On Sunday the 19th of November I visited The Two Metre Tall Company, Brewery and Farm Bar in Hayes, Tasmania. This brewery is owned and operated by Ashley and Jane Huntington and has been in operation for thirteen years on their 580 hectare farm. Ashley was a trained wine maker and was intending to start a winery before he was distracted by hops.
The brewery equipment they use is almost thirty years old and was originally in use in the St Ives Brewery in Hobart. Ashley and Jane purchased it and moved it to their farm when St Ives closed.
They are planning to produce a special anniversary brew from one of the St Ives original recipes to celebrate the brewhouse’s thirtieth birthday.
They have an unusual repertoire of beer making that includes mixed fermentation, barrel ageing and kettle souring.
The beers that I sampled were:
1. Derwent Aromatic Spelt Ale, 4.7% abv, this has a straw colour and a slightly sour, fruity aroma. It has a fruity flavour with a slightly tart finish.
2. Forester Bitter Amber Ale, 5.8% abv, this has a dark amber colour and slightly sour aroma. It has a sweet fruit taste and then a gentle bitterness on a nice sour finish.
3. Dark Apple Ale, 5.8% abv, this is a farmhouse style ale with added apple juice. It has a dark brown colour and a fruity, slightly sour aroma. It has a sweet apple initial taste and then a generous sour finish.
4. Salty Sea Stout, 5.0% abv, this is brewed with oysters, mussels, seaweed and saltwater and is barrel aged for eleven months. It has a dark brown colour and a sour malty aroma. The flavour is initially of sweet malt and then oysters before a salty sour finish.
5. Sparkling Mead, 6.6% abv, this spends eighteen months in oak barrels. It has a pale straw colour and a slightly sour aroma of honey. It has an unusual flavour that is of sweet honey before a gentle tartness on a dry finish.
6. Huon Farmhouse Dry Cider, 7.5% abv, this is made with Sturmer Pippin Apples and is wild fermented. It has a pale straw colour and a sour fruit aroma. It has a strong apple flavour and then a slightly tart, dry finish.
7. Raspberry Wild Cider, 8.0% abv, this is barrel aged for three years and then has raspberries added before being returned to the barrels for further conditioning. It has a pink appearance and a sour fruit and raspberry aroma. The flavour is of sour berries with a tart finish.
8. POIRE Farmhouse Dry Pear Cider, 4.5% abv, this has a pale straw colour and a fruity sour aroma. It has a strong sweet pear flavour with a tart sour finish.
The Two Metre Tall Company are producing some very unusual, unique and enjoyable beers and ciders. They are definitely worth searching for if you enjoy sour style beers.
I would like to thank Jane for her hospitality when I visited.
