That's A Paddlin': Tumut's second floating pumpkin becomes a beer for a gourd cause

Tumut’s Adam Farquharson made international news last year when he paddled down the Tumut River in a giant pumpkin dubbed Cinderella, which was grown by his mate Mark Peacock. That prize-winning gourd became cattle feed, but this year’s pumpkin – aptly named Cinderella II – will become a limited-release beer from Tumut River Brewing Co, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity Legacy.

Tumut River Brewing Co owner Michael Cichoki, who took on the brewery late last year after the previous owners closed, told Region that Adam and the brewery had a special connection.

“He was the very first customer to buy a beer from us when the bar opened in 2017 and he was also our first customer back when we reopened the doors in December!” Michael said.

Adam had a long-time dream of paddling a pumpkin down the river, but his own attempts at growing a giant gourd “turned mouldy and fell off the vine”. So when his mate, horticultural scientist Mark Peacock, turned his hand to growing giant pumpkins, he jumped at the opportunity.

“Last year the pumpkin was about 407 kgs,” Adam told Region.

“This year was bigger, about 426 kgs, but the shape was quite unstable so I reckon last year’s was much easier to paddle with!”

The pumpkin, grown from seeds saved the previous year, was officially weighed at the Tumut Show, which this year celebrated its 150th anniversary. Unsurprisingly, it took first prize in the newly created Giant Pumpkin category.

Adam’s pumpkin float is in aid of Legacy Wagga, an organisation that supports the families of war veterans. It’s a cause dear to Adam, who plays the bugle for Anzac Day events and veterans’ funerals. He said Legacy gave his mum a great deal of support after his father, a Vietnam War veteran, died.

Adam wasn’t alone on the river this year: there were others who had grown pumpkins from the seeds of last year’s entries but sadly, they had rotted through and weren’t too buoyant! But they hopped on the river in more traditional watercraft and supported Adam anyway.

The idea to make a beer out of the pumpkin came at an appropriate time of year: Halloween.

“Mark does a fancy-dress Halloween party at his house every year and after a few beers – which is when you have all your best ideas! – we decided we should make a beer out of it,” Michael said.

“When we reopened the brewery last year, we decided that every beer should tell a story. And this one is local, connected to our regulars and for a good cause.”

Once the pumpkin was hauled out of the river, around 90 kg of flesh was scooped out, mixed with cinnamon sugar and caramelised in the oven before being blended with Riverina malt to make the beer they’ve named That’s a Paddlin’. The resulting beer is a dark-brown ale that Michael described as having “roasty, toasty, caramelly toffee notes with a bit of subtle pumpkin in there”.

Pumpkin grower Mark got a sneak peek of the beer in its final stages of fermentation and told Region: “It’s really, really nice! I’m impressed.”

Mark warned that there were plenty of pitfalls in growing a giant pumpkin, but he encouraged other locals to have a go at producing their own canoe-sized gourds for the Tumut Show.

“My overall goal was to try and convince more people to get into their gardens and appreciate where their food comes from,” he said.

”So I gave away some seeds to locals with the caveat that they need to bring whatever they grow to next year’s show.

“And when people travel to come to the Tumut Show, they’ll get to see a bit of an extra sideshow on Sunday … I think so many people have come along to see it we’re obligated to keep doing it and making it an annual event!”

Future years might see a whole platoon of these pumpkins on the Tumut River: gourdness gracious!

The limited-release That’s A Paddlin’ beer will be available at Tumut River Brewing Co at the end of March, and cans are available for presale now on its website. Follow the brewery on Facebook or Instagram.