7 April 2022

Local grub, indie beers and the return of live music at Tumut River Brewing Co

| Lucy Ridge
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beer taps and chalkboard

Tumut River Brewing Co’s Ginja Ninja made it to number 92 of the Gabs’ hottest 100. Photo: TRBC.

The tasty and creative brews at independent brewery Tumut River Brewing Co attract crowds region-wide. But they have another drawcard as one of the region’s favourite live music venues, luring musicians near and far to play in the brew shed.

On Sunday 10 April the brewery is running Tumut River Tap Fest – a scaled-down version of their popular Tap Days festival with a cruisey line-up of musicians playing for an all-ages crowd.

READ ALSO Five minutes with Tim Martin, Tumut River Brewing Co

Brewery events manager Michael Cichocki says that live music has always been a defining feature of the brewery. They’re hoping to return to a regular live music schedule this year.

“We’ve got a big sign on the side of the building which says ‘beer, food, coffee, live music’ and they’re the four key things we wanted to focus on,” he told Region Media.

“[This year we’re hoping to have] something happening at the brewery every weekend to continue to build on what we started before it was interrupted by the bushfires and then COVID. So just trying to get back on that and build it as not just a beer destination but a live music destination as well.”

Michael Cichocki and Tim Martin holding beers the brewery

Tumut River Brewing Company owner Tim Martin (right) pictured with events manager Michael Cichocki. Photo: Supplied.

Many live music venues have struggled during the pandemic and Michael says that they are grateful to have received some NSW Government funding to run this event.

“Great Southern Nights is a great program trying to reinvigorate live music getting back on its feet in NSW. [It] has enabled us to attract a bunch of musicians to play on the day, which we wouldn’t be able to do otherwise, so it’s a great thing,” he said.

Tumut River Brewing Co is becoming a real player in craft brewing. Their popular ‘Ginja Ninja’ Ginger Beer recently ranked at #92 in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers countdown: a considerable achievement for a small brewery.

black cans of beer

Get into the Easter spirit with a Hot Cross Pilsner at Tumut River Brewing Co. Photo: Supplied.

The brewery has garnered a reputation for creative and unusual brews and adventurous beer drinkers can look forward to a couple of new flavours on tap this weekend.

A Hot Cross Pilsner has been brewed as an Easter special and the popular Mango Sour has returned.

“We’re starting to get into that season when we’re slowly starting to bring in some darker beers as the weather cools down… And, as always, there are a couple of guest beers from some other regional breweries,” Michael says.

pizza and beer

The newly renovated kitchen creates pub grub with local ingredients. Photo: Supplied.

The menu focuses on local produce like the Snowy Mountains smoked trout pizza. The chefs will be serving up a few surprise specials on the day from the newly renovated kitchen and menu favourites like the ‘amazeballs’ mac and cheese balls.

The line-up for the weekend features Kiama singer-songwriter Jess Crossman, Wollongong musician Corey Legge and Tumut local Andrew Wortes who won’t have to travel very far at all to play at the brewery.

“Andrew works at the broom factory next door! He plays music on weekends and does a good mix of originals and covers,” says Michael.

musician Riley Catherall and band

Melbourne musician Riley Catherall will bring his Americana sound to the brew shed. Photo: Supplied.

Alt-Country artist Riley Catherall will travel from Melbourne with a full band to play at the event, bringing a taste of laid back Americana to the brew shed.

Michael says they’re aiming for a cruisey vibe where people can sit back, relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

“We want people to roll up and help support live music and indie beer.”

tap fest poster

The Tumut River Tap Fest on 10 April is a mini version of the annual festival held in November. Photo: Supplied.

Tumut River Tap Fest is an all-ages event; kids under 12 are free. Purchase tickets for the event via the Tumut River Brewing Co website. Tumut River Brewing Co is open seven days a week at 1-5 Capper Street.

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Could be a good excuse to head back to Tumut!

And wouldn’t it be great to have a direct road link from Canberra to Tumut through the Brindabella Ranges? Sought by Tumut since CBR was established, it’s incomprehensible that two cities, one of 10,00 people and the other now 450,000 and only 80 km apart as the crow flies, have no direct road link. It’s 192 km via Yass, the Hume Highway and Gundagai!

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