STONE & WOOD BREWING THE GATHERER

Good health isn’t as simple as the old adage an apple a day. Even the great-granddaughter of ''Granny Smith'' who passed away at the ripe age of 101 said the secret to her longevity was friends rather than fruit. So, put down your apple, grab this ale and connect with a mate.

Origin – Bryon Bay. New South Wales
ABV – 4.2%
Size – 375mL can
Style – Wheat Beer

It's a popular myth that if you hold a seashell to your ear, you can hear the sound of the ocean. Such is the popularity of Stone & Wood, that if you ask any craft beer lover from Brissy to Busselton, they'll tell you if you hold an S&W empty to your ear, you'll hear the sound waves crashing on the shores of the Pacific! And you won't have difficulty finding an empty bottle; each year the Bryon Bay brewery now sells over fifteen million of them.

It's been a fairy tale story for the three friends who'd done rather well for themselves in the world of big-league brewing before heading off to do it for themselves in one of the country's most beautiful spots. The three friends are Brad Rogers, Jamie Cook and Ross Jurisich, who worked together at Matilda Bay, CUB's craft beer arm, having come through the ranks at Foster's. Deciding to up sticks to Byron Bay and start their own brewery in 2008, as they stated on their website back then, their dream was to quit 'working for the man', 'shed the corporate garbage' and 'get back to basics.'

They kicked things off with two core beers, a lager and an ale, and as they say, the rest is history – the latter, now known as Pacific Ale, has gone on to be awarded more accolades over the years than any other brewery. And it's that back to basics concept that has been dialled up to eleven in this The Gatherer.

Despite watermelon, cucumber and mint not generally being ingredients you’d expect to find on the side of a beer can, they’ve gone ahead and done it, challenging all preconceived ideas of regular beer to deliver an uncomplicated brew that is light and refreshing. The zesty twist of fruit gives it a slight blush, and – in a step beyond just a slice of lime in the Corona – if you want to get real fancy you can enjoy it with a piece of citrus and a sprig of mint. Formerly a seasonal release pouring only at the Byron Bay brewery, by popular demand The Gatherer is now available across the country in tins that are just as fun and vibrant on the outside as they are on the inside.

 A heavenly nectar, it could be mistaken for being gathered from the Garden of Eden rather than the surf coast of Byron Bay!

STONE & WOOD BREWING