Brewers swap Hops for Hugs

By Amy Looker

Australians are being urged to channel their love of beer into hugs for the men and women that brew it this Sunday (July 18).

International Brewers Day was launched by American beer writer, Jay Brooks, as a way to celebrate good beer and the brewers behind it.

The date of July 18 was chosen as it marks the feast of St Arnold, the patron saint of brewers who advised his parishioners to avoid the local polluted water supply and drink beer instead.

Australians are encouraged to get in the spirit by drinking beers that they may not have tried before and also to raise a toast to the brewer responsible for the beer.

Those that are truly passionate about their beer have been given the go-ahead to show their appreciation of the craft and ‘Hug a Brewer’.

While the International Brewers Day website suggests using stalking techniques to land a hug, Australian Brews News, an online brewing magazine, will be hosting two events in Brisbane over the weekend, making it easy to get within hug proximity of some of Australia’s top brewers.

The Brisbane festival will feature tastings of more than 20 beers from breweries from around Australia with highlights including appearances by Chuck Hahn (Malt Shovel Brewery), Ben Kraus (Bridge Road Brewery, Beechworth), Luke Scott (Otway Estate Brewery and Winery, Barongarook, Vic) and Hayden Mokaraka (Blue Sky Brewery, Cairns).

Homebrewers will also be celebrated with Craftbrewer’s Ross Kenrick bringing along a keg of his Obama Black IPA, brewed in collaboration with Canberra’s Wig & Pen brewery.

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[Fri 16/07/2010 11:13:49]