Southern Bay Brewing Co has been placed in liquidation

Southern Bay Brewery has been placed in liquidation with a liquidator now assessing the amount of debt owed.

Geelong-based Southern Bay Brewery is in liquidation.

Southern Bay Brewery has been placed in liquidation after three decades in business with a liquidator now assessing whether a sale of the operation is possible.

Michael Basedow from Pitcher Partners has been appointed as liquidator of the company behind the Geelong-based brewery, Southern Bay Brewing Co Pty Ltd.

He said on Tuesday the company had just four employees at the time of his appointment and was not doing much trade.

Mr Basedow said it was too early at this stage to comment on the amount of debt the company might owe to creditors.

“The current position is we have ceased trading the business, not that there was a lot of trade going through the plant at the time of my appointment.

“The head brewer had recently departed and sales had dropped right off, mostly as a result of Covid restrictions.

“There are a few other issues with ageing and inefficient plant. We are trying to get a handle on the current position and whether it is saleable.

“I suspect there might be a bit of interest in it but we’ll have to wait and see.’’

Mr Basedow said the company was also involved in contract brewing as well as making its own products.

Southern Bay Brewing Co, is owned by Adelaide-based Nick Warming.

The website shows the brewery’s range included a lager, XPA and IPA, with an India pale lager (IPL) “coming soon’’.

The company’s website says it has a history dating back three decades and was renamed Southern Bay in 2005.

“With 30 years of Geelong heritage, Southern Bay Brewery is one of the oldest working breweries in Australia. Positioned on the edge of the old port of Geelong, Southern Bay is proud to have deep roots in the history of the local area,’’ the website says.

“The brewery story is born out of fierce independence from the brewing big guns. The original equipment was procured from a large corporate brewer’s redundant equipment and re-purposed to suit. The historic Corio Distillery provided the 75 year old cedar-lined lauter tun that still operates today.

“The brewery was renamed to Southern Bay in 2005 with the focus on old fashioned, hands on approach to creating quality craft beer. We continue to brew using the reliable vintage equipment. The brewers are dedicated passionate beer lovers true to their craft.’’

The company’s online shop on its website is not operational.