Brewing down under

Friday 12 February 2021

A local couple, and a Jersey expat in Australia, will be brewing a new beer together this weekend - despite being 10,000 miles apart.

Leah and Ben of Bliss Brewing Co. and Karl Riseborough of Sydney-based Flat Rock Brew Café have come up with a new recipe using Australian and European hops for the aptly-named ‘G’day m’luv’.

Leah and Ben have been brewing at the back of JB’s since November 2019. The couple had previously spent 10 years brewing in their kitchen and developing their recipes. 

During lockdown last year, they found a way to package their beers in five-litre mini kegs and then, in the New Year, Karl contacted the couple after reading an Express article about them that his parents had sent him. 

Pictured: Karl started Flat Rock eight years ago.

Born and raised in Jersey, Karl left the island at the age of 25. He met his now-wife, who is Australian, whilst travelling through Africa. After further travels through the Middle East, the pair settled in Sydney, where they are now raising their four kids.

Karl started Flat Rock eight years ago after a ‘homebrewing background’ similar to Leah and Ben’s.

“I worked in finance at the same time, and moved full time into the brewery three years ago and haven’t looked back,” he recalled.  

“Flat Rock is a venue in a suburb of Sydney in the Lower North Shore. We are very community-driven and have the support from a large number of local residents. We also try to be as sustainable as possible.” 

Pictured: Karl, Leah and Ben will all be brewing at the same time from their respective kits.

Karl, who brews twice a week on average in his 200L brewing system to supply his venue, suggested a collaboration between Flat Rock and Bliss, and Leah and Ben jumped at the chance for their first collaboration.

Whilst unable to travel, the trio spoke over video calls to concoct a new recipe. The beer will be a hazy New World IPA with Australian hop,‘Galaxy’ as the star flavour, as well European hops to fuse flavours from both areas of the world. 

All three will be brewing in unison with Leah and Ben starting early on Sunday and Karl pulling a late shift on the other side of the world.

Named ‘G’day m’luv’ as a nod to its mixed origins, the beer will be available in five-litre mini kegs from Bliss’ online store and local shops.

Once it is packaged, Leah and Ben will be hosting an online tasting with their friends 10,000 miles away for all those who have bought the beer. 

“We had earmarked this year to make collaborations,” Leah said. “It’s something a bit fun and in these times it’s quite a nice little window into another place while everyone is grounded.”