HOBART BREWING CO. SAINT CHRISTOPHER

There be dragons! That said I’d cross uncharted waters to get my hands on this HOBART BREWING CO. SAINT CHRISTOPHER

Origin – Macquarie Point, Tasmania
ABV- 4.8%
Size- 375mL Can
Style- Cream Ale

It's been half a century since Christopher's demotion among the legion of Catholic saints, but he's still standing tall, thanks in part at least to the beer-loving lawyer and founder of Hobart Brewing Co. Brendan Parnell and his brewery Scott Overdorf, formerly of Moo Brew fame. Best known as the patron saint of travellers, St Christopher's legend is that of a 7"5' tall ferryman in the third century who agreed to carry a child across the river. As he crossed the child grew heavier and heavier, with Christopher at one point fearing he would fall and that they would both drown. The heavy child turned out to be Christ with the weight of the world upon his shoulders.

The tale inspired centuries of Roman Catholics to depend on St. Christopher to usher them safely down the road of life. Yet over the years, he has been explicitly invoked to protect drivers, sailors and seafarers. But he ran into rough times in 1969 - the Catholic Church stripped him of his feast day, and the Vatican announced there was no proof St. Christopher ever existed beyond legend, stating even that was pretty flimsy. He held onto his sainthood, but just barely. Despite however almost being martyred for a second time, visor clips and bumper stickers, particularly in the EU, began to sell like hotcakes.

Then much closer to home, in 2016 he was somewhat ‘born again' this time on the bank of a different river; and there on the shores of the River Derwent in an old rustic (and rusting) red shed that is home to Hobart Brewing, Saint Christopher has been serving the patrons ever since (technically I think it's ‘severed' to patrons ever since!). Despite other cracking beers such as the debutant Harbour Master ale, it's this cream ale, affectionately known as ‘The Traveller' that locals and visitor can't get enough of.  Similar to the light and refreshing cream ales that were first crafted in the mid-1800s at various breweries in the United States, the Saint is an easy-drinking, well-balanced, sessional beer where everything is served up in small doses: a little bit of fruity esters, some bready like malts and a touch of hop aroma and flavour. With more body than you'd find in a lager of similar character, it's heavenly!

Given the craft brewing industry doesn't have a patron saint of its own, perhaps St. Christopher could pick up some new work?

HOBART BREWING CO