Mountain Goat (CUB/Asahi)

No beer lover's visit to Melbourne is complete without an hour or three in the Mountain Goat Brewery enjoying a beer in the shadow of the tanks in which they are brewed. Now well into its third decade producing some of Australia's finest tipples, the operation launched by mates Cam and Dave is a true trailblazer of the craft beer revolution.

At a time when microbreweries had almost disappeared from the Australian landscape, they began a guerilla fightback against the mundanity of commercial beers. On a trip to North America, Cam was inspired by the local micro scene, sent home brewing pal Dave a postcard saying: "Let's open a brewery" and, on his return, they did. Dave's ever-expanding homebrew setup spilled into his backyard, they began holding Friday night BBQs, word got out and a Melbourne legend was born.

Today, Mountain Goat's spiritual home is found in a large warehouse in Richmond, although it's evolved a fair bit too, with Cam and Dave deciding to sell to Asahi in 2015 after building a business that had started sending its distinctive goat head taps across Australia and helped establish Melbourne as Australia's craft beer capital while collaborating with brewers here and abroad.

Were you to call into the Richmond brewery, now open to the public more than ever before, you'd be hard-pressed to tell anything has changed. Sure, Cam and Dave have moved on, but, aside from squeezing in ever more tanks and other gear, the focus remains on brewing cracking beers, while there's a few familiar faces still brewing the beers too.

The team there has the freedom to knock out big IPAs, barrel-aged beers and, well, pretty much whatever takes their fancy, as production of the bigger volume beers – the likes of Steam Ale, Fancy Pants and a lager introduced in 2019 – has been handled at Asahi's Laverton plant for years.

It's a freedom the brewers have been grabbing with both hands. In Goat's 18th year, they celebrated winning Champion Australian Beer at the 2015 Australian International Beer Awards for their biggest ever beer at that point, a Lark Barrel-Aged Barleywine, just a few months before announcing the sale. Since then, the trophies have kept on coming, for IPAs, their Pale Ale and, in 2018, the big one: Champion Large Australian Brewery.

They continue to support community events, with a particular focus on music, which was a passion for both the brewery's founders, have installed a still, opened a brewpub in the Sydney suburb of Newtown, and sit somewhat as a figurehead in a Melbourne scene that's a far cry from the day the first Hightail was released in 1997 and which wouldn't be where it is without Goat.

Name
Mountain Goat (CUB/Asahi)
Address

80 North Street Richmond
Victoria
3121

Phone
(03) 9428 1180
Open Hours

Wednesdays and Fridays from 5pm
Sunday: midday to 6pm

Tours

Free every Wednesday at 6.30pm and Sunday at 1.30pm.


This is a directory listing. To find out more, head here

The Specials

Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Hightail XXV
Mountain Goat Cold IPA
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Cherry Sour & NEIPA
Mountain Goat Hog's Head
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Citra & Strata Triple IPAs
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Botanical IPA
Mountain Goat XL Extra Lager
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Barrel-Aged Blended Porter
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Pineapple & Coconut Berliner Weisse & P.O.G. IPA
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Swamp Thang Dank DIPA
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Fox Chaser
Show 96 more

Mountain Goat (CUB/Asahi) Regulars

Mountain Goat IPA (2020 Onwards)

Published April 21, 2020
The saga of Mountain Goat's IPA is one of many chapters. Back in the distant past, when they were still fighting to have craft beer recognised as a thing even in Melbourne's inner north pubs, they brewed one – the Organic India Pale Ale. That disappeared when they streamlined to a core range of Steam and Hightail, but they opted for a new IPA to launch their Rare Breed series not long after, with the beer becoming the first of very many IPAs to appear under the Rare, Cross and In Breed banners. Since… Read more
Style
American IPA
ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
70 IBU

Mountain Goat Pale Ale

Published August 27, 2015
A few years back, Mountain Goat had a Pale Ale that formed part of a range that also featured the Organic India Pale Ale, Hightail and Surefoot. Now, after the original pale was abandoned when they streamlined to Steam Ale and Hightail, a new Pale has arisen. It's a much different beast from the original and is based upon the delicious North St Pale Ale that's been pouring over the brewery bar for the past year or so: a fruity as you like, well balanced and extremely drinkable American-inspired pale.… Read more
Style
American Pale Ale
ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
35 IBU

Mountain Goat Fancy Pants (Can)

Published April 2, 2014
Following the runaway success of their first can, Summer Ale, Mountain Goat is back for more. This time around, it's not a new beer but the return of an annual release that's been doing the rounds for a few years now. Fancy Pants is the amber ale that they've always said is the beer Hightail would be were there no need to balance the books. What that means is a richer burnt toffee malt body and a cranking up of the Galaxy hops to create a dark copper-coloured beer in which fruitiness ' and a touch… Read more
Style
Amber Ale
ABV
5.2%
Stockists

Nationwide throughout the cooler months

Organic Steam Ale

Introduced in 2009 as a replacement for their Pale Ale, this most accessible of Mountain Goat's beers became an overnight hit with drinkers won over by its subtle floral aroma and crisp, lightly hopped taste. A great session beer and gentle introduction to the world of craft beer for newcomers. Such has been the huge demand that production of Steam Ale is now outsourced to Asahi Premium Beverages in Laverton, freeing up the production schedule at the home brewery for more short run beers.… Read more
Style
Steam Beer
ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
20 IBU

Mountain Goat Summer Ale

They seriously weighed up whether to pop a beer into cans for a couple of years before taking the leap as summer 2013/14 approached. And they must be glad they did. Goat's first venture into aluminium is a Summer Ale based closely on the Skipping Girl beer they'd trialled over a couple of previous summers in draught only form. The idea was to create an easy-drinking summer session beer - and give their staff something to drink at Meredith Festival - which resulted in this pale yellow passionfruit… Read more
Style
Summer Ale
ABV
4.7%

Mountain Goat (CUB/Asahi) Specials

Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Hightail XXV

Published May 16, 2022
There was a time when the Mountain Goat team would mark milestone birthdays by brewing a larger, celebratory version of their first beer. Thus there was the Double Hightail at 7.2 percent ABV that first appeared when they turned ten then returned as they became beer teenagers (beernagers?). And when they hit 15, there was Triple Hightail, which nudged things a little further along to 8.3 percent ABV. At 20, they did things a little differently with the excellent Back To The Brewer Double Steam Ale,… Read more
Style
Barrel-Aged Dark Ale
ABV
10.2%
Bitterness
30 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

And more stockists indicated here

Mountain Goat Cold IPA

Published March 8, 2022
We've written a fair bit about the cold IPA "style" over the past nine months, even putting together a blind tasting panel to assess some of the earlier arrivals from local brewers. Different brewers have taken different approaches to creating them; for the Goat team, they kept things about as simple as they could, taking their core range IPA and fermenting it at a cooler temperature than usual in a similar manner to the way they produce their Steam Ale. Despite the seemingly minor changes… Read more
Style
Cold IPA
ABV
6.2%
Bitterness
40 IBU

Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Cherry Sour & NEIPA

Published December 13, 2021
It's a case of something old, something New as Mountain Goat close out 2021 with a pair of very different tinnies. In the old camp comes a beer that draws influences from the brewing traditions of Belgium and characteristics from oak originating in France. Cherry Sour Ale is their last Rare Breed release and sees the brewers age a beer with dark cherries from the Wandin Valley in ex-pinot barrels from the Adelaide Hills before topping up with more sour and dark cherries before packaging. Pouring… Read more
Style
Barrel-Aged Cherry Sour & NEIPA
ABV
6.0% & 6.2%

Mountain Goat Hog's Head

Published July 30, 2021
A hogshead is the name of a kind of large barrel, but when it comes to this Mountain Goat Rare Breed, the barrel is only part of the story. Sure, it's important this beer was aged in a rum barrel and the oak makes it tender and gentle even as the rum adds a spiritous sweetness and warmth. But the element that caught my attention first when seeing the can was the smoked cherries. I’ve had cherries fresh, baked in a pie, preserved in sugar, soaked in brandy… but never smoked. The dark cherries… Read more
Style
Barrel-aged Imperial Stout
ABV
11.5%
Bitterness
22 IBU

Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Citra & Strata Triple IPAs

Published May 3, 2021
There's little doubt Mountain Goat want to grab your attention with this twin Rare Breed release. They're both triple IPAs for a start, and even in this age of excess the characters on the cans are likely to stand out in a busy bottleshop fridge. But what of the character of the beers inside? First up, it's worth clarifying that, while both weigh in at 9.5 percent ABV, 60 IBUs of bitterness, and were dry-hopped at a rate of 17 grams per litre (not extreme by contemporary standards but high nevertheless),… Read more
Style
Triple IPAs
ABV
Both 9.5%
Bitterness
Both 60 IBUs

Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Botanical IPA

Published December 27, 2020
For their final Rare Breed release of 2020, Mountain Goat return to territory that's proven to be successful for them in past: that of IPA, and in this case with a twist. Now the brewery have a sideline in gin, they've cross-pollinated the two by adding some of the botanicals from their Hopped Gin – juniper, coriander, cubeb and yuzu – to their Botanical IPA. And, while it might look much like past award-winning IPAs from the Richmond team – clear and golden – it's rather different in character.… Read more
Style
IPA with Botanicals
ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
44 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat's beer finder

Mountain Goat XL Extra Lager

Published November 15, 2020
The Mountain Goat story started out as two mates looking to shake things up in Melbourne's beer scene by giving drinkers something very different to the lagers that had commanded the 20th century. They certainly achieved their goal, with founders Cam and Dave claiming Champion Australian Beer at the AIBAs in 2015 for a barrel-aged barleywine before selling the business to Asahi. Since then, they've picked up more trophies for IPAs although, somewhat ironically, the beer that's performing heroics… Read more
Style
Hoppy Lager
ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
25 IBU
Stockists

More info here

Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Barrel-Aged Blended Porter

Published July 24, 2020
Combining rum with dark beers has become something of a habit at Mountain Goat over the years, and winter 2020 is no different as another Rare Breed leaves the brewery in the shape of this Barrel-Aged Blended Porter. Now they've got a distillery to play with on site, it might not be too long before they're able to mix and match beers and spirits in house, but this time around the beer has been put together in conjunction with Beenleigh Distillery, the oldest registered distillery in Australia –… Read more
Style
Rum Barrel-Aged Porter
ABV
9.0%
Bitterness
34 IBU
Stockists

For more on the beer head here

Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Pineapple & Coconut Berliner Weisse & P.O.G. IPA

Published April 3, 2020
A warm breeze ripples through the palm fronds overhead, causing the lanterns to rock gently back and forth. From one side comes the sound of waves breaking on the sands; from the other, Manu Chao is singing of his Bongo Bong. From the glass in front of you rise distinctive tropical fruit and coconut aromas. Yes, it's time to imagine you're whiling away a night at a Thai beachside bar. Because, let's face it, imagining such a scene is the closest you're going to get for some time yet (unless you're… Read more
Style
Fruited Berliner Weisse & Fruit IPA
ABV
6.5% & 7.0%
Bitterness
70 IBU & 5 IBU
Stockists

Both available nationwide

Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Swamp Thang Dank DIPA

Published December 13, 2019
Mountain Goat return to the world of movies – B Movies, in this case – for inspiration for another Rare Breed release. In fact, they've plundered two films, Swamp Thing for the title and The Creature From The Black Lagoon for the imagery on what they're tagging a "Dank DIPA". To achieve this double D goal, they've loaded the beer with much-hyped new US hop Strata, alongside a trio of other classic Americans and locally-grown Cascade. The tasting notes promise "strong dank, piney… Read more
Style
Double IPA
ABV
8.7%
Bitterness
80 IBU
Stockists

Available nationwide from December 16

Find stockists here

Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Fox Chaser

Published October 14, 2019
There was a time when it seemed almost every Rare Breed release from Mountain Goat was an IPA of some sort: big, citrusy, even bigger, citrusy of a different kind. You couldn't fault the logic: fans enjoyed them and they helped the brewers on their still-going run of picking up at least one Australian International Beer Awards trophy every year since 2015. But there's been a change of tack in recent months, with their spiced, old school Garage Project collab followed by another spiced, old school… Read more
Style
Spiced Farmhouse Red Ale
ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
30 IBU
Stockists

Chase one down with the Mountain Goat beer finder

Mountain Goat & Garage Project Horn Please

Published May 11, 2019
Mountain Goat and Garage Project share common traits when you look at the impact they've had on their respective beer scenes. The former drove the rise of craft beer more than anyone else in Melbourne and, while the brewery is now part of a global operation, they've kept tradition alive and continue to produce eye-catching (and frequently trophy-winning) beers at their Richmond HQ. Garage Project might not have been the first microbrewery to open in the Wellington region but few would argue against… Read more
Style
Spiced Imperial Milk Stout
ABV
8.7%
Bitterness
22 IBU
Stockists

Launching here on May 12

Then going nationwide

Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Hello Humanoid Double IPA

Published March 8, 2019
Given their success in picking up AIBA trophies for IPAs, it's around this time of year we've come to expect to see such beers make their way from Goat's Richmond HQ (although, given their brewers' love of IPAs, you can expect a dose of hoppy goodness coming out of North Street pretty much any time of year). This time around they've returned to double IPA territory, albeit at the lower end of the ABV scale for such beers. In many ways, however, this is a beer that, as the title and artwork suggest,… Read more
Style
Double IPA
ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
70 IBU
Stockists

Available nationwide from March 2019 until stocks run out.

Mountain Goat Barrel Breed: Christmas Ale 2018

Published November 29, 2018
Of all their Barrel Breed releases, the Christmas Ale is the one with which the Goat brewers give themselves the most room for manoeuvre. Sure, they'll tweak the recipe and the barrels-of-choice for their annual Barleywine and Imperial Stout offerings, but given "Christmas Ale" isn't a style as such, they've flitted from Belgian quad through delicate strong golden ale to the 2018 festive fare, which is their first wheatwine; in other words a big beast of a beer built upon a grain bill featuring… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged Wheatwine
ABV
11.1%
Bitterness
34 IBU
Stockists

Available from the brewery and nationwide

Mountain Goat North Street Gose

Published November 26, 2018
The North Street sub-brand at Mountain Goat started out as the name for a delightful pale ale initially only available at the brewery that evolved into the lower ABV beer now widely available as, simply, Pale Ale. In its wake has come a series of beers that start out on tap at the Richmond HQ and, in some cases, like the IPA and now this Gose, graduate to a wider bottled release. While the name gives little away, there’s more than a straightforward soured and salted wheat beer here. The brewers… Read more
Style
Spiced Gose
ABV
4.0%
Bitterness
8 IBU
Stockists

Find North Street Gose here

Mountain Goat Legend Of The Goat Double IPA

Published October 2, 2018
Benjamin Franklin once stated: "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Had he lived a couple of hundred years later, he may well have added: "And that Mountain Goat will celebrate milestones with an IPA." And why not when the brewers make them so well, a skill to which a couple of champion IPA trophies can attest. As for the latest milestone, it's now 21 years since the first Hightail was poured. Back then, Melbourne’s beer scene was a different… Read more
Style
Double IPA
ABV
7.6%
Bitterness
63 IBU
Stockists

Join the Goats for a 21st birthday party at the brewery – details here

Mountain Goat Barrel Breed Imperial Stout 2018

Published July 20, 2018
The wintry leg of Mountain Goat's Barrel Breed trilogy is back for 2018. As with this year's Barley Wine, the beer was aged in a number of ex Tennessee whiskey barrels before the contents of the best nine were blended to create the 9.3 percent ABV beer. As you'd expect with such a beer, there's a lengthy roll call of malts in the mix but, rather more intriguingly, there's also the appearance of a hop variety we've not seen in a local beer before (at least not knowingly). It goes by the snappy title… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
ABV
9.3%
Bitterness
55 IBU
Stockists

Stockists TBC

Mountain Goat In Breed: Westy Kong

Published July 2, 2018
Given his role at Mountain Goat involves being both brewer and barrel man, you'd think Craig "Westy" Westwood might have opted for something barrel aged for his latest entry in the brewery's In Breed series (so called as they're created by people that work there). But, aside from the barrels that appear on the Donkey Kong† aping labels, they are nowhere to be seen. Instead, he's returned to the realm of brown ales, as he did for his first In Breed four years ago. Here, however, he has… Read more
Style
Hazelnut Brown Ale
ABV
6.4%
Bitterness
35 IBU
Stockists

Tapped at the brewery June 29

Nationwide from July 6

Mountain Goat Barrel Breed Barley Wine 2018

Published June 10, 2018
It was the first Barrel Breed Barley Wine that kicked off Mountain Goat's rampant run at the Australian International Beer Awards, with that Champion Australian Beer trophy in 2015 followed by two Best IPA trophies, one for Best Pale Ale and, in May 2018, Champion Large Australian Brewery. It's been followed by some other top notch Barrel Breed releases too, with a couple of the Imperial Stouts and a delicate strong Belgian golden ale released at Christmas 2016 among the highlights. With subsequent… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged Barley Wine
ABV
11.1%
Bitterness
60 IBU
Stockists

And other good beer stockists in ACT, VIC, TAS, NSW & QLD

Mountain Goat North Street IPA

Published June 8, 2018
Mountain Goat's history with IPA is long, colourful and laden with silverware. Go back a decade and they had an Organic India Pale Ale as part of a core range of four before a reshuffle saw it ditched when they streamlined to Steam and Hightail. Then came the Rare Breed IPA, the first in the brewery's ongoing limited release series and an instant hit. Since then, there have been IPAs of all shades and sizes, one that was added to their core range and was delicious on tap but less so in pasteurised… Read more
Style
IPA
ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
60 IBU

Mountain Goat Rare Breed Lime Crisis

Published January 25, 2018
In recent years, Mountain Goat has tended to kick off the new year with a big, hoppy IPA and 2018 is no different. Indeed, Lime Crisis – a beer that shifts their pop culture naming pattern of recent times from the movies to gaming – is a double IPA measuring a hefty 8.2 percent ABV. Why Lime Crisis? Joining the American and Kiwi hops is a dose of crushed Persian Black Limes (not to mention a sprinkling of Himalayan rock salt). Given the choice of hops, there's little surprise you pick up lime… Read more
Style
Double IPA with lime
ABV
8.2%
Bitterness
60 IBU
Stockists

Find other stockists here

Mountain Goat Barrel Breed: Christmas Ale 2017

Published December 21, 2017
Of Mountain Goat's Barrel Breed lineup, it's been their Christmas release they play around with the most. The first was what you might call a traditional Christmas beer: a big, dark, fruity Belgian number. Last year, it was a refined Belgian strong golden ale and, this time around, they've left Europe entirely and released a barrel aged triple IPA that could as easily be tagged an American barley wine. The base beer was the same recipe as the brewery's Trip Trap Triple IPA then aged for three months… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged IIPA
ABV
10.4%
Bitterness
90 IBU
Stockists

Find it here

Mountain Goat Back To The Brewer Double Steam Ale

Published October 18, 2017
When Mountain Goat turned ten, they brewed the Double Hightail – a version of their original beer with twice the proportion of hops and malt and a hefty extra dose of booze too. For their 15th, they rolled out a Triple Hightail. So, when the brewery turned 20 this month, they brewed a Quadruple Hightail. Except they didn't. Instead, they gathered the four head brewers from the two decades – co-founder Dave Bonighton, Jayne Lewis (now Two Birds Brewing), Dave Edney (now Hop Products Australia)… Read more
Style
Double Steam Ale
ABV
7.3%
Stockists

Available widely across Australia

Mountain Goat Barrel Breed Imperial Stout 2017

Published July 27, 2017
Perhaps understandably, what is now Mountain Goat's annual barrel aged imperial stout release has lived in the shadow of its predecessor. The first beer to come out of the Barrel Breed program was the Barley Wine that took out Champion Australian Beer at the 2015 Australian International Beer Awards – the most prestigious gong a beer can win in Australia. But this could be the year the winter release steps out of the shadow as, while this year's Barley Wine is a beer that should improve as it mellows… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
ABV
12.5%
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

And select beer venues across Australia

Mountain Goat In-Breed Silence of the Rees

Published June 20, 2017
The Mountain Goat In-Breed series started out as a spin-off from its Rare Breeds, the tag given to longneck one-off releases kickstarted with an IPA way back when they ditched the old core range for just Hightail and Steam Ale; so way back, in fact, it predates little ol' Crafty. In-Breeds joined Cross Breeds – collaborations with others – and was used to denote beers brewed by individual members of the Goat team, be they brewers or other members of the staff. This one, Silence of the Rees, comes… Read more
Style
Coconut Vanilla Porter
ABV
6.3%
Bitterness
25 IBU
Stockists

Goat Bar, Richmond

And other stockists in SA, VIC, NSW & TAS

Mountain Goat Rare Breed Attack of the Killer Hops

Published April 6, 2017
According to the release notes, Mountain Goat hasn't held back on the hops with its latest Rare Breed: the brewery's IPA variant 4,279 by our count. Not only have they added a new variety they've not played with before (Calypso), but they've added them in such volume that they're claiming a round 100 IBU [International Bitterness Units], which is supposedly around the limit of most human's ability to detect bitterness. What's more, the name – Attack of the Killer Hops – suggests it's going to… Read more
Style
IPA
ABV
7.7%
Bitterness
100 IBU
Stockists

At good beer outlets nationwide

Mountain Goat Barrel Breed Barley Wine 2017

Published April 1, 2017
Two years ago, Mountain Goat got its barrel program off to a flier when the first beer to emerge from the Barrel Breed program was named Champion Australian Beer at the Australian International Beer Awards. Understandably, they've continued to brew the beer once a year since, ready to be released in spring. For the first two releases, the beer was aged in Lark Distillery barrels from Tasmania; this time, they've sourced them from closer to home: Melbourne's Starward. With Starward's whiskies typically… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged Barley Wine
ABV
12.0%
Bitterness
65 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

There will also be kegs going to QLD (1), SA (1), TAS (1), WA (1) & NSW (2)

And select outlets in those states will receive bottles too

More stockists...

Mountain Goat Barrel Breed Plum Sour

Published March 27, 2017
For the most part, when a new limited release beer leaves Mountain Goat it tends to be something with hops at its heart or a big and boozy beast that's spent time in barrels. But, for the brewery's first barrel release of 2017, there's barely a hop cone to be seen while the alcohol content remains below 3 percent. It is a beer that's been a long time in the making, however. The base beer – a kettle sour – was brewed back in January 2016 and put into Lark Distillery barrels that had helped create… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged Plum Sour
ABV
2.9%
Bitterness
8 IBU

Mountain Goat Trip Trap Triple IPA

Published March 17, 2017
Mountain Goat have made heaps of IPAs over the years in pretty much every way imaginable. But we're not sure they've ever brewed one as big as this. Trip Trap is a beer that layers it on thick: 100 IBU [in other words, heaps] of American hops and 10 percent of booze. Described as "delightfully bitter" by the people responsible for it, we're told it pours a "deep golden with a slight red tint" and possesses an "intense hop aroma of citrus, tropical fruit and pine". It's… Read more
Style
Imperial IPA
ABV
10.0%
Bitterness
100 IBU
Stockists

Goat Bar, Richmond

And select beer venues in VIC, NSW & QLD

Mountain Goat Hashtag IPA

Published February 17, 2017
Proving there is apparently no limit to the number of different ways in which they can create an IPA, the brewers at Mountain Goat have come up with something new. They joined forces with hop supplier Hopco to get their hands on a new form of hops from the States. Known as hop hash as it's created by a similar method to the other hash (no, not the one you might occasionally have for breakfast. Well, some of you might do, but, um, the one that gets you high). Once hop flowers have been pelletised,… Read more
Style
Hop Hash IPA
ABV
6.8%
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

Plus select venues in Hobart, Noosa, SA, WA and VIC

Mountain Goat Rare Breed Pulped Fiction

Published December 16, 2016
Few would have predicted that, in the first year after Asahi took ownership of Mountain Goat, its Richmond brewery would knock out more Rare Breeds, Barrel Breeds and other draught only releases than in any previous year. But, with most of the brewery's beer brewed off site at Asahi's main Victorian brewery, the freedom has been there for the brewers to do so – and it's freedom that's been granted and then taken full advantage of. For the most part, the Rare Breeds have put hops front and centre… Read more
Style
Blood Orange Double IPA
ABV
7.8%
Awards

Best IPA – AIBA 2017

Stockists

Launched at Mountain Goat Brewery on December 16 then nationwide

Mountain Goat Barrel Breed Christmas Ale 2016

Published December 9, 2016
We got a little confused. With Mountain Goat ending the year in which they claimed Champion IPA for The Zymurgist with not one but two limited "Breed" releases, we thought this Christmas Ale was being launched this week. Turns out it's actually Pulped Fiction that's out this week. So apologies if you read this, think: "I must have that in ma belly!" only to find some of the very limited number of kegs sent around the country have already been drained. Thankfully, there's always… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged Belgian Golden Ale
ABV
9.6%
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

Other stockists to follow...

Mountain Goat The Alphonse India Amber Ale

Published September 6, 2016
A few years back, Mountain Goat tapped a new beer at their brewery bar called Fancy Pants. It was intended to be what their iconic Hightail might be were there not financial realities to take into account, and it's fair to say that this hoppier, maltier version – then supposedly just a one-off release – was lapped up by The Crafty Pint and mates. Fancy Pants has since graduated to be one of the brewery's canned releases. At the same time, it's not a beer that retains such a "Wow!" factor… Read more
Style
India Amber Ale
ABV
7.0%
Bitterness
70 IBU
Stockists

Available nationwide on tap and in bottles

Mountain Goat Barrel Breed Barley Wine 2016

Published May 9, 2016
One assumes this will be one of the most eagerly sought after beers of the year. Last year, Mountain Goat secured a number of Lark Distillery whisky barrels and the first beer that spent time in them was an English style barley wine. What came out to be blended at the other end of the incubation period was by far the booziest beer the Richmond brewery had ever released and also, according to the judges at last year's Australian International Beer Awards, the best Australian beer of the year. So,… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged Barley Wine
ABV
11.3%
Bitterness
45 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

Then select good beer venues across Australia

Mountain Goat The Zymurgist IPA

Published April 20, 2016
There may have been changes at Mountain Goat in the six months since Asahi moved in, but one thing that hasn't changed is their love of brewing hearty American IPAs. It's something they've done with panache since the very first Rare Breed release many moons ago, since when there have been black, red, coffee, more black, Japanese, double, black again and no doubt other IPA variants we've forgotten. And now, hot on the heels of the Japanese Cowboy, comes The Zymurgist. A glance at the ingredient list… Read more
Style
IPA
ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
75 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

Good beer stores

Mountain Goat Rare Breed Japanese Cowboy

Published January 27, 2016
Not long after completing their sale to Asahi, Mountain Goat decided to pay tribute to their new owners in beer form. They created the Japanese Cowboy, the sort of American style IPA they love given a twist in the shape of the use of quirky Japanese hop Sorachi Ace. The draught release was well received so they've brewed more of it, popped it into bottles and are making it their latest Rare Breed release – complete with tasting notes almost entirely presented in Japanese. The Japanese hops are… Read more
Style
American IPA
ABV
7.0%
Bitterness
60 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

In specialist bottleshops from mid Jan

In Dan Murphy's from February

More stockists...

Mountain Goat In Breed: Alana Banana

Published December 29, 2015
The one-off "In Breed" series of releases continues at Mountain Goat, with brewer Alana Rees the latest to create a beer for the brewery. If you've not met her, then we can assure you that the decal image accompanying the keg-only release is a remarkably good reimagining of her as a German banana (admittedly, we've never seen her in lederhosen). We're not sure whether she chose the German hefeweizen style for her brew because it allowed for the rhyming title Alana Banana or because she… Read more
Style
Hefeweizen
ABV
5.4%
Bitterness
20 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

Select beer venues on tap

Mountain Goat Barrel Breed: Christmas Ale 2015

Published December 17, 2015
Given this write up is being compiled in Westvleteren shortly before departing for a tour of Sint Bernadus and a catch up with Rodenbach's Rudi Ghequire at his son's brewery in Ieper, there can be little cause for complaint. Yet being in the Northern Hemisphere does mean that the third Mountain Goat Barrel Breed release is tantalisingly out of reach. With the first two being the reigning Champion Australian Beer Barley Wine and the second a luscious Imperial Stout, this is a significance loss (to… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged Belgian Quad
ABV
10.0%
Bitterness
40 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

Limited stock at specialist venues

Mountain Goat In Breed: The Naz

Published October 2, 2015
It's been a big week at Mountain Goat, monumental some might say, with the ripples sure to be felt for a while longer. But whatever the takeover by Asahi ultimately means, when it comes down to it, Mountain Goat has been in the business of making beer for 18 years and will continue to be in the business of making beer. One of those making beer there for longer than most is Naz, or Shane Edwards to his mum and dad, who joined as a pizza maker and barman before leaping across the floor to the brewery… Read more
Style
Scotch Ale
ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
30 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery (launched by The Naz Oct 2)

Then keg and bottle at good beer stockists nationwide

Mountain Goat Barrel Breed Imperial Stout

Published July 29, 2015
Shortly after Mountain Goat's first Barrel Breed release was named Champion Australian Beer at the Australian International Beer Awards, someone at the brewery told us they reckoned the beer that had followed the barley wine into the Lark Distillery whisky barrels for a couple of months – an imperial stout – had turned out better still. It's a view since shared by a second person associated with Goat, so it's fair to say expectations were high for this 12.1 percent beast; better than the best?… Read more
Style
Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
ABV
12.1%
Bitterness
55 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

Prince Wine Essendon

Nillumbik Cellars

Rathdowne Cellars

We'll add others if we're informed of more

More stockists...

Mountain Goat & Seven Seeds Seedy Goat Coffee Porter

Published July 17, 2015
When you brew good beer, you're unlikely to be short of friends. So it follows that if you've been brewing good beer for 18 years, you should be pretty darn popular. Certainly, Mountain Goat – which turns 18 in just a few weeks – has never struggled to find people with whom to collaborate, from musicians such as Henry Wagons and international brewers like Brooklyn and Mikkeller to their mates at Seven Seeds. Co-owner Dave Bonighton goes waaaay back with the coffee roaster's co-owner Mark Dundon,… Read more
Style
Coffee Porter
ABV
6.2%
Bitterness
30 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

Dan Murphy's

Seven Seeds

Others TBC

More stockists...

Mountain Goat Barrel Breed Barley Wine

Published June 10, 2015
From a business sense, as Goat co-owner Dave Bonighton pointed out to us recently, if you're going to win the top gong at the Australian International Beer Awards – that of Champion Australian Beer – you don't necessarily want it to be for a beer of which you have bugger all and would be hard pressed to recreate. On the other hand, as you approach your 18th birthday as the oldest microbrewery in your hometown, it doesn't hurt to take out such a title with a beer that shows the young pups you… Read more
Style
Barrel Aged Barley Wine
ABV
12.9%
Bitterness
45 IBU
Stockists

Limited stock at the brewery (maybe)

One keg to Royal Albert Hotel for August Goat event

Plus bottles (sometimes singular) at:

Thiroull Village Cellars

Bellevue Platinum Cellars

Kemeny's, Bondi

Steve's Cool Booze

Bondi Cellars

More stockists...

Mountain Goat Surefoot Stout (Cans)

Published May 20, 2015
When Mountain Goat launched in 1997, their first beer – Hightail – was pretty radical for its days: a hoppy, malty amber ale. But there was discussion at the time that they should go a step further and kick things off with this beer instead, the Surefoot Stout, to really set the cat among the pigeons. Today, it's one of only two beers that survived the brewery's change in direction a few years ago that saw the Pale and Organic IPA discontinued and Steam Ale arrive. And it's one that has been… Read more
Style
Stout
ABV
5.0%
Stockists

Available widely nationwide

Mountain Goat Imperial Pilsner AKA Storm Trooper

Published May 12, 2015
Somehow, given their growing popularity across the land, Mountain Goat recently found themselves with time to leave a couple of tanks full of beer for a few weeks. Thus they filled both with an imperial pilsner. The plan, after some experiments on a small scale with a friend from the world of gin, was to see how an imperial gin pilsner might pan out. Sadly, the juniper berries didn't like the beer; happily, only one tank was used for the experiment so, while there were tears (gin is called Mother's… Read more
Style
Imperial Pilsner
ABV
7.6%
Stockists

Cambrian Hotel, Bendigo

Mr Beebe's Bendigo

Mountain Goat Brewery

Others TBC

More stockists...

Mountain Goat Westy's Brown Twins Tribute Ale

Published December 22, 2014
Of all the things to draw inspiration for a beer from, the passing of a famous, short, identical twin from San Francisco must be among the least likely. But when Goat brewer Craig Westwood (Westy) was invited to come up with a beer of his own (an In Breed as they like to call them), it was to such a moment that he turned. The full story is thus: Marian (January 25, 1927 – November 20, 2014) and Vivian Brown (January 25, 1927 – January 9, 2013) were American identical twins and celebrity icons… Read more
Style
American Brown Ale
ABV
5.3%
Bitterness
25IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

Public Bar, North Melbourne

Cambrian Hotel, Bendigo

Grovedale Hotel

More stockists...

Mountain Goat North St Pale Ale

Published November 19, 2014
For its latest limited release beer, Mountain Goat tells us the inspiration comes from the Trappist monks of Belgium. "So, a big, rich, fruity, spicy ale then, right?" you may ask. Well, no. The inspiration comes not from the beers they brew but from the fact they brew beers for themselves. So the North St Pale is a tribute to their Richmond home, which is on the corner of North and Clark Streets (so maybe there's a Clark Dark to come). It's also a beer that pays tribute to their beloved… Read more
Style
American Pale Ale
ABV
5.7%
Bitterness
35 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

Mountain Goat Yuzu Saison

Published October 21, 2014
As became apparent again when introducing head brewer Dave Edney and Goat's IPA at the Australian Hotel Meet the Brewer sessions, the Richmond brewery has made a tonne of IPAs. But it's also occurred to us that they've now managed to sneak a fair few saisons out without anyone necessarily associating them with the style like, say, Bridge Road or La Sirene. There have been various "straight" saisons using different yeast strains, others made with various herbs and spices and, best of all,… Read more
Style
Fruit Saison
ABV
6.4%
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Catfish

The Alehouse Project

The Mallow, Ballarat

Odyssey Tavern, Torquay

The Local Taphouse St Kilda

Carwyn Cellars

More stockists...

Mountain Goat The Delmont

Published September 19, 2014
The Crafty Pint may never have eventuated were it not for a cold, dark Melbourne winter's evening when a couple of Brits, recently arrived in Australia, climbed into an old Mercedes outside The Greyhound in St Kilda. It was being driven by a woman who'd told one of them "my boyfriend works for a microbrewery" and had thus opened up the promise of finding good beer Down Under. Said boyfriend (now husband) was Tom Delmont, the larger-than-life On-Road Goat, and walking into the Goat brewery… Read more
Style
West Coast IPA
ABV
7.0%
Bitterness
70 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat

The Alehouse Project

Gertrude Hotel

Young & Jackson

The Fitzroy Pinnacle

And many other quality beer retailers nationwide

More stockists...

Mountain Goat Smoke 'n' Mike

Published July 28, 2014
Just the other day, we wrote that you don't often see a lager from Mountain Goat. So they go and release their second in a fortnight... It's also the second In Breed in a fortnight too (where one of the in-house brewers gets to create a beer of their own), this time a beer based on the pale German Helles style of lager but with a smoky kick that's been created by, you've guessed it, Mike. The follow up to his first beer, Mike's Third Nut, is a light copper-coloured beer that uses a touch of classic… Read more
Style
Smoky Lager
ABV
6.1%
Bitterness
30 IBU

Mountain Goat In Breed The Bogan

Published July 15, 2014
Mountain Goat's In Breed series of beers is the one that allows its brewers to concoct their own brew (Rare Breeds come from on high, Cross Breeds involve other brewers or outside forces). Thus far it has seen the likes of the Craig series, the Naz and Mike's Third Nut leave the brewery and now it's the turn of The Bogan. The beer has been devised by the brewery's resident Bogan, John Bogan, a chap who began doing as much volunteering as he could to get a foot in the door before being welcomed into… Read more
Style
Dark Lager
ABV
5.3%
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Bendigo On The Hop (only keg going to regional Vic)

The Wheaty

Rockwell and Sons

The Alehouse Project

More TBC

More stockists...

Mountain Goat Surefoot Stout 2014

Published May 29, 2014
An Aussie classic - the beer Mountain Goat considered launching with back in the 17th century before plumping for the Hightail instead - is back for its annual jaunt around the bars and into the appreciative gullets of Australia. Surefoot Stout is a former trophy-winner that's barely changed since day one, because it didn't have to: a balanced stout that's perhaps slightly closer to the sweeter than roastier end of the scale and that is among the most quaffable of the dark beers that roll out of… Read more
Style
Stout
ABV
4.9%
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Some Velvet Morning

The Park Hotel

Markov

Young & Jackson

Wesley Anne

Sporting Club

Edinburgh Castle

More stockists...

Mountain Goat India Red Ale

Published January 31, 2014
Time for the first Rare Breed of 2014... Fresh from seeing six beers hit the Hottest 100, with their first can, Summer Ale, hitting the top 10, Mountain Goat has brought back a beer first trialled in kegs last year. This time around, they've given the India Red Ale a boost and a tweak and popped it into suitably bright red Rare Breed bottles too. The ABV has been nudged up to 6.6 per cent and they've done something of a tour of the world for the ingredients, with three different US hops (Athanum,… Read more
Style
India Red Ale
ABV
6.6%
Bitterness
60 IBU

Mountain Goat India Red Ale

Published January 31, 2014
Time for the first Rare Breed of 2014... Fresh from seeing six beers hit the Hottest 100, with their first can, Summer Ale, hitting the top 10, Mountain Goat has brought back a beer first trialled in kegs last year. This time around, they've given the India Red Ale a boost and a tweak and popped it into suitably bright red Rare Breed bottles too. The ABV has been nudged up to 6.6 per cent and they've done something of a tour of the world for the ingredients, with three different US hops (Athanum,… Read more
Style
India Red Ale
ABV
6.6%
Bitterness
60 IBU

Mountain Goat RIPA 2013

Published October 25, 2013
There was a moment during the Blind Tasting sessions we were running at last weekend's Australian Hotel Beer Festival where we wondered if we'd ever finish. It wasn't due to the questions from the audience or any long-winded spiel from our guest brewers, but came when Mike from Goat was talking about the Goat IPA that had just won its round. We were trying to recall all the IPA variants the brewery had made, a list that went something like: IPA, Double IPA, Imperial IPA, Seedy Goat, Thorny Goat,… Read more
Style
Rye IPA
ABV
6.1%
Bitterness
55 IBU

Mountain Goat IRA (India Red Ale)

Published August 26, 2013
About time too! Having embarked on a run of IPA variants over the past couple of years - India Pale Ale, Double IPA, Coffee IPA, Thorny Goat, Gypsy & The Goat, Before The Dawn, Rye IPA (RIPA), Hip Hop Hooray IPA - the brewers at Mountain Goat had been busying themselves with other styles. But this week, like a subcontinental version of Sesame Street, their beer is once again brought to you by the word "India". And the word "hops" too. This India Red Ale features four US varieties… Read more
Style
India Red Ale
ABV
6.4%
Bitterness
60 IBU
Stockists

The Fitzroy Pinnacle

The Alehouse Project

Rockwell & Sons

The Terminus

Mountain Goat

[The Park Hotel](/beer/bar/th

More stockists...

Mountain Goat Naz #2

Published July 26, 2013
Over the past couple of years, Goat has invited its brewers to create beers of their own each year. We've had a couple of iterations of The Craig, more recently Mike's 3rd Nut and now the second appearance of The Naz. According to head brewer Dave Bonighton: "This one's from Naz, short for Nazareth, long for Shane, Goat brewer extraordinaire. We let him off the leash last year and he came up with a cracking Chocolate Porter. Well, he's back this year with an even crackinger Mocha Porter."… Read more
Style
Mocha Porter
ABV
5.1%
Bitterness
25 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Others TBC

The Village Goat

Published June 28, 2013
There's been a fair bit of change and plenty more to come at the Village Melbourne. The former Belgian Beer Cafe Bluestone retains its selection of Belgian beers among its taps and shelf space but, in the past year, has embraced the wider world of beer wholeheartedly. There have been themed craft beer events, a Good Beer Week event that pitted Belgian classics against modern interpretations and looking ahead grand plans for the continuing reinvention of the venue. And now they have their own beer.… Read more
Style
Australian Brown Ale
Stockists

Village Melbourne (listing on Crafty coming soon)

Mountain Goat / Brooklyn Brewery Hopfweizenbock

Published June 26, 2013
The opening event at this year's Good Beer Week saw the concept from 2012's Masterclass of Champions - punters invited into a brewery for a live international collaboration brew followed by a brewery floor feast - switched from the Yarra Valley to Richmond. At Mountain Goat, 15 guests got to take part in the brew, while another 75 rocked up for a beer degustation lunch. The international guests this time were from NYC's awesome Brooklyn Brewery, with two brewers flying in for the day and bringing… Read more
Style
Hoppy Weizenbock
ABV
6.5%
Stockists

Mountain Goat

We haven't seen a list yet, but they brewed LOADS of it so expect it to pop up at any good bar or bottleshop near you soon.

Mountain Goat / Henry Wagons PB & J

Published June 11, 2013
When The Crafty Pint asked Henry Wagons about the inspiration for creating a peanut butter and jelly beer, he told us it was part of his current love affair with food that is "conceptually sick, but goes down easily. We are talking American obscene classics such as the bacon maple donut, the Korean burrito or bacon and egg waffle cone." Thus it was that on the brew day for his beer that was first tapped at the Yarra Pub during Good Beer Week, the Goat brew crew watched as, for the first… Read more
Style
Nut and Lolly Ale
ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
24 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat

The Fitzroy Pinnacle

Yarra Pub, Abbotsford

Some Velvet Morning

Steyne, Manly

Others TBC

More stockists...

Mountain Goat / Mick Thomas Eastern Brown

Published June 10, 2013
As a home brewer of many years and, more recently, one of the publicans involved in the Yarra Hotel in Abbotsford, Mick Thomas of Weddings, Parties, Anything was the perfect fit for this year's Good Beer Week Rockstar Brews. And, when hooking up with Goat, he had plenty of ideas about the beer he was after. A fan of darker brews, he opted for an English style Brown Ale, with the result being the Eastern Brown. For the most part, it's a sensible beer, at least when compared to the Wagons' PB&J:… Read more
Style
Spiced English Brown Ale
ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
20 IBU
Stockists

Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford

Brother Burger, Fitzroy

Wayside Inn, South Melbourne

Others TBC

More stockists...

Mountain Goat FX Stout

Published May 10, 2013
It's usually around this time of the year that Mountain Goat rolls out its big guns, sorry, Bigfoot. But this year, there's a different kind of stout in town, namely the FX. Short for Foreign Extra, it's a beer that weighs in roughly midway between where their Surefoot and Bigfoot normally register on the ABV scale, measuring 6.7 per cent. It's smooth, rich, deeply dark and dangerously drinkable if you're into roasty, chocolatey affairs. Traditional in its design and gently warming too, it should… Read more
Style
Foreign Extra Stout
ABV
6.7%

Mountain Goat The Craig 2013

Published April 5, 2013
It's time for the return of The Craig, with Goat brewer Craig back for his third annual release. First time around, he brewed an American Pale Ale before opting for a nitrogenated English style Red Ale second time around in 2012. Last year's beer found favour with many, including judges at the Australian International Beer Awards, so this year he's sticking with the tried and tested. Carbonated using nitrogen rather than CO2 to give it a fine bead and a dense, rich foam, it's being tagged an ESB… Read more
Style
ESB
ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
22 IBU

Mountain Goat Fancy Pants 2013

Published February 15, 2013
If you've ever enjoyed a beer from Melbourne's Mountain Goat then you should say a little thanks for the existence of hoppy amber ales. For it was such a beer style that caused co-founder Dave Bonighton's beer epiphany when he was living in the States as a wee nipper (well, of drinking age but "wee nipper" adds a certain dash of colour to this sentence so we're going with it). It led to the creation of the Hightail and, ultimately, many years later, this: the Fancy Pants that is the Hightail… Read more
Style
Amber Ale
ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
32 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Bottles:

McCoppin's Abbotsford

Slowbeer

Purvis Cellars

Blackhearts & Sparrows

[Purvis

More stockists...

Mountain Goat Little Sister

Published January 10, 2013
We're really not sure any beer that brings to mind Billy Idol singing 'White Wedding is a good thing. However, when it's a new beer from Mountain Goat, perhaps we can be a little forgiving. Little Sister is, of course, the little sister to another of their beers, in this case Rapunzel, the brewery's regular annual release that takes the form of a Strong Belgian Golden Ale. No prizes for guessing what Little Sister is then... According to Eggborough Dave Brighton, the beer uses the same basic grist,… Read more
Style
Belgian Golden Ale
ABV
4.3%
Bitterness
28 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Others tbc

Mountain Goat Rapunzel 2012

Published November 21, 2012
They don't venture into Belgium too often at Mountain Goat, but when they do it tends to result in the appearance of this flaxen-haired maiden. A fixture in their annual release schedule for some time now, it's a strong golden ale inspired by the classic Duvel. True to its name it's strong (8.3 per cent) and golden in colour. And true to its heritage, it's a a slightly hazy number with clove, spice and vanilla aromas that's spicy and dry to taste. A previous incarnation spent time inside a Chardonnay… Read more
Style
Belgian Strong Golden Ale
ABV
8.3%
Bitterness
28 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Rainbow Hotel (only tap outside the brewery)

Other stockists TBC but expect to find Rare Breed in the usual good spots

More stockists...

Mountain Goat Triple Hightail

Published October 12, 2012
The first beer ever released by Mountain Goat commercially was the Hightail Ale, a beer that remains one of their most popular. For their tenth anniversary, they brewed the Double Hightail, a beer that has since become a semi-regular Rare Breed from the brewery and which is essentially, double everything of the original. So, come their 15th anniversary, what else was there for them to do other than brew a Triple Hightail. It's a more intense version of the Double Hightail and is being taken around… Read more
Style
Strong Scotch Ale
ABV
8.3%
Bitterness
37 IBU

Mountain Goat Fancy Pants 2012

Published September 21, 2012
The beer that was originally conceived as what Hightail would be without any constraints is back. And we think it's an interesting barometer of how far and fast the craft beer scene is moving in Australia. While it was never big in alcohol content, when it first arrived, its upfront tropical hop aromas were the sort to take you aback with what the American Amber Ale quite different to most of what was coming out from local breweries. Now it arrives like an old friend popping into town for a catch… Read more
Style
American Amber Ale
ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
40 IBU

Mountain Goat Before The Dawn IPA

Published August 29, 2012
Given their previous two black IPAs - the Thorny Goat brewed with UK's Thornbridge and the Gypsy & The Goat brewed with Mikkeller - are ensconced in the upper echelons of Ratebeer's top rated Australian beers, it's perhaps little surprise that Mountain Goat has decided to bring out another. Bigger than the Thorny and pepperberry free, it's their farewell to winter. As for how dark it is, well, over to the brewers themselves: "There's a black that's blacker than its own shadow. As black as… Read more
Style
Black IPA
ABV
7.4%
Stockists

Mountain Goat

The Terminus

Beer DeLuxe

Beer DeLuxe Hawthorn

The Alehouse Project

Baden Powell

640ml Rare Breed bottles to follow

More stockists...

Mountain Goat The Naz

Published August 8, 2012
Goat fans will be aware of The Craig, a beer made by one of the Goat brewers called, incredibly, Craig. In fact, true fans will be aware that there have been two Craigs. And now, following in The Craig's footsteps comes The Naz, a beer concocted by fellow brewer Shane, aka Naz. As The Naz is a guardian of The Crafty Pot, we probably need to say something good about his beer so he keeps being nice to her. Thankfully, that's not a problem as he's come up with a well balanced mocha porter that's had… Read more
Style
Mocha Porter
ABV
5.2%
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Beer Cartel (growler fills)

Rockwell & Sons (opening soon)

Others TBC

More stockists...

Mountain Goat Seedy Goat 2012

Published July 11, 2012
One of the more interesting collaborations of 2012 saw Goat team up with their mates at Seven Seeds to deliver a coffee IPA that was subtler than one would expect. Instead of using the coffee to add a roasty character, the beans were very gently roasted to instead impart fruity perfume that complimented the hops in the beer. It's back for 2012 with a tweaked recipe. According to head brewer Dave Bonighton: "This year we've used the Nicaraguan Finca Jaime Molina Montecristo bean. This is a coffee… Read more
Style
Coffee IPA
ABV
6.2%
Bitterness
55IBU
Stockists

Kegs:

Tramway Hotel

Beer DeLuxe

Hell of the North

Alehouse Project (opening soon...)

Napier Hotel

Prince Alfred Hotel, Port Melbourne

Belgian Beer Cafe, Eureka

More stockists...

Mountain Goat Hip Hip Hooray IPA

Published June 29, 2012
The 423rd IPA to be released by Mountain Goat in the past 18 months is possibly its hoppiest yet. The Hip Hip Hooray was brewed as a surprise gift for the brewery's bar and events manager Sam's recent birthday and is as punchy and full of character as the lady herself. The aroma leans more towards the hops more than any previous Goat IPA, with buckets of floral, tropical aromas in charge and the malt kept more in the background than their straight Rare Breed IPA. Hardly surprising when you consider… Read more
Style
Double IPA
ABV
7.4%
Bitterness
70IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Others tbc

Mountain Goat Black Pepperberry IPA

Published April 18, 2012
Danish brewing genius Mikkel Borg Bjergsí¸ was in Australia last month and, while here, starred at The Gypsy & The Goat event that we ran at Mountain Goat's brewery. It featured a rather special brewery floor degustation while a collaborative brew was created by Mikkel, Dave Bonighton and the Goat brewing team. The result is this, the Black Pepperberry IPA, a lusciously rich beast with a seriously powerful hop aroma and plenty of hop flavour (thanks to "aggressive" dry hopping with… Read more
Style
Black IPA
ABV
7.3%
Bitterness
70 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Josie Bones

And other good beer bars and bottleshops TBC

More stockists...

Mountain Goat Saison

Published March 2, 2012
Tis the year of the saison, it seems. Where once there was hardly an Aussie take on the farmhouse style to be found outside Beechworth, the Otways and wherever Ron from Temple was laying his hat at any particular time, now it's all the rage, whether as the launch beer from newcomer La Sirí¨ne, a seasonal from Moo, in various forms from Murray's or now as a potential regular from Mountain Goat. Their first version leans to the fruity, citrusy end of things, although has been poured through the likes… Read more
Style
Saison
ABV
5.2%

Mountain Goat Return of The Craig

Published February 15, 2012
Guess who's back? Back again? Craig is back. Back again. etc. Yes, a beer from the man himself, Craig. If you don't recall its first appearance, we had this to say: *So, there's a brewer at Mountain Goat called Craig. Craig was tasked to create a beer. He chose to brew a pale ale, using Willamette hops to stand out from the herd. When the time came to tap the beer, it needed a name. "What shall we call it?" said the Goats. 'How about The Craig?"came the reply. "No. We're not… Read more
Style
Irish Red Ale
ABV
5.1%
Bitterness
22 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Mountain Goat The Hoeff

Published January 20, 2012
Goat's annual Hefe-cum-Hasselhoff is back for the summer. It's a true to style take on the hefes you find in Southern Germany - think clove and banana aromas, a touch of bubblegum sweetness and a somewhat dry finish in a cloudy beer with minimal bitterness designed for maximum hot weather refreshment. That, or designed for washing down bucketloads of weisswurst for breakfast if you want to be a traditionalist. Mind you, start down that road and you'll soon be wearing lederhosen, putting feathers… Read more
Style
Hefeweizen
ABV
5.3%

Mountain Goat Goldilocks (2012)

Published January 13, 2012
Another of the summer specials from Goat that debuted last year is back, the Styrian Goldings hopped Goldilocks. As the name suggests, it's a golden ale (summer ale if you like) with one aim and one aim only - being quaffed. Light floral hops and an easy-going malt character make it reminiscent of the sort of ales consumed by the gallon in British beer gardens in the two weeks that constitutes a British summer, while it seems to us (if memory serves us correctly) that the bitterness has been reined… Read more
Style
Golden Ale
ABV
5.0%
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Others tbc

Mountain Goat Imperial Pilsner (2011)

Published December 14, 2011
Or more accurately, an Imperial Keller Pilsner, apparently. In other words, unfiltered and designed to be tapped and quaffed asap. It's the second stab at a big ol' pilsner from the Richmond crew, one head brewer Dave Bonighton described as "a Black Forest Wolf in Western Districts sheep's clothing?", a comment that can possibly be ascribed to the fact he came up with it on the day of the brewery's Christmas party. The beer is a strong, unfiltered, cold conditioned "forever",… Read more
Style
Imperial Pilsner
ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
50 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat

More tbc

Mountain Goat Skipping Girl (Andy'd Remix)

Published December 7, 2011
Anyone who's been to Mountain Goat in the past couple of years will know Randy, the glass cylinder that allows them to add hops, spices, coffee beans and the like to their beers just before they leave the tap and hit your glass. Now they've added Andy, Randy's cousin, who is "a late hopping device for pre-packed bottles and kegs; in other words the beer gets Andy'd in tank, not just before your glass." Skipping Girl first reared her head last summer and was Crafty's pick of the one-off… Read more
Style
Summer Ale
ABV
4.7%
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Mountain Goat Helles To The Yeah

Published October 12, 2011
On the day they took the wrapping paper off their brand spanking new brewery and set about buffing it to the shiniest of finishes, Goat also unveiled a new lager. Helles To The Yeah is a bock, aka strong, version of a hell, aka pale German lager. It's not often the Goats stray from ales into lager territory, but this is a welcome detour. Malt led, with sweet, almost honeyed aromas and biscuity, toffee flavours, it's a sneakily potent brew, one that's nicely balanced in such a manner that the Nelson… Read more
Style
Helles Bock
ABV
6.3%

Mountain Goat RIPA (2011)

Published September 17, 2011
The fifth IPA variant to exit the Goat stable in 2011, this one uses rye to make up a significant portion of the malt bill. They first released a Rye IPA (aka RIPA) last year, a beer made in collaboration with the Australian National Homebrewers Conference that was in effect a scaled up version of a winning homebrewer's recipe. This time around, they've boosted the amount of rye and added some wheat malt, resulting in a lengthy brew that took more than twice as long as normal. The result is a beer… Read more
Style
Rye IPA
ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
50 IBU

Mountain Goat DIPA (2011)

Published August 24, 2011
Hot on the heels of the Seedy Goat Coffee IPA comes the return of Mountain Goat's Double IPA that first rolled out of the brewery last year. A bigger brother to the delicious Rare Breed IPA - and bigger even than last year's debut, with the 2011 model rocking it two fat ladies style at 8.8%, with the alcohol well hidden. Given we seem to recall the 2010 version was so full of hops it threatened to block the pipes at the brewery, that's quite an achievement. Expect plenty of malty sweetness and a… Read more
Style
Double IPA
ABV
8.8%

Mountain Goat Bigfoot (2011)

Published August 5, 2011
There was mourning in parts of the craft beer community last year when it was announced there would be no Bigfoot. Given the previous year's batch had played a large role in an embarrassing evening at the brewery for The Crafty Pint, it might have been for the best. However, the big brother of the brewery's always lovely Surefoot Stout has been brought back out of retirement for 2011. It's pretty much the Surefoot but condensed, the result as rich and creamy as you could wish for in an imperial stout.… Read more
Style
Imperial Stout
ABV
8.0%

Mountain Goat Coffee IPA

Published July 22, 2011
It's not that unusual to find coffee in a beer, although in Australia at least it has tended to be found in dark ales, porters or stouts, beers that often have some coffee like aromas or flavours from their malt bill. It is pretty unusual to find coffee in an IPA, which is the case in this collaborative effort from Mountain Goat and roasters Seven Seeds. After playing around on the pilot brewery, this is the first batch to make it into the public realm. Hold it to your nose and there's little to… Read more

Mt Goat Rare Breed IPA (Winter 2011)

Published July 6, 2011
Well, is there anything that needs to be said about this beer? Here at Crafty Towers, we've not held back in our praise for previous batches of the Goat's Rare Breed IPA, which in its last incarnation was our most regular go to beer during the summer. We've not tasted the latest batch but assume that, having nailed it the past few times, they'll have got it right this time too. So what does that mean to the uninitiated? Well, it's what we'd imagine a beer would want to drink if a beer ever wanted… Read more
Style
American IPA
ABV
6.3%

Mt Goat Surefoot Stout 2011

Published June 29, 2011
The return of an old favourite and a beer that needs little introduction, as it's one that the Goat guys had right a long time ago, back when it was part of their year range and well before the Rare Breed concept was even a twinkle in its daddy's eye. Always a beautifully balanced example of the style, equal parts rich, almost sweet, chocolate characters and bitter roastiness with a hint of coffee. Smooth in the mouth and deepest dark brown in the glass, it's a beer that never lets you down and a… Read more
Style
Sweet Stout
ABV
4.9%
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Mountain Goat Winter Oaky Porter

Published June 22, 2011
You might remember a few months back when the guys and gals at Goat did something of an in-house stock clearance and compiled a beer that utilised much of the grain and hops they had lying around. Seems it's that time again, with the aforementioned "Bubble 'n' Squeak" concept returning with a wintry twist. The result is the brewery's first ever porter, one which features six malts: Australian Ale, UK Marris Otter, German Rye malt, UK Crystal, UK Chocolate, and German Chocolate Wheat and… Read more
Style
Oaked Porter
ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
25 IBU

Mountain Goat Oak-Aged Rapunzel

Published June 15, 2011
A beer that is effectively outgoing head brewer Jayne Lewis' parting gift to the brewery, this is a project that began around 18 months ago and ended with a little blending. When Goat brewed their 2009 Rapunzel - a Belgian golden ale - some was transferred into an old oak chardonnay barrel, then released nine months later at the same time as the beer was being poured through the brewery's hopinator, allowing you to sample it three ways. It turns out that when 2010's batch was made, out came the barrels… Read more
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Mountain Goat Three Golden Goats

Published June 3, 2011
What a lovely story this is, the tale of trans-Tasman beery love that saw Melbourne's Goats offer to help those affected by the Christchurch earthquakes by making one of Three Boys' beers and donating all profits to the recovery fund. You can read more about it here or instead save time, head out and drink a pint to do your bit for humanity. The beer was supposed to be an exact match for the Kiwi brewery's golden ale, but in the end features slightly different malts and a different yeast (due to… Read more
Style
Golden Ale
ABV
4.9%
Stockists

Mountain Goat

The Terminus

Beer DeLuxe

Cookie

Gasometer Hotel

Great Britain Hotel

Atticus Finch

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Mountain Goat Fancy Pants (2011)

Published April 15, 2011
One of the Goat's most popular limited releases is back. The Fancy Pants was originally described by Goat founder Dave Bonighton as "what Hightail would be if there were no budget constraints" - and this is its fourth appearance. We've not tasted this year's batch yet, but it's been tapped at the brewery this week which means it'll be hitting taps at bars soon. Loads of fresh hop flowers are added post-boil in the hopback with a heap more thrown into the fermenter to create what we described… Read more
Style
Amber Ale
ABV
4.9%
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Blackhearts & Sparrows (Growlers when available)

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The Thorny Goat

Published March 11, 2011
You could have some fun with this one. Grab a mate, pour them a glass and offer it up without warning. Practically black, shot through with blood red tints if held to the light, and with a hint of tan in its head, they'll be certain they're about to tuck into a porter or lighter bodied stout. At this point, we should point out that this will work better if said mate has no sense of smell or a bad cold at the time, as otherwise the pretense will collapse well before the drink enters their mouth thanks… Read more
Style
Black IPA
ABV
6.8%
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Slowbeer

Purvis Beer Richmond

Corner Hotel, Richmond

McCoppins, Fitzroy and Abbotsford

Church St Cellars

Vaucluse Hotel

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Mountain Goat The Craig

Published February 4, 2011
So, there's a brewer at Mountain Goat called Craig. Craig was tasked to create a beer. He chose to brew a US-style Pale Ale, using Willamette hops to stand out from the herd. When the time came to tap the beer, it needed a name. "What shall we call it?" said the Goats. "How about The Craig?" came the reply. "No. We're not calling it The Craig," said Craig. "Tough. It's The Craig," came the reply. And so The Craig was tapped on the day the brewery flooded. It's… Read more
Style
US Pale Ale
ABV
4.4%
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Mountain Goat Skipping Girl

Published January 12, 2011
Despite the continuing rainfall, the Goat team is manfully pursuing its mission to bring summer into our lives with another one-off summery release. We'd heard they were concocting an American Wheat but, when this was raised with head Goat Dave at the brewery his reaction suggested that, once more, it's more of a mixed bag rather than anything too definable. What it is, then, is a light yellow coloured hazy number that throws up plenty of lovely light tropical fruits from the inclusion of mucho Kiwi… Read more
Style
Summer Ale
ABV
4.7%
Bitterness
30IBU

Mountain Goat's The Hoeff

Published December 15, 2010
Bloody hell! Not sure what they're feeding the brewers in Richmond these days but, when it comes to limited release beers, it's a case of blink and you'll miss it. Latest to be tapped at the Goat brewery is The Hoeff, a southern Bavarian wheat beer (hefeweizen) that comes with a little nod to everyone's favourite lifeguard. Altered from last year's version thanks to the use of a yeast brought in specially from Germany, it's cloudy enough for a supporting role in The Fog and something of a tease too:… Read more
Style
Hefeweizen
ABV
5.0%
Bitterness
18 IBUs
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Mountain Goat IPA (Summer 2010)

Published December 1, 2010
The beer chosen to launch Mountain Goat's Rare Breed limited release longneck range is back. First time out it was a big yet beautifully balanced blend of powerful, aromatic hops and rich malts backed up by a firm bitterness and this time it's no different. Pouring a shade of amber that positively glows in the glass, it's got thick clouds of citrusy, piney goodness heading straight for your nostrils from the moment it's poured backed up by some lovely, chewy caramels and a welcoming, mouth-coating… Read more

Mountain Goat Goldilocks

Published November 17, 2010
A rewarding quaffer, this is the Goat's take on an English summer ale that borrows its name from the single hop used in its production, the Styrian Golding variety. It could almost take its name from the colour too - at least if Goldilocks was at the ranga end of the blonde spectrum... Designed to be the kind of beer you'd session in British pub gardens, it has a gentle "herby, spicy" nose (according to the brewer - Crafty's hayfever put paid to any sniff test). The carbonation gives it… Read more
Style
Summer Ale
ABV
5% (TBC)
Bitterness
32 IBU
Stockists

Mountain Goat

Released at the brewery 17/11. Kegs to appear elsewhere later...

Mountain Goat RIPA

Published October 28, 2010
A new brew created for this weekend's second Australian National Homebrewing Conference, sneak peeks of this Rye IPA (India Pale Ale) will be on offer at tonight's Goat tasting (Oct 28) at the Terminus Hotel in Clifton Hill / North Fitzroy. The beer uses the same recipe as the brewery's normal IPA but with 20% rye malt added. According to head brewer Jayne Lewis, the result is an added "smoothness and roundness to the palate while all the usual IPA goodness remains. We also used wheat and crystal… Read more
Style
Rye IPA
ABV
5.7%
Bitterness
50 IBU
Stockists

The Terminus

Mountain Goat Brewery

ANHC

More bars may get the beer - watch this space!

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Mt Goat Bubble and Squeak

Published October 13, 2010
We've all been there. Got a hunger, open the cupboards and fridge and there's next to bugger all there. Although, with a bit of creativity, a large pot and some careful seasoning, something comes from nothing. And so it was - sort of - at the Goat recently. The brewers found they had heaps of odds and sods lying around so did a stock check, sat down and did some complicated algebra (maybe) and came up with a new, once only brew called Bubble and Squeak after the classic leftovers dish. Containing… Read more
Style
Hybrid!
ABV
5.3%
Bitterness
20 IBU

Mountain Goat Imperial Pilsner

Published October 9, 2010
It wasn't too long ago that the Mountain Goat brewery seemed to be a lager-free zone, with even it's lightest beer - the Steam Ale - being made with an ale yeast. Then along came Richard III, the full-blooded malty Doppelbock and now this, the brewery's first Imperial Pilsner. OK, so neither is a bog standard lager by any means, with this registering a sizable 7.5% alcohol and packing a solid punch of bitterness too. According to head brewer Jayne Lewis, it's "brewed with Pilsner and Light Munich… Read more
Style
Imperial Pilsner
ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
45 IBUs

Mountain Goat Double Hightail (bottled)

Published September 17, 2010
First brewed to celebrate the Goat's 10th birthday, the Double Hightail returned in draft form in August as the brewery prepared to become a teenager. If the Fancy Pants is what the Hightail would be if there were no financial constraints, this is what it becomes when there are no constraints full stop. Another batch has just been produced to become the brewery's third Rare Breed longneck release. And if you know the Hightail, you'll agree this is indeed a Double Hightail. The Galaxy hop and caramel… Read more
Style
Imperial Amber Ale
ABV
7.2%
Stockists

Slowbeer

Carwyn Cellars

Purvis Beer

Blackhearts & Sparrows

Smith Street Cellars

McCoppin's

[Roys

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Mountain Goat IPA

Published September 13, 2010
The beer chosen to launch Mountain Goat's Rare Breed limited release longneck range is back. First time out it was a big yet beautifully balanced blend of powerful, aromatic hops and rich malts backed up by a firm bitterness. There are no bottles this time around (at least not yet) but it'll be hitting a handful of taps around Melbourne this week. No bad thing as, while it was a tasty drop out of the longnecks last time around, when Crafty sampled it in draught form at the brewery it was quite possibly… Read more
Style
American India Pale Ale
ABV
5.7%

Double Hightail

Published August 4, 2010
First brewed to celebrate the Goat's 10th birthday, the Double Hightail has returned as the brewery prepares to become a teenager. If the Fancy Pants is what the Hightail would be if there were no financial constraints, this is what it becomes when there are no constraints full stop. Crammed with chewy malt goodness and a fierce, driving bitterness, it also comes in around the 7% mark, making it bigger in every sense.… Read more
Style
Imperial Amber Ale
ABV
7%

Fancy Pants

Published July 26, 2010
The beer originally described by Goat founder Dave Bonighton as "what Hightail would be if there were no budget constraints". This is the third appearance of a beer that once tasted is never forgotten. Loads of fresh hop flowers are added post-boil in the hopback with a heap more thrown into the fermenter to create an overwhelming and enticing passionfruit aroma that begs you to dive in. A rich malt backbone ensures balance is maintained but, really, it's all about the hops. In The Crafty… Read more
Style
Amber Ale
ABV
4.9%
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

Grumpy's Green

Cookie

Beer DeLuxe

Royston

Terminus, Clifton Hill

Courthouse Hotel

Local Taphouse St Kilda

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Two Champs Kolsch

Published July 20, 2010
A one-off collaboration between the two winners of the 2010 Australian Homebrewing Championships, Ross Mitchell and Barry Cranston, this German style light-coloured ale that originated in Cologne is a subtle delight. At first, the special yeast variety used produces a taste reminiscent of a full-bodied white wine (The Crafty Pint thought Chardonnay, Barry says Semillon) before giving way to a short, dry finish. Only one batch has been made so get in fast.… Read more
Style
Kolsch
ABV
5%
Stockists

Local Taphouse St Kilda

Mountain Goat Brewery

Richard III

Published June 25, 2010
The third bock produced by Mountain Goat, this is a collaborative effort with award-winning brewer Richard Watkins of Canberra's Wig and Pen Brewery. Dark amber in colour, this has a powerful, almost liqueur-like sweet malt aroma and displays rich, biscuit and caramel flavours. A German style Doppelbock (or double strength dark lager), it's thick of body, full of flavour and a great winter beer thanks to its gently warming alcohol.… Read more
Style
Doppelbock
ABV
7.4%
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

Double IPA (DIPA)

Published June 4, 2010
The beefed up big brother of Goat's Rare Breed IPA. A huge piney and tropical hop aroma familiar to lovers of West Coast US IPAs lead to a palate-coating bright amber beer that practically glows in the glass. Big sweet caramel and toffee flavours arrive first before the bitterness caused by huge hopping levels comes riding over the hill to ensure this is one beer that's not for the fainthearted.… Read more
Style
Double IPA
ABV
8.3%
Stockists

Mountain Goat Brewery

Hightail Ale

The Goat classic. A full flavoured English style real ale, it's deep amber in colour, packed to the hilt with malt flavour and topped off with an enticing floral hop aroma. It's the beer that made their name all those years ago and, all these years later, an old reliable whenever you spot the bright red goat head on the taps calling you to the bar. All draught Hightail comes from their Richmond HQ with packaged product now produced offsite at Independent Distillers. From 2015 onwards, after a number… Read more
Style
Amber Ale
ABV
4.5%

Mountain Goat IPA – Bottles discontinued

From the day it first appeared as the Goat's first Rare Breed release, their IPA was a firm favourite at Crafty Towers. A bold, US inspired take on the classic style, it held back nothing in terms of hop character or rich malty backbone. Soon it was back as a not-so-Rare Breed, then again and... Well, you get the message. The beer was so delicious and so loved that they decided to make it the third beer in their permanent 330ml range, spending a long time working with the team that brews it for them… Read more
Style
IPA
ABV
6.2%
Bitterness
65IBU