Snowy Mountains Brewery – taste counts
A single question to the local barman is behind the birth of Snowy Mountains Brewery. When Kevin O’Neill took refuge in a Snowy Mountains resort watering hole after a day on the slopes, he decided he’d better take a pull of the local beer while he was there.
“My wife Alison and I had been on skiing trips to resorts in other parts of the world, and it was always customary to try the local brew – skiing resorts like those in Colorado tend to make their own beer. When I asked to try theirs and the barman couldn’t accommodate, I realised our home resorts were distinctly lacking in one vital ingredient… a brewery and local beer!”
From an idea hatched in 2004, the Snowy Mountains Brewery name and its selection of premium micro beers is building a reputation on taste alone.
“With your standard mass produced beers, price is a major factor, but when it comes to micro beers you are basically fighting for people’s tastebuds,” Kevin said.
“You have to work hard, keep refining your product and hope it tastes better, you want something that’s very local or unique. With our specific market, the taste is what counts.”
Each SMB beer has its own distinct characteristics. The Award-winning Crackenback Pale Ale is a delightful interpretation of a classic style but lighter in body than traditional pale ales. Bullocks Pilsner is a modern take on the traditional style first brewed in 1842, in the Czech town of Plzen with complex malt flavours and a spicy floral hop bouquet. The Razorback Red Ale is an impeccably balanced beer with a medium body, four combined malts providing its rich malty sweetness, nutty and biscuit characteristics with a deep copper-red hue.
Kevin is particularly satisfied with the plaudits afforded the Charlotte’s Hefeweizen, which was awarded Australia’s best wheat beer at the Australian Hotel Beer awards in October. Released in June, their new baby is a top fermented, unfiltered wheat beer with a pale cloudy appearance reminiscent of a high-country white-out.
“To win an award with a brand new beer is very special. You usually spend time establishing it, getting some feedback and maybe tinkering with certain elements. To come straight out of the gates and win a major award is a great feeling for us.”
Snowy Mountains Brewery is making a name for itself with lovers of premium beer, all thanks to a chat with the local barman.
To find out more, log onto www.snowymountainsbrewery.com.au