Five-star Brew at Arcare Portarlington

While some in the men's club had dabbled in beer brewing before, for most of the group it was a new experience and some were initially hesitant about how much they could offer. With Mick's support, everyone had an important job from labeling to taste-testing.

The recent renovations and extension at Arcare Portarlington allowed the group to have their own room, dedicated to brewing the perfect drop.

Each Wednesday the group meets to check on the progress of the brew; their first batch being a full-malt draught and a non-alcoholic ginger beer.

As well as chief brewer, volunteer Mick also doubled as graphic designer and created several logos for the men to choose from.

In the end they chose a logo with a touch of purple in it and the name 'Five-Star Brew', reflecting Arcare's branding.

The finished product has been sampled by many in the community, and it's even done the rounds at the weekly happy hour. The ginger-beer has been used in a few scotch and drys, with people commenting that it tastes better than the store-bought products!

93-year-old Ronald MacDonald commented, "A good brew takes time and after a few batches I do believe we are about to reach our zenith."

Find out more about Arcare.