MANY keen beer drinkers would be delighted to hold the title chief beer officer.
Peter Mcappion has that privilege and has been passionate about beer since he was 18.
His craft beer and cider making concern Thorny Devil at Cape Bouvard is one of two local craft beer makers who will be exhibiting at the South West Craft Beer Festival at Margaret River next month.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWMcappion, a former lawyer, metallurgist and industrial chemist decided he needed a bigger end game.
“There’s only so many hours in a day for a lawyer but the market is much bigger when selling consumer goods,’’ he said, as he organised the setting up of a stall at the recent truck festival in Mandurah.
The 42-year-old decided to make a move to buying, making and selling beer.
His father owns Cape Bouvard Winery and in 2010, the pair mooted the idea of including a brewery.
It was just before the Forrest Highway opened, Mcappion knew the area well and reckoned activities in the area could dry up.
“It was time to offer something different – most of our customers are from Mandurah or holidaymakers and it’s an easy drive,’’ he said.
“I’m working twice as hard now but it doesn’t seem like it because it is so enjoyable,’’ he said.
To start with, he was still a practising lawyer but got serious about the craft beer industry in the past three or four years and went full-time about three years ago.
Thorny Devil first hit its straps at the South West Craft Beer Festival at Three Oceans Winery at Cowaramup three years ago, two years later at Dunsborough and Three Oceans again next month.
Thorny Devil offers four ciders that Mcappion said were are a real growth area, made with Donnybrook apples.
They include chilli, ginger and lime, pomegranate, pineapple, passionfruit and chilli.
Then there’s a passionfruit Indian ale and a summer ale.
With what little spare time he has, he is a keen camper, fisherman and surfer.
Thorny Devil will provide barbecues and beers on the Saturday and Sunday of Crab Fest next month.
Beer lovers can also catch them at the truck festival in Barrack Lane, Mandurah on February 16 and 23 and on the first and third Friday of the month after that.
The South West Craft Beer Festival is on the Labour Day long weekend.
MORE: Woman taken to RPH after being stabbed in the neck
MORE: Child struck by car in Helena Valley
MORE: Perth Lord Mayor’s two-day penalty hearing over but penalty outcome could take 90 days
MORE: Roleystone Theatre closed after structural review finds it unsafe in ‘certain weather’