Breweries & Distilleries SPECIAL REPORT businessnews.com.au Breweries & Distilleries FEATURE Original craft beer play ers still growing The state’s craft beer industry is going from strength to strength, but some of the oldest brewers still dominate the scene. nationwide between 1984 and 2000, while 37 closed. In WA, Business News’ Data & Insights lists 13 breweries that opened during that time period that remain in operation in 2021. Finlays Kalbarri opened in 1989, Billabong Brewery sold its first beer in 1993, and Bush Shack Brew- ery followed in 1999. Madeleine Stephens Along with Nail Brewing, sev- [email protected] eral well-known breweries opened 6-PAGE FEATURE in 2000, including Little Creatures, which was sold to Lion Nathan in HE term ‘craft beer’ wasn’t 2012, and Duckstein Brewery. used in Australia when The Craft Beer Reviewer said T Nail Brewing’s John Stall- annual brewery openings dou- wood started out in the business. bled between 2001 and 2004, with That’s despite Western Australia an average of nine opening each having led the craft beer charge year. with the opening of the Sail & In all, 36 breweries opened Anchor in Fremantle in 1984. during that period, including WA’s Back then, beers of the type Colonial Brewing Company and produced in Freo were known by a Feral Brewing Company, while 10 more high-end, top-shelf moniker, closed. far from the earthy, crafty appeal In 2005, 22 breweries were estab- of today’s creations. lished in Australia, including Gage Mr Stallwood began selling his Roads Brewing Company, now NEW: John Hoedemaker says Good Drinks is planning to open a hospitality venue at brews in 2000 from Bobby Daz- called Good Drinks, which has Victoria Quay for next summer. zler’s at the corner of Murray and become WA’s largest brewery, Williams streets in the Perth CBD, ranked by production capacity, competing for market share with according to Data & Insights. with the notable exceptions of giants Carlton & United Breweries Good Drinks managing director Blasta Brewing Company (2018) [W]e are no longer trying to and Lion Nathan. John Hoedemaker said the craft and Otherside Brewing Co (2016). “Back then it was two big brew- beer industry was in its infancy get consumers to swap from lager to Feral Brewing Co, which started eries that were powerful, and when he started the brewery. in 2002 as a brewpub in the Swan they still are today, but craft beer “Everyone was doing the same craft beer, but we are now starting to Valley, is now the state’s second wasn’t,” Mr Stallwood told Busi- thing, which was creating inter- largest brewery. ness News. esting craft beers with stronger compete with all the other craft beer It teamed up with Nail Brewing “The name craft beer didn’t hop characters and different in 2012 to buy a shared production actually exist, it was called ‘bou- malt characteristics, and basically brewers in the country - John Hoedemaker facility and was purchased by tique beer’ back then. trying to sell that up against lager,” Coca-Cola Amatil in 2017. “Everyone drank lager, no-one Mr Hoedemaker told Business grown strongly, and as a business Data & Insights lists about 100 General manager Rob Brajkovich really knew anything about craft News. we are no longer trying to get active breweries in WA, 32 of which said Carlton United & Breweries beer.” “That’s what the business was consumers to swap from lager to started in the past five years (see and Lion Nathan had the contracts He said the growth of the all about 18 years ago, which was craft beer, but we are now starting page 30). to supply most of the tap points in market was spurred on by Fre- convincing all consumers of Aus- to compete with all the other craft Several WA breweries have venues as recently as a decade ago. mantle’s hosting of the America’s tralia that there was something beer brewers in the country.” closed in recent years, including Now, he said, venues were a lot Cup in 1987, which brought a lot better than lager, give it a crack, From 2014 to 2016, Craft Beer The Monk in 2020, Albany Brewing more likely to choose WA beers, of international beers to the port see what you like and don’t like; Reviewer calculated the average Co and Blue Mile Brewery in 2019, given the growing number of local city’s bars. that’s how our business grew. rate of openings to be around 68 and Brew 42 in 2018. breweries to choose from. According to website Craft Beer “The biggest change nowadays per year nationally, with only A majority of the top 10 were “I’m finding venues are more Reviewer, 86 breweries opened is that the craft beer market has seven breweries closing. established in the early 2000s, open to keeping more of their tap 28 | February 1, 2021 February 1, 2021 | 29 PB | February 1, 2021 February 1, 2021 | PB FEATURE Breweries & Distilleries FEATURE Original craft beer play ers still growing The state’s craft beer industry is Recently closed WA breweries going from strength to strength, Name Year but some of the oldest brewers still The Monk 2020 dominate the scene. Albany Brewing Co 2019 Blue Mile Brewery 2019 nationwide between 1984 and 2000, while 37 closed. Brew 42 2018 In WA, Business News’ Data & Moody Cow 2018 Insights lists 13 breweries that opened during that time period Blacksalt Brewery 2018 that remain in operation in 2021. Finlays Kalbarri opened in 1989, Naked Monkey Brewing Co 2018 Billabong Brewery sold its first beer in 1993, and Bush Shack Brew- He said the brewery was Mr Hoedemaker told Busi- ery followed in 1999. getting six new fermenters, ness News Good Drinks was also Madeleine Stephens Along with Nail Brewing, sev- upgrading its boiler and install- investigating opening venues in [email protected] eral well-known breweries opened ing a centrifuge to increase Queensland and Sydney. 6-PAGE FEATURE in 2000, including Little Creatures, brewing capability. “That will most likely be a venue which was sold to Lion Nathan in Feral was also considering new that supports the Matso’s brand HE term ‘craft beer’ wasn’t 2012, and Duckstein Brewery. locations for a hospitality venue in and we would like to see Matso’s be used in Australia when The Craft Beer Reviewer said the long term. a brand that’s synonymous with T Nail Brewing’s John Stall- annual brewery openings dou- “We just think that potentially the northern parts of Australia,” wood started out in the business. bled between 2001 and 2004, with there’s a little bit of a disconnect he said. That’s despite Western Australia an average of nine opening each between where the brand is now A Good Drinks venue on Syd- having led the craft beer charge year. in market; on tap at festivals, in ney’s Northern Beaches was also with the opening of the Sail & In all, 36 breweries opened your bottle shops and what it on the cards, Mr Hoedemaker Anchor in Fremantle in 1984. during that period, including WA’s represents compared to where we said. Back then, beers of the type Colonial Brewing Company and started,” Mr Brajkovich said. Another big change for the produced in Freo were known by a Feral Brewing Company, while 10 “So, we think there’s an oppor- brewer in recent months has been more high-end, top-shelf moniker, closed. tunity to get a CBD or CBD fringe its name. far from the earthy, crafty appeal In 2005, 22 breweries were estab- venue and get more people Known for years as Gage Roads of today’s creations. lished in Australia, including Gage through and interacting with the Brewing Company, the change Mr Stallwood began selling his Roads Brewing Company, now NEW: John Hoedemaker says Good Drinks is planning to open a hospitality venue at CHANGING: Rob Brajkovich says Feral’s beers have changed to meet evolving tastes. brand.” to Good Drinks was made in in brews in 2000 from Bobby Daz- called Good Drinks, which has Victoria Quay for next summer. Photo: Gabriel Oliveira Good Drinks is planning to open November last year. zler’s at the corner of Murray and become WA’s largest brewery, several new venues over the next Mr Hoedemaker said the man- Williams streets in the Perth CBD, ranked by production capacity, few years. agement team made the decision competing for market share with according to Data & Insights. with the notable exceptions of points flexible to cater for that local Juice, which is a New England IPA Growth plans The ASX-listed brewer as the company acquired more giants Carlton & United Breweries Good Drinks managing director Blasta Brewing Company (2018) offering or consumers ‘changing so it’s a hazy beer,” he said. announced plans to open a flag- drink brands, including Matso’s [W]e are no longer trying to Nail Brewing’s Mr Stallwood said and Lion Nathan. John Hoedemaker said the craft and Otherside Brewing Co (2016). tastes, knowing that’s what they “We only conceptualised and ship hospitality venue at the and San Miguel. the company made a profit for the “Back then it was two big brew- beer industry was in its infancy Feral Brewing Co, which started are looking for,” Mr Brajkovich said. brought that product to market historic A Shed building at Victo- “We wanted to change our get consumers to swap from lager to first time in its history last year. eries that were powerful, and when he started the brewery.