PRIMARY FLAVOURS

• Passionfruit
• Citrus
• Berry
• Smooth

Story

You could say that Wolf of the Willows (WOTW) co-founder Scott McKinnon was destined to be brewing something given that he helped his dad make homebrew ginger beer as a kid. But like so many in the beer industry, Scott and his wife, Renae, only entered the brewing game late in the piece, with their love of beer no doubt and Renae's experience in wine and drink marketing convincing them to take the plunge from backyard brewers to going commercial.

In 2014, Scott and Renae dropped their first beer (the XPA), and it didn't take long before they found a little brewing space, hooking up with renowned Melbourne brewer Bad Shepherd, until in 2020 they found their own taproom at Mordialloc.

Besides the beers, what defines Wolf of the Willows is the collabs, led by the long-running Barrel Exchange program (also known as the Wolf Release) that involves a two-way movement of oak casks with Tasmania's Lark Distillery. This series has produced both fascinating beers matured in whisky barrels and whiskies matured in beer barrels (and plenty of interesting drinks in between).

Oh, and the name? Wolf of the Willows comes from a story about a Roman naturalist who first identified the hop vine. The hop was described as wild and untamed, twining and choking the willows, taking them down like a wolf to the flock. They were named Lupus Salictarius, Latin for Wolf of the Willows.

The original beer that first put WOTW on the beer map, the XPA is an extra pale ale that trades in some extra hoppy fragrance without the necessary hoppy bitterness (or alcohol kick).

Crafted using a rather traditional aromatic combo of Mosaic, Galaxy, and Eclipse hops, this brew manages to have plenty of the passionfruit and citrus hoppy notes that we know and love in modern pale ale styles, but it finishes pretty clean and moderate rather than a punch in the face.

Crisp and easy drinking, but with a sneaky dose of hoppy goodness, it's no surprise that over a decade later this XPA is still the Wolf of the Willows hero brew.

Specs

PAIRING GUIDE

The team at Wolf of the Willows brewery is flying the flag for Mordialloc in Victoria, and making a heck of a splash on the Aussie craft beer scene as they go. This XPA is all the proof you need of their skill and passion for producing top quality beer - it’s deliciously hoppy and bright, and the perfect match for hearty, homemade food to share with friends. We loved how well this paired with spicy meats like chorizo, and it’s also going to be great with rice-based dishes including paella, risotto and biryani. Battered fish, grilled pork chops, homemade pizza, breaded chicken and Thai-style salads with peanuts and chopped chilli will also work a treat.

RECIPE MATCHES

• Simple Chorizo Risotto
• Chicken Mole