GABS Brewer: Jim Matranga from Golden Bear Brewing Company in New Zealand

What beer are you making for GABS?
I have brewed a Belgian style ale with local peaches, licorice, and coriander seed. The beer has a smokey flavour derived from frying some of the peach slurry.

Does it have a name yet?
Still working on a name. ‘‘Smokin Peach-fuzz Licker’’?….nah.

Where did the inspiration come from?
My love of Belgian beers and my past success in using ‘‘Black Boy’’ peaches and licorice.

Do you think it’ll be a one-off or are you considering adding it to the range after GABS?
Ninety-five per cent of beers brewed at Golden Bear are one-off beers. That’s what we do here.

What do you think of the concept of GABS?
I have fun making beers for GABS and plan to continue as long as I’m invited. The remarkable variety of brewed offerings shows just how much passion for the craft there is out there. Beer, as the entries to GABS attest, is really less defined than people think. I love being involved in the exploration of what can happen.

The Great Australasian Beer Spectapular (aka GABS) is on in Melbourne on May 23-25, 2014.