2 weeks Ago By Saffron Howden
The master of colourful political stunts, Bob Katter, has launched a new beer called Patriot, bearing a picture of the outspoken Queenslander on the can. Login or signup to continue reading Described as a drink that's "really good on a hot day when you've spent all day working your arse off in the far north", the beer is brewed in south Cairns, just inside Mr Katter's electorate of Kennedy. "What we were aiming for is just a classic Australian lager," Copperlode Brewing Co head brewer and chief executive Morgan Hind said.
"Something that's really approachable, really good on a hot day when you've spent all day working your arse off in the far north and you want something that's really refreshing - and you can have a few of," he said. "It is a full-strength beer, but light flavour, very clean, very crisp, very refreshing." Sadly for Mr Katter, the head of his own Katter's Australian Party with a nearly fanatical dedication to the Sunshine State, not all the ingredients are local.
"Unfortunately, north Queensland isn't a great place for growing hops," Mr Hind said. Patriot made its debut as a gimmick at the parliamentary crossbenchers' Christmas party in Canberra in December 2024. At that stage it was simply a wrap-around label on Copperlode's River Lizard Lager, featuring Mr Katter in his signature Akubra (though without his other favourite accessory, aviator sunglasses).
It proved so popular Mr Katter's office decided to approach the craft brewer to create a standalone beer. The label reads: "Patriot Australia: Our beer. Our Freedom.
Our Fun." It was launched on March 3 during the federal election campaign . Mr Katter entered parliament more than 30 years ago as a member of the Nationals but left the party in 2001 to serve as an independent.
He has sat on the crossbench as head of his own political party since 2011. The 79-year-old is well known for his attention-grabbing stunts, including dressing up as a pig in Parliament House to highlight the dominance of supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles. Anyone wanting to buy a can of Patriot will, at this stage, have to travel to Cairns and visit Copperlode, though plans are afoot to take online orders.
Bob Katter has been the MP for Kennedy since 1993. Katter received a margin of 13.3 per cent against the LNP in 2022.
Saffron is a journalist, editor and author with more than 20 years experience covering news for Australians. Get in touch: saffron.howden@austcommunitymedia.
com.au Saffron is a journalist, editor and author with more than 20 years experience covering news for Australians. Get in touch: saffron.
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