HOP Dog Beer Works is one of the smallest breweries to be participating in the Beer Day Out on November 8 at the former Transport Depot (Old Depot Markets) in Kingston. Hop Dog is the beer of the South Coast, a region known for its idyllic setting and relaxing atmosphere. However, Hop Dog’s beers are nothing like this. Their beers are big, brash and bold, much like their exalted leader, Tim Thomas.

This small family operation’s iconic beers steer slightly towards the Belgian style of ale. Their Bingo Wings (one of my favourites) has that particular Belgian style of taste, borne through orange spice and fruity citrus aromas. Their fabulous brew An American Werewolf in Belgium is a fusion of American and Belgian style craft beers to bring a hint of banana, a sharp sweetness and a bold, citrus backbone.

Although the gang at Hop Dog (mainly Tim and his wife) do produce several Belgianesque beers, they also make several beers with iconic American west coast flavours. Their Red Hopulous is a big red ale (lots of malt) with a generous amount of US Citra and Columbus hops, linking together two of my favourite styles of beer! Likewise, their Horns Up IPA is everything a modern day American IPA should be. Big hops, strong bitterness, lots of citrus and not much malt. This beer is perfect with a spicy Indian curry or a piece of top quality, chilli beef jerky.

Tim Thomas is also well known to go to the extreme with his beers. His 2014 Superbeast barley wine is testament to this. It’s 10% ABV and 200 IBU’s (meaning very bitter) make this a difficult beer to get through, and one you must really savour. Likewise, Tim has also done daunting collaborations with breweries like Illawarra Brewery and Riverside, producing beers like the crazy-named Assaisonner Tri Canus Flumen, a one off farmhouse style ale (that I never got the opportunity to indulge in.)

Everyone at Beer Day Out and the Canberra Beer Week should feel very lucky to have such a great brewery like Hop Dog Beer Works attending the festivites. I personally think you should make it your mission at Beer Day Out to indulge in at least one of Hop Dog Beer Works beers and I am positive you won’t be dissapointed.

Hop Dog Beer Works will be producing a craft beer especially for a zombie movie event taking place on the Sunday after beer day out at the Palace Electric cinema. Details are sketchy at this stage, but my sources also tell me that a beer and food matching event may also be taking place between Hop Dog Beer Works and a certain restaurant in Braddon. Remember to check www.canberrabeerweek.com.au or the facebook side for more information.

Adrian Moran has been pouring beers for over nine years and runs a weekly podcast devoted to craft beer
Twitter: @ausbeerjourney
Website: www.ausbeerjourney.wordpress.com