One of the youngest microbreweries in Victoria, Sweetwater also boasts one of the best locations. Having moved from its original home on the site of the Annapurna Winery to its own venue on the main route through the Alps, it is surrounded by mountains, with the tables at the front enjoying views of Mount Bogong, home to some of Australia’s largest snowfields.
Opened by Peter Hull in early 2009, Sweetwater’s steadily growing beer list features Pale, Golden and Summer Ales, Weissbeer and IPA. All are brewed using fresh water straight off the mountains as it runs into the Kiewa River below. The river takes its name from the indigenous word for “sweetwater”, hence the inspiration for the brewery.
Peter and his beers are regulars at High Country festivals, offering skiers, hikers and mountain bikers welcome refreshment after a day on the slopes, while he’s been known to drop into the Federation Square Microbrewery Showcases to tempt drinkers up the Alpine Highway. It’s a trip worth making, not only to sample the beer and wine produced on site, but because Sweetwater also completes an Alpine quadruple of craft breweries with nearby Bridge Road, Bright and Black Dog.
Sweetwater Beers
The Regulars
The Specials
There are no specials
Regulars
Summer Ale
A refreshing beer made with light malts, it uses local Australian hop varieties that add a gently spicy, fruity flavour and a touch of bitterness. A quaffable quencher for hot weather.
Style: Blonde Ale
Strength: 4.5%
Pale Ale
An American style pale ale, although not as aggressive in terms of overt piney or citrusy characters as some. Instead the citrus flavours are fairly restrained, resulting in a crisp beer with balanced malt and hop characteristics.
Style: American Pale Ale
Strength: 5.0%
Porter
A Robust Porter with predominant coffee and chocolate characteristics from the dark and roasted malts used in the brew. A dark, warming beer designed for colder winter evenings.
Style: Robust Porter
Strength: 4.8%
Golden Bitter
An English ESB (Extra Special Bitter) style, which means a big malt backbone matched with a distinct earthy hop bitterness. Deep golden in colour and deceptively strong.
Style: ESB
Strength: 5.4%
Weissbier
A take on the German wheat beer style with a foamy white head, the aroma is big on foam bananas and clove-like spices. The fruitiness also comes through on the palate.
Style: Hefeweizen
Sweetwater IPA
The latest addition to the Sweetwater range is a rich, full-bodied take on the English IPA style. Packed with layers of toffee and biscuit malts and floral, earthy hops, it’s a welcome member of the brewery’s range.
Style: English IPA
