Van Dieman Brewing managing director and brewer Will Tatchell puts his Strawberry Blonde Geronimo to the taste test. Picture: PHILLIP BIGGS
IF THE traditional ale does not do it for you, then how about a strawberry brew?
Van Dieman Brewing has made a Strawberry Blonde Geronimo especially for the Tamar Valley Beer Festival this weekend, to test the tastebuds of Tasmanian beer buffs.
Managing director and brewer Will Tatchell said the blend was basically a Belgian wheat beer flavoured with 200 kilograms of fresh Meander Valley strawberries.
"It is a lighter, very easy drinking style of beer perfect for this time of year," Mr Tatchell said.
"It is not a sweet-style beer, it is very much a thirst-quenching drink.
"We have only made 12 kegs ... and it is probably the only batch we will ever make. We may try a raspberry one next year."
The family owned and operated business has brewed white ale, pale ale, amber ale and stout for the past five years out of Tasmanian grown ingredients.
"We use all Tasmanian hops from Bushy Park and the hop flowers as opposed to a hop pellet, which we find gives it a slightly more authentic and greater character," Mr Tatchell said.
"As craft brewers we like to test the boundaries of what we perceive beer to be and these festivals provide that opportunity to patrons to really test their palate."
The Tamar Valley Beer Festival begins in William Street, Launceston, tonight , from 5pm, and is on tomorrow from noon.