L-R: Kyam Maher with Prancing Pony’s Frank Samson and Corinna Steeb

Fresh from winning the Supreme Champion Trophy at the International Beer Challenge, Prancing Pony Brewery has received a $250,000 government grant to support the upgrade of its bottling line.

The grant supports the South Australian Government’s economic priorities of promoting growth through innovation, facilitating small business access to capital and global markets and exporting premium food and wine, according to Manufacturing and Innovation Minister Kyam Maher.

“Prancing Pony’s internationally recognised accomplishments have the potential to transform the company into a major player in the domestic craft beer market and an exporter of quality Australian produce, creating jobs in South Australia,” he said.

Demand for Prancing Pony’s beers has been very high after its India Red Ale took out the top prize in London in September, CEO Corrina Steeb told Australian Brews News.

Prancing Pony in celebration mode

“For us this was a wonderful announcement as our current bottling line literally has been a bit of a bottleneck to getting our beers to market,” she said.

“We expect two additional 60HL fermenters to arrive shortly and this will relieve some of the pressure… with an expected installation of the new bottling line in June 2017, we can triple the output of beers from our brewery.

“We are stoked that we have received some government support for our business. This is certainly welcome news for our production team, who have been working hard to keep up with demand,” said Steeb.

She said Prancing Pony has recently brought its eastern seaboard distribution in-house, with the appointment of Cameron Dowsett as sales manager.