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Beer lovers should pencil in this annual pilgrimage to Byron Bay for a taste of brewing tradition
IT could be a pagan ritual — fire pit, hot stones and an ancient process for producing great beer, but fear not, it’s a celebration for lovers of Stone & Wood’s seasonal winter brew.
Every year at the Stone & Wood pilot brewery in Byron Bay, fans gather for the annual Festival of the Stone.
The event on June 9 celebrates the release of their Stone Beer, which has been developing its unique taste for the past eight weeks.
The beer honours the ancient techniques of brewing by adding wood-fired stones to the kettle to rouse the boil.
In doing so the malt characters are intensified, contributing to the beer’s roasted caramel aroma that’s balanced with a warming, fullbodied cocoa flavour.
It’s a smooth, rich, dark brew at around 6.5 per cent.
The first kegs of 2018 Stone Beer will be tapped and available until the tap runs dry.
An ideal winter warmer, it is a strictly limited release so you should be quick to grab a bottle.
Either that or make your way to Byron for what is a worthwhile event.
The Stone & Wood crew have made it family friendly with a kids’ area, featuring “Malt Disney” with tunes for the kids to dance along to, as well as crafts and entertainment from Spaghetti Circus.
There’s also a community benefit with profits from the beer sales and tickets going to national not-for-profit Ingrained Foundation, a separate entity of Stone & Wood that was set up to extend the brewery’s community program.
Tickets are $30 via Eventbrite (and they’re usually snapped up quickly) and transport to and from the brewery will be available.
Visit festivalofthestone.com for more information.