While we all know Stawell is already famed for a run, the area has lacked options if you want a beer run. Nestled in the Grampians, about 20 minutes from both Halls Gap and Great Western, this picturesque town is already great to visit for national parks, indigenous cultural sites, lovely countryside and wineries. We can now thankfully tack brewery onto that list with the opening of Grampians Ale Works in 2021.
Owners Shawna and Michael Dominelli are clearly shrewd business people. Coming from a winemaking background, the cellar (or more aptly, roller) door functions more as a hip, nouveau wine bar addition to the town, spruiking cocktails (many made with their own spirits) and live music as much as their beer. Shawna also operates a providore next door that has some fine local produce on hand.
Brewery Type
Physical
Region
Grampians
Tasting Room
3 Victoria Place, Stawell
Working on a 16-gallon system that they’re looking to scale up to 50, the beer is clean and classic at the moment but clearly made with some real skill. Michael is warm, welcoming and happy to chat beer while you peruse the options at the bar.
The current setup is perfect for the scope of that output – intimate enough to be accommodating and not overwhelm the scenery by day, while having enough space and charm to keep the weekend crowd happy.
I tried the four offerings they had on tap (Pilsner, Pale Ale, Porter and IPA) and was happy with them all on the day. The one I’d most like to see packaged and rolled out was their IPA, so I’m going to focus on that. This is an impressive beer! It clocks in at a solid 6.8% ABV and doesn’t waste it. A sturdy, rounded body is backed up by resinous, fruity, spicy hop character. My overall impression was a West Coast IPA that had taken a lap around Australia – somewhere near the Hop Hog spectrum.
Remember it’s always Beer O’Clock somewhere in the world!
