An upcoming festival has some of our favourite local breweries crafting some extraordinary beverages.
We’re thrilled to have the talents of breweries like Bucketty’s and sweet treat makers Butterboy on the Beaches. But a collab that results in cookie-flavoured beer? No one saw that coming!
Part dessert, part science experiment, this bold and buttery brew is the brainchild of Nick McDonald of Bucketty’s. Nick and his team created the beer exclusively for this year’s GABS Festival.
Now in its 15th year, GABS (Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular) is recognised as one of the best beer festivals in the world – think of it as Coachella for brewers, distillers, and drinkers. There’s live music, silent discos, street food, a spin-the-wheel tattoo parlour and Australia’s longest bar.
Each year, creators compete to outdo each other with one-off, limited-edition brews that range from brilliant to bonkers.
Case in point: cookie beer.
“It sounds weird, but it’s actually delicious,” says Nick. “The beer style we’ve selected pairs perfectly with sweet, sweet Butterboy cookies.”
“We went with Butterboy for our creation as they’re the best cookie chefs we know!” says Nick. “Plus, they’ve just moved their factory to Brookvale, so it seemed like the perfect marriage!”
If you’re wondering how you get beer to taste like cookies, you’re not alone.
“I thought a lot about the flavours and, almost more importantly, the aromas of freshly baked cookies,” says Nick. “And where they’d best infuse into the beer.” The answer? The mash.
Alongside a complex blend of six different malts, the team added the cookies in by hand, literally crumbling 20 kilos one by one into the mash tun to make sure they dispersed evenly.
“100% the best-smelling brew day we’ve ever had,” laughs Nick.
Bucketty’s isn’t the only local brewery competing for GABS glory. 7th Day Brewery is channelling summer with a Piña Colada beer; Dad & Dave’s is leaning into nostalgia with a Hard Creaming Soda, while 4 Pines and Brookvale Union are taking part but keeping their entries tightly under wraps.
They’re in good company. This year’s GABS lineup features some truly wild creations, from rainbow ice cream sundae beer and sour Warhead IPA to Vegemite toast lager, and even a brew infused with zesty green ants. Whatever your tipple of choice, your tastebuds are in for a ride!
GABS is on at ICC Sydney from May 31 to June 1, but if you’re not keen to venture out of the peninsula, you’re in luck. These boundary-pushing brews will be pouring at local taprooms too. Just don’t sit on it, there’s only a handful of kegs, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Bucketty’s
26 Orchard Rd, Brookvale NSW 2100
7th Day Brewery
unit 14/9 Powells Rd, Brookvale NSW 2100
Dad & Daves Brewing
45 Mitchell Rd, Brookvale NSW 2100
4Pines
4F/9-13 Winbourne Rd, Brookvale NSW 2100
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Images: supplied
