Flying the friendly Blue Skies

Of all of the trials and tribulations of air travel, perhaps the most trying is the inability to get a good beer. While being stuck in an airport is one of the times that most people could really use good beer, most airports stock a lacklustre range of the usual suspects, the brands determined by exclusive commercial arrangement.

However, Cairns is now giving travellers a reason to hope their flight gets delayed with local craft brewery, Blue Sky, opening a 400-seat bar and restaurant in the newly redeveloped Cairns airport domestic terminal.

The Cairns Post reports that Blue Sky Brewery’s bar will serve six beers on tap as well as featuring a 180-seat outdoor beer garden and a retail store.

Co-owner Ben Newman told the Post that opening the bar in the Cairns domestic airport is an important step to realising his goal of putting Cairns on the map as the home of Australia’s No. 1 micro brewery.

“It is also key to securing a space for our preservative and additive-free beer in the mainstream market.

“Our long-term goal is to put Cairns beer on the radar of international beer connoisseurs and introduce Blue Sky bars and breweries into major airports and tourist hubs throughout Asia and the US.”

The brewery has won nine Australian International Beer Awards including a Gold medal last month for its Smoked Hefeweizen.

Brewer Hayden Mokaraka told the Post they had a simple strategy.”

“Show them a true regional Australian beer and help them fall in love with it,” he said.

“Craft beers are great but we know we can create a mainstream favourite as well.”

The brewery started making beer in June, 2008, 15 years after CUB, now Foster’s, turned off the taps on Cairns Draught and NQ Lager.

All Australia needs now is for our airlines to discover regional flavour in the beer lists, rather than just their wine lists.