Coolum Beer to open Sunshine Coast brewery before Christmas

Home brew enthusiasts are behind the Sunshine Coast’s latest brewery set to open before Christmas and is just one of several new offerings across the region. Take a look inside.

Rhodri Williams is opening a new brewery in Coolum Beach. Pictured with Ryan Atwill manager, owner (right). Patrick Woods.

Self-proclaimed “home brew enthusiasts” have combined their powers to open a $1 million-plus brewery in a Sunshine Coast industrial estate.

Coolum Beach resident Rhodri Williams moved to the Sunshine Coast “in between the bushfires and Covid” and met his Coolum Beer Co co-owners at a Noosaville home brew group.

There are five shareholders of the business.

“The founders are all home brew enthusiasts and we brought it together to do it on a bigger scale and look after people in a hospitality sense as well,” Mr Williams said.

The brewery in Junction Dr in the Coolum Beach industrial estate is being built with families in mind, with a secure, grassy area for children to run around.

Coolum Beer Co’s head brewer Jesse Atkinson. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Williams said the brewery was worth “in excess of $1 million” just in set-up costs.

“All of the high-tech stainless steel brewing equipment but we’ve also invested heavily in venue fit-outs because we want it to be a smart, comfortable, relaxing place that has appeal to family, locals and people working on the estate first and foremost,” he said.

Coolum Beer Co is opening a brewery in the Coolum Beach industrial estate. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Williams said the business’s beers had already been stocked in some Sunshine Coast venues including the Coolum Beach Surf Club.

He said the Point Perry pale ale had sold well, as had the Beach Days session ale.

“That’s my favourite beer, if you’re asking me what my preference is from our range it’s the session ale,” Mr Williams said.

The business owners are aiming to open the brewery by Christmas.

Rhodri Williams is opening a new brewery in Coolum Beach. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Tours’ Josh Donohoe said the Coolum Beach brewery was one of several new venues in the region.

He said the Coolum Beer Co’s location close to Blackflag Brewing, which was also in the industrial estate, would benefit the two businesses and make it a destination for beer lovers.

Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Tours’ Josh Donohoe.

Mr Donohoe said Wild Barrel, which was producing barrel-aged beers in the Noosa hinterland, was another addition to the craft beer trade on the Sunshine Coast.

The beer there is aged in a barrel and produced with wild yeast.

He said Morts Brewing Co in Nambour was another he had added to his tour route and the 10 Toes Brewery expansion in Buderim was going “exceptionally well”.

Mr Donohoe said the Matso’s brewery revamp of Joe’s Waterhole in Eumundi was also one to keep on the radar.

Visit Sunshine Coast recently launched a marketing campaign touting the Sunshine Coast as Australia’s craft beer capital and had created a trail map of breweries in the region.

Mr Donohoe said the campaign was “a great result” for the industry.