A Stickybeak suggested one day, Why don’t we visit the COOPERS BREWERY?
So, with the help from Gae’s organizing skills she arranged and booked our tickets for a tour for 10.30am Tuesday 18th March.
Leaving Milang at 09.00am we had 1 hour 30 minutes to get to the other side of the city to the corner of South Rd and Regency Rd.
Forgoing our biscuits and coffee stop we arrived at the COOPERS BREWERY at 10.27 just in time for the start of the tour.
Donning an orange visitor’s vest, an earphone voice commentary set, we set off for a tour in and around THE COOPERS BREWERY.
Starting back in 1862 when THOMAS COOPER made a tonic for his sick wife the tonic he crafted was so flavoursome that family and friends soon became to appreciate the taste.
Demand grew so great that his passion for brewing became his profession.
Before passing away Thomas handed the reigns of the business he built to his 4 sons which started a proud family tradition that has now spanned 6 generations.
When visiting the BREWERY, one is amazed at the size and it only becomes apparent just how large the brewery is when visiting. It is HUGE.
A very knowledgeable guide in all aspects of brewing beer, showed us around the complex inside and out. He described and explained the process of how beer was made from the MILLING to the MASHING to the WORT separation (meaning the sugar solution emerging) to the KETTLE BOILING (by boiling the wort it produces and forms colour and some of its flavour).
From there it goes on to CLARIFING, meaning, a spinning whirlpool drives the solid particles called TRUBS separating it from the WORT…. Makes sense so far???
Then on to WORT cooling. High temperatures kill yeast so the WORT needs to be cooled before yeast can be added to commence fermentation. This is achieved using a HEAT EXCHANGER in which the WORT is run through channels against a counterflow of cold water.
All water used by COOPERS is sourced from an Aquifer deep below the BREWERY. 5 bores across the site are used which can supply up to 3 million litres of water per day.
A reverse osmosis filtration system is used to bring the water to a high level of purity demanded by COOPERS. The guided tour was very interesting if you are interested in the making of beer.
| Did you know COOPERS make 17 different beers? | |
|---|---|
| · Ocean Ally Ale | · Botanic Ale |
| · Original Pale Ale | · Best Extra Stout |
| · Sparkling Ale | · Vintage Ale |
| · Pacific Pale Ale | · Low Carb Mid |
| · XPA | · Low Carb Dry |
| · Mid Ale 3.5% | · Ultra Light |
| · Australian Lager | · Hazy Ipa |
| · Dark Ale | |
| · Regency Park Red Ale Light Low Alcohol. |
After a small taste of their fine product, we staggered back to the van where we headed to Cafe’ De Vilis family Bakery corner of South Road and Manchester St for lunch.
With our pouches full we started for home but not before stopping at our favourite place ‘MACCAS’ for the traditional soft serve ice-cream kindly donated by Wayne.
The 9 Stickybeaks who enjoyed this adventure were:
George, John, William, Wayne, Norman, Mel, Rob, Tony and myself Gerry.
Next month we are heading to the Cities Main Fire Station for a Stickybeak. If you’re interested please put your name down early as there is only 10 seats on the bus.
Cheers Gerry