Having thrown the challenge to Sunshine Coast beer-lovers to get creative in the ‘Brewed By EU’ competition, the brewers at Eumundi Brewery have narrowed down more than 300 entries to just two finalists.
And now it’s up to you to help choose the winner.
The winning beer will become a limited release Eumundi brew – to be sold on tap and in cans across the Sunshine Coast later this year.
Head Brewer at the Eumundi Brewery Chris Sheehan said he was thrilled to see such a huge response to the competition, which challenged people to develop the concept and flavour combinations for a beer inspired by Eumundi and the Sunshine Coast.
“Hats off to the top two finalists – a pineapple, ginger and macadamia beer by Deb Munro of Sippy Downs, and the Black Cockatoo Smoked Lager created by Josh Batton of Peregian Springs,” Chris said.
“Deb’s beer idea fits perfectly as a Sour and has unique ingredients of pineapple with a hint of ginger and a pinch of macadamia, and her inspiration came from iconic Sunshine Coast landmarks The Big Pineapple and The Ginger Factory.
“We had around 80 entries that included pineapple as an ingredient, lots with ginger and lots with macadamia, however Deb’s idea was the only one to combine all three ingredients together in a beer. The holy trinity of local ingredients.
“Josh chose a dark lager for his beer and named it the Black Cockatoo Smoked Lager – acknowledging the bird as a spectacle with its colour and proud stature, just like this beer. Josh noted that the crisp, clean body and hint of smokiness reminds us of the formidable beauty of our landscape.”
The unique ingredients chosen by Josh were peat smoked malt, cold brew coffee and brown coffee malt, and his inspiration for the brew was the bushfires and the rural fire brigade who put their lives on the line to protect our community.
“Our task as brewers is now to brew two 20 litre kegs of the two finalists’ beers to go head-to-head in a public vote and tasting on the Saturday 26 June at the Hinterland Craft Beer Festival at The Imperial Hotel, home of the Eumundi Brewery,“ Chris said.
“People can also vote without trying the beer or attending the taste-test event – but most importantly all votes need to happen via the website www.eumundibrewery.com.au/brewedbyeu.”
The final voting period starts Saturday 26 June and ends Monday 11 July, with the winner to be announced at a Brewed By EU Launch Party at The Imperial Hotel on Saturday 21 August.
And there’s a ‘Brewtiful’ prize up for grabs for the winner of the best beer idea – $5000 cash and one carton (24 x 375ml cans) of Eumundi Lager or Pale Ale per month for 12 months to share with friends. Anyone who votes on the two shortlisted beers will also be entered to win the first carton produced of the Brewed By EU winning beer, a $250 voucher for the Imperial Hotel Eumundi, two cartons of Eumundi Lager or Eumundi Pale Ale, five tickets to attend the Brewed by EU’ launch Party, and other Eumundi Brewery merch.
