From FIFO to craft beer: 10 Toes Brewery launches

SHOULD he find another fly-in-fly-out job in the mines or start a craft beer brewery?

AT LAST: Co-owner of 10 Toes Brewery Rupert Hall enjoys a fresh pour from his first commercial batch, 10 years after he started brewing. Picture: Warren Lynam

SHOULD he find another fly-in-fly-out job in the mines or start a craft beer brewery?

This was a question Rupert Hall had to ask himself when a drop in gold prices evaporated his job at a Papua New Guinea gold mine, but he already knew the answer.

For 10 years, brewing had been Mr Hall's creative outlet. Between stints in PNG and other work, he experimented with brewing and had dreamed of starting his own brewery, he said.

The qualified engineer and project manager's skills came in handy as he set about creating 10 Toes Brewery with his wife Kerrie Hall.

On Friday the couple launched the Sunshine Coast's two newest craft beers when they opened their brewery and tasting room at Sugar Rd, Alexandra Headland.

Pipeline Pale and Bright Ale are the first of many creations the pair plans to unleash on what they believe is a burgeoning local market for quality home-brewed ale.

The first tasting night on Friday was complete with wood-fired pizza offerings and an interactive brew and bar space where guests could mingle with the brewer and see beer brewing behind the bar.

"Tonight's our big night," Mr Hall said ahead of the opening on Friday.

Rupert Hall has opened his own brewery in Maroochydore called 10 Toes. Picture: Warren Lynam

"We're really excited ... we've got a couple of beers on tap and we're getting some good feedback. It's been really good."

10 Toes is the latest in a string of craft breweries to emerge on the Coast, including Your Mates, Blackwater Trader Co and the established Sunshine Coast Brewery.

"The scene's exploding," Steve Barber, owner of Mooloolaba-based Taps Australia, which sells craft beer on self-serve taps, said.

"Its great for us - we can tap into a lot of local beers."

He said tourists love local beers, including a recent addition to his selection from Your Mates.

"Their beer just sold through the roof," Mr Barber said.

Mr Barber said his Taps manager had tasted 10 Toes' brews and was impressed.

"We want to get it on tap if they'll let us," he said.

"If you've got that Sunshine Coast label attached to it, people love it."

Visit www.10toes.beer

Tasting room open Fridays and Saturdays