Susanna Freymark
Cheers to Casino’s own beer yes, Casino is getting its own brew –Red Steer lager will be launched at the Commercial Hotel this month.
There will be a private tasting party on Thursday, May 22 and the next day on May 23, Red Steer lager will be sold to the public on tap or in cans in a four-pack.
Hotel group general manager Diego Godoy said there was no brand recognition of Casino and this prompted him to come up with Red Steer lager.
“It’s a deep palate with a slight hoppy taste like a traditional lager,” Diego said.
Red Steer is brewed by Casino local Grant Smith at Two Mates Brewing.
Grant has lived in Casino for 11 years and raised seven children with his wife who has lived in Casino for 20 years.
Grant teamed up with Andrew Newton from Wollongbar five years ago and created Two Mates Brewing in South Lismore.
Diego approached us for a collab, Grant said. Being local, Grant had always envisioned a local beer for Casino.
“We tweaked one of our core lines to make it unique to the Casino market,” Grant said.
“The characteristics around craft beer have to appeal to the everyday drinker and have a connection to the region,” Grant said.
Diego and Two Mates decided on a lager because 85% of the population drinks lager, Grant said.
Red Steer is 4.8% alcohol which makes it a heavy beer.
“Most lagers are made out of a rice base,” Grant said.
Red Steer has a rice syrup base instead, like most of the beers Two Mates brew.
Two Mates Brewing achieved some notoriety after the 2022 floods when water came right into the premises. They’ve bounced back and supply beer locally and outside the region.
“I applaud what Diego is doing,” Grant said about the Commercial Hotel’s upgrade.
“There’s been a gap in the social scene in Casino.”
He hopes the beer will become known outside Casino too.
Diego plans to have some Red Steer merchandise.
“We will have hats and tshirts,” he said.
“To make sure people know its from Casino.
“And so, they have a souvenir when they leave town.”
A Red Steer lager will cost between $7 and $7.50 for a schooner.
The price is still being finalised.
The Beef Week committee has also announced a special beer for this year’s festival.
Locals got to try the beer on Anzac Day at Casino Golf Club where it was given a trial run. The Beef Week beer is brewed in Brisbane by Ballistic Brewing Company.
More details to come from the committee on the availability of the Beef Week beer.