Just as it’s often the little guys of the brewing world that have helped drive changes in Australia’s beer drinking habits, so is it frequently the smaller operators that are helping take good beer into new territory. Operators such as Amber Craft Beer, one of a handful of businesses looking to turn the people of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs onto the wonders of the contemporary beer scene.
The venue opened midway through 2016 with a mission to help educate customers – to take them on a journey into new and interesting flavours, just as owner Richard Whitebrook has been for the last few years. An amateur brewer and certified beer judge who has travelled to many of the world’s most colourful and historic beer regions, he sees Amber Craft Beer as more than a retail outlet selling good booze: it’s an opportunity for him to involve his customers and share his passion and knowledge too.
He has various means at hand to do so. As well as well stocked shelves and fridges, he has six taps pouring a rotating selection of draft beers at his light and airy Burwood Road venues and a beer garden out the back. There’s also a space that is earmarked for a small brewery too so he can bring some of his recipes to life for his customers.
With a love of venues like the Royston Hotel in Richmond, the goal was to create a place that could become a home away from home –a casual spot to grab a bite to eat, have a couple of beers with friends, or duck in for some quiet time after work.
Since opening, the beer offerings have evolved as Richard and his team have come to know their customers and the wants and needs of the Hawthorn crowd. In the fridges and across the taps, you’ll find a mix of Victorian beers as well as those from further afield, including well respected internationals such as Chimay and Saison Dupont that reflect a fondness for arguably the world’s greatest beer nation.
On any one visit, you might find a beer from Quiet Deeds, a Two Birds Golden Ale, or Bad Shepherd’s California Lager on tap. In the fridges, the aim is to curate a broad selection of good beers and other drinks, be they IPAs, ciders, lagers, saisons or traditional German styles. Pair your chosen drop with the chorizo kransky, prosciutto pizza or cheese and salsa burger, and you’re in for a good afternoon.
In time, Richard will be pouring a couple of his own beers on the taps, allowing for plenty of opportunity to experiment and educate those customers keen to learn more about the complexities of beer. Until then, the tight little tap list of locals will keep you more than entertained.
Kerry McBride
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