Publican Daniel Simpson never studied chemistry at school.

It hasn’t stopped him from learning how to make his own brew for the Rod n Reel at Woodburn.

The microbrewery vats behind the bar at the pub make a glugging noise as the yeast ferments and makes alcohol.

Daniel has been to a brewing course to learn to turn his dream of a Rod n Reel beer into a reality.

“I wanted to do this 20 years ago after a visit to the US and Canada,” he said.

Every pub he went to had a jug of local beer.

He wanted to bring that concept to Woodburn but because he was leasing the pub at that time he didn’t want to invest in the infrastructure. Now he’s bought the building, it’s time to be a beer brewer.

Daniel explains the process of making the seven unique craft beers for the pub.

Firstly malted barley is put into a vat and is steeped in water to get the sugar out. That sugar is put into another vat and yeast is added. That’s where the glugging sound comes from as the yeast consumes the sugar.

Oxygen is the disruptor to the two to three week brewing process.

The steam created in the process goes down the drain and the malted barley remains go to Dave Hogan’s pig farm at New Italy.

The seven craft beers are on tap at the Rod n Reel – there is a pale ale, a golden ale, dark ale, a lager and a Hefeweizen (a German beer).

IndyNR.com tried the Pickled Piranha Pale Ale – it was a refreshing drop and went down well. The aftertaste was light on the palate.

Daniel said the new beers have been well received.

“The customers like the idea,” he said.

“It’s about making us a destination.”

The official launch of the Rod n Reel beers is on Saturday, December 1 from noon until late.

There will be tasting paddles, live music and plenty of beer on tap.

The new brews will cost the same as the regular beers. If you’re a member, you get a $1 discount on each beer.

This article appeared on indyNR.com on 17 November 2024.