Red Dog Brewery to open new craft beer taproom in Mackay CBD near Pioneer River

Jamie Woods is realising every craft beer lovers dream – opening his own brewery by the banks of the Pioneer River.

Jamie Woods is realising every craft beer lovers dream – opening his own brewery by the banks of the Pioneer River.

Red Dog Brewery was born out of a desire to turn a hobby into a commercial venture and to fill what Mr Woods said was a void in the local dining market.

“I wanted a craft brewery in town and no-one had bothered to do it so I thought I’d better do it myself; I thought it was long overdue,” he said.

“So I hooked in and got it through.”

Mr Woods, a Mackay local “born and bred”, said a signature brew would be an amber ale in a nod to the beer’s branding that taps into the theme of hardworking and Aussie.

The six hectolitre brewhouse – the equivalent of 600 litres – will also produce a variety of beers including Mr Woods’ take on an Aussie lager to satisfy the taste of Mackay locals.

“We’ve got a heap of different beers and we’ll be sticking to the traditional styles because I understand the beer market is heavily weighted towards the mass-produced,” he said.

“But it’s about trying to get people into independent craft brewing and we will have an IPA, pale ale and our take on an Aussie lager.

“We’re experimenting with a mango beer using local mangoes but it is tricky to get the balance right.

“We’re experimenting with the sours which is a very popular craft beer at the moment, and we’ve got a pilsner we really like to brew.”

Mr Woods, who has a background in financial services, said he was inspired to make his dream a reality after redundancies brought on by COVID-19.

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But the taproom, which will have a mezzanine floor overlooking the operation, an outdoor area to host food trucks and space for live music, would model the vibe and atmosphere of some of Brisbane’s most successful brewhouses.

Patrons can expect a similar experience to the Green Beacon brewery in Brisbane’s Teneriffe with its industrial style and relaxed setting.

“Talking to locals over the last four to five years, it was all about the social infrastructure and people saying people don’t want to come and live here because there is so much on offer down south,” he said.

Red Dog Brewery is set to open at the corner of Victoria and Chain streets in Mackay. Photo: Contributed

“This is about bringing that here, replicating what’s being done in the southeast.

“It will be a nice place to come and have a beer and hang out, and we’re looking for food trucks and food vendors.”

With Mackay council approval secured and things in motion for a liquor licence, Mr Woods said he was hopeful to secure approvals to sell artisan distilled products to cater for a wider range of customers.

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The venue has capacity for about 100 to 150 people, he said.

And while the idea is to embrace the taphouse style, Mr Woods said growlers would be available for takeaway.

Red Dog Brewery will open at the corner of Victoria and Chain streets, a block away from the Pioneer River.

Originally published as Red Dog Brewery to open new craft beer taproom in Mackay CBD near Pioneer River