Cast your mind back to the recent state election night. While most people were either enthralled by, or desperately avoiding, the political coverage, friends, family and suppliers of Stone & Wood were treated to the festivities of Stone Day: a night of friends, food, and beer with a ceremonial fire.
With the weather still quite warm, the fire was not there simply for comfort or aesthetics, but as part of the brewing apparatus.
Buried beneath the hot coals were a dozen stones. The stones are a key tool in creating the local brewery’s winter varietal, Stone Beer. Once the stones are red hot they are added to the kettle filled with the mash of 11 different types of malt. The stones rapidly speed up the boil, heightening the malted tones and caramelising sugars to the surface of the stones. This process produces a rich, balanced finished product with earthy, fruit and nut flavours, leaving you with the lingering caramel bitterness that makes this beer perfect to complement the cooler weather.
Stone Beer was launched last Saturday at The Festival of The Stone in true Stone & Wood style. The doors to the brewery were cast open and the community was invited to celebrate and taste this special brew while raising money for the Northern Rivers Community Fund.
Stone Beer is now available in bottleshops and venues all over the country but it is a limited release, so be sure not to skip this Stone.
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