Breweries worked at and now:

• Current - Otway Estate Winery and Brewery.
Previously,

Hunter Beer Company – Potters Hotel & Brewery
• Meantime Brewery London
• Fosters Group – Brewtech (CUB)

How you started brewing:

After studying chemical engineering at RMIT University in Melbourne I was fortunate to get a “Trainee Brewer/Engineer” role at CUB in Melbourne with Brewtech the R&D department. From there I became intrigued and interested in not only brewing but also the history of beer and the brewing industry. Technically trained by the “big boys” I saw the growth of the craft beer industry in the US and UK and fortunately now here in Australia.

Favourite beer you’ve brewed:

American Styled IPA using fresh hops grown at the brewery nick named the Hopmonster. Still drinking great 5 years later and only getting better with age.

Favourite beer you haven’t brewed:

An organic blueberry hefeweizen. Just waiting for the blueberries to grow at Otway Estate.

Greatest beer achievement:

Starting up and running a brewery in the Hunter Valley for 5 years and also now coming back to Victoria brewing at Otway Estate Winery and Brewery and growing, developing and winning awards under the Prickly Moses label.

Favourite brewing website:

Simple www.microbrewing.com.au

How you see Australian Microbrewing industry:

I see great potential and opportunity in the Australian Craft beer industry. We’ve seen massive growth and interest in our brands and here’s hoping the government recognize this as welland grant some excise relief to further make the industry viable and competitive. 

Brewer/Brewery you most highly respect:

There are so many colleagues that I respect it’s hard to list although some quick mentions to

Phil Sexton

Richard Watkins

Brian Watson

Neil Barker

And Michael Pecar.

Breweries I respect include; Dogfish Head, Meantime Brewery and Sierra Nevada

Hint to home brewers.

Follow the 2 Ts – Temperature and Timing when brewing through the whole process and life of the beer can only improve the finished product for when it hits your palate.

Hint to microbrewers.

Collaboration and communication between individual brewers and breweries on a single, state, federal and international level can only assist the growth of the Micro / Craft Beer industry.

Other? Great work to John for everything he has done and is doing for the beer industry in Australia.

Cheers 

Luke