Brews, Blues and Boogie – treat dad this father’s day

A few years back, home brewing was all the rage but there weren’t very many success stories, rather tales of bitter, undrinkable, backyard brews that left a bad taste in your mouth and potentially, a rotten headache next morning!

Then, all across Australia, boutique breweries started popping up, releasing ‘craft beers’ for the savvy beer connoisseur, aka hipsters. True, there are a few of these beers worth drinking but many of them are not widely available and certainly not available locally.

Fortunately, a hero is among us. Daryl Levy, proprietor of Silky Oak Tea Gardens Crafty Brewery in Kia Ora is brewing his own craft beers and apple cider on-premise. And yes, they taste great! And yes, they are preservative free, so if you drink a few too many, you won’t wake up with a dreaded headache.

Daryl Levy and his partner Helen Dean have been running Silky Oak Tea Gardens for more than 20 years.

“I have always had a strong association with beer – either from one side of the bar or other,” chuckled Daryl.

“It makes sense to offer our very own beer because we wanted to provide our clientele with something different from conventional beer and cider.

“Due to the size and nature of the place, being able to offer these boutique beers was a logical extension on what we already have,” he said.

Five beers and one apple cider are currently available on tap. I was fortunate enough to sample a few – a great afternoon at work! Here are my thoughts (from an uneducated but experienced beer drinker).

Tap number one – Working Man’s Gold (mid strength)

This is a refreshing ale, light in colour, thirst quenching. Delicious. Daryl says it’s the perfect beer to enjoy after a hard day’s work.

Tap number two – Small Batch Pale Ale (full strength)

Brewed using imported ‘Rakau’ and ‘Motueka’ New Zealand hops, this is probably my favourite. It offers a sharp citrus taste, a hint of passionfruit and grapefruit. Very enjoyable.

Tap number three – Mash Brown Ale (full strength)

This is a dark beer with a rich, malty texture. Dark beer can be an acquired taste but this one is particularly good, so if you’re not usually a dark beer drinker, this one is definitely worth a try.

Tap number four –  Stoned Pilly (full strength)

A sharp tasting Pilsner. Yummy!

Tap number five – Hop Premium Lager (full strength) I am really enjoying myself at this point!

This one is a little bit fancy. Daryl said, ‘It’s a keeper, it’s a classy beer and very popular.

“The customers drink me dry on the weekends, they all get stuck at tap number five!” he laughed.

Tap number six – Apple cider (full strength)

Crisp, light, refreshing, lovely. This cider is quite remarkable. Brewed using pressed apples, Daryl explained, “It’s a popular choice for the ladies but also enjoyed by blokes who want to try an alternative to beer.”

I asked Daryl the secret to making such delicious beer and cider…

“Essentially, to brew a good beer, you must treat it like you are cooking a good stew or curry. Wait a few weeks before tapping it, age it to ensure the best flavours develop, mellow and mature.”

So there you have it folks – next time you are driving past, don’t. Stop in and try one of Daryl’s brews. Helen whips up a great lunch and dinner too.

Silky Oak Tea Gardens and Crafty Brewery are open for lunch seven days a week and dinner every Wednesday through to Saturday.

Don’t forget, every Sunday between 12 noon and 4pm, you can enjoy live music and lunch. Sunday September 2 is Father’s Day and is no exception. Book a table and take dad out for lunch, great live music and a few beers. The next legendary Friday Full Moon ‘Pig on the spit’ will be Friday September 28 from 7pm.