Author: Herald Sun
Original Article published on 12 September 2016
RESERVOIR is officially home to the world’s best brewery.
Hawkers Beer was last week named Supreme Champion Brewer at the prestigious International Beer Challenge in London, bringing home a stack of medals in the process.
The Henty St brewery also won the trophy for Brewery of the Year Oceania, along with gold medals for its IPA and imperial stout, and silver medals for its pale ale, pilsner and saison.
Owner Mazen Hajjar has been no stranger to success since opening the brewery last year, winning a host of awards, exporting internationally and even winning a Northern Multicultural Small Business Awards.
Mr Hajjar first made headlines as the “crazy guy” brewing beer amid the destruction of war-torn Beirut.
As the Israelis bombed Hezbollah in July 2006, Mr Hajjar was busy teaching himself to brew beers.
Mr Hajjar’s brewery became 961 Beer, which is now exporting to 26 countries.
The brewer then turned his eye to Australia, launching Hawkers brewery last year.
