Colonial Brewing Co expands production capacity at Port Melbourne factory
Colonial Brewing Co has more than doubled its production capacity, pumping out seven million litres of amber liquid each year. And a new brew has hit the market that packs a “tropical juice-like” punch.
Inner South
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A popular Port Melbourne brewery has more than doubled its beer production thanks to a recent expansion.
And a new brew has already hit the market as a result of the multimillion-dollar cash splash.
Colonial Brewing Co, housed in the former Bertie Beetle factory in Bertie St, has pumped out up to three million litres of amber liquid each year since opening the doors in 2015.
But even more Aussie thirsts are set to be quenched with the popular brewery now able to produce seven million litres annually.
In an added boost, the company’s beverages are now available in independent bottle shops and major liquor retailers around the country.
Colonial Brewing Co managing director Lawrence Dowd said the company’s growth — 50 per cent year on year since 2017 — was proof the craft beer industry was thriving, despite a drop in overall beer sales in Australia.
“There is undoubtedly still a place for the old world of beer, but these days Aussies are more conscious of who they’re buying from and, more specifically, who is producing their beer,” he said.
Mr Dowd said Colonial’s continued success was down to the hardworking brewery team, led by head brewer Ash Hazell.
“From writing their own original recipes that take into account changing palates to experimenting with new ingredients, the innovation and passion behind the brand is remarkable,” he said.
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“Beyond this, our entire team from Jarrod Stivala, national operations manager, and Nick Makowski, national sales manager, to packaging and logistics and marketing — even one of the brewer’s dogs — have all had a huge role in the success of Colonial Brewing Co so far.”
The expansion, which includes new equipment from global beer technology company BrauKon and a larger canning line by Krones, has seen the Port Melbourne factory release a new brew.
The first off the expanded production line, the Hazy IPA joins the Colonial Draught, Small Ale, Pale Ale, South West Sour, IPA Australia and Bertie Cider.
The Hazy IPA is light in colour and brewed with wheat and oats which lend haze proteins. Using all American hops with mosaic in the brewhouse then double dry hopped with Idaho 7 and El Dorado.
The combination of the hops with a New England yeast strain create a tropical juice-like fruitiness in the 6.7 per cent ale.
Colonial Brewing Co was established in Western Australia’s Margaret River in 2004 before setting up a second factory in Port Melbourne.