The Bintani Brewery Radar keeps the brewing industry up to date with the progress of planned breweries and brewpubs in Australia, where they are in their development process, the installation of brewhouses and proposed opening dates. This month, as lockdowns across the country ease and the hospitality industry approaches normality, breweries-in-planning are proving resilient as they forge ahead with projects across the country.

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New South Wales

King Tide Brewing is set to open by mid-2021. Founded by Josh and Lucyna King, the brewery in Coffs Harbour in northern NSW has been a project in planning since 2010.

Josh is a Coffs Harbour local who went to Sydney to study chemical engineering and did a stint as a student engineer at Tooheys Brewery. He is a BJCP judge and certified cicerone, and moved back to Coffs Harbour in 2015 to work on his dream of opening a brewery.

He founded King Tide Brewing and nomad brewed for three years, before coming across a perfect location. A long DA process turned out to be a blessing in disguise, with initial plans projected to have King Tide open before COVID-19 hit.

“We are now kicking off the build and fit-out of our venue,” said Josh.

“We are creating a 200-250 seat brewpub, with two bars, a full kitchen and a great mix of indoor and outdoor spaces.

“My wife, Lucyna, is Polish and I love European beer culture, so the theming for the venue is to bring a touch of Europe into the venue styling, the food and the beer, while still staying true to Coffs Harbour’s coastal, laid back vibe.

“Our focus is primarily as a brewpub, creating a social hub and community venue.”

King Tide is investing in a 10hL, three-vessel system from Brewtique which is currently being manufactured, with delivery expected in March.

It’s not the only new brewery for NSW’s North Coast, after a development application was submitted for a microbrewery called Black Apple Brewing Co. in Wooloolga.

Lodged in August 2020, the application for an artisan food and drink premises was approved in November for the site at Willis Road.

Slow Lane Brewing officially opened its bar at the beginning of the month, having been brewing for several months.

Dad & Dave’s Brewing is installing its new brewery next week, having received its new 20hL brewhouse this year. The taproom is already open between Thursday and Sunday at 45 Mitchell Road Brookvale.

“[We’re] all good, relieved but super happy,” said co-founder Dave Dumay. “Now the hard work begins.”

Future Brewing is setting up a microbrewery and taproom in Newtown in Sydney – no more details as yet but the founders say will they have news and updates very soon.

The 4 Pines collaboration with pub chain The Sporting Globe has completed, opening at the end of last year at 22 The Promenade on Kings Street Wharf in Sydney.

Bucketty’s Brewing Co. welcomed new tanks earlier this month to its Brookvale venue and brewery after a difficult few years in planning which saw them move to the Northern Beaches from their original home in regional NSW.

It is set to open in February. Follow Bucketty’s story on its blog.

Brew Mountains Brewery joined the growing ranks of Blue Mountains breweries in November last year.

Founder Craig Talbot told Brews News that he had previously worked in IT and on the stock markets and had been commuting from the mountains to Sydney. Brewing beer was a family tradition, having homebrewed with his grandfather.

Running the brewery from his garage for several years and building up a client base through farmers markets and local restaurants wasn’t enough, and setting up a bar was the “next logical step,” he said.

Talbot made all the brewing equipment including two 500L fermenters, two 200L kettles and even the 4.5-metre bar himself.

“I really enjoy getting stuck in with all that stuff,” he explained.

“It’s all lasting but I’m getting through quite a lot [of litres] already. It’s been really well received by locals, people are queuing up to get in but obviously everyone has to have a seat so we’re applying to try and get a licensed area outside the business unit.”

“As it’s all off my own back, it’s been tough and we had three years of building up our client base and getting beers right without making any money.

“The local council have been supportive and now the taproom is up and running.”

Modus Operandi Brewing started developing its new site in Newcastle suburb of Merewether this year after it was approved back in August 2020.

Mountain Goat’s Sydney site opened at the end of October 2020.

Thirsty Messiah Brewery is set to be Newcastle’s latest brewery after submitting its development application to the local council for its new address at 140 Lambton Road, Broadmeadow.

The team said the process, all going well, would take a few months. The brewpub will offer food, and the Thirsty Messiah’s founders have said that there will be 36 taps minimum including non-alcoholic options, beers, seltzers, ciders and more.

Eden in NSW will soon have a new microbrewery located at Hotel Australasia when Snug Cove Brewing moves in later this year. The project comes from the managers of the Rutherglen Brewery, Fiona Myers and Gavin Swalwell.

Queensland

Easy Times Brewing Co. opened at the end of November at Woollangabba and hosted the Radio Brews News countdown to the GABS Hottest 100 last weekend.

It opened during the AFL Grand Final in October, and co-founder Dave Ferguson said he “couldn’t believe how good it was”.

“We raced to get it open in time for the revenue and the profile, in the hopes that people outside the area will now know about Easy Times.

“The biggest challenge for us was the red tape, and advice I’d give to new brewers is to allow for double the money and double the time, and double the fun as well. Despite all that it’s really rewarding.”

Quarry Road Beer Co. has had to change plans after its first target location fell through, but the founders say that plan B is still looking good. It’s local, they say, but lease negotiations are slow and the focus currently is on the product.

Straddie Brewing Co.’s Andrew Sydes said that the brewery closed out 2020 on a high, with its Point Lookout Lager picking up a gold medal at the Indies, and the first batches of is Amity Pale Ale and Myora Springs Gose receiving bronze medals.

“To receive this recognition for the quality of our beers this early on is exciting,” Sydes said.

Beers are being brewed at Ballistic Beer’s Salisbury and Springfield breweries after COVID-19 slowed plans to bring its own brewery onto the island. However, it is still upping production volumes as it looks to sell beer on the mainland.

“Work continues behind the scenes toward commencing construction of our brewery home on Straddie,” Sydes said.

“The new year has come with a firm reminder that COVID-19 will be an ongoing challenge and we are under no illusions that it won’t continue to have an effect on our plans, but we’re glad to have Straddie beer out there and look forward to rising to whatever challenges the next 12 months bring.

“Our brewery equipment (Brewtique, NDL Craft) and canning line (including an Alpha filler/seamer) will start arriving in the next few months and will be stored ready for install and commissioning (hopefully) later this year.”

Straddie will also release a number of new beers in the coming months including Mid Track Session Ale (2.8% abv) and Jumpinpin IPA (6.5% abv).

The Lawson’s Landing brewery project in the Brisbane suburb of Wynnum has been cancelled and the site will now become a fish and chip shop.

However, it is not all bad news for Wynnum as the second brewery project planned for the area, Hudson Brewing Co. opened back in December 2020.

Construction delays have held back Bobs Beer on the Gold Coast, but it officially opened in Surfers Paradise on Monday 25th January.

Located on the corner of Elkhorn and Orchid Avenues, the brewery will be open seven days a week with a 12hL brewery led by head brewer Ryan Fullerton.

Nauti Brewing is a brewery-in-planning in Caboolture in the Moreton Bay region of South East Queensland.

It is still in the very early stages, but will produce small-batch beers brewers and served on-premise at the brewery location on the Bribie Island Road industrial estate.

South Australia

Woolstore Brewery at Mount Gambier is full steam ahead now the brewhouse has been delivered and the team are working to install and commission it.

The District at SkyCity, which includes a fully functional Pirate Life-branded brewery within a casino opened November 20th.

Ogre Brewing in Mclaren Vale opened on Wednesday 9th December with a capacity of 110 people and eight taps, including three of Ogre’s own beers and five South Australian guest taps. Cartons, with six-packs & merchandise available soon.

Meanwhile, Bickford’s has been approved to develop a new microbrewery, restaurant and 15 tourist accommodation units at its Beresford Estate in McLaren Vale.

Tasmania

Spotty Dog Brewers are building a brewery after finding a site in the Prince of Wales Bay.

Spotty Dog has been nomad brewing at Shambles and Miners Gold, and have been looking for a site for 2 years.

All going well the new brewery will be open later this year, potentially early 2022 according to co-founder Klimt Donohoe.

“We have gone through three different potential sites over the past few years which ran into council zoning issues or just slipped away through timing.

“Finding this site was a very happy accident! When we set out gypsy brewing it was always with the intention to build our own premise, but the time learning from our industry and seeing the market develop has really helped us learn about who we are and what we want to be as a brewery. Safe to say the day-one plans are very different to now!”

The Spotty Dog brewery will be split between a production facility and cellar door, and Donohoe said it had been in talks with Neal Cameron from Brewtique, who is helping finalise equipment sizing and design. It has been funded by a small group of investors.

“We quietly sought out a small group of like-minded investors during 2019 who have stuck with us through the highs and lows of planning setbacks, COVID-19 and delays!” said Donohoe.

“We may look to add to that small group in the future and are very grateful for their support both financially and as advisors in their respective fields.”

Communion Brewing is on track and the brewery build is nearing completion. looking like completion at the end of the month. Shipping times and estimates are holding up the process, as freight to Tasmania has increased exponentially.

ACT

Wignall Brewery, part of The Pot Belly Bar, has started brewing beers, and has three of its own beers on tap in addition to a host of other craft beers.

Victoria

Deeds Brewing is planning on opening its taproom by May 2021 after four-year development process.

James Krekelberg is in the process of opening an brewery in Tralargon, Gippsland – its name yet to be revealed.

It will be a production brewery with a 20hL, four-vessel brewhouse which will also include a small taproom and a beer garden pending approval from council.

“The business plan is changing due to COVID as I was gearing up to predominantly keg with a small amount going into package,” explained Krekelberg.

“As seen with a lot of breweries during COVID they are all swinging to package with a small amount of keg. So still a bit to get through in regard to that front, but things are progressing well with 90% of the equipment on site now and installation ongoing.”

Sou’West Brewery in Torquay is currently working with FB*PROPAK on the install of its new 25hl brewhouse made by Alpha Brewing Ops with 225hl of FB*PROPAK fermenters and bottling line and kegging gear from Italian supplier Framax.

Hawkers officially opened its brewery bar on Saturday 23rd January.

Blackmans Brewery announced plans last year to build a brewery in Grovedale. It will be its second site, located at a Lewalan St warehouse.

WA

Funk Cider is opening a new venue in the Swan Valley early this year, after it purchased Swanbrook Winery (formerly Evans and Tate Winery). It will bring production capacity up to 5 million litres a year, according to Funk Cider

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Are you starting a new brewery and would like to be featured on the Bintani Brewery Radar? Or have we missed your new local brewery-in-planning off the list? If so, email clare@brewsnews.com.au.