When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Or in Hamish Coates' case, you make tons and tons of beer.

Fresh out of university with a geology degree in hand, Hamish originally had his sights set on a lucrative career in the mining field as an expert geologist. But fate, it seems, had other plans. The mining industry was in a slump in the 2010s, and Hamish found himself back on his family's humble dairy and cattle farm in Jindong, Western Australia.

Hamish and his wife, Mel.

This unexpected turn of events might have discouraged some, but Hamish saw an opportunity. He decided to pick up an online degree on brewing and get some experience as an assistant brewer at Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co just half-an-hour’s drive away from the family farm. After seeing that the dairy industry was struggling too, Hamish convinced his father to convert a corner of the farm into a commercial brewery in 2017.

And so, Rocky Ridge Brewing was born. What started as a small operation quickly gained momentum, fuelled by Hamish's dedication and the growing thirst for quality craft beer. In seven years, Rocky Ridge has experienced an astonishing thirty-fold increase in production, going from a modest 50,000 litres to an impressive 1.5 million litres annually. This remarkable growth has propelled Rocky Ridge into the ranks of Western Australia's major breweries. The brewery has also made a name for itself in the international market. Each year, nearly 150,000 litres of Rocky Ridge's brews make their way to Southeast Asia.

Even as Rocky Ridge Brewing flourishes, the Coates family hasn't forgotten its roots. The farm continues to operate as a dairy and cattle farm, with Hamish's brother Colin at the helm. Their story reflects a growing trend in the Australian craft brewing industry's move towards farm-to-glass elements.

For Hamish and the team at Rocky Ridge, it's not just about brewing great beer—it's about brewing it right. Local production is at the heart of their ethos. The Coates family has been farmers on the same land for over five generations. Naturally, they feel deeply embedded in their community and strongly believe in supporting local producers and community groups.

Sustainability isn't just a buzzword at Rocky Ridge; it's woven into the fabric of their operations. The brewery goes above and beyond, growing its own hops and a significant portion of its barley, capturing wild yeast from the air, and even harvesting rainwater. In recognition of their efforts, Rocky Ridge recently became Australia’s first Certified Sustainable and Carbon Neutral brewery!

The Coates have been farming on the same land for over 100 years.

Given his family's deep-rooted connection to the land, Hamish is acutely aware of the importance of protecting the environment and using produce farmed with minimal impact. Yet their path to sustainable brewing and sourcing wasn't without its challenges. Located in Jindong, a place Hamish describes as "in the middle of bloody nowhere," the team initially faced skepticism about their ability to grow hops. Undeterred, they experimented and experimented, eventually figuring out how to cultivate a range of hops, including Cascade, Chinook, Saaz, Goldings, POR, Red Earth, and Supa Alpha, all fertilized by manure from the farm's dairy. This commitment to self-produced hops isn't just good for the community; it also translates to fresher ingredients and a fresher beer.

All of the above measures allowed Rocky Ridge to slash its carbon footprint by a remarkable 80% compared to conventional methods.

This year, Rocky Ridge took another giant leap towards sustainability by acquiring Thunder Road Brewery on Australia's Eastern coast in Melbourne. This strategic move allows Rocky Ridge to brew its beers closer to the major population centres in the eastern states, removing the need to ship beer across the vast Australian continent – a significant source of carbon emissions.

Unlike Thunder Road which focuses on straightforward, classic styles, Rocky Ridge is best known for its experimental, collaborative approach to brewing. The team's releases over 100 new brews a year, ranging from juicy IPAs and silky-smooth oat cream hazies to funky sours and complex barrel-aged creations. One of their standout beers is the award-winning Jindong Balling, a barleywine aged in bourbon barrels that boasts rich flavours of caramel, toffee, and dried fruit.

Even with their rapid growth and expansion, Rocky Ridge remains true to its roots. It sees itself as a small, independent, family-owned business with no outside investors calling the shots. Decisions are made based on what's best for their team, their community, and the planet. It's this sense of purpose that sets them apart and makes their beers taste even better.

Recently, I had the pleasure of tasting one of Rocky Ridge's latest creations at Brewlander's Brewnanza beer festival in Singapore.This is a Milkshake IPA, made from 2 kinds of malts, 2 kinds of wheat and malted oats, and then fermented with additional lactose and vanilla.

Let’s give it a try!

Rocky Ridge, Really Really Ridiculously Good-Tasting Sexy Milkshake IPA, 7% ABV – Review

Tasting Notes

Nose: Creamy and indulgent, leading with a pronounced coffee creamer and milk powder scent. Vanilla adds another layer of sweetness, while citrus zest and light floral hop notes peek through, offering a subtle counterpoint.

Palate: The entry is smooth and creamy, opening with classic IPA notes of pine and citrus along with a smooth hazy IPA or mango smoothie-like texture. Orange peels and passionfruit shine through, balanced by a very mild hoppiness. Mid-palate, the beer quickly transitions towards sweet cream and a full cream milk sweetness, which substantially blunts and softening the sharp hoppiness and robustness of the IPA.

Finish: Somewhat dry, with a lingering piney zing and a distinct sap-like note. A milk powder aftertaste remains for a while longer.

My Thoughts:

This is a very creamy and indulgent take on the IPA style. I appreciate the robustness of the beer and yet the thick hazy texture and lactose has does a fantastic job softening the usual sharpness and hoppiness of this rather strong IPA (7% ABV).

The lactose makes this deceptively easy to drink; without it, this might even be labelled a Double IPA. The way it evolves towards a pronounced milkiness halfway through is both delightful and a bit quirky. Though the intense milkiness might not be for everyone, it's an undeniably playful and flavourful beer.

Rating: 6.5/10

@CharsiuCharlie