John Dumay, AKA Dad, loves this pilsner and he’s not alone: it won gold at the Australian International Beer Awards and bronze at the Sydney Royal Beer and Cider Show in 2022. The third beer they ever released, Dad & Dave’s Pils is a Bohemian beauty with its glowing gold hue and high-vis clarity. On the tongue, it delivers a lovely malt body with full carbonation and the unmistakable herbal spice of Czech Saaz hops. Sure, Brookvale in Sydney may be a long way from downtown Prague, but this classic pilsner is a crisp and elegant Euro delight.
By comparison, their Australian Lager is more fair dinkum than fancy but it sells the most at the taproom and took home silver at the Australian International Beer Awards in 2023. It’s mid-strength and low-carb but you’d hardly notice given its well-rounded body and serious quaffability.
It uses Pride Of Ringwood – the most Aussie of hops known to man (think Carlton Draught, Tooheys New, Coopers Original Pale) – which instantly reminds me of family picnics, going to watch the cricket and drinking with my own dad, which seems quite fitting given the brewery’s strong family vibes.
Jason Treuen
