Brewery Radar • Brewery Radar: February 2022

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. 2022 has launched with a flurry of activity for breweries-in-planning in Australia, with both new and existing breweries launching operations.


Find out where new breweries are opening in your state:

If you haven’t seen your brewery on recent editions of the Brewery Radar, get in touch with us – clare@brewsnews.com.au.


Communion Brewing opened before Christmas in the town of Burnie after a big development process for the site in the North West of the state.

Meanwhile, Island State Brewing is on schedule to open in mid-March, with a few delays which were to be expected, said founder Scott Seymour, as COVID continues to disrupt supply chains.

Spotty Dog’s new site

Hobart’s Spotty Dog Brewers is progressing in leaps and bounds with its new venue. The construction team broke ground at the end of last year, and the brewery is hoping to have construction completed in June with a cellar door open this summer.

The carpark underneath the venue is starting to take shape and floors will soon be poured.

Union Bridge Brewery & Distillery is currently being built in Cudlee Creek after a $278,019 grant from the South Australian Tourism Commission’s Tourism Industry Development Fund to assist with construction.

The team are currently in the final stages of construction of the front of house cellar door and restaurant. Meanwhile, the brewery is almost complete, and distribution is beginning to local outlets.

While there isn’t any opening date yet, the team are planning to be open within the next three months.

Beachport Brewing Co. is setting up this year on the Limestone Coast of South Australia. The first beers went into tanks this week and it is prepping to open to the public this year.

The team are currently looking for a brewer to join the family-based venture, which also has an associated farming business, with plans to use homegrown barley in Beachport’s beers.

Brewmanity is preparing to launch its new South Melbourne brewery (pictured below) later this year and has brought in former 3 Ravens and Little Creatures brewer Tim Miller, to lead brewing operations ahead of the opening.

CoConspirators Brewing Co. opened its long-awaited Brunswick brewpub just before Christmas. Find out more in the Brews News Brewery Openings section.

On Point Brewery is opening in the regional Victorian town of Alexandra this year, with delivery of its equipment due at the beginning of this month.

In regional Victoria, Bendigo Brewing is set for a May opening date and the walls are currently getting a lick of paint.

Kaiju Beer is opening its Huntingdale brewpub today (Wednesday 9th February) after announcing plans for the site last year.

It features a 6hL brewkit on which the team will be brewing limited releases. Click on photos below for a closer look.

Photo credit: Kim Jane Photography

Gage Roads Brew Co. launched its $10 million Fremantle venue at A Shed on 20th January (pictured below). Find out more.

Moore River Brewing Co. has been delayed a little more than founders Neil and Cindy had planned, but they are still on track to build their brewery.

In Mukinbudin, Dandanning Brewery has submitted its application for a producer licence and are waiting to hear back from WA’s Racing, Gaming & Liquor department.

Shag Brewing Co. is still currently building the brewery and has had supply delays due to the pandemic. The team is anticipating to open within the next two months.

Crowdfunded Spinifex Brewing Co. is on track with its new brewery at the WA State Government Food Innovation Precinct in Nambeelup after a $2.2 million equity crowdfund last year. The Spinifex team signed the final equipment schedule last week for a 24hL with Flying Foam and it is hoping to be installed in June 2022.

Common People Brewing Co. launched in mid-January in Bangalow. Read more about it here.

Common People’s brewhouse and tanks

Beer brand Reckless Brewing, is taking over the former Two Heads brewery in Bathurst, and is just about to sign the lease for the site.

In Newcastle, Thirsty Messiah Brewery is set to open later in 2022, having received its liquor licence in January.

King Tide Brewery opened just before Christmas.

In Hawkesbury just west of Sydney, Gypsy-Fox Brewing Company celebrated last month after submitting its development application to the local council for a new taproom.

Spangled Drongo Brewery in the Northern Rivers is opening its ‘Bird Bath’ cafe and tasting room in a former bakery earlier this year.

It has been working with the local council on building its much bigger planned venue and brewery at the Regent Cinema, but progress on that front is slower. In the meantime, the tasting room will be open from early March and beer is available to buy online.

Project Bravo is opening a new brewery, distillery and smokehouse this February 2022 in Burleigh Heads, the heart of the Gold Coast. It is currently looking for a number of new staff members – view the positions available here.

Yepp Brewing Co. is set to open at the end of February in Yeppoon according to founder Tanya Adams.

Four Fires Brewery in Toowoomba has brought in plumbing contractors to complete the brewery plumbing work, which founder Anthony Brand explained was the last stage of the brewery. He said that the team are hoping to be able to supply pubs and cafes in the local region soon.

One of the country’s newest alcohol-free breweries is making headway, as Sobah Beverages undertakes the development of its Gold Coast site. It’s a bit behind schedule due to COVID and weather-related issues, but its 25hL brewhouse has been commissioned. All other equipment has been sourced and will be built ready for installation by mid- year.

Solar is also an option the Sobah team are looking into, with plans to go as ‘off-grid’ as possible and help achieve its carbon zero footprint early on. In the meantime, Sobah is investing in some product development with new beers to come out this year.

Construction of Straddie Brewing Co’s island home has been forging ahead, despite the wetter than average summer Queensland has been experiencing. The ground floor concrete slab was poured just before Christmas and the first floor slab is due to be poured in the coming weeks.

On the Redcliffe Peninsula, Scarborough Harbour Brewing Co. is aiming to be open to the public in March, pending any construction issues.

When open, it will have a minimum of four core range beers, as well as other beverages for all consumer tastes. They have been included in the Queensland Beer Passport for 2022.

Brewers at the new venue, founded by Guy and Sonia Schweitzer, will be brewing on a 1200L dual vessel Tiantai system, with four 2400L fermenters. The brewery has been installed and is awaiting its commissioning.

With a total of 28 taps, there will also be a full kitchen.

“The upstairs component is light and airy, with fantastic views across the bay to the glass mountains, resembling the upper deck of a ship,” Schweitzer described.

“The downstairs component is painted in a chalkboard black accented with copper features, with patrons surrounded by stainless brewing tanks, resembling the engine room of the ship. Both levels offer the same food and beverage, but different experiences.”

Downstairs will have a capacity of 200-300 people depending on configuration, with upstairs having approximately 200.

Chinchilla is set to expand with the region’s first microbrewery. Clover Hill Accommodation and Camping reportedly got the green light for the brewery, which it is developing with a little help from a Sunshine Coast brewery.

Ward’s Brewery in Gladstone will soon be serving fresh beer when the team, headed by Michael Comley, completes the transformation of a 100-year-old cordial factory in the city.

Off the coast, Magnetic Island is due to get its own brewery with the launch of Maggie Island Brewery, which received its brewhouse and tanks before Christmas.

Hip Hops Brewing Co. is joining The Sheds precinct in Brendale later this year. Co-founder Shaun Reeves said Hip Hops intended to add a cider to its tap list alongside beers from White Bricks’ Adam Gibb.

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