Big Shed Brewing has been placed in administration but plans to trade on and restructure

Big Shed Brewing, one of the stalwarts of the SA craft beer industry, has been placed in administration, but there are high hopes it will survive and continue to trade.

Big Shed Brewing, which has been one of the leaders of the craft beer industry in South Australia for more than two decades, has been placed in administration, but the owners are working on a plan to save the business.

The company, founded by Craig Basford and Jason Harris in 2002 in the Barossa Valley, moved to Royal Park in 2013 and then to new, expanded premises on Old Port Rd, also in Royal Park, in 2019.

The company has won numerous awards for its beers and made headlines with its collaboration with confectionery company Menz to create the BruChocs beers based on the popular FruChocs products.

Big Shed Brewing Company co-owners Craig Basford and Jason Harris at the Royal Park headquarters.

Australian punk legends Bodyjar also collaborated with the brewery last year to produce a beer - the 5 Minutes Away Session Haze - to coincide with the Beer & BBQ Festival.

As well as brewing beers such as the Californicator, the Jetty Jumper and the low alcohol Desi Driver, the company also operates a hospitality venue at the Old Port Rd site.

Big Shed Brewery’s BruChocs collaboration with Menz, producer of FruChocs.

Mark Lieberenz and Anthony Phillips of Heard Phillips Lieberenz have been appointed as administrators of the company, and said there were high hopes for a positive outcome from the administration process, with a proposal to be put to creditors under which the business would trade on.

“The administrators are continuing to trade the business as normal and are working closely with the founders of the business to restructure the operations of the company and to come to terms with creditors,’’ the restructuring firm said in a statement.

Mr Lieberenz said: “we are open for business and look forward to continue brewing the full range of big shed beers and welcoming customers at the Big Shed”.

“We are delighted to be working with a staff and management team who feel as passionate about their business as they are about their products.”

The administrators will meet with creditors next week when an initial creditors report will be produced.

The craft beer industry nationally has been struggling with many operators going into administration in recent years, with a combination of oversupply and a declining beer market generally to blame.