Didn’t plan on stopping here. Was heading home from a mate’s place when the sky opened up — proper Queensland downpour, the kind where you can’t see the car in front of you. Pulled into the Valley, parked under cover, and ducked into Fortitude Brewing Co dripping wet and grinning like an idiot.
Their Noisy Minor Pale Ale is dangerously sessionable. Light, citrusy, goes down way too easy when you’re sitting in a warm taproom watching the rain hammer the street outside. Had a couple of those, then moved onto their stout, which had this proper roasty chocolate thing going on. The staff were legends — didn’t bat an eye at the bloke in full riding gear leaving puddles on their floor.
Four hours later the rain cleared and I’d made mates with half the bar. That’s the thing about brewery taprooms — they attract good people. The sort who want to talk about what they’re drinking and why they like it, not just smash beers. Already planning the next visit, rain or shine.