Easy Times Brewing Co: New Gabba brewpub opens in time for AFL grand final
The couple behind inner-city Brisbane’s newest brewpub say it has been a “baptism of fire” working 100-hour weeks trying to open their venue in time for AFL finals. SEE THE PHOTOS
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One half of the couple behind inner-city Brisbane’s newest brewpub says it has been a “baptism of fire” racing the clock to open in time for the AFL finals series, with the paint only drying half an hour before the doors were thrown open last Saturday for the Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats preliminary final.
David Ferguson, a former councillor and avid homebrewer, and his partner Anita Boettger, a qualified psychologist, are now the proud owners of Easy Times Brewing Co at Logan Rd, Woolloongabba, but Mr Ferguson said it hasn’t been an easy road to opening.
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“For the preliminary final, we finished painting the interior at 2pm, it dried at 2.30pm and we were at capacity an hour and a half later,” Mr Ferguson said.
“And then we were at capacity again for a couple of hours after the game. It was a baptism of fire.
“I lost count of our hours after we hit 100-hour work weeks. Some days we would start at 3am and go until midnight.”
Mr Ferguson, a UK native, said Easy Times takes its inspiration from two sources: his nationality and he and Antia’s careers.
“We wanted to recreate the feel of a corner British pub,” he said.
“A welcoming, laid-back environment where you can forget all your troubles.
“We're all about self-care and inclusivity – there won’t be any rowdy, crazy people in our pub.
Mr Ferguson said the brewery side of the business will not be open until late-November, although he has teamed up with Helios and Slipstream brewing companies to produce a hazy IPA and Helles (pale) lager.
There is also a bottle shop to come in mid-November, which will stock Easy Times beers as well as independent craft beers – no multinationals there.
However, in good news for carnivores, Easy Times’ in-house kitchen, run by northside-favourites Proof BBQ & Booze, opened on Thursday to fanfare.
Head brewer Curran McCarthy, meanwhile, has come on-board via Black Hops Brewing on the Gold Coast, and is working closely with Mr Ferguson on future recipes.
Easy Times is located at 20 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba.