The Naremburn brewpub is something of a local favourite, producing a very limited amount of beer, mostly for their own venue.
The Flat Rock brewery is in the basement of their beer cafe. Their approach to beer draws on British brewing tradition with many of their English styles brewed to be served on hand pump.
The venue combines their own beer with a range of craft beer on tap and a very strong bottle list. For many who have an affinity for Flat Rock though, it’s their own beer that’s the draw.
Very Small Batch
When it’s referred to as small batch, it’s very small batch; up to 200 litres at a time (that’s just four of the kegs you see standing alongside pub walls). In fact the system has a lot in common with what home brewers are familiar with. But as home brewers will testify, that does not limit creativity. In fact, if anything, it necessitates it.
Flat Rock have a strong history of cask ale, given their British influence to beer making. In producing this type of beer they draw on CAMRA’s (the Campaign For Real Ale) guidelines in order to create an authentic product. But they also package in kegs and have dabbled with barrels in the past.
This diverse approach to brewing works for a small brewery that has the agility to experiment with different styles. An English-style bitter is well suited to a cask but a West Coast IPA works a bit better in keg.
The brewery has also been a training ground for the likes of Topher Boehm, now the co-owner, brewer and blender of Wildflower Brewing & Blending, and Vincent de Soyres, co-owner and head brewer of Frenchies.
Flat Rock beers don’t get out and about around the city much, so you’ll need to visit the brew pub in order to try them.
Beers:
- English Bitter
- Red Rye IPA
- Pale Ale
- Imperial Stout
- English IPA