Bentspoke Brewing Co
Canberra brewery known for award-winning IPAs and bike-themed branding.
BentSpoke Brewing Co started as a brewpub in Canberra in 2014, founded by brewers Richard Watkins and Tracy Margrain. The business now runs a brewpub in the Braddon suburb and a separate commercial brewing and canning facility in the Mitchell light-industrial estate. Its canned beers all carry a bike theme, matching the company name.
The brewery has a strong track record in the annual Australian GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of the Year awards. Its Crankshaft IPA came first in 2020 and 2021, and placed third in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. Since 2015, Crankshaft has been voted Australia’s number one IPA in the same competition. BentSpoke is also the only Australian brewery to win a champion’s trophy at the International Brewing Awards, doing so in 2019 and 2024.
In 2019, BentSpoke teamed up with the Canberra Innovation Network to create The Innovator, a sustainable beer made with wild yeast, pear juice, and dried edible insects (crickets and black soldier fly larvae). The beer was designed to highlight innovation and test the possibilities of brewing with local, environmentally friendly ingredients.
The brewery’s core beers include “Crankshaft” IPA (5.8% alc/vol), “Barley Griffin” Canberra Pale Ale (4.2% alc/vol), “Sprocket” IPA (6.7% alc/vol), “Red Nut” Red IPA (7.0% alc/vol), “Cluster 8” Imperial IPA (8.8% alc/vol), and “Big Nut” Black IPA (7.0% alc/vol). Seasonal offerings include “Flemm” Flanders Red Ale (5.0% alc/vol) and “Descent” Russian Imperial Stout (15+% alc/vol).
At the 2019 International Brewing Awards in London, BentSpoke won a gold medal for “Barley Griffin” Pale Ale and a silver for “Crankshaft” IPA, marking the second consecutive year it had won both medals at the show. In May 2019, “Barley Griffin” also took the Small Pack Ale Champion’s Trophy at the same awards. In May 2021, “Sprocket” IPA won the Best Traditional IPA Trophy at the Australian International Beer Awards.
Quick Facts
- Hq Location
- 38 Mort St, Braddon, Canberra, ACT
- Owner
- Richard Watkins, Tracy Margrain
- Founded
- June 2014
- Industry
- Alcoholic beverage
- Products
- Beer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
BentSpoke Brewing Co was founded in 2014 by brewers Richard Watkins and Tracy Margrain as a brewpub in Canberra. The company later expanded to include a commercial brewing and canning facility in the Mitchell light-industrial estate. BentSpoke's commercially available canned beers feature a bike theme, reflecting the company's name. The brewery has a strong track record in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers of the Year awards: its Crankshaft IPA took first place in 2020 and 2021, and placed third in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. Crankshaft has been voted Australia's #1 IPA in GABS continuously since 2015. In 2019, BentSpoke partnered with the Canberra Innovation Network to brew The Innovator, a sustainable beer incorporating wild yeast, pear juice, and dried edible insects (crickets and black soldier fly larvae), aiming to highlight innovation and test the possibilities of brewing with local and environmentally friendly ingredients.
Reader's Guide
BentSpoke Brewing Co has established itself as a significant player in the Australian craft beer scene, particularly through the sustained popularity of its Crankshaft IPA, which has been voted Australia's #1 IPA in the GABS Hottest 100 continuously since 2015 and took the top overall spot in 2020 and 2021. The brewery's consistent top-three finishes for Crankshaft from 2017 through 2023 underscore its enduring appeal. BentSpoke's international recognition includes being the only Australian brewery to secure a champion's trophy at the International Brewing Awards in both 2019 and 2024. At the 2019 International Brewing Awards in London, BentSpoke won a gold medal for its Barley Griffin Pale Ale and a silver for Crankshaft IPA, marking the second consecutive time the brewery had won both a gold and a silver at that show. In May 2019, Barley Griffin also received the Small Pack Ale Champion's Trophy at the same awards. In May 2021, BentSpoke's Sprocket IPA was awarded the Best Traditional IPA Trophy at the Australian International Beer Awards. The brewery's core lineup includes a range of IPAs and other styles, along with seasonal offerings such as the Flemm Flanders Red Ale and the high-alcohol Descent Russian Imperial Stout. The 2019 collaboration beer The Innovator, made with wild yeast, pear juice, and edible insects, reflects BentSpoke's willingness to experiment with unconventional, sustainable ingredients.
Did You Know?
- BentSpoke's Crankshaft IPA took first place in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers in both 2020 and 2021.
- In 2019, BentSpoke brewed The Innovator, a beer containing wild yeast, pear juice, and dried edible insects.
- BentSpoke's Barley Griffin Pale Ale won a gold medal at the 2019 International Brewing Awards in London.
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