Presenting a series of Sunday's showcasing the stories from Wine, Beer & Spirits of the Fleurieu.

These are reproduced with permission from Soul Publishing and Rojina Duval.

The book has been well received by the public and even won Best New Wine Book in the 2021 Wine Communicator Awards.

Swell Taphouse and Brewery is “one-part craft brewery and one-part taphouse and kitchen,” according to founder Dan Wright.

“We have 16 taps – all our own product – though we sometimes feature interesting local beers of different styles as well. We also have a fully functioning kitchen with a great menu to complement our extensive beer list and moderate wine list.

“I’ve been in the wine industry for over 20 years, with the majority of that being in McLaren Vale,” says Dan. “My family live here, as well as my wife’s family who have been in this area for six generations – all pretty good reasons to start a business here.”

“Travelling North and South America, following the surf on a budget, meant that there were a lot of very long bus rides. It was during these breaks from the swell that I began to think about the awesome craft beer industry in the Americas. Why wasn’t there anything like this in Australia?”

Dan spent three years perfecting his brews in his back shed, leading to Swell Brewing finally making the jump from home brewer to commercial brewer in 2010. 

“It was a case of, if I don't do it now, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life,” says Dan. “We spent eight years wholesaling our product while working on the dream of opening our own venue on our property in McLaren Vale. We finally opened our doors in February 2019, and we’ve honestly been overwhelmed by the support of locals, tourists and fellow craft-beer lovers.”

“I enjoy the art of putting different ingredients together and the excitement of seeing if it turns out well. The best beers are the ones I have had a go at and nailed first go. To see that backed up with customers enjoying our product and giving positive feedback, is the best feeling in the world.” 

PAIRING

“Playa NEXPA is a slight style change to the better-known NEIPA. We’ve reduced the alcohol percentage to 5.6% to bring it in line with the XPA style, with a full-on hop flavour explosion. It has a silky, creamy mouth-feel due to the addition of oats to the mash, which also gives it its very hazy character. The hop flavour is extreme with a slight bitterness on the pallet, tropical fruits coupled with more stone fruit on the nose.

“We'd couple that with a Swell burger but you could just as easily enjoy a pint on its own.

CELLAR DOOR

“Our Swell Taphouse is our pride and joy! Walk inside, and you’ll notice it’s a little bit fancy, but casual at the same time. There are windows and natural light, a mezzanine and balcony area and huge bar, as well as plenty of outdoor seating.

“Our super-large lawn is fully enclosed and perfect for letting the kids run around on, while the grown-ups can enjoy a beverage, select from our delicious menu, and look out into our beautiful vineyard to the d’Arenberg Cube beyond. We have 16 taps, and visitors can order a tasting paddle of four different beers from our range. Don’t miss the Swell Golden Ale – it is our most popular and multi-award-winning beer – and our latest small batch beers Tropical Hazy Double IPA, Evening Glass-Off DIPA, Corduroy Lines Hazy IPA and Playa NEXPA.”

ADDRESS 168 Olivers Road, McLaren Vale

WEBSITE