News

OKTOBERFEST- Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th October

Sample world class Beechworth beers at this years Oktoberfest. Beechworth craft-brewery Bridge Road Brewers is hosting its forth annual Oktoberfest, from its HUGE venue in the old coach house. The event is loosley based around the original Oktoberfest held in Munich in late September each year. Punters are encouraged to get out the Lederhosen or Dirndle (traditional bavarian dress) and enjoy the festivities. This family day will include childrens activities, and fun for all with a traditional ohmpah band belting out some great drinking tunes.

Bridge Road Brewers, established by Ben Kraus and his Austrian partner Maria Frischmann has been brewing its beers for a little over 5 years and has come a long way from its origins in the family garage where the business spent its first year. Its relocation to an old coach house in Beechworths centre has proven a success. The brewery has been able to expand its range of beers, currently nine, and increase its production capacity to almost double.

The new venue has also allowed the addition of a kitchen to the brewery, where, apart from the giant pretzels, pizzas are the pick of the lunch time menu. A recent trip to Europe for Ben and Maria, including some time in Italy, helped them develop the pizza menu which is based on traditional Italian style pizza. Bens recommends trying the apple and blue cheese pizza matched with the Bavarian Wheat Ale. Marias experience in hospitality also includes working at Munichs Oktoberfest as a beer maid.

The Beechworth Oktoberfest will be held at Bridge Road Brewers, off Ford St, behind Tanswells Hotel, rear access from High st. It will be held between 11am and 6pm on Sat 9th and Sun 10th of October.

For further inquiries please contact Ben or Maria on 0357282703, or drop into Bridge Road Brewers.

It's our Birthday and we'll brew if we wanna!

Bridge Road Brewers have created an epic beer to celebrate the end of our fifth year of brewing, a black Belgian IPA. Bottled in big 750ml bottles this brew is one to savour. It is available directly from the brewery and will be on tap for the month of September.

Kegs and bottles are slowly finding their way round the country, so keep an eye out for the white on black "porterman" logo.

Be sure to get your hands on this one before it dissapears, we only have about 600 bottles. Orders can be made via email info@bridgeroadbrews.com.au or over the phone, 03 57282703.

Priced at $30each Posse Members will recieve a 10% discount, just quote your name and member number with your order.

KELLY COUNTRY PICK BLUE GRASS FESTIVAL

This year’s twelfth annual Bluegrass & Old Time Country Music Convention – otherwise known as the Kelly Country Pick – offers a fabulous weekend of concerts, instrument and dance workshops, jam sessions, instrument displays, open mic sessions and a Sunday gospel sing-along in pubs and venues around Beechworth. The sensational Western swing band, the Dancehall Racketeers, will be a highlight of this year’s program.

Saturday 2-5pm The Brewery Concert.

Sunday 3-6pm Blackboard Concert at the Brewery.

More infor at http://www.kellycountrypick.org/

Hop Harvest!!

That's right it's that time of the year already, Hop Harvest. Bridge Road Brewers are happy to report that the local hop garden, Rostrevor, had a great year, with plenty of rain and a decent harvest.

Our Harvest of about 4 or 5 hop plants from Rostrevor is miniscule in comparison to the hundreds of acres grown in the Ovens Valley. But as a wise man once said; you can only brew with the hops you've got! So brew we did, 1800l of the Harvest this year, the same volume as 09 - which was quickly consumed.

The main theme of the current Posse Pack 'The Harvest' is based loosly on our Australian Ale, bolstered with loads of fresh hops. This beer is made using green 'wet' hops that were picked on brew day. This differs from typical hop additions in most beer which use dried hops. Hops have a very short shelf life when fresh and therefore 99.9% of all hops are dried. The reult is a refreshingly hopped beer, with great aroma, a touch of bitterness and a 'green' hop character on the finish. The hop variety itself has never been used in a commercial beer by anyone but Bridge Road, it is a development stage in Rostrevor's research garden. We hope you enjoy this years Harvest.

Tour De France At Bridge Road Brewers!

When: Thursday 22th July Dinner from 9pm (Tour de Beechworth Cycling loop 2pm)
Where: Bridge Road Brewers, Beechworth. Bookings 03 57282 703 or email info@bridgeroadbrewers.com.au

Bridge Road Brewers are planning an epic day for cycling fans, dont miss this years final mountain stage of the tour the france. This years screening will kick off at 9pm with a french dinner before we sit back to enjoy some cheese and beverages as we watch the madmen do battle on the final mountain stage. Changes to this years event at Bridge Road includes a free optional Tour de Beechworth ride looping from Beechworth through Stanley and Myrtleford with Bridge Roads own cycling guru; Baz.

Col de Tourmalet

The Tourmalet is the icon of the Pyrenees and the mountain top finish, situated in the Hautes-Pyrenees, will be the high spot of the 2010 Tour. It will be climbed on its steepest side uphill from Barèges following the ascension of the Marie-Blanque and Soulor passes. After the rest day climbing legs may be a little “rusty”. Take heed! The final mountains stage is always the decider!
Live on the big screen at Bridge Road Brewers
NEW - french dinner at 9pm.
Beer, wine, cheese and coffee to keep you awake!
NEW - Tour de Beechworth, guided cycling loop through the "Beechworth Alps"
Be sure to book as space is limited. Dont forget your lycra, prizes will be given out for the best dressed.

A quick message from the tour devil: "No excuses shall be excepted for missing this year final mountain stage, i can hear them already, oh but it so late, I have to get up for work, it's past my bedtime, yada yada yada im a big sook, blah blah boo hoo! Well its time to man up ladies and gents cause these guys dont make excuses, even after 2 weeks of misery on a bike seat, all you have to do is stay awake."

SCRUMPOLICIOUS!!!

Our Chevalier Scrumpy Cider has been well received by locals and brewery regulars, so much so that it has found a spot on tap at our bar. We made this cider using local Beechworth apples and a French champagne yeast strain. The result is a very dry cider that's quite mild in flavour and body, but with plenty of character. The Scrumpy was a one off this time round, but come the warmer months will be a regular part of the line up.

DRINK DRIVING

Don't miss out on this closed door event at the brewery. Digital slot car fanatics and drunken amateurs will team up to see who's the king of coach house this coming Sat at the brewery (August 8th 7pm). The race night is free for Posse Members, others will be asked $10 to cover the track hire.

Local Beers Among The Best.

Local Beechworth brewery Bridge Road Brewers have had another successful year at the Melbourne International Beer Awards. Their success was announced with the official awards ceremony held at Crown Casino’s “Paladium” on Thursday evening. The event attracted over 1000 entries from more the 40 countries.

Of the nine Beechworth beers entered in the competition a total of seven medals were awarded. Their medal tally consisting of two silver and five bronze. The Bridge Road Brewers team are very happy with their results, proving their local drop can mix it with the best beers in the world. Brewer Ben Kraus said the competition and judging standards are getting tougher, with no Victorian beer being awarded a Gold medal this year, and much fewer medals being awarded overall. This he says is not a reflection on a drop in beer quality, in fact quite the opposite, with standards across the world of craft brewing being raised significantly.

Bridge Road Brewers are proud representatives of Beechworth and the greater north east region. They are also members of a wider group of local breweries who received a special mention at last nights event for their High Country Brewery Trail.