Galaxy®, Enigma® & Luna®: Mason Brewing Co.’s Modern Australian DIPA for AUSFest
Guest Blog Post from Mike Mason of Mason Brewing Co.
Following on from our blog post recapping AUSFest Manchester and the HPA Aussie hops you should try, we got in touch with Mason Brewing Co.’s owner and founder Mike to ask if he’d like to tell us his experiences of brewing a special collaboration DIPA with Aether Brewing for AUSFest. We’re delighted to say he said yes! Read on for more…
Introduction: An Unexpected Journey to AUSFest
Three pints of Guinness are pushed towards me across the bar. They have absolutely no head, the internet is down (taking out the card readers), and we end up making a detour to the nearest cash machine. Not exactly the greatest advert for Cornwall. But when Iain and Nick from BarthHaas® visited earlier that day, I wanted to get them out of their hotel room, and the sea view from the pub was worth it. Little did I know that evening would eventually lead to Mason Brewing Co. pouring at AUSFest.
Our author Mike Mason with one of his new serving tanks at the Mason Brewing Co. Taproom in Truro, Cornwall.
Meet Mason Brewing Co.
I’m Mike, the sole brewer and co-founder of Mason Brewing Co., a 700-litre brewery and taproom near Truro in Cornwall. We’re pretty tucked away in the corner of the country, so supplier visits are few and far between. When a brave soul makes the trip, I often try to send them away with some beers as a thank you. I dread to think how many fridges a salesperson needs at home to store all these beers. I never really expected Iain to drink them, let alone effectively become a brand ambassador for our beers!
Fast forward a few months and I got a call I couldn’t believe. We were one of six UK breweries chosen to collaborate with Australian breweries for a series of AUSFest events, alongside breweries such as Northern Monk and Beak. I was absolutely stoked.
The lineup of collabs pouring at the Ausfest events in Manchester, Bristol & London included beers by Beak, Moor, Northern Monk, Saint Monday & Mason Brewing Co.
What Is AUSFest?
So, “just what is AUSFest?” I hear you cry, and rightly so. After my initial excitement subsided, it’s exactly what I asked Iain at BarthHaas® when he pitched the idea to me.
AUSFest was a series of three roadshow events for brewers organised by BarthHaas® and Loughran Brewers Select, celebrating Australian hops from HPA (Hop Products Australia). Across Manchester, Bristol and London, six collaborative beers were showcased alongside guided hop sensory sessions and presentations exploring the Australian hop industry.
As an added incentive, brewers attending could also get their hands on some exclusive AUSFest merchandise. BarthHaas® and Loughran Brewers Select clearly understand how to entice brewers! As well as these three brewer-focused events, our AUSfest collab beers were also going to be offered for simultaneous nationwide launch to bars and venues through the distributor Pivovar. No pressure there then!
The Mason Brewing Co. x Aether AUSFest Collab 'Defying Gravity' DIPA feat. HPA Galaxy® T90, Spectrum Enigma®, & Luna® T90.
Collaborating with Aether Brewing to Create an Australian DIPA
For our AUSFest collaboration beer, we were paired with Aether Brewing in Brisbane and tasked with brewing a Double IPA.
A few emails later, I was on a video call with their Head Brewer, George. His knowledge of Australian hops was immense and his close relationship with HPA really shone through during our conversations.
One standout moment was George’s description of the Spectrum Enigma® flowable. In his words, it could play the “Scotty Pippin role” for punchier, leading hops. He wasn’t wrong. To me, it’s the brewing equivalent of watching a film in 4D without the need for those awful glasses.
Spectrum Enigma® seemed to level up everything around it, and with their own ‘hero saves the day’ moment by Iain and Nick at BarthHaas®, we were able to secure the newly released (and in ultra-high demand) Luna® T90 just in time to play our leading lady. A touch of Galaxy® T90 completed the lineup, and the recipe was complete.
Attendees at AUSfest Bristol listening to the talk given by HPA BarthHaas all about the Australian hop industry.
Why Galaxy® Continues to Impress
Having used Galaxy® hops for several years in our flagship hazy pale ale, Love Letter, I was already familiar with the hop, and that BarthHaas® could deliver when it came to quality.
As a small brewery, hop selection of specific lots is a distant dream to us, so instead we rely heavily on our suppliers to select well for us.
Galaxy had a rollercoaster ride in terms of quality a few years back, but I feel the most recent crop is outstanding and truly back to its best.
How HPA Has Improved Galaxy® Consistency
I attended AUSfest Bristol, and one thing that stood out during the presentation was the level of transparency shown by HPA regarding historic Galaxy® quality issues.
HPA held up their hands and admitted what they got wrong. I was impressed by their honesty, and the quality control measures introduced since then. Because Galaxy® is particularly susceptible to flavour degradation during processing, HPA has moved away from offering individual lot selection.
Rather than slowing production to facilitate selection, the crop is evaluated in its entirety and blended to achieve a more uniform flavour profile. This approach helps ensure brewers receive Galaxy® that consistently expresses the variety’s signature characteristics. HPA’s own sensory and laboratory data also indicates that crops from 2023 onwards have shown improved true-to-type performance and greater consistency between lots. As a brewer, that level of honesty and commitment to improvement was incredibly reassuring.
Looking Beyond Galaxy®: The Future of Australian Hops
Obviously I’ve a fair amount of experience with Galaxy® as a hop from its use in ‘Love Letter’, but working with two other HPA Aussie hops in Enigma® (in Spectrum flowable format), and Luna® T90 opened my eyes to what the wider HPA portfolio can offer.
In my opinion, Galaxy® isn’t a one-off success story. It’s evidence of HPA’s commitment to innovation and ongoing hop development. Having now brewed with a broader selection of Australian varieties, I’m excited to see what comes next.
Mike Mason & Lisa Mason, & Jethro Holman of Loughran Brewers Select share a beer at AUSfest Bristol.
Brewing ‘Defying Gravity’ with Galaxy®, Enigma® and Luna®
We named the beer ‘Defying Gravity’, coming in at an 8.4% Double IPA. It was unapologetically punchy, flavourful, and quintessentially Australian. Melon, coconut and dank tropical flavours flood the palette. The feedback has been great, but even so, having our beer poured at AUSFest events across the country to rooms full of hophead brewers I’ll admit was ridiculously daunting!
Using Hops to Stand Out in a Crowded Craft Beer Market
It’s really tough in this mature craft and competitive craft beer market to truly stand out. It’s becoming harder than ever to create something genuinely different that captures attention.
I don’t think it’s controversial to say we’re at a point of saturation where many styles and hop combinations feel ‘standard’ or familiar. What has impressed me about using Australian hops has been their ability to create a genuine point of difference.
Thanks to the help of George at Aether, ‘Defying Gravity’ as a beer is nothing like anything we have produced, and it sparked conversations with people who’d never tried our beer before, as well as those who’ve supported us from the beginning.
To be able to engage with consumers in this way and generate interest like this is exactly what we’re looking for in our special beers.
What’s Next for Mason Brewing Co & Aether Brewing?
Whilst this started as a one-off virtual collaboration, we’ve been so energised by the response to the beer that both George and I plan to keep this collaboration and beer alive. Aether will be brewing a batch for the upcoming Sydney Beer Week, and I’m planning a rebrew to meet demand. Who knows, maybe a return collaboration in sunny Australia is on the cards…
Ready to Brew with Australian Hops from HPA?
Enjoyed learning about Australian hops from HPA and the AUSFest experience?
Whether you’re looking to contract Australian hop varieties in T90 format, or as advanced hop products for future brews, or purchase on spot, speak to your Loughran Brewers Select sales manager today.
Galaxy®, Enigma®, Luna™ and the wider BarthHaas® HPA portfolio we offer can provide you with opportunity to create distinctive beers that stand out in an increasingly crowded market.
As a thank you for reading, we’re also giving away a limited number of very snazzy AUSFest hats to the first breweries that get in touch via the link below. Grab yours while stocks last!
