After thousands of votes and over 100 different test batches, Australia now has its first crowdsourced beer range.
It’s called Arvo and it’s brewed in Griffith, NSW by Casella — the same mob behind Yellow Tail wine and various others.
The brewer decided on the two beers — Arvo 34 and Arvo 51 — after running a sizable social and mobile survey campaign that asked Australia’s drinkers what they like in a lager.
Arvo 34 is the stronger of the two with a more bitter aftertaste, while Arvo 51 is the paler, sweeter counterpart. Each six-pack has three of each and now Casella wants us all to vote again over the next 12 weeks on which should stay and which should go.
It’s priced as a premium beer at $18.99 for a 6-pack and $49.95 for a case. That makes it a few dollars more expensive than some larger international beers like Corona, for example.
I’ve gone the extra mile today and tasted the two beers (for science, mind) and I can report that the softer Arvo 51 has my vote. It’s all a matter of personal preference though because of my penchant for cider, and a drink that doesn’t leave me turning my mouth about with a bitter aftertaste.
Having said all that, Arvo’s still not enough to turn me into a regular, red-blooded beer drinker. I’ll stick with cider, I think.
What’s your brew, dear reader, and would you drink a crowdsourced beer?
Tune in tomorrow for a look behind the scenes at Casella’s brand new brewery.
Luke Hopewell travelled to Griffith as a guest of Casella.