Bentspoke co-founders Richard Watkins and Tracy Margrain celebrate a win at the GABS Hottest 100 beers in 2021. Photo: Bentspoke.
Who are you?
Richard Watkins, head brewer and co-founder of Bentspoke Brewing Co.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’ve been brewing for just over 30 years: I reckon I’m currently the longest-serving independent brewer in Australia. After 17 years at the Wig and Pen, Tracy [Margrain] and I decided to open our own brewery.
How did you get involved in the brewing industry?
Brewing is science and I did science in university. But I decided brewing sounded more fun. At first I picked up a cooking job with Tracy at Wig and Pen before I became an assistant brewer.
If you weren’t in the beer business, what would you be doing instead?
I used to like riding bikes so it would be something to do with bikes.
What is your brewing philosophy?
For us it’s always about balance. It’s important that when you’re creating new beers you think through what the consumer will enjoy. It’s great to use all different weird and wonderful ingredients but you need to use them in balance so when people drink the beers, they enjoy them and actually want to finish them.
Bentspoke is one of Canberra’s best-loved independent craft breweries. Photo: Supplied/Bentspoke.
What is your favourite or must-use ingredient when cooking?
When you’re brewing beer you still want to get the salt content right: seasoning is important. It’s the same when I’m cooking at home, I think it’s really important to use really good quality salt. I like to use a pink rock salt: Mount Zero does a really good one.
What’s an underrated Canberra venue you love?
Probably Old Canberra Inn. It’s a down-to-earth place, you can just rock up and sit by yourself or go with a group of friends. Its like an extension of your lounge room.
Who do you admire in the Canberra food scene?
The Trimboli’s. I really admire Pat Trimboli and his brothers for what they’ve been able to do for a long time with their restaurants [Italian and Sons and Mezzalira]. They’re carrying on their parents’ work and it’s a real credit to them.
People probably don’t know the Don family, but they own and run the Kingston Hotel and the Civic Pub. Their contribution to hospitality and the pub scene in Canberra has been phenomenal. They’re continually looking to renew and refurbish their venues; the new refurbishment at the Civic Pub is a real testament to their values.
Where’s the best place for a coffee in Canberra?
Barrio does a great coffee.
Braddon whisky bar Volstead Repeal is just around the corner from Bentspoke’s Braddon Brewpub. Photo: Volstead Repeal/Instagram.
If you’re not at work, where do you go for a drink?
Probably Volstead Repeal – I quite like a whisky so that’s where I’d go for that.
Who is your dream dinner party guest and what would you make them?
Elton John, I just think he’s timeless! Seeing him play a few years ago, it just seemed like he was the same as 20 or 30 years ago. I’d probably just try and do the best take on English fish and chips with mushy peas – and probably a nice pint of bitter.
What is your current beer obsession?
There are two hero breweries Tracy and I really admire in the [United] States: Russian River Brewing Company and Firestone Walker. I’m always looking at what they’re doing because they push the boundaries and work with new ingredients. Some of their beers which use new hop products are amazing.
What’s the best thing you ate this week?
Home-cooked Indian curry. I love cooking curries: I usually cook a chicken curry and a slow-cooked lamb curry. I make my own daal and make my own breads. There’s nothing better than sitting down to a homemade spread of curries.
What’s a food that reminds you of your childhood?
Probably liver, we used to eat a fair bit of fried liver and gravy. I didn’t enjoy it at the time but I think I grew to enjoy it. I haven’t cooked it in a while.
Page Bottler stocks a huge range of local beers and wines. Photo: Page Bottler/Instagram.
Where do you shop for craft beers in Canberra?
Page Bottler, Plonk at Fyshwick Markets, or even just my local IGA in Kaleen has a great range of beers! It’s great to see so many places are stocking a range of beers rather than just four or five like they used to.
When you can’t be bothered to cook for yourself, where do you go and what do you eat?
Takeaway Indian curry from Blu Ginger. We mix it up a fair bit, we love our vegetarian curries so maybe a channa masala or saag spinach curry and then usually a chicken or a lamb curry too.
Where are you travelling next?
We’re heading off to the hop harvest in the US in September. Its an annual harvest coming into autumn, so we’ve just had the Australian harvest. We go to Yakima which is Pacific Northwest, Washington state.
It’s an amazing place to go: the whole town smells of hops for two weeks while they’re harvesting. You get to choose from a variety of farms, smelling the hops from each one and deciding which ones you like.
Tell me something you love about living in Canberra?
The four seasons: the fact you have a really nice hot summer and the leaves start to turn and then the winter days are just spectacular when the sun’s out and it’s cool. It’s great for riding. It’s a place where you can really enjoy the cold.
What TV show are you watching right now?
Honestly we’ve been so busy we don’t have time! It’s been tough in hospitality for the last few years but the last five months have shown some signs of improvement so we’ve been flat out trying to get the business as good as it can be. So by the time we get home and cook dinner, it’s time for bed!
An easy one to finish – what’s your go-to coffee order?
Piccolo. I do buy coffees out but there’s nothing like making your own coffee at home before I go to work.
One last thing before you go:
Canberra’s really lucky to have lots of really good breweries so people should get out and taste some beers. We’ve got Capital Brewing, Cypher, Zeirholtz, and a new one just starting up, Ambush Brewing. Everyone’s making really good beers and I think it’s really important people support their local brewers and local manufacturers.
Even if you think you don’t like beer you might be surprised what you might find.
Visit the Bentspoke Brewpub at 38 Mort St Braddon, or follow the pub on Instagram.
