Wollongong's Five Barrel Brewing was named the state’s best new brewery last week – but owner Phil O’Shea still hasn’t had a beer to celebrate.
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The win came at last Friday’s Sydney Craft Beer Awards, held as part of Sydney Craft Beer Week.
But, with so many of his kegs heading up to Sydney for the week, O’Shea had his hands full replenishing his stocks.
“It’d be nice to absorb it, but I’ve got beer to make,” Mr O’Shea said.
“I didn’t get a chance to celebrate. I still haven’t actually had a beer since that night. I’ve not been able to sit down and take it all in. I finish up brewing and I have to sit down and do paperwork.”
Mr O’Shea didn’t know he was in the running until he got a phone call saying he had been nominated.
He said the award was a sure sign that craft beer was growing.
“It’s recognition that you don’t need to be in Sydney to get good craft beer these days,” he said.
“There are people around outside the major city centres that are making good beer.”
