Indian Ocean Brewing Co

The Marina Mindarie
33 Ocean Falls Blvd, Mindarie
Ph: (08) 9400 1111
www.themarinamindarie.com
 
What’s brewing in Mindarie?
Perth’s coastlines are world famous, and I can think of few better places to spend a day than at one of our various beaches and marinas. The Marina, Mindarie is a beautiful spot just north west of Perth’s CBD. The Marina is home to the Indian Ocean Brewing Co, an award-winning microbrewery that has gone from strength to strength since bringing on head brewer Jackson Purser who has put Mindarie on the map when it comes to quality craft beer.
When we went to the Indian Ocean Brewing Co we were taken on a tour of the brewery, which will soon be seeing an expansion. The brewery is expanding to keep up with growing demand, but rather than hiding the brewery out the back, they are making a feature of it. Next to the bar there will be a large glass window showing the beer brewing process. Beer buffs are encouraged to discuss the beer with their knowledgeable staff, who offer tasting paddles that show off the impressive selection on offer. The staff are passionate about their beer and, with very little coaxing, I was given a full run-down on where the local craft brewing scene was, and what we were likely to see in the near future.
The menu, designed by head chef David Evangelista, has been specially created to complement the beers made in-house, and many of the dishes on offer are made with the brewery’s own beers and ciders.  The staff can be asked about recommendations on which drinks to match with specific foods. Tasting paddles can also be bought, and they’re a great way to find matches of your own.
The first dish we tried was Pork Belly, a rich, decadent dish that was really elevated when paired with the Indian Ocean cider.  Apples and pork are an obvious combination, but the balanced sweetness of the cider, achieved by using only fresh seasonal apple juice as a natural sweetener, creates a clean crisp contrast that cuts through the fatty pork. The two went well together and created a knockout start to the meal.
The next dish we tried was the Indi BBQ Chicken Pizza where the chicken is marinated in their American-style pale ale, which is subtle but noticeable. The dough is made in-house, and all the toppings are fresh and of high quality. Overall, I thought the dish would be a perfect sharing dish to order for the table, especially when accompanied by a round of the Indian Ocean Pale Ale.
We then tasted the Beef Brisket, which was served in a way that was totally new to me. The brisket comes on a bed of pappardelle, which is broad cut pasta similar to fettuccine. The pasta had semi-dried tomatoes and herbs tossed through it, and the meat is braised in the house lager. The succulent, rich flavours of the meat were absorbed by the pasta, and made for a very memorable dish. Again, I would recommend drinking the beer that was used to make the dish, which in this case was the Indian Ocean Export Lager.
We finished our meal with the Cider Pear for dessert, a pear poached in the house cider and spices, and served with vanilla cream. It was a delicate dish that was a fantastic end to the meal. As it was a cold, and rainy day when we went in, we accompanied it with a warm and spicy mulled cider cocktail. It was the perfect finish to the meal, and warmed us up nicely. The cocktail menu was under revision when we were in, so I’ll be keeping an eye on that menu to see what else gets added.
While the focus recently has been on producing the best ‘classic’ beers they could, Jackson says he is looking forward to trying out some more unusual beers as the brewery expands. We sampled two of their more unusual beers currently on offer, both of which are some of their Australian International Beer Award (AIBA) winning beers. These were the Little Fish Session Ale, made with lemongrass, coriander and sea salt; and the Vietnamese Street Beer, made with sushi rice and French hops. Both are exceptional, and fairly unusual beers made with new world hops. As they are a microbrewery, the selection of beers changes regularly, so it’s worth keeping an eye on what they’ve got on tap. Currently the beers rotate roughly every five to six weeks.
It’s also worth keeping an eye out for the various festivals and special events hosted by the Indian Ocean Brewing Co. A number of more intimate dining experiences are available every few months where special menus are designed to accompany beer and whiskey tastings. These events have limited tickets, which can be bought over the phone, in-house, or on their website. Some of the beers offered during these events aren’t available anywhere else, so this might be a good gift idea for someone who would appreciate an exclusive beer tasting experience.
Aside from the Indian Ocean Brewing Co restaurant and brewery, The Marina Mindarie also houses The Boat, a bar and dining area that specialises in seafood, which offers a relaxed atmosphere. At the Boat you can sit out on The Marina’s boardwalk and watch the boats sailing past while live music plays. Upstairs is The Pavilion, a special events venue which seats 500 people, and can be booked out for private events including work functions, birthdays and weddings. The Pavilion offers a unique view of The Marina, which is a real treasure. For people wanting to stay for longer periods of time, there is also accommodation available at the The Marina Hotel which offers single bed suites through to three bedroom villas
So if drinking craft beer on the WA coast appeals to you, Indian Ocean Brewing Co in Mindarie is definitely worth a visit.
 
By Floyd Holmes