A tasty collaboration has been brewing between two Byron Bay institutions – Byron Farmers Market and Stone & Wood Brewery – and the result is finally here with the launch of Farmers Ale, a locally made beer using ingredients from the farmers’ market.
Created to celebrate local produce and the farmers behind it, the limited-edition seasonal brew is a berry and river mint wheat ale, made at Stone & Wood Brewery in the Byron Bay Arts & Industry Estate using berries from Byron Farmers Market.
Brewer Josh Waters said the idea for the collaborative ale came about when the brew team started looking into sourcing locally grown ingredients.
‘We wanted to make a beer that would showcase locally grown produce from the farmers’ market,’ Josh says. ‘After speaking with Tom (Byron Farmers Market manager) about what was in season, we settled on a mix of blueberries and blackberries that would pair well with an easy drinking wheat beer.
‘Using locally grown ingredients that are in season and full of flavour makes our jobs as brewers very rewarding and it’s a good chance to brew something out of the ordinary. It also gives the farmers a different view of what can be done with their produce.
‘The end result is a berry forward wheat beer that is a vibrant pink-purple ale with good earthy qualities from the blackberry additions, slight bitterness from the Aussie hops we used, and a light pale malt base which is well balanced and easy drinking.’
Market manager Tom Carey says the market and farmers jumped at the opportunity to be involved: ‘We were really excited to be part of this collaboration to promote locally grown produce from the market, and to be involved in the brewing process and tasting!
‘Stone & Wood is a brand that is synonymous with Byron and has always had strong local connections, so it was an ideal partnership. And we’d love the opportunity to do another collab in the future. In fact, Josh and I have already talked about what other produce might be used in different beer styles, so watch this space!
Farmers Ale is available exclusively on tap at Stone & Wood Brewery in the Byron Arts & Industry Estate for a limited time, so drop in for a true taste of Byron. A percentage of the profits from the release will be donated to local charities through Stone & Wood’s Ingrained Foundation program.
Byron Farmers Market is held every Thursday from 7am to 11am at Butler St Reserve and Bangalow Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 7am to 11am in Piccabeen Park.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
