With cold weather quickly approaching, Willie Smith’s is bringing to market an innovative collaboration featuring two Tasmanian businesses deemed the ‘Tassie Bock’. Joining forces with the team at the relatively new Hobart Brewing Co., Willie Smith’s has created a rare Smoked Apple Bock.

The uniqueness of the brew also required the aid of Lark Distillery and is being touted as a labour of love that will give patrons at Dark Mofo and the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival something to digest and debate.

“The result of our labour of love is a rich and malty dark winter warmer with ruby highlights. Apple and smoke on the nose. Full bodied maltiness upfront with caramel and raison notes followed by red apple flavours from the Willie’s blend of Royal Gala, Pink Lady and Fuji. Finishing with subtle and lingering sweet apple wood smoke,” said Hobart Brewing Co. Head Brewer Scott Overdorf.

Working Together With Tasmanian Businesses

The collaboration celebrates everything that is great about the new and exciting brewing scene in Tasmania. “We kicked off the collaboration by heading out to Lark Distillery just outside of Hobart with apple wood from the Willie Smith’s Orchards,” said Overdorf. “The lads from Willie Smith’s rolled into our brewery the next morning, and with 100 litres of freshly pressed organic apple juice in tow, we brewed a German inspired dunkle bock.”

This marks Willie Smith’s second foray into beer, following the well-received Moo Brew Apple Saison collaboration, released earlier this year. “We love Tasmania and especially the boutique alcohol market – basically we just like doing cool things and having fun with people we like and respect!” said Willie Smith’s Head Cider Maker, Dr. Tim Jones.

The beer will be available as ‘Beer of the Month’ at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed in July and will be pouring during the Huon Valley Mid Winter Festival held there on the 15th – 17th of July.