It's Ipswich in a glass!
IPSWICH brewer Wade Curtis' mission to put his city on the beer drinkers' map has gone to the next level, leaving bar owners bubbling with anticipation.
Keen to provide a refreshment that was light on the alcohol but not on flavour, the 4 Hearts Brewing founder created the Ipswich Challenger, a light-strength but full-bodied pale ale which he hopes local drinkers will sip with civic pride.
"I have always wanted to do a mid-strength or light beer," Mr Curtis said.
"These types of beers are such a huge part of the beer market in Queensland.
"The larger foreign-owned brewers have this market stitched up and what I want to do is to give Ipswich beer drinkers a locally owned option that tastes great."
Having enjoyed a successful "test keg" last week, Yamanto Tavern and Alehouse 24 manager Peter Coultas has already ordered a further eight kegs of the new Ipswich brew.
It will go on tap at Yamanto alongside Mr Curtis' 4 Degrees Pale Ale, Wein Lager, Summer Wheat and IPA.
Several of these beers have been sold on tap at craft beer bars across Ipswich, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
The Brisbane market has been particularly good to Mr Curtis.
Mattea Taylor from the Bitter Suite, a craft beer bar in New Farm, said Brisbane drinkers loved 4 Degrees Pale Ale.
"It has been one of the highest-selling pale ales that we have had on tap here," she said.
"Our clientele are always looking for locally made brews and Wade gets a lot of love for being from Ipswich."
Local pubs like The Strand and The Ulster have also been serving popular 4 Hearts beers on tap.
"It is great to see these fantastic pubs popping up around Ipswich like The Ulster, Stumps, The Strand and Alehouse 24," he said.
"These venues are encouraging people to try all these new beers."
Mr Curtis said his ultimate goal was to have his Ipswich Challenger, pale ale and wheat beer produced in bottles so that it could be sold in bottle shops around the country.
"I would love to have a brewery here in Ipswich or out where I live at Peak Crossing," he said.
WHAT'S ON TAP
- You can also find 4 Hearts Brewing on tap in Brisbane from time to time at The Stones Corner Hotel, The Scratch Bar, Tipplers Tap, The Burrow, The Hideaway, Archive, Bitter Suite
