PRIMARY FLAVOURS

• Elderflower
• Herbal
• Aromatic
• Crisp

Story

For a region that is rather famous for food and wine, it seemed wrong that Orange didn't have a brewery in the NSW Central Ranges. Sure, you can say that about many country towns, but Orange seemed ripe for it. Or at least that's what Jon Shiner thought when he packed in his Sydney corporate world to open Badlands Brewing in 2010.

In the years since, Orange's star has shone, and Badlands has become a trailblazer, now delivering a welcome shot of craft beer in the heart of wine country without ever trying to be a big brewery.

Indeed, Jon still crafts in 1000-litre handmade batches, which feels like nothing in an Australian beer world where even Coopers have a minimum batch size of 65,000 litres.

Uniquely, it was English-styled brews that Jon first started brewing at Badlands, too, and they continue to mark the s range today. English Porters, Scottish Ales, "Mids' and more litter the tap lineup at the Badlands brewpub in Orange, mixed in with a more modern array of hop-forward IPA and Pale Ales.

Stir in a little English humour (the alcoholic ginger ale is called 'Only a Ginger') and you have a range of craft beers with a real personality.

The New World part of this Pilsener comes from the Kiwi Sauvin hops, which sounds awfully close to Sauvignon (as in Sauvignon Blanc, the white grape heroed in NZ) and give a really floral, grassy gooseberry edge. There's plenty of grassy elderflower, grapefruit and passionfruit in this cleansing brew, too, in a style that feels clean and crisp but with a sense of hop-shaped purpose with more bitterness than you might see in an everyday lager and the refreshment to match.

Specs

PAIRING GUIDE

We love a well-crafted pilsener - there’s something about this crisp, simple, straightforward beer style that, when done well, is simply unbeatable. This refreshing number from Badlands Brewing is an absolute stunner, and it’s a food-friendly release that’s guaranteed to satisfy the senses. We loved it with street food classics ranging from doner kebabs to southern fried chicken, smashed burgers, currywurst and fish ‘n’ chips, but it’ll work equally well with your best butter chicken recipe, a seafood grill and a huge plate of loaded fries. Gorgeous!

RECIPE MATCHES

• Pork and Apple Burgers
• Berlin-Style Currywurst
• Sesame Tofu Kebabs