Malts and hops 'Down Under'
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dedken
Malts and hops 'Down Under'
There's a possibility I could be leaving this verdant land for Australia in the next year, so I was wondering if anyone can advise me what the availability of different malt and hops varieties is like down under?
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WishboneBrewery
- CBA Prizewinner 2010
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Re: Malts and hops 'Down Under'
Have you not heard of CraftBrewer? http://www.craftbrewer.com.au when they get the website back up you'll have lots of choice.
Or talk nicely to your local Aussie Microbrewery http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_br ... obreweries
Or talk nicely to your local Aussie Microbrewery http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_br ... obreweries
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Rookie
- Falling off the Barstool
- Posts: 3667
- Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2007 5:30 pm
- Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Re: Malts and hops 'Down Under'
Australia is a big grower of organic hops, if you are into that sort of thing.
I'm just here for the beer.
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mysterio
Re: Malts and hops 'Down Under'
Great selection of ingredients down under, Craftbrewer as mentioned is good and I've ordered from them several times.
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Bribie
Re: Malts and hops 'Down Under'
Missed this thread, if OP is still on the forum:
Australia grows a lot of barley for malting, not only for domestic use but we export a heap of malts to Japan (Asahi, Kirin) and S.E. Asia. As mentioned Craftbrewer are the top supplier but depending where you end up moving to, there will be local suppliers handy in all major cities. Australian malts are usually Pilsener style pale malts or Ale malts, perhaps a bit blander than UK offerings such as Golden Promise but they are very highly diastatic and useful in brewing with adjuncts. However UK and German malts are widely imported by a company called Cryer Malts who wholesale to the home brew trade as well. If you have a look at the Craftbrewer site you will see that Maris Otter, for example, isn't much more expensive than the domestic varieties and bulk buy rates apply. If you join a local HB club they often run bulk sack buys.
Have a look at CB hops section and say no more
One great thing is that we are just over the ditch from New Zealand and get a heap of beautiful NZ hops such as Motueka. The Kiwis also do fairly good versions of Fuggles and Goldings. Apart from Hop plugs and Aussie & New Zealand hops, all imported hops have to be pellets for quarantine purposes so you won't get UK flowers or USA flowers, but the plugs are fairly common.
Edit: to the OP, we also do verdant like you wouldn't believe
Australia grows a lot of barley for malting, not only for domestic use but we export a heap of malts to Japan (Asahi, Kirin) and S.E. Asia. As mentioned Craftbrewer are the top supplier but depending where you end up moving to, there will be local suppliers handy in all major cities. Australian malts are usually Pilsener style pale malts or Ale malts, perhaps a bit blander than UK offerings such as Golden Promise but they are very highly diastatic and useful in brewing with adjuncts. However UK and German malts are widely imported by a company called Cryer Malts who wholesale to the home brew trade as well. If you have a look at the Craftbrewer site you will see that Maris Otter, for example, isn't much more expensive than the domestic varieties and bulk buy rates apply. If you join a local HB club they often run bulk sack buys.
Have a look at CB hops section and say no more
One great thing is that we are just over the ditch from New Zealand and get a heap of beautiful NZ hops such as Motueka. The Kiwis also do fairly good versions of Fuggles and Goldings. Apart from Hop plugs and Aussie & New Zealand hops, all imported hops have to be pellets for quarantine purposes so you won't get UK flowers or USA flowers, but the plugs are fairly common.
Edit: to the OP, we also do verdant like you wouldn't believe
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Manx Guy
Re: Malts and hops 'Down Under'
Hi,
You didnt say whether the move would be permanent or temporary...
But FWIW I dont think you'll struglge to brew beer when/if you move to Australia...
You may struggle to make a perfect english ale (using fuggle/golding etc. flowers) - but that may not be a problem if you dont normaly brew those beers anyway.
But you'll certainly be able to make good beer, and your tastes may chage to suit the climate - more pale ale styles wheat beers etc.
Australia is a very ecologicly diverse country - although most of it is semi-arid-arid there are alpine regions, tropical rainforests and lush mountain pastures and grass land...
But be under no illusion though there are many areas where there are water restrictions in palce. some regions are in a drought that has lasted 5-10 years...
Good luck to you if you decide to go ahead with the move - I'm sure you'l have a great time!
Guy
You didnt say whether the move would be permanent or temporary...
But FWIW I dont think you'll struglge to brew beer when/if you move to Australia...
You may struggle to make a perfect english ale (using fuggle/golding etc. flowers) - but that may not be a problem if you dont normaly brew those beers anyway.
But you'll certainly be able to make good beer, and your tastes may chage to suit the climate - more pale ale styles wheat beers etc.
Australia is a very ecologicly diverse country - although most of it is semi-arid-arid there are alpine regions, tropical rainforests and lush mountain pastures and grass land...
But be under no illusion though there are many areas where there are water restrictions in palce. some regions are in a drought that has lasted 5-10 years...
Good luck to you if you decide to go ahead with the move - I'm sure you'l have a great time!
Guy