BE'ER YOURSELF - with Head Brewer Gavin Williams

Gavin Williams recently joined the Black Brewing Co team as Head Brewer. While busy on the brew kit Gav gave us an insight into his background, passions and inspirations.

1. Tell us a little bit about your background? How did you get into brewing?

It starts with a love of beer… My dad and I used to brew together in the garage when I was a young man. I studied Biology at uni, then took off around the world and then around Australia working, initially in hospitality, then as a Scientist and Manager. So that led to my destiny, landing in WA 15 years ago and falling in love, first with the state, then with a girl, and finally with brewing. The Southwest was blooming and booming with Craft beer venues, I knew the path I wanted to follow.

1. What do you love the most about the Australian Craft Beer Industry?

It’s gotta be the people. Industry peeps are a bag of laughs, and there is so much passion from punters and lovers of craft beer. It’s great to work in an industry that gets people excited and frothing.

1. What is  your brewing philosophy

You know that experience, when you've somehow finished a whole glass of beer, without remembering past the first delightful sip? The perfect beer. Balanced, satisfying, refreshing. My ambition is to produce that experience every time. I want you to enjoy every can and every glass and come back for more. I focus on quality, I strive for improvement and I dream of new recipes.

1. Favourite style of beer or method to brew?

Fruited sours are so much fun. It’s a great style to be creative and explore new and interesting flavour combinations.

1. What is on your bucket list? 

My Kids have never seen the snow. I spent a lot of time in the Alps in my 20s and I would love to share that magic with my sandy grommets. Maybe even a white Christmas one day.

1. If we were to ask your mates, is there a funny story they would tell us about you?

In my early days in W.A I loved exploring the coastline and used to bash down dirt roads and along beaches in my old Toyota 4runner. I must have been a slow learner because I got bogged more than once. The worst was up at Lancelin beach. I chose a bad line and got bogged to the axels near the shoreline with an upcoming tide. I didn’t seem funny at the time, but when we finally dug the car out, we were soaked and exhausted and laughing our heads off.

1. Outside of the brewery how do you "'be'er yourself"? Ie what are your hobbies / passions / ways to chill out?

I’ve been surfing since my childhood. I have an affinity with ‘old-school’ surfboard shapes, I just love the glide. I’m also a hobby builder and woodworker. We owner-built our house a few years back, it was a fantastic and exhausting life experience. The house and my garden keep me real busy. We grow a lot of fruit and veg and hops! I always have a project on the go.  But my greatest passion is my family. Becoming a dad has been my greatest learning curve and the most rewarding. My kids are at an age of imagination and creative play, so there’s lots of cubbies and Lego and adventures. We’ve got an old Jayco camper and we head up north most winters and hit the south coast in between. Camping with kids is the best.

1. What is your favourite place to visit / explore in the South West?

I love Cowaramup. It’s a great little town with an authentic, lively vibe. Lots of kids, beautiful community and surrounded by pockets of bush, little creeks, and a stunning coastline.

1. Top 5 songs for the BBCo Be’er Yourself Spotify playlist - click here
   
   

Go Don’t Stop – Mat McHugh

D.A.F– Powderfinger

Castles Made of Sand – Jimmy Hendrix

It Don’t Matter – Donavon Frankenreiter

Africa - Toto

Thanks Gav!