Liquid Gold A Taste of WA Brewing History

The State Library’s new exhibition explores WA’s rough and tumble relationship with beer. Discover the people who’ve made it and the fascinating objects, recipes, photographs and stories they’ve left behind. 

From pre-colonial fermentation and early homebrews to the mighty Swan Brewery taking on the world, the exhibition charts entrepreneurialism, activism, bitter rivalries and social change.

Liquid Gold showcases treasures from the State Library’s vast collections – including what is likely the State's earliest written beer recipe – alongside advertising material and recorded interviews which reveal how brewing helped shape WA’s economic and cultural identity.  

The State Library is pleased to debut ten new oral histories as part of the exhibition, which document the evolution of WA craft brewing from the 1980s to today. 

Pull up a barstool and consider what goes into a pint. 

Visitors are advised that this exhibition is alcohol-themed and intended for an adult audience.

Brewing partner: Otherside Brewing Co.

As part of the development of this exhibition, we partnered with WA-brewer Otherside Brewing Co. to brew a limited-edition heritage beer. Inspired by some of the earliest ales and brewing histories in the State Library's collections, they created Gilded Ale, a contemporary interpretation of recipes from as early as 1913.  

The exhibition and the beer was launched at a free opening event and panel conversation at the State Library on Saturday 17 February.