Beer and Rock N Roll have always had a love affair. One has often inspired the other. And what would a Friday night out at the pub seeing your favourite band be without a schooner in hand? Born out of mutual admiration, Young Henrys has now brought the two together in an even more meaningful way.

Richard Adamson, a former musician with Hugh Wilson’s Blue Phoenix, and Oscar McMahon, leader singer of the Hell City Glamours, are the heart and soul of the Young Henrys brewing team. They have turned to two of their favourite musos toproduce unique beers that reflect the artist’s musical personalities.

The two collaborations are:

Young Henrys & Peter Fenton (Crow ): Black N More
Young Henrys & Front End Loader: Fresh Six

Both Front End Loader and Crow cut their teeth playing gigs around the inner west and still feature on the roster of pubs in and around Newtown. There is no better way to toast the arrival of Newtown’s own brewery.

BLACK EN MORE (DARK SPICED LAGER 5.5% )

Crow’s evocative and influential music is widely acknowledged as leaving an indelible mark upon the Australian musical landscape. A favourite to many on the live circuit, a Crow performance could be a “shambolic affair” one minute, and then utterly breathtaking the next. The band has recently reformed with its original line up and recorded the LP “Arcane”. Crow’s lead singer Peter Fenton has recorded and toured as a solo artist and his acting career includes the lead in the AFI award winning “Praise”.

Says Peter Fenton: “Working alongside brewer Richard Adamson, who’s Black Wattle Ale he produced while at Barons became quite an obsession with me, was a master class in the craft in itself. My thinking was that the beer should represent not only my personal history with the area of Newtown/Enmore but the broader historical threads and epochs as well. I was after an ‘after dark’ brew that blended the shining black tar of King street, with a hint of smoke from the nearby rail line. I wanted to pay homage to not only the industrial, working class nature of the place but also the indigenous story as well. From the ancient trails below King St to the DIY stage at the Sandringham Hotel. Bohemian, liberated, brave and brilliant. industrious, open, happening energy of the ingenious, indigenous inner west of Sydney.”

Says Richard Adamson: “Having Peter in the brewery was an absolute pleasure. From his inspiring beer manifesto, to his hard yakka raking of the spent grain, Peter’s fingerprints are all over this beer. Early indications of the beer’s progress point to breathtaking rather than shambolic. Fingers crossed!”

The beer: A moody dark lager made with smoky peat malt, chocolate rye and chocolate wheat malts. This beer features native Australian nutty roasted wattle seed, and raisin savoury notes from akudjura berries. Smooth, dark chocolate and spice with a hint of smoke. Peter Fenton will be launching Black En More with an exclusive, intimate show at a secret inner west location on Saturday the 23rd of June at 1pm. He’ll be joined by David Lane on Piano and Jason Walker on the pedal steel. Tickets are $40
and strictly limited. The price of admission includes a generous tasting of the beer and a special Black Star beef brisket and Black N More pie. Tickets can only be bought here.

After this launch, the beer will be available in growlers from the brewery cellar door and on tap at selected bars and pubs. Check Young Henrys on Twitter and Facebook for more info.

Fresh Six (Agave Rye Pale Ale 6 .6 6%)

Self described as Australia’s least popular, relatively well known band, the ARIA award-winning Front End Loader are a powerhouse of loud guitars, post modern irony and tequila shots. Front End Loader’s history is littered with critically acclaimed releases, critically acclaimed shows, and a critically acclaimed lack of attention to what is needed to be successful in the music industry. Thankfully, for their own peace of mind, this does not seem to bother them. 2012 marks the band’s 20th anniversary – a testament to their sheer bloody-mindedness and the continued patience of their partners.

Says the Loader: “Rock and Roll – it’s not all beer and skittles. There are rarely, if ever, any skittles. But in our case there is always beer, and after 20 years of touring, we’ve had a few. Historically our favourite beer has always been free beer, but all that is about to change. This collaboration with Richard and Young Henry’s represents the pinnacle of two decades of hard slog and artistic endeavour – having our own beer is a dream come true, a career high, and a personal best. And it absolutely shits all over winning an ARIA. But to be making it with a couple of music fans, in a brewery in the back streets of our own neck of the woods, makes it even sweeter. Or should that be drier and spicier, with potent tequila undertones? I don’t know, but it’s making me thirsty. We need a fresh six. Get a Fresh Six”

Says Richard Adamson “I’ve been seeing Front End Loader play for my entire adult life, from the second ever Big Day Out to the back room of sticky carpet swill houses. I guess that shows how much I’ve matured. I still can’t believe this is happening. The whole band is coming down of the brew day. Let’s hope we all survive the experience!”

The beer: Clocking in at an evil 6.66%, this cheeky, balls to the wall pale ale combines the dry spicy flavour of rye with the sucker punch of dark agave syrup. Like a Front End Loader gig, this beer will leave you drop jaw stunned, slightly deaf and winded with a grin from ear to ear.

Front End Loader will be launching Fresh Six exclusively at the Annandale Hotel’s 12th Birthday Bash on the evening of Saturday the 14thof July. It’s a special night – it’s Front End Loader’s 20th birthday. It’s the Rule’s Annandale 12th. It’s the launch of the best beer this side of free beer. It’s the launch of FEL’s brand spanking new recording –the Fresh Six EP. Fresh Six (the beer) will then be available from the brewery cellar door in growlers and on tap at select bars and pubs. Check Young Henrys on Twitter and Facebook for more info.