Brouhaha smashes beer norms with their Strawbarb craft brew

Director of Brouhaha Matt Jancauskas says the beer has a distinct and sour flavour that is pleasing to craft enthusiasts and non-beer drinkers alike.

The beverage features local ingredients and has become Brouhaha’s top-seller.

Maleny’s Brouhaha brewery is ditching hops for harvest with its best-selling ‘Strawbarb’ kettle sour craft beer. Remarkably, the brewery will use enough strawberries to fill Caloundra’s 25m ocean pool.

The immense 32.5 tonnes of fresh local strawberries and 5.2 tonnes of rhubarb will be used in the production this coming year to cater to the demand across its two sites.

The beverage, which has become Brouhaha’s top-seller, also uses lashings of yoghurt from Maleny Dairies.

Director of Brouhaha Matt Jancauskas said that the Strawbarb buyers included a higher percent of women and a broader age range.

“It’s anti-tradition when it comes to beer - both in how we make it and the resulting flavour profile - which is where I think the appeal comes from and why it’s enjoyed by such a vast range of our consumers,” said Matt.

“It’s sweet on the nose, dry and wildly refreshing and has a sour finish to it. We are often told by our patrons who aren’t usually beer drinkers that the Strawbarb was their introduction into the world of craft beer.”

“It’s indicative of the Queensland heat in that it's a real thirst quencher and also pairs well with rich chocolatey desserts by acting as a cleanser and cuts through the creaminess of cheeses ... the truth is, it goes with just about anything!”

Inspired by honey mead, the Strawbarb is brewed with the same four ingredients as a typical brewed beer including barley and wheat, though it differs when the yoghurt is added to create live lactobacillus.

“With the Strawbarb, we have to contract enough strawberries and rhubarb from farmers around Maleny, Caloundra and the coast - which is a unique challenge!” said Matt.

• In addition to Maleny, Brouhaha’s second Sunshine Coast venue is now open and is located at 1 Edison Crescent, Baringa. To learn more please visit brouhahabrewery.com.au.