GABS Brewer 2018: Chris Borbas from Green Beacon Brewing Company

What sort of beer are you making for GABS?
We are making an IPA with passionfruit, guava and vanilla. We are also dosing it with lactose (milk sugar) which will give the beer a full bodied, creamy mouthfeel.

What’s it called?
Parfait IPA with Passionfruit and Guava.

Where did the inspiration come from?
We made a Mango Milkshake IPA for our fifth birthday this year, which turned out to be one of our most popular beers to date. On a recent trip to San Diego, we tried an amazing beer brewed with Passionfruit and Guava. So we thought, we not create something that incorporates the best of both!?

Would you still drink craft beer if it was all alcohol-free?
No way! I drink a fair amount of lower ABV beer and I think you need at least a small hit of booze, just to take the edge off after a big week in the brewery.

What’s the dumbest thing you’ve had someone say to you about beer?
We had a Flanders Red (Belgian Sour Red) that was intentionally soured and aged in Penfolds Shiraz Barrels for almost a year. A customer quietly asked “Mate, have you tried this beer? I think it’s gone bad! Tastes a bit like sour red wine.”

The Great Australian Beer Spectapular is on in Melbourne on May 18-20 at the Royal Exhibition Building, Sydney on June 2 at the Sydney Showground and ASB Showgrounds in Auckland on June 30.