RUNNING WITH THIEVES HAZY PALE
Whilst it might be some ore that’s financially holding up Australia's reputation as the lucky country, it’s through sharing conversations over ales such as this that we can hold up mates during such an unlucky time for so many.
Origin – Fremantle, Western Australia
ABV – 5.6%
Size – 375mL can
Style – Pale Ale
When I first heard about Running With Thieves, I figured they were a band, something along the lines of the Fun Lovin’ Criminals. While reading the intro on their website (drink beer. light fireworks. make love. act humble. stay loose. run with us) might have you thinking they are indeed ‘running around robbing banks all whacked off on the Scooby Snacks’, the only thing criminal about these Thieves is the quality of their beers. While that might sound impressive for one of WA’s newest breweries, co-founder Scott Douglas wasn’t exactly starting from scratch, having previously built Black Brewing Co from the ground up after taking over the defunct Duckstein brewing operation in 2016. While Black Brewing served as the perfect location for slinging beers to Margaret River’s high-flying weekenders, Scott always had his heart set on serving up honest, good old-fashioned frothies to a local community.
Together with long-time friends Pablo Frenkel and Brooklyn Whelan – who penned the name as a reflection of the mischief the lads got up to as youths – the trio set about finding a suitable neighbourhood on the outskirts of Perth. That search landed them in a 100-year-old warehouse in the heart of breezy South Fremantle. Then reconnecting with Scott’s former partner in crime and head brewer at Blacks, Paul Gasmier, the group laid down plans for the historic facility, including the installation of a bar, restaurant and bottle shop at the front of house and a working brewery and distillery out the back. The plan was to open earlier this year, but progress was understandably challenging.
While you’ll need to wait a little longer to drink it on location, the stills are already full with vodka, gin, rum and whiskey, and the brewery is banging out no less than eight core range beers including this unique twist on a standard pale ale. Packed with Citra, Armarillo and Ella, it’s surprisingly juicy for a 5.6% ABV. The nose is aromas of peaches and nectarine that give way to a tropical fruit punch on the palate dominated by citrus and pine. A dose of Munich wheat malt provides a body that is bold but balanced, before finishing with a slight bitterness.
The Fun Lovin Criminals had to ‘pull these jobs to make a little money’, if Running With Thieves keep knocking out brews this good, they’ll make enough selling beers not to have to resort to crime!