On Saturday the 30th of September, the day that Richmond won the AFL Premiership, I visited the Ironbark Hill Brewhouse in Pokolbin, New South Wales. The brewery is located in the grounds of Peter Drayton Wines, in the heart of the Hunter Valley. Peter Drayton started the brewery twelve months ago and opened it five months ago. It was created to compliment the wines he produces and support the weddings that are held on the site.
They brew between 700 litres and 1400 litres a week and produce ten different beers and two ciders. The brewers are Lee Wilton and Andrew Drayton, the son of the owner Peter. The brewery is having a mezzanine floor built that will be used for private tastings and special functions.
They also serve food at the brewery with a menu that consists of pizzas, burgers and amazing sharing plates.
The beers that I sampled were:
Summer 38 Ale, 3.8% abv, this is a golden coloured Australian style Pale Ale with a subtle tropical fruit aroma. It has a nice smooth mouth feel and a malt flavour before a tropical fruit finish.
Pilsner, 4.8% abv, this is a golden coloured beer with a subtle floral aroma. It is clean, crisp, easy drinking and refreshing.
Summer Pale Ale, 5.1% abv, this is a golden coloured Ale with a subtle malt aroma. It has a nice malty backbone and then a tropical fruit and passionfruit flavour on a gentle bitter finish.
American Pale Ale, 5.2% abv, this is a golden coloured Pale Ale with a citrus and pine aroma. It has a sweet taste of malt and then a nice fruitiness on a mild bitter dry finish.
Hefeweizen, 5.2% abv, this wheat beer has a cloudy straw colour and an aroma of bananas and bubblegum. It has a great wheat and banana flavour and is very true to the style.
India Pale Ale, 6.5% abv, this is a hazy golden coloured North West American style Ale with a sweet citrus and tropical fruit aroma. It has a well balanced flavour of sweet malt and then tropical fruit before a generous, resinous hop bitterness on the finish.
Black Forest Stout, 5.2% abv, this Stout has a black colour and a strong chocolate malt aroma. It has a lovely malty flavour with strong hints of chocolate and a slight cherry taste. Nice!
Apple Cider, 4.3% abv, this cider has a cloudy appearance and a sweet apple aroma. It has a sweet apple fruit flavour and then a tartness before a crisp, clean finish.
All of the beers that I sampled at Ironbark Hill Brewhouse were very enjoyable. I would like to thank Justin Hodges for his hospitality and would strongly recommend this brewery if you are in the area, they are open seven days a week. 
Go The Mighty Tigers!!