We had a milestone in our family last month and it was my job to organise something special for his 40th! What to do for a male who has almost everything for his 40th? I was stuck for ideas!
A friend and I put on our secret thinking caps and came up with the idea of a "Micro Brewery" Tour. What bloke wouldn't love a day of beer drinking with his mates?
We found Scruffy Bunch Tours and started the ball rolling.
The morning of our surprise tour I asked "the birthday boy" to drop his kids off to their friends house bright and early. Whilst he was out of the house I had organised his friends to arrive. He got such a surprise when he returned to realise the house was full of his mates at 9am. Saying that he still had no idea of what was happening!
Scruffy Bunch Tours turned up on time to collect us in a their Mercedes Bus and we headed to the Yarra Valley to start our day of sampling ales. The "Birthday Boy" still had no idea what was planned for the day and was being heckled by his friends that he was going sky diving in the Yarra Valley and they were along to watch.
For the few weeks leading up to his birthday I would deliberately leave my computer monitor on - open to a site advertising adventure sports. One night it may be shark diving, the next night sky diving, then bungy jumping... you get the picture? So when his mates were threatening to throw him out of a plane it was rather amusing watching his body language and expressions on his face.
Our first stop was at the small yet impressive Buckley's Beers. (We told the "Birthday Boy" that he needed some dutch courage for his jump and were stopping for a quick drink). Buckley's Beers are made and bottled entirely by hand and are the product of a craft brewing process in which traditional methods, meet an environmentally friendly approach to brewing. We enjoyed a small guided tour of the microbrewery, an explanation of the ingredients used in beer making, a lesson on how beer is made and a tutored tasting of the entire Buckley‛s range.
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We grabbed a few keepsakes and jumped on the bus and headed to Coldstream Brewery. (By this time I gave in and told him the plan for the day so that he could enjoy the day rather than anticipate an "extreme sport")
The Coldstream Brewery is a fantastic microbrewery and restaurant located right in the heart of the Yarra Valley! We enjoyed a tasting of their fantastic range of beers (which included even a chocolate beer) and then sat back and enjoyed a mouth watering lunch in the brewery restaurant. (I highly recommend the pork cutlet!!) (Mental note - this would be an ideal place to take any dad on fathers day!)
Finally after lunch and feeling rather cheery we climbed back onto the bus for our final stop for the day - White Rabbit.
White Rabbit beers are brewed using only the finest ingredients and are made to exacting standards. Quality beers are the result! Opposite White Rabbit sits the "Innocent Bystander" which was rather packed for a Saturday afternoon but the atmosphere (and beverages) were still enjoyed by all.
Late in the afternoon our chauffeur "Brenton" from Scruffy Bunch Tours rounded us up and coaxed us back onto the bus for a cheery (and rather jovial) bus drive home. I'd also recommend Brenton for his jovial personality and wit and also for his capable driving (especially on the return trip)!
All in all the day ended successfully... full of great beers, great company and great food. Would we do it again? Most definately and perhaps next time sample the Winery Tour! - perhaps a girls day out?
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