The classic combination of slow cooked meats and craft beer is a winter festival staple in Jervis Bay, combined with great live music and a “hot wing” challenge, the annual Beer & BBQ Festival in White Sands Park is a great day out. The Huskisson Hotel, aka Husky Pub, has a fantastic line-up this year, and Ben Weldon has previewed some of the highlights for you ahead of the event on Saturday 21 June.
Husky Pub has left no stone unturned in planning a gastronomic day with something to delight all tastes at the Beer & BBQ Festival (tickets $30). Come for the beers, stay for the music and enjoy the BBQ and other food vendors plus some local wines and distilled beverages. Here are some of my favourites that will be available on the day from great local vendors and some from further afield.
Starting with the beers
Old Salt – Known as a distillery and restaurant, but Terry Robinson, the owner, chef, distiller and brewer is making exceptional beers. He will be serving a variety of beers but my two favourites are his absolutely delicious Nitro Milk Chocolate Stout using top quality Belgian chocolate. It has a creamy mouthfeel accentuated by the pouring on nitro, it is smooth, velvety and perfect for this winter weather. The other top pick is the Cherry Kettle Sour with fresh cherry grown in Wombat in regional NSW. This beer plays into the nature of the tartness present in cherry, not overly sour but certainly an exciting beer to try. On the can, Terry has noted, “The beer is sour tart but delightfully refreshing right at the end.”
Jervis Bay Brewing Co – the closest of all the breweries to the event geographically and a local favourite. As well as making amazing beers for a number of years now, they also support the local community. A great way to start the day with the sun shining would be with their Bright Idea XPA (extra pale ale) that is perfectly balanced, not too hoppy, not too dry and very easy drinking.
Dangerous Ales – Dangerous Damo makes some amazingly experimental beers, pushing the boundaries of what you feel is possible to add to a beer. He applies his culinary prowess to create intrigue with balance and flavour. If you are looking for that one choice to enjoy on the day, you can’t go past the Backyard Pale. A smooth pale ale with subtle fruit aromas that has a clean dry finish. For those who are more adventurous, visit the team at Dangerous Ales to see what seasonal and special releases they have on offer.
Some of the other breweries worth visiting on the day include Shoalhaven favourites Cupitt’s Estate and Wombat Brewing, both from Ulladulla, and Husky Brewing from South Nowra, who all make exceptional beers. From further afield, there is Stoic (Gerringong), Bass Point Brewing (Shellharbour), Five Barrell (Wollongong), Principle Brewing (Fairy Meadow), Marino Brewing (Narellan), Seventh Day Brewing (Brookvale), Broulee Brewhouse (Broulee), Willie the Boatman (St Peters) and Bent Spoke (Canberra).
Worth a mention is Bent Spoke’s Red Nut, which has a healthy dose of hops and enough malt in the body to provide a fresh brightness with clean crisp mouthfeel. The Principle Brewing Porter is also an absolute winner, notes of coffee, chocolate and malt give it an approachable yet complex profile, sure to please fans of dark beers.
And now, the BBQ
On the BBQ side of this festival, there are many amazing styles of BBQ on offer.
I appreciate the craft in smoking and slow cooking from my first-hand experience creating the Smoked Tomato Relish and Smoked Beetroot Relish in our range, and there are four vendors at this festival who excel at their craft.
Phantom BBQ from Ulladulla are getting a following for their smashies (smash burgers) but save their best work for their mixed boxes. Think tender juicy smoked brisket, perfectly seasoned pulled pork, succulent smoked chicken, speciality links (sausages) smoked and bursting with flavour. This mouthwatering combination of meat is accompanied by house made sauces and pickles.
King Porkers BBQ from Kangaroo Valley come with a Jamaican flare. They make some amazing chicken wings and a great variety of sauces. Jay has told JBWM that he will be doing pork belly lollipops (pictured below) that will no doubt sell out fast. The boxes are loaded up with delicious favourites including the well-seasoned and smoked brisket, chopped pork and BBQ staple Mac’n’Cheese. Another local business doing brilliant food that will leave you satisfied with the generous serves and focus on quality.
Nomad Kitchen & BBQ from St Georges Basin are familiar friendly, hard-working faces who are firm favourites at local events and support local businesses and volunteers. They have all the mouthwatering favourites for BBQ and smoked enthusiasts, delicious brisket, pulled pork and lamb and marinated chicken. They push the boundaries creating fusion food using their amazing smoked meats with dishes like nachos. Another crowd pleaser.
El Cantina from Sussex Inlet is the food truck project of chef Lucas, formally of Tequila Mockingbird, and is easily the best food on offer in the little hamlet. Lucas prepares his own sauces to perfectly complement the fresh and flavoursome tacos, burritos and burgers. Smoked octopus with fresh salsas and clean delicious sauces offer perfect balance in every bite.
Not a beer drinker?
For the non-beer drinker in your party, wines from Silos Estate and gin and vodka from Jervis Bay Distilling Co will keep them happy on the day.
