Akasha Brewing Company

No one is saying brewing beer isn’t hard, or wet work, but there’s no denying that working at a brewery with a tasting bar looks like a lot of fun. And it’s not just that you make your own staffies and get to play silly buggers with flavours and recipes until you come up with a beer that tastes just like a black forest cake. It’s because tasting bars are basically just big rumpus rooms for adults. Pool table? Check. Hard wearing furniture made from pallets that will withstand some good-natured wrestling? Check. Soundtrack featuring Bush and Foo Fighters? Check. And at Akasha tasting bar in Five Dock, they’ve also chucked a dartboard and some fairy lights in there to give it that real fun cave vibe. Just when you thought this teenage dream is complete, the Mr Whippy van stops outside. Fun, right? Plus they’re brewing up a pretty ace collection of beers at Akasha that are very hop heavy and aren’t afraid to ramp up the ABV when the brew calls for it. Don’t be driving after a glass of the triple IPA. The clear, golden ale is bitter and fruity and packing an ABV of 10%. Of course there’s just as many kicks to be had with the pale ale that is crisp, dry and gratifyingly bitter in the finish, and you can do it more than once without getting wobbly. A two-dollar bowl of pretzels, bahji mix or nuts will also help keep you in line.