Images supplied
There’s a new reason to visit Hahndorf, with South Australian brewery Malt Donkey opening a tasting space where visitors can sample its premium Fine Ales, learn the stories behind the bottles and take home something a little different.
The new tasting experience has launched inside Hommes Uniques, a specialty gift store on Hahndorf’s main street, giving locals and visitors their first opportunity to explore Malt Donkey’s full range in one location.
Known for its distinctive approach to brewing, Malt Donkey has spent eight years developing a range of single-origin ales that take inspiration from the world of fine wine, placing just as much importance on where the barley is grown as how it’s brewed.
Until now, customers curious about the project haven’t had a dedicated location to visit and sample the collection.
“We get lots of inbound submissions from people wanting to visit the brewery to try the products, and we don’t currently have that option available,” Charlotte Martin, GM Sales and Marketing told Glam Adelaide.
With infrastructure changes currently underway at the brewery, opening its own cellar door wasn’t a viable option. Instead, the team have partnered with Hommes Uniques to bring the tasting experience to the heart of the Adelaide Hills.
Visitors can now purchase a guided tasting flight featuring a range of Fine Ale from the Malt Donkey portfolio, exploring the characteristics of each Fine Ale before purchasing their favorites to purchase and take home.
The partnership comes at an ideal time for Christmas shopping, with Hommes Uniques offering a curated collection of unusual gifts, locally made products, barware and hampers.
“Customers will be able to go in and purchase ale, hampers, or just do a tasting if they want to find out a little bit more about our story.”
And there’s certainly a story worth discovering.
“It’s not just, you know, another beer, another brewery. There’s a lot of story behind it and a lot of intricacies behind the story.”
Behind Malt Donkey is founder Peter Michell, whose fascination with barley began with a home-brewing hobby in his backyard shed and former stables.
“It’s a passion project for Peter Michell,” Charlotte said.
Unhappy with the way malt was traditionally produced, Peter began experimenting with different barley varieties and growing conditions, determined to explore whether the grain could offer the same regional character that wine enthusiasts have long celebrated in grapes.
Over eight years of research and development, what began as a small-scale experiment grew into a substantial malting and brewing operation working alongside South Australian farmers.
Initially, the vision was to produce premium malt for other breweries. However, the significant cost of producing the grain using Malt Donkey’s specialised methods meant there was no established market for what they had created.
“We just started to make our own beer with the malt to get it out there because it’s a real point of difference.”
The resulting Fine Ales showcase barley grown across different South Australian regions, with each release reflecting its own combination of soil, climate and growing conditions.
“You can see the full expressions of the soil types, the clay, the growing conditions from different sites all across South Australia,” Charlotte explained.
“We’re essentially treating the barley in the way that you would treat wine grapes when winemaking.”
It’s an approach that gives the new Hahndorf tasting space particular appeal for wine lovers, as well as beer enthusiasts interested in discovering how much influence a single ingredient can have on the finished drink.
To celebrate the opening, Malt Donkey’s brewers are meeting visitors across the first two weekends, giving customers the opportunity to hear directly from the people behind the ales.
While the brewery will consider establishing its own cellar door in the future, the partnership with Hommes Uniques provides a new way to experience the range in the meantime.
Whether you’re planning a day trip through the Adelaide Hills, searching for an unusual Christmas gift or curious to try something beyond your usual beer or wine, the new tasting experience offers a chance to discover what Malt Donkey has been working on for the past eight years.
Malt Donkey Fine Ale tastings at Hommes Uniques
Where: 52 Mount Barker Road, Hahndorf
When: Friday – Monday 10.30-5.30
Tues-Thursday 11.30 – 4.30
Tastings: Paid tasting flights available. Contact the venue here for pricing details. No bookings required.
Find out more about Malt Donkey here, and Hommes Uniques here.
Related
