Freo’s craft beers raise the bar
Fremantle’s beer-loving history peaked during the goldrush era in the late 1800s, when almost every corner had a ‘public house’. More than a century later, the drinks are still pouring at some of these grand, old-school pubs, while a new wave of bars and breweries flows through the streets of Freo.
Australia's first craft brewery was founded in Fremantle in 1984, when Matilda Bay Brewing Company converted a hotel on South Terrace into the Sail & Anchor, because nobody would stock their small-batch beers. Little Creatures followed in 2000, before more recent additions such as Gage Roads, Calamity’s Rod and Running With Thieves.
“Craft beer owes a lot to WA in this country,” says Tom Fisher, whose family opened Clancy’s Fish Pub in the 1990s, supporting local brewers through its Whale (W.A. Ale) Bar concept.
“We were rather ground-breaking and visionary in this area. The scene was very much in its infancy, and brewers like Nail Ale, Feral, Last Drop and others have mentioned that without Clancy’s they may not have made it through those early years. We still have strong ties with these brewing pioneers. I believe we were the first external Little Creatures tap too.”
WA craft beer has come a long way over the past three decades and will continue to evolve in its birthplace, according to Gage Roads brewer Cam Parker.
“The more the industry pushes the envelope on flavour and creativity, the greater the evolution will occur,” he says. “When craft beer first exploded, a hoppy pale ale was considered outrageous and the benchmark for artisanal brewing. We still love a good pale ale, but now we are surrounded by weird and wonderful beers, such as wild-fermented saisons, barrel-aged imperial stouts and milkshake IPAs. It’s fun, inspiring and always interesting.”
WA Beer Week (3-12 June 2022)
This year, WA Beer Week is kicking off in Fremantle, with the opening party at Gage Roads Freo.
“It’s an awesome opportunity to come down, check out our new digs and watch container ships roll into the Freo port while you’re knocking back a few local brews,” says Parker. “A heap of WA’s best breweries are coming together for the event, all bringing special limited-release kegs of their new brews. I can’t wait to catch up with brewers from all over the state and enjoy what they’ve been working on. For us at Gage Roads, we’ll be pouring our new limited-release for the first time, so I can’t wait to see what everyone thinks about it.”
Gage Roads Freo will also host After Hours Brewery Tours between 3-12 June. Other local WA Beer Week events include South Fremantle Brewing’s launch of its 2022 imperial stout at a five-course dinner of beer and food pairings at La Cabana (8 June). Little Creatures is partnering with Busselton’s Shelter Brewing Co for a four-course beergustation (June 9) and will also offer a brewing experience in conjunction with Liquor Barons.
Beerporium will teach people about cooperage at Barrel Roll (3 June). Tickets include a tasting paddle, food, live music and the release of Impi’s barrel-aged beers.
South Fremantle Brewing is stepping into Perth for one night to promote its new “collab brew” with a classic house party at Ruinbar (June 4). North Fremantle liquor store, Old Bridge Cellars will launch “Brekky Scroll Pastry Stout” – (10 June) its wintery collab with Beerfarm and Stomp Coffee.
Cheers!
Stay up to date with more local WA Beer Week events at What’s On.
