Stu McKinlay from Yeastie Boys in New Zealand

What beer are you making for GABS?
We’ve made a wild fermented version of Pot Kettle Black, that’s currently sitting in the same Pinot Noir Port barrels that we used to ferment PKB Remix 2014.

What’s it called?
It’s called Not Kettle Black.

Where did the inspiration come from?
Rather than inspiration, it was born of frustration. A few years ago we had wild yeast issue that resulted in us dumping a batch of Pot Kettle Black and another of Gunnamatta.

We’d already bottled these beers and, having kept a case of each, I was blown away by how beautifully they evolved over the years. So fruity, bone dry while still maintaining a great malt character, and not at all bitter. Difficult to pour into a glass but incredibly easy to drink once the beer had vented its angry carbonation.

In a wonderful moment of serendipity, a pallet that we’d forgot to dump was uncovered while moving some other things and we’d just emptied some Pinot Noir Port barrels… eureka! I just wished we’d discovered a Gunnamatta pallet as well! And had some empty Chardonnay barrels for it to go into.

For those who might over-indulge, do you have a suggestion for a post-GABS hangover remedy?
Get Mike at The Catfish, Fitzroy, to make you a Bloody Mary. It’s just a couple of hundred metres from the venue and what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger. If that doesn’t work, then Sparrow’s Philly Cheese Steaks (who trade within The Catfish) will fortify you for another session.

Finally, finish this sentence, craft beer is …
… Beer made by people who love other people’s beer too! Beware the craft brewer who doesn’t hook into loads of other beers in a week as wonderful as Good Beer Week.

The Great Australasian Beer Spectapular is at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne on May 22-24 and Australian Technology Park, Sydney on May 30.