Footy star turned brewer David Neitz on craft beer and why a subscription can work for you

The AFL Hall of Famer reveals the experience that turned him into a craft beer convert and how his brewery is helping his mate Neale Daniher.

As an Australian Football Hall of Famer who played 306 games for the Melbourne Demons, David Neitz had a good many celebratory beers – and no doubt drowned a few sorrows – in his long and distinguished sporting career.

The former All-Australian says he was “pretty much a traditional drinker” for the 16 seasons he played AFL at the highest level, becoming the club’s longest serving player and highest goalkicker. It wasn’t until he finished playing and went on a trip to Europe with his wife Kelly that he began to learn about and appreciate the wonderful, wide world of craft beer.

After several months of travelling, Neitz hooked up with a mate in the Belgian capital, Brussels, and the pair visited the legendary Delirium Cafe, which was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most varieties of beer in a single venue, with more than 2000 from over 60 countries.

“Every single beer came with different glass wear and each one had its own story from its own town and I guess that was the first catalyst for me to start thinking about beer in a different way,” says Neitz. “That would have been in 2009 and I was just starting to open my eyes that there was more to beer than what I had been drinking for all those years.”

Former Melbourne captain David Neitz with his Brewmanity beer called Mouth of the South at Bells Hotel in South Melbourne. Picture: David Caird

Neitz’s overseas discovery put him on the path to entering the burgeoning craft beer market in Australia and in 2015 he co-founded Melbourne outfit, Brewmanity.

Thanks largely in part to Neitz’s long connection and friendship with former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher, who is battling motor neurone disease, the brewery’s mission from the get-go was to produce quality beer, while also raising money for the Fight MND Foundation.

“We just bake into our cost model that there’s a portion of every sale that goes into fundraising,” Neitz says.

“We raised just over $100,000 this year and we had a few pubs around Victoria that supported us in that mission and it’s around $450,000 that we have raised for the foundation along the journey.”

Brewmanity, which now produces the Mouth of the South Draught, Social Beast Pale Ale and The Big Dance West Coast IPA, is currently building a new brewery, tap house and entertainment space in South Melbourne.

The facility is due to open early next year and Neitz says the plan is to diversify, evolve and “push the boundaries of traditional beers” to satisfy the increasingly sophisticated tastes of Aussie drinkers.

Neitz says that one of the tools he uses to continue his own beer education and keep up with the latest beer trends is beer subscriptions.

Signing up to one of the many available services, such as Craft Cartel, partner of the Smart Craft Beer Club, is a good way to tap into the expertise and passion of those who know beer best, as well as keeping abreast of the literally hundreds of limited and seasonal brews released in Australia every year.

A portion of every sale of David Neitz’s Brewmanity beers go to his mate Neale Daniher’s Fight MND Foundation. Picture: Mark Stewart

“I have signed up to the Craft Cartel subscription which is just convenient at the end of the day,” says Neitz.

“Craft beer is such an emerging category and there are new things that are happening all the time. There are new beer styles, variants of styles and it’s a great thing from an experimental point of view to keep track of what’s happening and what the current trends are.”

Covid lockdowns around the country over the past few years saw an increase in home deliveries and beer subscriptions and Neitz says that he, along with many others, got used to the ease that the service affords.

“It’s not just the weird and wonderful and the new beers it’s also the convenience,” he says. “You get used to having your beer rocking up on your doorstep at the start of the week so you are all set and ready to go.”

Fro Ben Malouf, Commercial Director at Craft Cartel, the subscription service is all about “helping consumers navigate the gauntlet that is craft beer” and connecting consumers with the more than 600 breweries around the country.

“We take pride in curating our subscriptions to showcase the best this country has to offer – from off the beaten path breweries, to new and upcoming breweries, and to share our old favourites.” Malouf says. “Local bottle shops have really picked up their game in their craft offering, and that’s great for the industry, but online is still where consumers will see the biggest range and the latest varieties.

“Via the magic of the internet, you can be on a cattle station and enjoy the same beers as someone who lives next door to the brewery.

“There’s something magical about drinking a beer in Melbourne that is inspired by the surf at Manly or made with native ingredients from the Kimberly. What a wonderful, nationwide community and we’re just glad we can be a part of it.”

Visit smartcraftbeer.com.au to join the SMART Craft Beer Club and access the following offers.

● Offer 1: The Curated Selection subscription, 8 beers with 2 beers FREE with every delivery for $59 + shipping per month / quarter

● Offer 2: Pale Ale Pleasers 10 pack – a selection of the nation’s best pale ales for $50 plus shipping

● Offer 3: Always On Mixed 8 pack including a range of products and styles from breweries across the country + 2 beers free with every delivery for $59 plus shipping