Quaffers: West End Brewery gets an upgrade

Kirin's ability to produce and distribute a growing portfolio of Australian and imported beer and cider brands stepped up another level in October with the upgrade of its West End Brewery, Adelaide.

The $70 million upgrade gives the landmark brewery an annual capacity of about 120 million litres of beer as well as a substantial though unstated volume of cider.

Alongside South Australian market leader West End Draught, the facility will produce a range of Kirin brands, including Hahn and Toohey's beers and Guinness and Kilkenny stouts.

The cider plant will produce James Squire Orchard Crush, 5 Seeds and Kirin for national distribution.

The investment and scope of activity at the site underlines the continuing rapid growth of craft beers and ciders. It also reveals Kirin's determination to expand on its estimated 50 per cent share of Australia's craft beer market.

Three Oaks Cider Co Adelaide Hills Apple Cider
★★★★
330ml 6-pack $16.99

Three Oaks Cider, a brand of Vok Beverages, is produced from pink lady, granny smith and red delicious apples grown in the Adelaide Hills. Made much in the style of riesling using neutral yeast and cool fermentation, it provides delicate crunchy, tangy apple flavours with a refreshing granny-smith tartness to the dry finish.

Nomad Brewing Co Sideways Pale Ale
★★★
330ml $4.90

Nomad compensates for the flavour loss of low alcohol (4 per cent) beer by boosting the hops component. The first pleasant impressions of fragrant hoppiness and soft, creamy palate are quickly overcome by intense hops flavours, then again by massive, lingering hops bitterness, which finally outweigh the other elements.