March 2023

Brewery Radar serves the brewing industry by keeping it up to date with the progress of planned breweries, expansions, and tap rooms in Australia. We aim to track where they are in their development process from concept to opening.

This month, we have tracked:

13 brewery openings, five in Queensland, three in Victoria, two in New South Wales, one in South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania
Four announced expansions
One closure
18 breweries-in-planning

Additional reporting and research by Jess Laven.

All TAS QLD VIC NSW SA WA

TAS

Spotty Dog Brewers has opened its brewery in Derwent Park.

QLD

In Brendale, Hip Hop Brewers is gearing up to open soon with its brewhouse controller now live, and canning system coming together.

Big Rocks Brewing in Rockhampton has confirmed its planned opening date for November 2023.

Crimson Finch Brewery is progressing with founder Carl Legros anticipating a mid 2023 opening date.

“We would like to have Crimson Finch ready by mid 2023 at this stage if everything lines up for us,” he said.

“Our little 3 hectolitres 3-vessel system has arrived accompanied with 6x6HL unitanks and a bunch of other stuff.

“This system will be repurposed as our pilot brewery once we are ready to grow.

“In the meantime, it will serve as our brewery as we work towards launching Crimson Finch for our beloved Capricorn Coast, followed by distribution outside our region once we scale up.”

A new brewery is set to open in Geebung, Queensland.

Dubbed as Hodfellow’s Brewing Co, the brewery is a 4-vessel German built 500L brewhouse and is set to open at 10/229 Robinson Road, Geebung.

In a blog post detailing its progress, the business said it received its manufacturer’s and excise licences, with work continuing on the install and commission of equipment.

Trial production batches are set to commence over the coming weeks.

A new brewery is set to open in Chinchilla, called Charley Creek’s Brewing Co. Owner Steve Keating, who also owns Clover Hill Meats, said construction is set to begin soon.

“Our brewery is coming along well. We have our Brewhouse, our shed and all our approvals. We are about to start construction,” he said.

“We have however brewed a watermelon sour Gose for the Chinchilla Melon Festival. It’s called One in a Melon and we brewed it at Helios in Brisbane.”

A new brewery from Witches Falls Winery is set to open at Mount Tamborine, called Boxer Brewing Co.

Former Green Beacon head brewer Johann van der Walt is driving the brewing operations, which is set to open by mid 2023.

VIC

The 120-seat bar and restaurant of the Rhyll Brewery and Distillery, which received partial funding from the government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund, has received approval, per the Herald Sun.

While renders were released last year, the development application received 44 objections concerning the amount of noise the venue would produce.

In response, the business said it will not host live music and will conduct a full acoustic report.

3 Griffins Brewing has received a planning permit from local council to relocate its brewery from Melbourne to Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula.

Founder Marty Ryan confirmed to Brews News that the business is ready to start production again on a 4.5hL brew system from Cheeky Peak Brewery in Wodonga.

“We will initially look for local distribution options and are also looking for a suitable venue to open a small local taproom to showcase our wares as an independent local nano brewer, including the soon to be released Balnarring Beach Summer Ale and Mild Ale,” Ryan said.

Work on Smiley Brewing in Pakenham continues to progress with plumbing and the cool room. Additionally, the business said that the brewkit is complete with arrival due in early March.

The brewery is aiming to open by June 2023.

On Point Brewery has opened its brewery in Alexandra.

The Craft & Co. opened its expansion in Preston, Victoria, which includes a brewery, taphouse and distillery.

A small-scale production brewery has opened in Lake Meran with a focus on supplying venues and sporting clubs within a 100km radius of the brewery.

Lake Meran Brewery specialises in lagers but offers other styles, according to owner Hamish Chirnside.

“We’re trying to bring something different to the traditionally macro lager area, offering beer made with barley and hops grown on the farm,” he said.

NSW

A new brewery is set to open in Albury–Wodonga called Murray Towns Brewing Co.

Co-founded by Jodie Lane, Andrew Heath and Barry Young, the brewery was initially named as Chook Yard Brewing Co before landing on its current title.

“Originally, we were keen on Chook Yard Brewing Co but as we wanted to capture a local influence, we settled on Murray Towns Brewing Co. We are proud of our region and wanted that reflected in our brand,” Barry Young said.

“We are now a long way down the track in securing a space for our brew house, only a couple of more boxes to tick in terms of alterations allowable by landlord.

“We are also waiting on Council for Signage approval and licensing. We have a Brew House design in place and will be ready to hit go with order once all boxes are ticked. The timeline from order placement we estimate to be about 6 months, from what I have read and for those reading this that have been through the process, things won’t always run to plan, but we are optimistic to be operational by next summer.”

A new brewery dubbed Mogul Brewing is set to open in Woolgoolga. Local council has approved the development application with the brewery fitout commencing in April, according to founder Dave .

“We have already purchased our brewhouse direct from Hulk in China and we have had it stored for a year now,” he said.

“We have our tradies for internal construction on stand by, plus our furniture order.

“The latest is that we are being held up by Essential Energy in power allocation which is happening all over the country now.

“Otherwise the site builders have been engaged and we have a build plan that is due to commence.”

In an update to its website, Hoppers Brewing Co. said construction plans are currently being drawn with various builders providing quotes.

Swordfish Brewing is a new brewery set to open at Sussex Inlet. Currently, the restaurant is open to the public with the brewery receiving approval in December.

In Newcastle, Thirsty Devil Brewery has brewed its first beers on site however, in February, the business stated that it is not yet open.

Similarly, Newcastle Brewing Co. is facing delays in opening its planned brewery in Wickham.

In a social media post, the business said that despite brewery equipment arriving last year, no installation has started as the local council is yet to approve the development application.

“To say we are disappointed and let down by the council is an understatement and they wonder why businesses close down or don’t bother opening in Newcastle LGA,” the post read.

In early February, Drink West Brewery opened in Penrith.

Wombat Brewery opened during the holiday break in late December last year.

SA

Construction and restoration continues at Little Blessings Brewery in Laura, with company Concrete Concepts leading the work.

The brewery is aiming for a Spring 2023 opening date.

A new brewery and taphouse is set to open in Lonsdale called BeerNoEvil.

The brewery, which is based at Unit 3, 77 O’sullivan beach road, Lonsdale, has received approvals from council however, the taphouse is still awaiting approval.

In late January, Jump Ship Brewing opened at 11-13 Edinburgh Street, Port Lincoln, South Australia.