Carrickalinga on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula may be short on shops but the town does boast impressive views of the surrounding white sandy beaches.
It was those views, as seen from Ben Hatcher's parents' farm, that convinced the avid homebrewer an old shearing shed would make the perfect place for a new brewery, one that could entice tourists and holidaymakers as effectively as some of the surrounding wineries.
That was around four years ago and the brewery has only just opened this month. It turns out converting an old shearing shed into a licensed venue is a project that can move at a fairly glacial pace, as much due to council paperwork as actual construction. That long process came to an end on Friday, November 9, when final approval came through and allowed the Forktree family to welcome customers the very next day.
"Getting people into the venue and getting them seeing what we've created over the last few years, we couldn't ask for more really," Ben says.
For its next stage, Ben's plan for the brewery is for it to, well, become a brewery. Currently, the first Forktree beers are being brewed down the road at Smiling Samoyed in Myponga and the rest of the bar's taps are filled with beers from other South Australian breweries.
But, while there's still a bit of road left to travel, given the brewery is up and running we thought it was the perfect time to find out more from Ben as part of our ongoing Who Brews? series.
Forktree Brewing Co
Who are you?
Ben Hatcher: brew guy, flag flyer and owner.
Where do you brew?
We currently contract brew with our mates at the Smiling Samoyed in Myponga. We’re planning on getting our own brewery set up at our facility in Carrickalinga within the first 12 months of operation.
Why do you brew?
I think the main thing for me is the creative process. The ability to work within the scientific processes related to brewing and then being able to create something that is a reflection of our brand.
What beers have you released to date?
We have our Sunrise Pale Ale and Sunset Red Ale out in the market at the moment.
Of those, what's your personal favourite?
I’ve got three kids and if you asked me that question of them I’d say that all three have their own personality and they’re all my favourite. Same thing with the beers!
What’s the inspiration behind the brewery name?
Forktree Estate used to span quite a way along the coastline of the West Fleurieu Peninsula and the shearing shed that we have converted into the brewhouse facility was the main shearing shed for the estate; we wanted to reinvent what was an icon in the local area.
It’s also located on Forktree Road so makes it easy for people to find it...
Was there a beer or a moment that set you on the path to becoming a brewer?
Talking to the ex Chief Information Officer (who is from Portland, Oregon) at the university I work at about brewing started me thinking about it and then getting a brewing kit the Christmas of 2013 pushed it along.
One night when I was brewing, I had a six pack of Karl Strauss Tower 10 (after mainly drinking Tooheys Extra Dry or Hahn Superdry). Once I had a couple of those that sealed the deal.
What beers are in your fridge right now?
Mine… with all the money going in to the business I can’t really afford to buy any other beer at the moment.
In saying that, I will generally have beers from the local South Australian breweries in there – it’s great quality and you've got to support local.
What would be your desert island beer?
Big Shed F-Yeah APA or Smiling Samoyed 12 Paws pale ale.
If your brewery was a band, who would it be?
Angus and Julia Stone – Australian, fresh and chilled out.
Where do you hope your brewery will be ten years from now?
I’d like to see the brewery and venue be a major tourist attraction for interstate and overseas visitors to showcase everything that’s great about the West Fleurieu in South Australia as well as being something the local community is really proud of. I’d also like to have a separate production facility to keep up with demand.
Where can people find your beers?
The best place to try the beers is to visit us in Carrickalinga, where we also have guest beers on tap. You can also mainly find the beers in the south of Adelaide and around the Yankalilla district.
You can visit the team at Forktree by heading to 935 Forktree Road, Carrickalinga.
Will Ziebell is a history graduate who knows more about The Wire than he does about beer. He was awarded the AIBA Best Media trophy for 2018; HBO have told him to please send his fan mail elsewhere. He can be found on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
The beer(s) or moment(s) that turned you on to good beer:
Spending time living in the UK (and backpacking across Europe) when I was 21 certainly gave me a better understanding of the beer and different styles of the world. But I'd say it was a holiday to the High Country a little while later when lunch and a tasting paddle at Bridge Road Brewers created an obsession with Australian breweries and locally made beer.
You've got three beers to turn someone else on to good beer; what are they and why?
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Boatrocker's Miss Pinky: It's a raspberry-packed Berliner Weisse that neither looks or tastes the way many people conceive of beer.
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Bad Shepherd Hazelnut Brown: A luscious mix of chocolate and hazelnut that can appeal to the sweet tooth within us all.
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Stone & Wood Pacific Ale: As the father of my oldest friend once said to me: "It's the perfect refreshing pint that smells like they've loaded it with the God's herb."
The last beer you enjoyed:
Garage Project's DFA while sitting at the bar at Miss Moses as the sounds of The Rolling Stone drifting in the background.
Three things that represent you:
- Bruce Springsteen
- Ken Burns
- The State Library of Victoria
