There's a good chance anyone who's a regular at beer events in Melbourne will have met Haydz Sam. With his broad Kiwi accent, even broader smile and excitability for all things beer, Haydz is a bearded, tattooed man that still stands out in bars and breweries filled with bearded, tattooed men.
Having spent years working for some of the country's larger beer retailers, Haydz has also been at the coalface as those larger stores have started taking a greater interest in local, independent beer too. Talk to him about his love for showcasing new styles and encouraging beer drinkers to expand their horizons and you can't help but feel any pivot to local beer on behalf of the major retailers is made easier by the work of people like Haydz.
With all that in mind, it felt like it was well past time that we featured Haydz as part of our ongoing Beer Nuts series.
Haydz Sam
Occupation
I recently become a stay at home dad so I’d say avid homebrewer with a mini assistant.
Are you nerd, geek, aficionado, snob, wanker or something else?
Would have to say “Beer Appreciator” as I love all facets of the beer industry from the beginning to the end product.
How long have you been afflicted?
Probably a good ten to fifteen years; I've always loved a good beer and when I moved over to this wonderful country in 2006 I worked for the “Big Brands” in Woolworths and Coles Liquor.
It’s always intrigued me seeing what new products and trends were happening and consumers' opinions on what they were purchasing, whether it be locally made or for a bit of nostalgia.
What started you on the slippery slope to craft beer obsession?
I had the chance to attend the Bledisloe of Beer at Foresters Pub and Dining back in 2015, which was a competition between Australia and NZ's best beers.
The 34 taps were all labelled as numbers so as not to give it away and, after tasting that many amazing beers in one session, let's say not only did the music end up sounding amazing but it got me hooked in the scene.
Do you document your consumption? If so, how?
I use a few of the available applications out there like Untappd, Tasting Table and RateBeer but mainly these days to see what others are drinking, if any events are coming up and also where to source particular beer.
I tend to save any upload or check-ins for when I’m not in others' company so I’m not missing out on the time we have together drinking the beers.
Which beers have most blown your mind?
I’m a fan of all beers and styles; I'm a “brew for the mood” type of dude. whether it be a big, hoppy IIPA or a refreshing peach sour.
I’m very interested in complex beers which I know take time to brew and also undergo barrel ageing, such as Hawkers' Barrel Aged Series, Bridge Road's Mayday Hills Range and Rodenbach Flanders Red (pictured below) – all amazing beers with such dedication and patience gone into making them.
And which have been the worst?
Warm beer on a hot day. I have a "don’t hate but appreciate" mentality; as I see it, one person's longneck of Melbourne Bitter is another person's Cantillon Iris and if both those people enjoy what they’ve got, then good on them.
How many beer t-shirts do you own?
I’ve worked it out to about four blankets' worth.
For what I lack in band t-shirts, I’ve made up for it in beer attire that’s for sure: beanies, caps, hoodies and the likes. I also started picking up beer coasters from different events and pubs as a bit a trip down memory lane of the event and beers and recently learned that people that do this are known as tegestologists –, with tegestology “the practice of collecting beer mats or coasters”
How many different types of dedicated beer glassware do you own?
Looking in my kitchen,I've counted 20 different types of glasses I use for beers and I know there’s a couple of boxes hiding in the garage: they’re just so collectable and fancy.
Is any part of your home or workplace a shrine to beer?
I have turned my sunroom into the brewery/bar/peoplecave. The little one's usually running around in there helping me out or watching the rugby with her sippy cup, whilst her dad pours from the Keezer or grabs a brew from the beer fridge.
How many unique beers do you reckon you’ve consumed?
Over 1,500 for sure; I've been able to achieve this by working in the industry, attending tap takeovers, different mixed six-packs or cases and through volunteering at events and such – and the great beermunity.
I like to give back and appreciate all the hard work brewers and their teams go through, not only to get the products out to us but also to create great atmosphere at these events whilst usually sacrificing their own time. So if I'm able to help I’m usually first to chuck a hand up :-) Can pour a beer.
How much money do you spend in an average month on beer and related products (not including kebabs)?
Too much – that's why I'm homebrewing now and keeping this answer pretty minimum so my Minister of War and Finance doesn’t summon me to the war room and dining table.
What is your dream beer?
I have a few I’d like to tick off the “Beerket List” from certain places around the world: US, Europe and Aotearoa.
But my dream beer would be one I either brewed, helped brew or have inspired to be brewed. Sour IPA anyone ? I’ll call it I.Ph.Aydz
To follow Haydz's beer adventures you can check him out on Instagram here.
You can read other Beer Nuts Q&As here and if you'd like to nominate someone for a future feature, get in touch.
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?
-
Boatrocker's Miss Pinky: It's a raspberry-packed Berliner Weisse that neither looks or tastes the way many people conceive of beer.
-
Bad Shepherd Hazelnut Brown: A luscious mix of chocolate and hazelnut that can appeal to the sweet tooth within us all.
-
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
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?
-
Boatrocker's Miss Pinky: It's a raspberry-packed Berliner Weisse that neither looks or tastes the way many people conceive of beer.
-
Bad Shepherd Hazelnut Brown: A luscious mix of chocolate and hazelnut that can appeal to the sweet tooth within us all.
-
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
