Secret to award winning drop is ‘no shortcuts’ and local produce, says head Bridgetown brewer

The secret to an abundance of award winning beers is to focus on the “purest way of producing drinks” by taking no shortcuts and using locally sourced produce, according to a Bridgetown staple’s head brewer. Blackwood Valley Brewing and The Cidery’s Mark Hollett said That philosophy has seen Blackwood Valley Brewing recognised for having some of the best brews globally at the Australian International Beer Awards. Their Irish Red Ale took home a gold, while the Chestnut Ale, Bridgetown Blues Cider, Apple Pickers Mid Strength Cloudy Cider, and Love Child Ginger Cider all nabbed silver medals. The Kentish Ale and Blackwood Truffle Ale, along with their Fruit Punch, Spider Cider and Sweet Rosie ciders won bronze. With The Cidery producing ciders since 2000, Mr Hollett said the venue prioritised locally-sourced raw materials to produce high quality drinks. “The purest way of producing drinks is no shortcuts, but we’ve always sort of had that approach to what we do,” he said. “We always use the authentic raw materials, so we’re not adding any sugary stuff or any flavours or syrups, nothing like that. “We’re not inclined to cut corners or try to make them more profitable, because I know that I certainly would lose interest and I’m pretty sure just about everybody else here would also lose their interest if we went down that road.” Mr Hollett said the venues prioritised being drink producers, attracting drinkers from around the world with international styles. “We’ve always been a cidery as well, and for a long time, cider has probably been the product that we’ve made more of just because it’s something that we can produce in larger volumes,” he said. “We are in a town that attracts or a region that attracts a lot of visitors and what’s great is that ... they go to a venue like The Cidery, and it’s full of unique products that have been made all on the premises and and from a lot of it’s made from local, local ingredients.” Hollett said the Irish Red Ale has had a great run over the years as a top performing beverage in competitions. “For us, that’s just a good recognition that the products that we’re making are true to style, and they’re good samples of those styles,” he said. “There’s a few good things about competitions. Obviously, you get a good result, and it’s a good promotion for your product. “You also get good feedback, which can help you to develop your products further, and it’s a good way of bench-marking what you’re producing against other products out there in the marketplace, and just in general, how it fits within the marketplace. “Over the years, we’ve gotten a lot of medals, but I haven’t counted them all lately.”

Secret to award winning drop is ‘no shortcuts’ and local produce, says head Bridgetown brewer

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