Never bet against Dune Rats. That’s what the brew masters at Young Henrys have learned. They promised the Brisbane garage punk rockers the chance to create their own beer – so long as the band’s debut album, The Kids Will Know It’s Bullshit, went to number one on the ARIA charts.
It did, and Dunies Lager was born. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that these two have teamed up. Young Henrys has a history of collaborating with established artists and up-and-comers alike, from Pond to You Am I and Violent Soho.
The team-up was a natural fit, says Young Henrys co-founder Oscar McMahon. “The Dunies guys, they’re in our peripheral friendship circle, and they are hilarious and serious, but they don’t take themselves too seriously.
“The reason that we do these collaborations is because we love working with creative, excited and driven people … it’s always different ... ”
As for how Dunies Lager tastes? It’s the band’s sound in a bottle; brash, nosy and very hazy. Mosaic, Citra, El Dorado and Azacca hops all compete for the palate’s attention. But the beer gets its most distinctive notes from the late addition of hop hash.
Despite what its name suggests, hop hash doesn’t contain any THC. It’s a waste product formed when hop flowers are turned into pellets for easy use by brewers. The industry is just now realising hop hash can be used to create a richer, more bitter flavour. Considering the band’s reputation, they were surely disappointed about the true nature of hop hash. But “at least we made the alcohol content 4.20 per cent for them,” McMahon says.
Dunies Lager is getting its first outing at a huge launch party at Sydney’s Cliff Dive on February 26. Dune Rats’ label, Ratbag Records, will bring the tunes to 200 patrons. The party is free, but it’s first come, first-served via an Eventbrite registration.
After the launch party, Dunies Lager is joining the boys on their national tour, and will be available at all Dune Rats concerts in March (all but one are sold out). Selected independent bottle shops across the country will also stock the beer.
Dune Rats Tour Dates
Fremantle
Metropolis
March 11, 2017
Adelaide
The Gov
March 12,13 (sold out)
Melbourne
The Croxton
March 16, 17, 18 (sold out)
Brisbane
The Triffid
March 22, 23, 24 (sold out)
Sydney
The Metro
March 25, 26 (sold out)
