Everyone loves summer, and everyone loves a summer ale! Today, we have one brought to us by Gage Roads, a craft brewer hailing from Australia that had it's start in 2002 and has briefly gone public on the Australian Securities Exchange under the name of Good Drinks Ltd in 2006 from 2024, distinguishing itself as one of the few listed Australian breweries in history! 

Founded by two brothers, Bill and John Hoedemaker, Gage Roads takes its name from the strip of ocean that separates Rottnest Island and Fremantle. While John was running a ceramic tile adhesive business, his brother Bill and future managing director Peter Nolin was already brewing up a successful career at the Sail & Anchor pub in Fremantle.

Brothers Bill (left) and John (Right) Hoedemaker.

Bill's love of beer and experience finally allowed him to strike out on his own with his brother, and the two brothers managed to secure a $25,000 credit card loan, which they promptly used to purchase some salvaged secondhand equipment that was squeeze into a former margarine factory!

In 2009, Woolworths Limited invested $2 million for a 25% stake in the company, an investment that facilitated the acquisition and installation of a modern 100-hectolitre brewhouse from Krones (a German manufacturer), significantly expanding Gage Roads' production capacity to 2.2 million cases annually.

However, they managed to get this share back. How? In 2015, Gage Roads revitalized its core craft beer range by introducing three new year-round brews significantly boosting sales and allowing the company to regain its independence in late 2016 by repurchasing Woolworths stake.

Through the years, it's done quite well for itself. Not only did it become one of Australia's largest independent breweries, their awards just kept on coming. Their 'Little Dove' pale ale earned the prestigious Champion Australian Beer title at the 2016 Australian International Beer Awards, building on their runner-up position for Champion Large Brewery in 2015.

Sixteen years after their first beers, Gage Roads opened what it calls its 'spiritual home' in January 2022, transforming the historic A Shed on Fremantle's Walyalup Waterfront. The 1,500-capacity venue now houses a 25-hectolitre brewery with scenic harbor views for all craft beer enthusiasts to drop on by.

As a cherry on top, the brewery also believes in giving back to the community that built it. Employing around 240 people, Gage Roads has allowed them to invest in itself, with 20% of shares being employee owned.

So how does its beer taste? 

Gage Roads Single Fin Summer Ale, 4.5% - Review

Before we start, what's a summer ale? Well, it's more of a blanket term than anything else, but the general consensus that such a name must be bestowed upon a beer that's malty, golden-hued, possess milder flavors, have a lower ABV, more carbonation and fruity/floral flavours and aromas.

In this particular case, the Gage Roads Single Fin Summer Ale comes in at a low 4.5% ABV, created with a marriage of Galaxy, Cascade and Enigma hops. According to the brewery, the malts used within are Pale, Wheat and Crystal malts.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Gold

Aroma: Bright and light fruity scents of apricots and pineapples. There’s a base of honey here too, along with just a slight rice cracker quality to it. Really fresh and inviting.

Taste: Much fuller here, it’s medium-bodied yet with a nice moderate richness to it. It’s a mix of honey, apricots, peaches, pineapples and a slight grassy quality. They all come together nicely, fresh, bright, and whilst it’s quite well saturated and flavour forward, it’s not heavy, making it really approachable and sessionable. There’s just a bit of dankness into the finish with some diesel and pine.

Finish: The richness powers into the finish. Those honeyed fruits of apricots, peaches and pineapples carry all the way through. Clean, crisp yet rich finish, with just a slight lingering fruitiness.

My Thoughts

A really sessionable beer that’s fresh, juicy, fruity with a good amount of richness that makes for something light enough, flavourful, and incredibly refreshing for a day time pint (preferably by the beach).

This was really all rounded with a richness that carried all the way through to the finish, along with all those juicy fruits of apricots, peaches and pineapples. There’s a nice mix of honey, rice crackers and alittle bit of grassiness that gives it more complexity than you’d expect, really punching above its weight. Yet it’s not particularly dank, keep itself bright and fruit driven. The finish is clean and crisp, yet rich, with the fruits persistent even after the sip.

A solid summer ale from Gage Roads!

*Suspiciously racoon-like noises*

Contributed by @Definitelynotthreeracoons