ON SITE: with Michael Lathey

ON SITE

with Head Brewer and Dad Michael Lathey at Dainton Brewery, Mornington Peninsula.

What does a work day look like for you?

If it’s a big brew day, the alarm goes off at 4am. Quick check of the buoys - might nudge the schedule. Little coffee & straight to the brewery. If it’s a very big one, I’m on my feet for twelve hours, running around nonstop. Can knock out 4 brews in that time - from first mash-in to the last one in tank.

No day’s ever the same. New beers or something I've brewed a hundred times before, there are always variables in the raw materials, which ultimately means new calcs, tweaks for efficiency and alterations depending on what you're aiming for in the final product - and there’s always a pump or bit of hardware that decides not to play along - but that’s what keeps it interesting. I like moving, I like fixing, I like creating. Brewing’s a challenge, that’s what makes it rewarding.

If you could design one piece of workwear what would it be and why?

I think the Marsh Deep Pocket Pants nail it really. I'm pretty good at filling pockets during a work day & haven't overflowed them yet. They definitely get a spin on the weekend too, a one-pants-fits-all scenario.

Tell us how you spend your time off

Taking the kids out exploring with my darling wife, running with our dog, splitting wood for the endless Victorian winter and every other available second - trying to be in the ocean.

Oh and testing all the fruits of the brew house of course ;) !

Film taken of Michael in a Landhaus Cap with his two children Vivian and Minnow by darling wife Tara