Bangalow craft brewery Common People Brewing opens in Byron Hinterland

After years exploring the world, two childhood friends have returned to their Northern Rivers roots to raise their families and brew beer. Here is their story.

Common People Brewing Co owners Drew Tourle, Janelle Morse, Sophie and Jay Kempnich.

Childhood friends who left their Northern Rivers roots have returned to raise their families and launch a craft brewery borne from a common passion and the impact of the pandemic.

Common People Brewing Co. is the brainchild of locally born-and-raised Jay and Sophie Kempnich as well as Drew Tourle and Janelle Morse from South Golden Beach.

Mr Kempnich, Drew and his brother Sam Tourle were childhood friends, born and raised in Kyogle.

Common People Brewing Co owners Drew Tourle, Janelle Morse, Sophie and Jay Kempnich.

Sam has more than 10 years of experience working with some prominent craft breweries in Sydney and in the Northern Rivers.

“He is taking six months sabbatical from his current role to be Common People’s head brewer,” Ms Morse said.

She said Sam was teaching avid home brewers Drew and Mr Kempnich the ropes.

Mr Kempnich was involved with customer relations, sales, supplier account management and product representation while Mrs Kempnich had a background in team management in health care before they launched into their new venture.

Drew is a live audio engineer with a business background in equipment supply to the touring industry and Ms Morse is an experienced publicist for music festivals and artists with a background in marketing and event management.

The idea for the friends to open a craft brewery came from a range of factors.

“For all of us we floated the idea and it became a reality,” Ms Morse said.

“It was an organic process with Sam’s background and Jay’s keen interest in brewing and Drew and I being forced to find new careers due to Covid hitting the live music industry so hard.”

Common People Brewing Co has opened in the Bangalow industrial estate.

The friends spent considerable time looking around the North Coast for a location to establish themselves.

“We realised there was no craft brewery in Bangalow as all of the other towns had something already,” Ms Morse said.

They have spent the past 17 months converting an empty warehouse in the Bangalow industrial estate to an inviting tasting room, set among a working production brewery.

“The development application process was lengthy and we had unexpected requirements we hadn’t budgeted for but in hindsight it has improved the functionality and safety for the business,” Ms Morse said.

“Because we are a production facility we have a producers liquor licence and that means we do our production outside our opening hours to the public.”

Mr Kempnich said it has been a long but enjoyable slog.

“We cannot wait to welcome the local community and visitors to our tasting room,” he said.

Common People Brewery Co is the newest craft beer house in the Byron hinterland.

Common People has a core range of crafty and sessional beers that are always on offer, including their Protesters IPA, Villager’s Pale Ale and Back Beach White Ale.

Ms Morse said there was also an ever changing line up of special batch brews using produce from local providers and farmers.

“We have a spent grain to farm arrangement with local farmers to encourage circular, sustainable practices,” she said.

“We offer friendly and hospitable service and are proud to be offering something new to the Byron hinterland region.

“From next month, we will have our Italian chef serving up delicious wood-fired pizzas, baked in our custom built wood fired oven.”

Common People Brewing Co is open from 12pm-9pm on Thursday-Saturday and 12pm-8pm on Sundays.