What kind of ale might Williamstowners have been drinking 150 years ago?
That’s the question Williamstown publican Scott Meager aims to answer.
While planning the 150th anniversary celebrations for his Steam Packet Hotel, Mr Meager decided to create a commemorative beer at a local brewery and hold a Williamstown Heritage Beer and Cider Festival.
“It started as an idea to get a craft beer made in a style that may have been made in the 1800s,” he said. “I mean, if you had been to the pub in 1863, what style of beer would you have been served?”
Mr Meager collaborated with Jayne Lewis of Two Birds Brewing in Yarraville and last week they started a labour-intensive 13-hour process to come up with an answer.
Mr Meager hopes the November 23 Willy Beer Fest will become an annual event.
“Twenty-five breweries, cider-makers and wineries have agreed to take part.”
Hobsons Bay council and the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce are supporting the event, which is helping raise money for the EJ Whitten Foundation.
