Taste Master: Freo Craft Beer

#FREOCRAFTBEER

Fremantle is seen by many as the home of craft brewing in Australia. Brendan sets out to give Rich a taste of where it began and where it is today. From just a small handful in the 1980s, there are now over 40 breweries in Western Australia and over 200 in Australia. Nestled port side just south of Perth City, Fremantle is a good starting point for an exploration of Craft Beer in Western Australia. Within walking distance there is an array of craft beer pubs, brew pubs and breweries, serving up good beer and food to boot. A perfect place for a Sunday afternoon.

At Little Creatures Brendan and Rich get hands on in the brewhouse, with a crash course in hops and the basics of flavor from Brewer, Andy Scade.

Next, The Sail and Anchor, where Australian craft brewing is credited to have begun. Also where Brendon tasted his first Craft Beer!

Then across the road to The Monk, a brewpub where they meet beer chef Gerard "Mitch" Mitchell. Mitch gives them a taste of his Brewer's Board, a selection of wort cured Blackwood Valley Beef, Hop Honey and Cheeses made with The Monk's Rauch Beer and another with Feral Brewing's Hop Hog.

Ending at Clancy's Fish Pub, a staunch supporter of local WA brewing. It's here that Rich gets his first taste of Brendan's beer, Feral Hop Hog. Luckily it goes down a treat!

Rich Keam is originally from Portsmouth, UK. He was one of 1000s of entrants to Tourism Australia's Best Jobs in the World campaign. He arrived in Perth in August 2013 to take up his prize job as Taste Master of Western Australia. Eating and drinking his way around the state... Hard job right? You can follow Rich's adventures on www.tastewesternaustralia.com on Twitter @richkeam or Instagram @tastemaster_wa

Brendan Varis is the head brewer and owner of Feral Brewing Co, one of Australia' s top craft breweries. Their award winning beers started out life in the Swan Valley just outside Perth. The original Brewpub still stands on the site, producing quality craft beers, in addition to a larger production brewery in nearby Bassendean. You can follow Brendan @feralbrewer on Twitter or @feralbrewing on Instagram.

Gerard "Mitch" Mitchell is a beer chef and well known in the Australian beer community for his innovative use of beer / brewing ingredients. Through Beersine, he produces quality foods including cheeses, cured meats, honeys as well as creating bespoke ranges and events for individual breweries and venues. You can follow him on Twitter @chefdebeersine.