As anyone who has visited MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, will readily attest, David Walsh doesn't do things by half. So it is with Moo Brew, the beer arm of his majestic empire on the banks of the Derwent River, just outside Hobart. Launched in 2005, Moo Brew come in uniquely designed bottles, feature exclusive artwork by Australian artist John Kelly and are crafted to an exceptionally high standard by a team of brewers led by Dave Macgill.
The original brewery, encased in a glass tower atop the main 'Ether' building, enjoys what could well be the best views of any in Australia - back along the Derwent towards the Tasmanian capital. Just up the road, a second brewery has been established to help bring more Moo Brew to the people. This will allow the MONA brewery to become something of a mad scientist's lair, where the brewers will be given free rein to concoct the weird and wonderful, to be sold under the MONA label exclusively onsite.
Elsewhere, you'll find a fine dining restaurant, spectacular outdoor concert venue and, as of January 2011, a wine bar showcasing the vineyard's own labels, Moo Brew beers and a carefully handpicked selection of other tipples from around the globe, which can be served alongside locally produced cheeses, breads and charcuterie platters.
As for the beers, the core range of a Pale, Hefe (which won a trophy at the 2014 Australian International Beer Awards), Pilsner and Dark Ale are embellished by an annual Stout, an absolute beast of a beer that is eagerly awaited by craft beer lovers across Australia every year - and outdone only by the limited number of even bigger Barrel Aged Imperial Stout released in bottle that commands a huge price but gives huge rewards in return.
