Bundaberg Brewed Drinks super brewery opened by PM

The long-awaited opening of the Bundaberg Brewed Drinks super brewery received the VIP treatment on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confessing he’d spruiked the delicious home-grown brew to US President Joe Biden.

The launch of a new phase of operations for Bundaberg Brewed Drinks received the VIP treatment on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese jetting in to open the company’s long-awaited new super brewery.

Just three days after touching down from his US visit, Mr Albanese cut the ribbon along with Bundaberg Brewed Drinks’ founder Cliff Fleming to open the new Thabeban facility three-and-a-half years after it was given the green light by Bundaberg Regional Council.

The $152.4 million facility includes an innovation centre, large storage and cold room facilities, a laboratory as well as manufacturing and processing equipment.

The $152.4 million facility includes an innovation centre, large storage and cold room facilities, a laboratory as well as manufacturing and processing equipment.

The majority of the funding for the new super brewery came from a reinvestment of Bundaberg Brewed Drinks capital to the tune of $133.4m, with the federal government providing $19m and the Queensland government $575,800.

Construction of the project created more than 850 jobs, with more than 600 jobs created for the brewery’s ongoing operation.

Mr Albanese said the brewery was notable for drawing tourists to one of Bundaberg’s most well-known landmark companies, and for representing the growth of a 100 per cent Australian-owned business.

“It brings people to Bundaberg because this city is known for this product,” the Prime Minister said.

“It is also wonderful that, as much as we appreciate foreign investment sometimes in Australia, isn’t it great that an Australian family owned business stays here, building here, creating jobs here; that is precisely what we want.”

PM Anthony Albanese was taken on a tour of the new facility by Bundaberg Brewed Drinks CEO John McLean.

Referencing his recent US visit, Mr Albanese said while ginger beer was President Biden’s “go-to” drink, Bundaberg ginger beer was not yet on his radar.

“Now we need to convert him to Bundaberg ginger beer, I’ve spoken with him about this while I was there because it is such an amazing product,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Fleming said his business had come a long way since its humble beginnings on Electra Street 55 years ago.

“We still call Bundaberg home and take enormous pride in sharing the name of our hometown to the world,” Mr Fleming said.

“We are forever grateful for how the people of Bundaberg, our loyal partners and friends and of course our team of people who have worked alongside us since the beginning have supported our journey.

“The opening of this brewery means we can remain here for decades.”

PM Anthony Albanese was given a ginger beer with a custom ‘Albo’ label to toast the opening of the brewery.

Mr Albanese was taken on a tour of the new facility by Bundaberg Brewed Drinks CEO John McLean, and was given a ginger beer with a custom ‘Albo’ label to toast the opening of the brewery.

When asked which was his favourite out of the range of Bundaberg drinks, Mr Albanese said while the pink grapefruit was “a great product”, he had more traditional tastes.

“I’m a bit old school, I love a Bundy ginger beer,” he said.

A brewery spokeswoman confirmed that, as reported by NewsMail in June, there are no plans to move the iconic Bundaberg Barrel from its current Bargara Rd location.