and Maltster qualifications and start his own craft brewery. He is certainly an expert when it comes to brewing and serving beer.

Burnley Brewing’s Melbourne tap house and brewpub serves a cascading range of beer styles brewed in-house and served straight from the brite tanks, with each of the 14 taps featuring an exclusively Burnley-brewed beer. Local and fresh is key to all of their beers. So how did they decide which two styles to can?

Owner/brewer Neil Mills explains.

“We saw a gap in the can market for Old World, true-to-style lagers. Stanzel’s expertise in brewing according to German Purity Law and with beers of only 4 ingredients means our Vienna Lager is both complex and sessionable. It’s a cracking beer.”

He continues.

“And our flagship Pale Ale is absolutely the people’s choice. We have been pouring this at the brewpub since day one and the feedback has been amazing. We never thought the demand for our Pale would be so high.”

While picking just two beers to can was a difficult task, the large can size was a no-brainer.

Mills says, tongue in cheek, that the larger format is all about convenience.

“Michael Stanzel and I agreed wholeheartedly that walking to the fridge or esky too often can be a massive pain. We reckon the larger can format is going to be really welcomed.”

The 440mL can size means everyone can now enjoy Burnley’s most popular beers at home without having to get off the couch for a fresh one so often, as a typical beer can sits at 355mL. These cans are quite strong compared to your average tinnie, sitting at 2.5 standard drinks.

The striking cans, designed by Miriam McWilliam of Studio Mimi Moon, are a stark contrast to the typical beer can, with vibrant pastel colours partnered with Burnley Brewing’s signature navy and pink.

Look out for the Certified Independent logo on the back of the can, serving as a nod to the company’s proudly independent status.

Burnley Brewing’s Vienna Lager and Pale Ale are available in 440ml individual cans or 4-packs at McCoppins and Blackhearts & Sparrows stores as well as Far Side Beers in Hawthorn, Eastern Road Larder in South Melbourne and Decanters by the Bay in Port Melbourne.

Burnley Brewing’s brewpub is open 7 days, serving hand-rolled pastas, pizzas, beer snacks and main meals until late. Free brewery tours run each Monday and in-house brewing can be viewed most Thursdays from midday.

Beer tasting notes:

• Pale Ale: our flagship Pale Ale is a fresh, hop driven crusher with citrus on the palate and a tropical punch aroma. Malts: Pale Ale, Wheat | Hops: Galaxy, Cascade Plato: 12°P | Colour: 6 EBC | Bitterness: 42 IBU | ABV: 5.1%
• Vienna Lager: with light toasty-ness and biscuit aromas, this is a complex beer that’s also super sessionable. Malts: Vienna, Pilsener, Munich Dark | Hops: Spalt Select, Hallertau Tradition, Saaz Plato: 12.5°P | Colour: 20 EBC | Bitterness: 22 IBU | ABV: 5.6%

Burnley Brewing opened their Bridge Road brewpub and restaurant with a splash in late 2017. With an up-to the-minute brewery in-house, the bar pours 14 beers straight from the tanks to your glass. Open 7 days, the brewpub serves hand-rolled pastas, pizzas, main meals and beer snacks into the night, and offers free public brewery tours every Monday at 6 and 8 pm.

Burnley Brewing’s wine list has been curated by the imaginative people behind the Milton Wine Shop and Toorak Cellars. The extensive selection champions careful wine producers from the likes of Unico Zelo, Jamsheed and Ravensworth.

The 500 litre in-house brewery is the star of the 160-seat venue. The open, industrial space boasts booth seating in the restaurant space and a casual bar with TVs. Spaces can be booked for immersive beer experiences, feasts (including a whole suckling free-range pig!), corporate and cocktail functions.

Burnley Brewing is located at 648 Bridge Rd, Burnley, VIC 3121, Australia. hello@burnleybrewing.com | (03) 9429 3042 | @burnleybrewing