BLACK BREWING CO CRISP, CLEAN, DRY

A dart in one hand and this beer in the other; it’s a great way to have a pointed - pardon the pun - conversation about life and all its ups and down.

Origin – Wilyabrup, Western Australia
ABV- 4.8%
Size- 375mL can
Style- Lager

When choosing the perfect mascots and logos, companies, colleges and teams decide on characters that radiate the image they wish to portray: strength, power, environment or enjoyment. Their job is to grab attention, make a solid first impression and separate them from the competition. Most teams and businesses stick to common animals such as eagles, dragons or objects like apples and shields. In deciding to stray away from the clichéd path, some turn out to be a little too left of field, such as the mascot for the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans. Rather than a giant pelican, they choose a crown-wearing, giant-sized baby in diapers. Grotesque and disturbing, King Cake Baby sends shivers down the spines of children and adults alike. Closer to home, the new NBAC logo revealed last year, which companies like Qantas, Aust Post and Atlassian collectively use to represent themselves overseas, was literally in the shape of coronavirus!

Then there's Black Brewing, which has a random giant crayfish straddled by a Dionysus-like character. At least for the Margaret River brewery, there was a method to the madness – the brewery takes its name from the critically endangered Black Hairy Marron crayfish, found only in the region, while Dionysus is known as a god of wine and beer. Part brewery, part distillery, part winery, part restaurant and wholly fresh and playful, Black Brewing first opened its doors in late 2015. Originally born out of a passionate backyard brewing project in suburban Perth, though there are now new owners at the reins, the same ethos remains – make it fun and make it last.

It's an ideology with sessionability as the focus, with much of the beer and food menu lighter in intensity. Light, fortunately, doesn't mean lifeless, as can be seen in the subtle nuances of this award-winning lager. Aromas of sweet malt, muted citrus and faint floral characters lead to similar flavours, while Spalt hops add a decidedly German touch. Taken together, it makes a clean drinking interpretation of a classic style.

It's a craft that would be right at home in the mitts of Keggy, the dancing keg of beer once approved as the mascot of the prestigious Dartmouth College, whose alumni include honourable poet Robert Frost ...yikes!

BLACK BREWING CO