Bryan Baird from Baird Brewing Company in Japan is giving his beer a bit of local fruity flavour.

What beer are you making for GABS?
We are brewing a citrusy pale ale that includes additions of fresh daidai (a fragrant and very tart Japanese citrus fruit). The wonderful citrus character from the fruit (fresh-squeezed juice and peel shavings) we accentuate with ample additions of four varieties of fruit-forward hops (Simcoe, Citra, Sorachi Ace, Chinook).

Does it have a name yet?
We are calling it DaiDai Pale Ale.

Where did the inspiration come from?
We brew a great deal with local citrus fruit and we love the fruit flavours and aromas that come from various hop varieties. We have had great success marrying the fruit character derived from hops with the real flavor, and aroma, of actual fruit. We look forward to introducing the Australian craft beer market to this type of fruited pale ale.

How much effort goes into designing a beer for GABS?
The effort is no more than a labour of love. Were everyone so lucky in their work!

Does GABS give you the chance to go a bit crazy and try something you might not normally brew?
We are pretty adventurous brewers to begin with, but it always is nice to have a additional excuse to concoct something unique.

Does the spectapular bring out a competitive streak?
Not really. It is just fun to participate in events with other passionate brewers and beer lovers and a great opportunity to drink other beers that I would not normally have the opportunity to sample.

Explanation for the unaware: GABS is Great Australasian Beer Spectapular, a beer festival in Melbourne, Australia, from May 24-26 this year where brewers make a beer they’ve never made before and bring it along so the punters can try it. Cool, huh?