Comment:

It’s very hard to be be unbiased when friendships are involved…so take that this with a grain of salt because Ian Watson is a very great friend of mine – and owners Ged Connors and Jim O’Connor are great blokes as well – but I’m very excited with this news from Fortitude.

In addition to operating the brewery, Fortitude will also be running the brewery bar, but not the cheese factory or the restaurants, though no doubt close relations will be forged there if just due to proximity and – as the big guys like to say – synergies.

The MT Brewery is a venue that has always had unrealised potential both as a brewery and as a venue. On the otherhand, Fortitude is a brewery that has not been able to fulfil its very early promisedue to crippling capacity constraints. This is an excellent solution for both breweriesand yet another fillip for the South East Queensland beer scene. [MK]

Media Release

Fortitude Brewing announces bold expansion plans

Fortitude’s founder (l-r) Jim O’Connor, Ged Connors and Ian Watson

Fortitude Brewing Company has acquired the rights to brew exclusively out of MT Brewery at Mt Tamborine.

The move will allow FBC to expand production and enter the packaged beer market.

The takeover makes FBC the fourth largest brewery in Queensland. The 24 hectolitre, full production brewery is located only 850m away from the existing 5 hectolitre Fortitude Brewery at Eagle Heights.

FBC Director, Jim O’Connor said “We’ve experienced rapid growth in our Fortitude and Noisy Minor beer brands since launching less than 12 months ago, and have reached capacity at our 5hL plant sooner than expected.

“The 24hL plant will allow us to continue to grow our wholesale draught sales, as well as enter the packaged beer market, and provide a retail outlet for our fans to experience our beer fresh from the brewery.”

Director Ged Connors said once the licences are transferred, the MT brewery brand will cease production to make way for FBC. “We plan to close briefly for renovations and re-branding, then launch the facility as the Fortitude Brewery and Visitor Centre.”

“It is an amazing facility which will give us the scope to reward our loyal customers with a genuine brewery experience and introduce a new audience into the world of quality craft beer via tastings, brewery tours, functions and our Bachelor of Beer program”.

Partner and Head Brewer of Fortitude and Noisy Minor beers, Ian Watson said the increased capacity is an exciting step forward.

“Keeping up with supply has been a huge headache over the last few months, so this highly capable brewery will be used to produce our popular range of session beers under the Fortitude brand, while the existing 5 hec plant will continue to craft a range of innovative single batch beers under our Noisy Minor label.”

The brewery features a function room, large beer garden and music stage, and operates within a multifunctional centre with Witches Chase Cheese Factory and Three Little Pigs Restaurant.

FBC and its little brother, Noisy Minor, have been making an impressive impact on the craft beer scene throughout 2013. Their beers are constantly available at Pig N Whistle Riverside, RiverBar and Kitchen, Jimmys on the Mall, Statler and Waldorf and The Gresham, and on rotational availability at Story Bridge Hotel, Scratch, Tipplers Tap, Bitter Suite, The Embassy, SuperWhatNot and other quality craft beer venues.