BEER Day Out helped expose Canberra as an important market for craft brewers to invest in, as over 2,000 thirsty punters drank almost every brewer dry (it was impossible to get a Stone & Wood, Young Henrys or Four Pines brew after 4 o’clock!) This was a sign to me that Canberra’s drinkers are yearning for a change; Canberra drinkers want, dare I say, need craft beer!

One craft beer with a prominent queue throughout much of the afternoon was the Rocks Brewing Co. With fiery Scot Andrew at the helm alongside the bubbly Bec, Rocks brewing Co. pumped through 7 kegs and over 4 cases of their iconic and award winning brews.

Rocks Brewing Co. was founded over 5 years ago and has gone on to become a staple of the Sydney craft beer scene. Brewing out of the inner city suburb of Alexandria, one of Sydney’s oldest suburbs, Rocks Brewing Co. pays homage to Australia’s convict past through both their company name as well as their iconic beer names and images. Beers like their Hangman Pale Ale, Convict Lager and Boxer Red Ale are just some of their interesting and diverse titles.

Rocks Brewing Co. have two permanent homes in Sydney where you can always find their beers. Harts Pub in the Sydney suburb of the Rocks is an old, multi-storey building right in the heart of “old Sydney.” As well as Rocks Brewing Co.’s core range of beers, all of their limited release beers can be found on tap at Harts Pub.

The other pub worth visiting in Sydney for a Rocks Brewing Co. beer is the Lord Raglan Hotel in Redfern. As well as Rocks Brewing Co. beers, the Lord Raglan also regularly has beers by breweries like Riverside Brewing Company, Brewcult, Murrays and more.

But of course its not just Sydney where you can find Rocks Brewing Co. beers. Here in Canberra, Rocks Brewing Co. beers are available from time to time at A Baker in New Acton and the Transit Bar in Civic. However, of even more exciting news is the imminent arrival of brewers Nick Becker and Tim Fishwick, who are making the trip from Sydney down to Canberra next Thursday, December 4, to take part in a tap takeover at the Durham Castle Arms in Green Square, Kingston.

On tap for the tap takeover will be up to six of the Rocks Brewing Co.’s best beers. These will include the easy drinking and “sessionable” ‘Governor’ Golden Ale, the rich, earthy ‘Butcher’ Porter and the limited release ‘Conviction’ India Pale Ale and ‘Drunken Monk’ Belgian style golden ale.

This will be a great opportunity for craft beer snobs (such as myself) to meet up with two of Australia’s best brewers, as well as a great chance for those just entering the craft beer scene to understand more about this exciting and diverse industry. The two guys will be happy to discuss their brewery and beers with punters as well as the future of the craft beer scene.

The two brewers will be on hand at The Durham Castle Arms from 6pm on Thursday, December 4 along with their beers. If you’re interested in buying their beers to enjoy at home, you can also do so dropping into Plonk at the Fyshwick markets.

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