Homebrewed beer goes commercial for Anzac Day – Birtys Bitter

By Nick Wiseman, Editor

This story was originally printed in the  The Army Newspaper – http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/?iid=76841&startpage=page0000003 has been reproduced here with permission.

This story is about a beer I made, dedicated to a mate I met in the Army who was tragically killed on duty in Afghanistan and thought I’d share as a nice homebrew-related story.

It was a fantastic day in the pub on Anzac Day and I feel honoured that Ash’s family supported the beer and it was great to finally meet them. RIP Ash.

ANZAC Day was a very special occasion for the family and friends of fallen soldier Cpl Ashley Birt as they sampled a new beer brewed in his honour and bearing his name.

Birty’s Bitter was made commercially available for the day of remembrance in Cpl Birt’s hometown of Gympie, in Queensland, and also in Brisbane near his former unit of 6ESR.

The beer was originally designed and made at home by Cpl Nick Wiseman who is an Army reporter.

Cpl Wiseman met Cpl Birt while at the School of Military Engineering in 2008 when he was on his Geospatial Basic course.

“He was one of those people that everyone liked straight away,” he said.

“I was on my Multimedia Technician course and although we were on separate courses we did PT, sport and other social activities together.”

The next time Cpl Wiseman heard Cpl Birt’s name was after his death from an insider attack in Afghanistan.

Cpl Wiseman said he was the first soldier killed that he had personally known and it really hit home.

“When the name was released I didn’t believe it at first,” he said.

“After a few months I knew I had to do something in his honour and as a keen home brewer it made sense to make a beer I could have on tap all year round to remember a mate.”

He designed a mid-strength ale based on the classic English pale ale, or bitter, which was an “easy going beer dedicated to an easy going bloke”.

“I remember he was always a happy bloke, having fun and loved his sports from that short time I got to know him.”

Cpl Wiseman and other friends joined Cpl Birt’s family to share a beer together on Anzac Day while reminiscing about the times they shared with Cpl Birt.

Cpl Wiseman said he hadn’t ever thought making a beer at home in the memory of another soldier would lead to anything, but a friend of the Birt family learned what he had done and asked for the recipe to make the brew for Cpl Birt’s family.

One thing led to another and the beer ended up being professionally brewed and made available to the public.

“I just started this for myself at home and any visitors I had and all of sudden it has grown in to this experience. I still can’t believe it,” Cpl Wiseman said.

Cpl Birt’s mother, Linda, said it was an amazing tribute to their son.

“I just know he will be smiling down on us as we have a beer for him,” she said. “I am absolutely in awe of how much response we have had for the beer and the numerous people who have asked for it in bottles.”

His father, Don, was also overwhelmed by the occasion.

“I’m sure Ash would like it,” he said.

The beer was meant as a once-off commercial offering for Anzac Day 2013, although some are interested in seeing it available more often.

Gympie Times printed a story on their web site.
Seven News did a story as well, click below to play it.