We spoke with a few of the brewers heading to Otway Oktoberfest this weekend
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We spoke with a few of the brewers heading to Otway Oktoberfest this weekend

Otway Oktoberfest is happening this weekend, and this year the event celebrates the many local craft breweries in the region as well as the German celebration.

Held at (and organised by) Prickly Moses/Otway Estate, the event takes place on Saturday, October 15 from 11.30am-5.30pm.

There’ll be a home brewers comp held on the day, but the breweries represented at the event are; Forrest Brewery, Bellarine Brewing Company, Bells Beach Brewing, Crowes Nest Beer, Red Duck Brewery, Flying Horse Bar & Brewery, Southern Bay Brewing Co, Rogue Wave Brewing, Cockies Beer and of course Prickly Moses. We had a chat to a few of the breweries below!

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Rogue Wave Brewing, Tim Wood

Name: Tim Wood
Role at the brewery: Boss / Slave labourer

How long have you been there? We commissioned the brewery towards the end of 2014.

Do you remember your first taste of beer/what did you think? I was surprised that our first beer was drinkable. It was a remarkable effort to get the brewery commissioned and successfully brew our first batch on a trial run, but it all went smoothly and the beer was good. Although now that our systems are bedded down the beer is significantly better.

What do you think makes a good beer? Quality gates – all the way from cleaning to packaging and an intelligent systematic brewer.

And what beer are you bringing to the Otway Oktoberfest? Moby Pale Ale 5.1. A smooth fruity Pale that tastes unbelievable and we donate 10% of its profits to Sea Shepherd

How to you advise punters to drink it? With a big smile, a great attitude and a bunch of mates.

What’s your favourite beer from your breweries range? Salt Pale Lager is a ripper. Making a simple great beer can be a bloody tricky.

See more of Rogue Wave Brewing via the website.

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Cockies Beer, Jamie Roydhouse 

Name: Jamie Roydhouse

Role at the brewery: owner/brewer/cleaner/barman/bottle washer/floor sweeper/ packer/forklift driver………

How long have you been there? Coming up to two years

Do you remember your first taste of beer/what did you think?
As a young teen I could not imagine how anyone could enjoy it!

What do you think makes a good beer? Attention to detail, best ingredients, recipe research/development.

And what beer are you bringing to the Otway Oktoberfest? Award winning COCKIES OCEAN ROAD PALE ALE. This beer won a gold medal at the International Beer Awards.

How to you advise punters to drink it? It is an American style pale ale, easy to drink, yet with lots of flavour, can accompany any type of food.

What’s your favourite beer from your breweries range? This one!

See more of Cockies Beer via the website.

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Red Duck Micro-Brewery, Scott Wilson-Browne

Name: Scott Wilson-Browne

Role at the brewery: Owner

How long have you been there? 11years

Do you remember your first taste of beer/what did you think? It was a shandy, so sweet.

What do you think makes a good beer? Passion and hygiene.

And what beer are you bringing to the Otway Oktoberfest? Munich Lager

How to you advise punters to drink it? This beer should be drunk wearing a lederhosen and drinking it from a litre stein.

What’s your favourite beer from your breweries range? We have brewed too many over the years, so it’s a hard one to answer. From our current range probably our Saison and our IPA Hammerhead.

See more of Red Duck via the website.

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Southern Bay Brew Co, Phil Rutjens

Name: Phil Rutjens

Role at the brewery: Brewery Manager

How long have you been there? 3 years.

Do you remember your first taste of beer/what did you think? Not good. I came from a household that didn’t drink beer so it took me some time to realise that bitterness was my friend!

What do you think makes a good beer? Balance.

And what beer are you bringing to the Otway Oktoberfest? Our Requiem New World Pilsner. Even though it has new world hopping this is still the most German beer in our range so seemed appropriate for the occasion.

How to you advise punters to drink it? This will be a great refreshing beer that can work well to refresh the palate after some bigger, more complex beers.

What’s your favourite beer from your breweries range? Usually our latest limited release is the one that has me most excited so at the moment it’s Lucifer’s Gold, a Belgian inspired strong golden ale.

See more of Southern Bay Brew Co via the website.

Find out more about Otway Oktoberfest via the website or the Facebook event page.