It might be the most overused – and gendered – adage but dogs, they say, are a man's best friend. Given their tendency to pop up on beers – from Black Dog Brewery's (now departed) Macca to Moon Dog's recent foray into doggy-dedicated IPAs or Rocky Ridge's brewpups – they might well be a brewer's best friend too.
Certainly, that's the case for the couple behind Hoppy Puppy Brewco, Jacob Landers and Kate Fitzgerald, who took inspiration from their five-year-old black Labrador, Darcy, when naming their brewery and deciding upon their branding.
The weekend just gone saw the couple's first beer, a Red IPA, start to land in bars in their hometown of Brisbane, the first of what the gypsy brewers hope will be many batches of their beers. The Red IPA will be joined by the likes of a chocolate stout (which sounds particularly Darcy-inspired), a saison, an IPA and a pale.
So, getting in early, here's the Hoppy Puppy team to tell us more as part of our ongoing Who Brews...? series.
Hoppy Puppy Brewery
Who are you?
Jacob Landers and Kate Fitzgerald – the husband and wife team behind Hoppy Puppy Brew Co. Jacob’s background is in civil engineering and Kate’s is in chemistry and the nuclear medicine industry.
We began homebrewing during our time at university, for the love of cheap beer, and we’ve spent the last ten years developing a range of hop forward recipes to indulge our evolving taste in beer. Now we brew for the love of good beer!
Where do you brew?
We’re gypsy brewers, currently working with Hub Brewing, in Geebung on Brisbane’s northside.
Why do you brew?
For the love of good beer!
Was there a beer or a moment that set you on the path to becoming a brewer?
It has been more of a natural evolution from brewing cheap beer in a sharehouse at uni, to a hobby shared with friends, through to a brewing obsession, aiming to achieve the best possible taste, and now finally being in a position to share our beer with the rest of the community.
What’s the inspiration behind the brewery name?
Beer and dogs, in particular our chocolate Labrador and apprentice brewer, Darcy. Darcy loves brewday. Like, seriously loves it.
When he sees the equipment being prepared, he jumps four feet in the air with excitement. Who knows, perhaps he’s just in it for the spent grain...?
What beer in your lineup best represents you and why?
Our Red IPA is a beer that we keep coming back to. It showcases the hop forward characteristics that we would like to be known for, but remains balanced and easy-drinking.
If anyone drops in on brew day, what are they most likely to hear blasting from the speakers?
We’ve been going through a bit of an Australian female vocal obsession at the moment: Ruby Fields, Angie McMahon, Alex Lahey, Middle Kids, Waxx, Tired Lion.
Along with a heavy dose of Brisbane local favourites too: Ballpark Music, DZ Deathrays, Violent Soho, Dune Rats.
What beers are in your fridge right now?
It’s “cold” in Brissy at the moment, so All Inn’s Midnight Jackal, Aether’s Written in the Stars, and Brewtal/Newstead’s The Leshy.
And there’s a few sours (Kate’s fav) in there as well: Liberty/Hawkers’ Chateau Du Tasman, and Brouhaha’s Strawberry and Rhubarb Sour.
Which local beers have blown your mind in recent weeks?
Dark beer in winter is unbeatable, and Leshy has been the pick so far this year. Slipstream’s new raspberry sour is a cracker as well; and we're also thoroughly impressed by White Brick’s Petrie Pilsner, as a very well made, easy-drinking pils.
Where can people find your beers?
Our Red IPA will be on tap in good beer venues throughout Brisbane from July 6. Check our Instagram for current locations!
Where do you hope your brewery will be ten years from now?
We hope to be operating at full steam, obsessing over our very own stainless, in our permanent brewery home, with a multitude of great beers and a friendly local crowd of people and their pups.
Kate’s side obsession is bread, so perhaps a brewery / bakery ones top shop is on the horizon?
Keep up with Jacob and Kate via their website, Facebook or Instagram.
You can find previous entries in the Who Brews...? series here
Will Ziebell is a history graduate who knows more about The Wire than he does about beer. He was awarded the AIBA Best Media trophy for 2018; HBO have told him to please send his fan mail elsewhere. He can be found on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
The beer(s) or moment(s) that turned you on to good beer:
Spending time living in the UK (and backpacking across Europe) when I was 21 certainly gave me a better understanding of the beer and different styles of the world. But I'd say it was a holiday to the High Country a little while later when lunch and a tasting paddle at Bridge Road Brewers created an obsession with Australian breweries and locally made beer.
You've got three beers to turn someone else on to good beer; what are they and why?
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Boatrocker's Miss Pinky: It's a raspberry-packed Berliner Weisse that neither looks or tastes the way many people conceive of beer.
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Bad Shepherd Hazelnut Brown: A luscious mix of chocolate and hazelnut that can appeal to the sweet tooth within us all.
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Stone & Wood Pacific Ale: As the father of my oldest friend once said to me: "It's the perfect refreshing pint that smells like they've loaded it with the God's herb."
The last beer you enjoyed:
Garage Project's DFA while sitting at the bar at Miss Moses as the sounds of The Rolling Stone drifting in the background.
Three things that represent you:
- Bruce Springsteen
- Ken Burns
- The State Library of Victoria
