Imagine you’re standing in front of a rainbow purely made of craft beer. As you progress up this rainbow, you sample the different taste, textures… the characters of each beer, noticing with each step the experience gradually gets better and better. Knowing this… you realise the craft beer of your dreams, that transcendent pint of gold, is lurking at the end of the rainbow.

Well my friends, I’m here to tell you that our journey has reached its end, I have found the pint of gold at the end of the rainbow. Its called Stormy Lager, and the masterminds behind it are the Barrow Boys.

Craft Beer has become the pulse in Australian culture. Like our coffee and endless array of quality restaurants, it defines an element within our community that compliments our “Australian way of life”. Like so many of these elements, Melbourne has firmly taken the reigns, leading the way domestically, while our style and culture find a respected voice within international markets. We are, for lack of a better term, spoilt for choice… yet continually searching for more.

Having sent an invitation to interview the Barrow Boys… my partner Rebecca and I were indulged with a delighted “Yes” and the perfect location, The Local Taphouse in St Kilda, who recently added the Stormy Lager to their fleet of gems. Arriving twenty minutes early, I wasted no time retrieving a pint of gold, gliding across the bar with purpose, then withdrawing to a secluded area to admire the brooding beauty, beckoning my taste buds for a mighty experience.

Apparently the Stormy Lager was inspired by Melbourne’s weather… and on examination, if ever a city was encapsulated in a bottle… it would be the Stormy (Melbourne) Lager.

The tale of the name Barrow Boys also has a lovely story behind it… paying homage to market vendors of yesteryear, hearts firm on their woolen sleeves, voices loud to the roof tops as they peddled fresh local produce within the bustling markets of old. They were hard working, humble and proud to exist in Melbourne’s culturally diverse market community. Reflecting the name of these market traders is no small undertaking… but just as the peddlers worked enthusiastically in their trade, so too have the Barrow Boys 2.0.

The first to arrive was Ash Hazell, the mastermind behind the taste. A gentleman that projects a soulful kindness, combined with the wisdom of some type of wizard, whose potions once mixed, create a realm that inspires enjoyment. Sitting across from me, he noticed the half drunk beer, which I confirmed as his brew, and the faintest of smiles crept across his face… a humbling site to witness.

He regaled me with a tale about the moment he knew brewing beer was the only path he wanted to forge. Sitting with friends as an eighteen-year-old, he stared at a Little Creatures Pale Ale… an epiphany… “I was like, what the hell is this? I was entranced by this amazing floral, spicy, citrusy fruity flavour… the first sip blew me away, and from that moment I knew I wanted to be a brewer”. It was hard not to get caught up in his story, you could see the importance that moment meant to Ash… being so passionate about something, and using it to inspire his own journey of creation.

Next to arrive was Dean… affectionately known as ‘The Spruiker’. An eye-catching swagger, personified by a warming smile and gentle disposition. He loves Melbourne, enjoys a yarn… and profoundly in-tune with what people are looking for in a beer. His knowledge of hospitality and what makes Melbourne tick, complements the fresh perspective their company has on the pulse. Dean exclaims, “we want to produce beer that people drink and enjoy, but also get excited about”. Its fair to say they have.

Last but not least was Justin… or his character name ‘The Peddler’. A travelled man to say the least…living and breathing the business of wines, beer and restaurants all over the world. The most laid back of the three, a quiet confidence, comprised of a deep awareness of the trade and an instinct for connecting consumers with their brand. Clearly energised by the challenges around the industry, Justin makes it his business to know the business of what the craft beer enthusiasts want and where they are drinking it. For Justin it’s the “love of beer” that has kept him in the game… and by the expression on his face, the excitement of what they are trying to achieve, charges his batteries on a daily basis.

So to the beer, which put Rebecca and I in the room with these very accommodating Barrow Boys. When you first try it… its an experience to say the least. A style of beer nobody is creating, and its strange to think why. The world has taken a back step from Lagers… as more mainstream brewers and micro-brewers head down the pale ale, golden ale and stout route, which cities like Melbourne have gone bat shit crazy for. The market is absolutely flooded with these style of beers… so its refreshing – figuratively and literally – to know a beer exist in the gigantic pool of mainstream, that reminds us uniqueness can be found around the common.

The Stormy Lager’s individuality is malt-driven, with Tassie hops balancing the biscuity aroma and taste, leaving a bitterness that is surprisingly pleasant. The malts are a selected specialty, complemented by a slower brewing process that is responsible for the refreshing crispness. The sharp undertones altogether softened, with the faintest hint of caramel. In layman’s terms – its a really really really really good beer.

The Barrow Boys have literally put their heart and soul into their company… taking the risk, and “jumping straight into the deep end” as Ash puts it. He goes on to say, “it’s the best way to do it, you jump in… you’ve got no choice, it has to work, otherwise its all over”. His passion evident as the reality of adversities faced is a chilling reminder that business is hard, and success doesn’t come easy. To their praise they’ve gone about their process in a very smart way, each with a defined roll that complements the other, along with their company immensely. ‘The Brewer’ creates the dazzling beer, ‘The Spruiker’ gets the public talking and ‘The Peddler’ finds the beer a home. Separately they are talented, but together they are a commanding force with one purpose… creating and delivering enjoyment to the community. Justin adds “there is a lot of belief in each other, and that really translates into how we communicate our voice out there… within the trade or just sitting around talking about beer… there’s a lot of trust”.

As the evening ended, it wasn’t hard getting a sense of exactly what these Barrow Boys projected. Simply… passion for what they do. They are trying to bring a taste they believe in, to a world jammed packed with new styles and flavours. A tough undertaking for some… but not so much when you surround yourself with people who are now essentially one big family.

With a shake of their hands and one last praise for their beer, my wife and I waved goodbye to the Barrow Boys. We were appreciative they allowed us an insight into their world, which gave us a clear definition of what passion and dedication looks like. As every couple does after meeting new people, we asked eachother the

inevitable question, “what did you think?” … Rebecca summed it up perfectly… “They’re just good blokes!”.

Funny to think all this started from a choice my wife made on a whim in a restaurant… going another direction for her beer of choice one evening. Being inquisitive myself, I looked at her beer once it arrived… Barrow Boys huh…. tasted it… and just as Ash experienced as an eighteen-year-old… I was left a changed man… finally, I had reached the pint of gold at the end of the rainbow.

By Nick Bacash

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Barrow Boys Website http://barrowboysbrewing.com.au