Introducing cellarman Alex and 4 Pines beers
Here at The Grounds, we like to align ourselves with people who match our commitment to quality. Enter Manly-based brewery 4 Pines Brewing Company – handcrafted beer brewed naturally. Over at 4P, they value the customer experience and innovation just as highly as we do. That’s why our own cellarman chose to add them to our beer taps. Well, that plus the fact it’s just really good beer (people ‘pine’ for this stuff).
Did we say cellarman? Why yes, that’s Alex – who helps pick the perfect liquid refreshment to accompany your dining experience at The Potting Shed.
Alex and the team recently went for a tour around the 4 pines brewery to really get to know their product and be able to better advise and recommend their products to our guests. They were fortunate enough to see the who process and of course take our trusty photographer Charlotte with them for some super cool snaps.
Hey, have you met Alex?
“My story came from from learning to homebrew at Uni to save money. Then about seven years ago I started getting my mouth around delicious craft beers from Australia, Belgium, USA and many other places. I wanted to try and replicate and originate beers inspired by these small producers. The history of beer fascinates me considering it’s related to the first fermented drink, and how many traditions and cultures and bound together by this frothy liquid. I love that the basis of these cultures is all about drinking with mates! But my main love is the process – learning and working out different ingredients and processes that make up all the different styles. There are close to 300 styles and there is constant stream of knowledge to be gained, it’s an obsession!”
So Alex, while we’ve got you here – what style is 4 Pines?
“4 Pines uses pilsner malt as the main malt in the beer. Pilsner gives dry light biscuity characteristics that deliver a perfect platform for the mix of new world zesty hops from New Zealand and subtle bitter hops from Europe. They also filter the water to replicate the water used in the Cologne region of Germany where the style of Kolsch came from. All this results in a light, flavorsome golden ale!”
So why did you choose 4 Pines Kolsch for the Potting Shed summer menu?
“Having 4 Pines Kolsch on our summer tap list adds a fresh vibrant option thanks to it being a light flavored-packed easy drinking ale. The 4 Pines Kolsch itself (along with all of their drops) has become highly reputable in Sydney’s ever-growing craft beer scene – thanks to their stoic devotion to unwavering quality in their products. This means that every pour of Kolsch at The Potting Shed is crisp and very refreshing. Consistency is valued highly among our staff at The Potting Shed in every facet – from customer service to the high standards of food.”
So Alex, why is sourcing top shelf “homegrown” products important?
“Sourcing a top shelf product like 4 Pines for The Potting Shed literally adds a local flavour to our menu.
An independent family-run business, 4 Pines fits the ethos that we pride ourselves on most here at The Grounds – “providing an unforgettable experience for our customers”. Working side by side with all our local producers means we can deliver an experience that can be called truly local.”
How do you educate the staff on a new beer like this?
“Another big advantage of using local. Our staff were treated to not only an in depth tour of the brewery, but a guided tasting and sensory training! Getting hands-on with new ingredients developed more and more appreciation for the miracle that is… BEER! As a result of seeing the brewing process first hand, our staff now have the ability to tell the 4 Pines story to customers and enhance the drinking experience. Knowledge of raw ingredients, the fermentation and packaging process are invaluable to our focus of providing the best education to all our staff.”
It sounds like a good fit – the 4 Pines culture mirrors The Grounds closely
“Yes, a certain kind of people culture is shared between both companies which equates to a collective policy of producing only the best hospitality. Creating a workplace where staff are vividly passionate about the product and providing the best service seems to be a rare combination nowadays, but it’s clear that 4 Pines and The Potting Shed share this ideal. The welcoming arms filled with cold pints and a winning smile is a simple yet effective combination!”