Simon “Wombat” Kraegen, licensee at the Keg & Brew Hotel Surry Hills loves diversity in beer

Who is drinking craft beer?

More and more people everyday. The idea that craft is something to be drunk with an extended pinky is slowly dying off. Australians now seem to be more open to drinking beer for the taste of beer, instead of being devoted to a brand.

Simon Kraege at The Keg and Brew Hotel in Surry Hills. Picture: Supplied

What’s the best “introductory” craft beer style?

Summer ales are the perfect beers for Australians. Light, refreshing, and full of flavour, they should be called Australian pale ales.

What’s the craft beer everyone should know about?

I’m not sure that there’s any one craft beer everyone should know about. There are certainly some breweries that have done great things for the industry by paving the way for new and exciting beers. But the greatest thing about craft beer is the awesome diversity in the beers. Everyone has different tastes, and now everyone has a beer.

Are you a from-the-bottle or from-the-glass person?

Depends on how fancy I’m feeling.

How much does your beer drinking change with the seasons?

The darker the weather gets, the darker my beer gets. When it gets cold and miserable I like to comfort my self with a big, full-bodied stout. Likewise, if it’s bright and sunny, nothing’s better than a cold floral summer ale, perhaps even from a can?

What’s your favourite food match with beer?

A big stinky cheese with a big stinky West Coast IPA. Nothing beats it.

Simon Kraegen is licensee of the recently refurbished Keg & Brew Hotel in Surry Hills (formerly the KB Hotel, refurbished by the same operators as Dove and Olive). From 5pm to 7pm Monday to Saturday Keg & Brew patrons can get a craft beer for the same price as a commercial beer. The craft beers on offer will be rotating regularly, starting with the Australian Brewery’s Pilsner.

Source : Sunday Telegraph  December 2nd 2014