Finding a Referend beer outside of New Jersey would be win, let alone Australia! We can’t stress enough that this was a super rare and amazing opportunity to get full access to this cult artisan producer.
A couple years ago ‘’the Bens’’ left the rest of us to go galivanting across America drinking all the great beer they could get their hands on. One of the absolute highlights was the dregs of a beer from The Referend Bier Bendery stall at Modern Times’ Festival of Funk. Once that wild liquid touched their lips, their eyes widened, pupils dilated, and they knew they just had to share this with Australian beer lovers!
What is still a small operation, was even smaller then, so when the Bens approached founder and blender, James Priest, about flying his wares overseas he just ‘didn’t have [the volume]’. In fact, he barely had enough for the festival stating ‘I just wanted a holiday’.
Over the years, the thought of an Aussie presence clearly never left James’ mind, and Referend never left ours. We were pleased have the opportunity to directly import some of these fine brews in bottle and keg for their Australian premier!
Referend are a 100% spontaneous fermentation brewery, from Pennington, New Jersey - although are in the process of moving to their new home; a farm in Kutztown, PA. They utilise local grain and fruit, and barrels galore; think French & Hungarian oak wine barrels, Port barrels, Buffalo Trace barrels, Rye Whisky barrels, Absinthe barrels (!), Apple Brandy barrels, more barrels... and a combination of them depending on the beer! These beers are a true labour of love with most of them taking 2 or 3 years (or longer) to produce.
We managed to score quite the haul of these spontaneous beauties, showcasing 10 wild ales on tap as well as featuring 12 of their bottles for sale in the bottleshop and online.
We can’t stress enough that this was a super rare and amazing opportunity to get full access to this cult artisan producer. Finding a Referend beer outside of New Jersey would be win, let alone Australia! It’s doubtful they will ever have enough beer to send us another pallet – in other words, once it’s gone, it’s gone!
SHOP REFEREND HERE
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The Referend Bier Blendery
407 Old Route 22,
Kutztown, PA, USA
