You may have seen, heard about or even drunk a few SMASH beers in the past. The acronym stands for Single Malt And Single Hop – something you don't see too often as brewers typically prefer to use a combination of different malts and hops.
Two Birds is set to release one in early September and it's both single malt and hop and single origin for both. The Single Origin Ale features pale ale malt of the Gairdner barley variety that was sourced from a single farmer in Moree, NSW, and the experimental hop variety HPA 035 grown on a one hectare paddock at Hop Products Australia's farm in Bushy Park, Tasmania.
The beer itself is described as "pale and hazy with a fluffy, white head and exhibits light peach and juicy fruit notes". According to the brewers: "It is crisp, clean and a true expression of the ingredients used."
To celebrate its release, Two Birds have invited all involved in the ingredients of the beer to tell their side of the story. John Campbell and C & W Jnr who grew and supplied the malt, will tell guests about their malt while brewers Jayne Lewis and Wilson Hede, on behalf of Hop Products Australia, will discuss the experimental HPA 035 hop variety and how it contributed to the Single Origin Ale.
Two Birds have also collaborated with Brasserie Breads, an artisan bakery in South Melbourne who supply the bread to the Two Birds in-house kitchen at the Nest. Brasserie Breads used flour sourced from the same farmer and spent grain from the brewing process of the beer to create a new bread and will be on hand to talk about the process.
Tastings of the Single Origin Ale and Brasserie Bread's Single Origin Bread will be available on the night. Food specials will also be running on the night.
