Legends. That’s my preferred prefix for Danielle Allen and Jayne Lewis. In 2011 the duo started Two Birds –Australia’s first female owned brewing company. When Two Birds turned five this June, they celebrated with $5 beers around the country and threw a birthday shindig at their Melbourne brewery. It was the best party for a five-year-old I’ve ever attended.
Jayne and Danielle
Light from the heat lamps flickered off the stainless steel brewery equipment as the two reminisced about all the changes over the last five years. They recalled a serious discussion when they first set out on their independent craft beer mission. They asked each other, ‘Have we missed the boat? Has craft beer reached its peak?’ Today, the answer is clearly ‘no’. The party at their own brewery featured a twelve tap takeover of their beers. We drank IPAs, pale ales, stout, golden ale, red ale, extra special bitter, and Belgian blonde ale. (Plus the Salt and Pepa-Berry Gose from the Pink Boots Society.)
Also on tap were two specialty birthday beers brewed for the occasion. Danielle imagined an indulgent birthday sitting on a beach with a bottle of Pedro Ximenez. So she created a Belgian dubbel style beer and aged it in the sherry barrels. Jayne loves a good G & T. Her gin inspired beer featured aromatic botanicals including juniper, pepperberries, and grapefruit peel. Of course, birthday parties need cake. Guests were treated to free boozy cupcakes baked with the birthday beers. It was a genius food pairing. I also finally sampled the much loved Jam Donut beer – the cinnamon-y treat was so realistic I could almost taste the icing sugar.
Last month at the Australian International Beer Awards, the Birds added Champion Medium Sized brewery and best amber ale for their Sunset Ale to their list of awards. Two Birds didn’t miss the craft beer boat. They are part of the crew hoisting the sails.
– Jenny
Jenny S. loves the magic of fermentation and supports local craft beer alchemy.
Two Birds host a pop-up kitchen on Wednesday 13 July, featuring The Forge pizzeria.
Two Birds Brewery – The Nest
136 Hall Street
Spotswood VIC 3015
www.twobirdsbrewing.com.au
open Thurs-Sunday
