On Saturday the 11th of November I visited Two Birds Brewing in Spotswood, Victoria. This brewery started by contract brewing six years ago. It is Australia’s first female owned brewery. The present premises for the brewery were opened three years ago. It is a wonderful venue with the brewery in the back area, this area also has a large section of seating for having a beer while being able to view the brewery. It also has a bar and room in the front section of the building. They also have a great food menu available.
The brewing is undertaken by Jane Lewis, one of the Two Birds, and Wilson Hede. They put through ten brews each week in the 18 hectolitre brewhouse and these are fermented in one of four 72 hectolitre or four 36 hectolitre tanks. They put in their own bottling line earlier this year with a capability of handling 2000 bottles an hour with three people working. It can process both 330 ml and 500 ml bottles. This is housed in the room next to the brewery which is their storage area and also houses their bright tanks. They also have some oak barrels for aging special batches. The first of these was completed earlier this year for their sixth birthday celebration. For their special summer release beers they use cans and employ a contract canner to come in and take care of this.
They have a few events occurring later this month at the brewery. These are; A Brewday Party with Goose Island Brewing on the 14th November, Movember Fundraiser Comedy Night on the 23rd of November and Afternoon Jazz for Melbourne Women’s International Jazz Festival on the 25th and 26th of November.
The beers that I sampled were:
1. Golden, 4.4% abv, 20 IBU, this has a golden colour and a tropical fruit aroma. It has a sweet fruity flavour with hints of apricot on a gentle spicy, bitter finish.
2. Pale, 5.0% abv, 28 IBU, this has a golden colour and a subtle sweet pineapple aroma. It has a nice smooth mouth feel and a mild fruitiness and a gentle bitterness. Very easy drinking.
3. Sunset, 4.6% abv, 28 IBU, this has an amber colour and a malty aroma of toffee. It has a wonderful sweet malt flavour followed by a fruity taste of tropical fruit and citrus on a mild bitter finish. Nice!
4. Taco, 5.2% abv, 28 IBU, this has a golden colour and a citrus and coriander aroma. It has a sweet, spicy citrus flavour on a gentle bitter, crisp finish.
5. Maltergeist, 5.0% abv, 22 IBU, this is a Oktoberfest Beer of the Marzen style. It has a golden colour and a spicy malt aroma of biscuit. It has a great malty flavour that is rich and biscuity on a clean, crisp finish.
6. Double Sunset, 7.3% abv, 70 IBU, this has a wonderful copper colour and a hoppy aroma of grapefruit. It has a great well balanced flavour that starts with toffee and caramel malt and then transitions into a strong citrus taste on a generous hop bitter finish. Magnificent!
7. Passion Victim, 5.0% abv, this has a pale hazy appearance and a tropical passionfruit aroma. It has a sweet fruity flavour with a good taste of passionfruit on a gentle bitterness before a crisp, dry finish. This Passionfruit Summer Ale has Amarillo, Mosaic and Galaxy hops in it. Available in cans only.
8. Saison, 5.6% abv, this is their spring version of this style and they are intending to make a different one for each season. It has a hazy golden colour and a funky citrus and yeast aroma. It has a great Saison flavour with a spicy citrus taste. Very fresh and refreshing. Available in bottles only.
I really enjoyed all of beers that I tried at Two Birds Brewing. They have a wonderful selection and a fantastic venue to enjoy them in.
I would like to thank Sarah and her staff for their hospitality when I visited.
I strongly recommend visiting this brewery.
