FROM TANK TO TAP
With a love of brewing and a thirst for beer sourced straight from tank to tap, Kyle Pearson and his team created Alice Springs Brewing Co (ASBC), becoming one of the Red Centre’s hottest spots to stop in for a cold one.
WORDS ROSIE WILD
FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS in 2018, ASBC’s grown to have something for everyone, with craft beers, a fine selection of “not beer”, including Territory distilled spirits, and a cheerful menu of “food that goes with beer”.
Just south of The Gap and around the corner, this big, bustling, brick venue combines outta-town sanctuary vibes with close-to-town convenience.
“We’re pretty family oriented. People can spread out without being on top of each other, which is great. There’s the beer garden, big tables indoors and out, heaps of areas, and no pokies. We like to keep it all approachable,” Pearson says.
When it comes to beers, they change the on-tap selection almost daily.
“For the hop-heads and beer nerds, like me, we put out seasonal beers monthly. That’s where we get to play around with yeasts, hops and grains.”
Pop on to their website for the full run-down – appearance, aroma, flavour profiles and playful backstories. If you like what you sample, six-packs and cartons are available for takeaway.
“Then we’ve got our iconic beers like The Territorian, crafted for approachability. For our gluten-free friends, we’ve got Oh, Ginger. It’s not too sweet and has a bit of a chilli hum. The stars aligned for us a bit on that one,” Pearson says.
“And we’ve got a stout. We thought we wouldn’t even sell a full keg, but it ended up winning a gold medal. Now we keep canning it, and it’s on tap all year round.”
That’s not the only winner. Just quietly, their walls are lined with over 50 awards.
Sustainability is also part of the brewery’s ethos, though they don’t shout about it. Solar panels, a water recovery system, local ingredients, reduced waste, and strong community support are part of the package.
“We care about all those things a lot, but we like to keep things light-hearted,” says Pearson.
This light-hearted attitude extends to their menu, with categories Start Me Up, Fill Me Up, and You Wanna Pizza Me reflecting food options as well as the signature sense of humour and playfulness the brewery has in spades.
“We get good wraps for our pizzas. I mean, I’ve been eating them for eight years, and I still like them. But we also sell burgers, wings, and fries, with gluten-free and vegan options and stuff for the kids,” says Pearson.
Regular specials include Schnitty Tuesdays, Burger Deal Saturdays, Weekend Brekkies and Cocktail Jug Sundays. Events like Trivia Thursdays and Live Music Sundays bring in locals and visitors alike, and the brewery’s become a must-stop on the touring circuit for many a music act, including the likes of Kingswood and Regurgitator.
Pearson says the brewery was created to offer a relaxed space for all with regular offerings, after his own travel and experience highlighted what the people want.
“I grew up in regional towns, and I know first-hand that we can make the same kind of stuff here that people travel around Australia and the world to enjoy.”
So, pop out to the brewery, celebrate all things casual, cheerful, and good, look up at the range and savour a brew straight from the source. Cheers to that.
With a love of brewing and a thirst for beer sourced straight from tank to tap, Kyle Pearson and his team created Alice Springs Brewing Co (ASBC), becoming one of the Red Centre’s hottest spots to stop in for a cold one.
INFO alicespringsbrewingco.com.au
Image: Yeroc Media
