Time For A Paddlin'

April 2, 2015, by Crafty Pint

https://craftypint.s3.amazonaws.com/crafty/learn/Collaborators-icon-230620-122636-230706-154635.png
Time For A Paddlin'

You can never accuse Chris Badenoch of sitting still. When The Crafty Pint was getting off the ground, he was best known as the "beer guy" on Masterchef Australia and one of the brains behind online craft beer club Beer Masons. Then followed Josie Bones, still the venue in Australia that has taken the concept of beer and food pairing to a level beyond any other, and the launch of Boneyard Brewing.

Today, with Josie Bones sold and the new home of Boneyard Brewing under construction (while hosting occasional events featuring a large and growing collection of smokers and BBQs), he's been keeping busy running BBQ and beer events, working on a major new project that's under wraps for now but involves BBQ and beer, and, it transpires, getting handy in the toolshed.

"I was making a Christmas present for Christian [Skovdal Andersen of Beer Here] and Jess [Jenkins, Chris' sister-in-law] when we were up in Noosa at [wife] Julia's father's house," he explains. "He's got a really good workshop there and, because they were working on their new brewery [in Denmark], I thought I'd make them his and hers mash paddles.

"They turned out really well so I thought I'd make a few more."

And then more and more. So many, in fact, that he's turned it into a business called 15 Degrees By Design – named after his favourite angle, a fondness that dates from his days as a graphic designer. Having turned his hand to the construction of the work-in-progress Boneyard Brewing site in North Melbourne, much of it from reclaimed wood and old pallets, 15 Degrees has given him the chance to take his woodworking hobby in new directions.

To date, 15 Degrees has focused on two main beer products: unique mash paddles like those gifted to his in-laws that typically retail through Etsy for around $150 and cheaper tasting flight paddles made from pallets that have been used to deliver beer and other beer-related products to Boneyard. There are also wooden six-pack holders, tables, boards and other creations on offer.

"I just like making shit, whether it's food or beer," says Chris. "I learnt to weld the other day too.

"It takes about three to five days to make each mash paddle. They're all handmade and no two are the same.

"We've done some events here and needed beer flight paddles for our glassware so I thought it would be nice to have proper paddles."

Chris Badenoch crafting paddles in his workshop

Of course, having paddles with which to make beer (even if they are primarily intended to be decorative pieces, such as the one now adorning Mrs Parma's) and paddles upon which to line up your beers is one thing. But what about the beer itself?

Boneyard Brewing launched with beers conceived by Chris and his then head sommelier at Josie Bones, Brendan Sullivan. Brendan has since stepped fully into the world of commercial brewing with reigning Champion Small Australian Brewery 3 Ravens while the production of highly regarded beers such as Boneyard's Golden Ale and midstrength Red Ale have been put on hold.

"We've been really full on with the BBQing, with events focusing on beer and BBQ, not just Australian but Argentinean and Japanese matched to appropriate beer," says Chris. "Brewing has also been on hold because of a big project that's beer and BBQ focused.

"[By] gypsy brewing [which Boneyard did at 3 Ravens, Cavalier and Temple] you don't make enough money. Temple was brilliant, the quality was amazing, but beer is a volume game. We sell as much as we can make as Northdown [their distributor] is bloody great and want our beer, but it was unrealistic [going down the gypsy route]. It's a great way to get to market and test your product without much capital expense but as a long term enterprise it wasn't really going to work."

When Boneyard is resurrected, it will have the North Melbourne venue as part of its offering, with the paddles no doubt making an appearance there too.

"I'd like to think they appeal across the whole gamut. Home brewers get a shitty plastic or metal paddle that comes with their package so I'd hope they would get into [my paddles]," he says. "I'd also like to think people will get into them as a corporate gift too, getting them branded or completely customised."

You can check out the products currently on offer from 15 Degrees By Design here. Or make sure you receive (and open) next Friday's Crafty Pint newsletter as we'll have one to give away to a lucky reader.

https://craftypint.s3.amazonaws.com/crafty/learn/Collaborators-icon-230620-122636-230706-154635.png

Discover more Collaborators articles

If you enjoy The Crafty Pint, you can become a supporter of our independent journalism.

You can make a donation or sign up for our beer club, The Crafty Cabal, and gain access to exclusive events, giveaways and special deals.

Pickled OnMarket
CBCo Goldy
Lallemand 1
Cryer E