Cloud Catcher was first brewed in 2014 to celebrate the opening of Stone & Wood Brewing Co’s larger brewery in Murwillumbah, and after a couple of appearances as a limited-release beer, has been available permanently in 500ml bottles and kegs, with limited distribution due tocapacity constraints.

Stone & Wood founder Jamie Cook said the brewery has a new capacity coming online.

“With the recent completion of another expansion project at Murwillumbah, we will be able to let the handbrake off our gold-medal winning Australian Pale Ale and release it in 330ml bottles and in keg.”

”Pale Ale continues to grow as a style and is still the biggest segment within IRI defined ‘craft’ market representing more than half of it.”

“The wider rollout of Cloud Catcher represents our first serious step into that part of the beer market,” Cook said.

“It’s something our customers and drinkers have been asking for now for a few years, so it’s an exciting opportunity for us.”

The new Cloud Catcher packaging is the first Stone & Wood product to adopt the IBA’s Certified Independent seal, and as the largest member of the IBA, it will continue to roll it out across the rest of its range in the coming months.

Stone & Wood Brewing Co continues to grow in what is an exciting and dynamic time within the Australian beer market, with sales volumes growing another 20 per cent in the year ending June 2018. As the engine room of the business, Stone & Wood Pacific Ale is still in strong growth as the originator of what is now the summer ale or tropical ale segment.

“Our continued growth is made possible due to the great support we get from our suppliers, customers, drinkers and local communities,” Cook said.

“We continue to sell 50 per cent of our beer within three hours of the brewery and it is the support of our local communities from Coffs Harbour to Noosa that provide us with the confidence to continue investing in the region.”

The beer will now be available in keg and 330ml bottles. They have upped the hops and reduced the ABV to 5 per cent and passed on those excise savings by reducing their price to be in line with their other core beers.

Tasting notes

This refreshing Australian Pale Ale, hopped with Galaxy, Ella and Enigma has tropical stone fruit aromas and flavours. With a medium-bodied mouthfeel from the blend of pale and crystal malts, it finishes crisp, with a firm bitterness.