Ownership
An area of the beer world that often sparks lively discussion and debate.
Laundy Hotels Buy The Lord Nelson
One of Australia's most iconic pubs, The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, has been acquired by Laundy Hotels. The sale marks the end of nearly four decades with Blair Hayden at the helm of the pioneering brewpub.
FogHorn Founder Takes Full Control Of Brewery As Mighty Craft Exit Craft
Shawn Sherlock, who built a reputation as one of Australia's finest brewers while at Murray's, has taken full control of FogHorn Brewery almost a decade on from launching the business, with Mighty Craft exiting craft beer.
New Analysis Examines Rise Of "White Label" Beer Brands
White label brands are starting to dominate the craft beer offering at one of the country's major retailers, according to the Beer Reflections site, with beers produced by Pinnacle Drinks for Dan Murphy's and BWS continuing to proliferate.
Cheeky Monkey Buy Sound Brewing From Administrators
There's been another significant move in the local beer world with Cheeky Monkey acquiring fellow WA operation Sound Brewing Co, two months after the Rockingham-based brewpub entered administration.
Former CUB Boss Leads Group Buying Jetty Road From Mighty Craft
A group including publicans, rugby players and comedian Mick Molloy, which is headed by former CUB CEO Peter Filipovic, has bought Mornington Peninsula-based Jetty Road from ASX-listed Mighty Craft.
Keeping Live Music Alive
It's been a tough year for many indie breweries and the same can be said for grassroots live music venues. Combined with a rise in "indie washing", the situation has led The Wheaty and other SA venues to band together.
Craft Beer's Consolidation Continues As Otherside & Nowhereman Become One
Consolidation within the local beer world continues apace with the news today that WA breweries Otherside and Nowhereman are to become one. We spoke to the key players about the decision to share more than values.
Carwyn Cellars Bought By Fox Friday
Two of the best-loved names in Australian craft beer have agreed to join forces, with the team behind the fast-growing Fox Friday Craft Brewery buying pioneering retailer and venue Carwyn Cellars.
Who Owns Your Beer? Updated
Ahead of the return of BrewCon on the Gold Coast, we've updated our guide to the ownership of craft beer brands in Australia. Much has changed in the past year or so, notably in the space we christened Indie Families in 2019.
Blizzard Brewery Founder's OnMarket Raise
A significant number of craft breweries have crowdfunded in recent years. Now, with sources of funding ever harder to come by, a former brewery owner is hoping to help guide others along that path as he returns with OnMarket.
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Nail Acquire Billabong Brewery & Celebrate With A Trophy
Nail Brewing, pioneers of the Australian craft beer industry, have taken over another of the WA's longest-established breweries, Billabong. We chatted to founder John Stallwood as they enjoyed trophy success in Queensland.
Behind The Sale The Wasn't To Be
A few days on from the surprise announcement that their proposed sale to Good Drinks was off, Stomping Ground co-owner Steve Jeffares spoke to The Crafty Pint about the background to the decision and their future plans.
Crowdfunded Brewery Future Magic Opens Today
The Future Magic team open the doors to their Brisbane brewery today. They launched their operation on the back of a crowdfunding campaign, so we chatted with co-founder Sean Astill to find out more about their approach.
Wayward & Batch Join Forces As The Local Drinks Collective
Wayward and Batch have today announced the formation of a new collective of independent breweries they hope will give them greater firepower to compete with the multinational beverage companies dominating Australia.
Consolidation & Cooperation: Where To For Indie Beer?
Today's launch of the Local Drinks Collective by Wayward and Batch adds another layer of nuance to the local brewing industry. We look at what lies behind it and whether we'll see more cooperation and consolidation among small brewers.
Little Bang Bought By SA Pub Group
What one of the brewery's founders called "the worst-kept secret in South Australia" is no longer secret. The fast-growing Duxton Pubs Group has bought Little Bang Brewing in a move that sees a highly-rated SA brewer join the Stepney business too.
Dr Benny's Crafty Fixes: Homebrand Beers
With major retailers stocking more of their own crafty-looking brands, how does a passionate indie beer lover encourage their mates to support local brewers rather than stocking up on homebrand offerings?
A New Guide To Beer Ownership
We've been meaning to create an interactive version of our Who Owns Your Beer? infographic for some time. And, ahead of the 2021 Indies, we've finally made it happen, creating a version we can update with each and every sale.
Jetty Road Founders To Leave Brewery
The two faces best associated with Jetty Road are set to leave the business they founded, with Blake Bowden and Grant Bowden set to sell their shares at the end of the year. We spoke to them about their decision and future plans.
The Big Sale: Is It A Big Deal?
Last week's announcement that Stone & Wood's founders had agreed to sell their business to Lion sent shockwaves through the industry. But, as the dust settles, what has really changed for indie brewers and those who buy indie beer?
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Lion Buys Stone & Wood
In news that will send shockwaves through the local beer community, Lion have today confirmed the acquisition of Stone & Wood as well as associated brands in the Fermentum Group, including Fixation and Two Birds.
Fermentum To Lion: The Founders' Tale
Following the sale of the Fermentum Group to Lion, we chatted to co-founders Ross Jurisich and Jamie Cook to get more on how they reached this point.
The Big Issue: Private Label Beers
Initial, Zytho, Tinnies, Colossal, Algorithm, Culture House, Gogo Fish – all the names of brands behind pales, IPAs, stouts and sours. And all brewed for the country's major drinks retailers. We look at the renewed rise of "homebrand" beers.
Mighty Craft To Buy Mismatch In $47m Deal
Mighty Craft continue to snap up craft breweries and other alcoholic beverages, today announcing plans to acquire the Adelaide Hills Group, which includes Mismatch Brewing, in a $47m buyout.
Hatching More Batches
Batch Brewing Co is hoping to open a series of taprooms around New South Wales as a stepping stone to further expansion interstate. And it's hoping to achieve this through equity crowdfunding.
Two Birds Bought By Fermentum
Two Birds have been acquired by Fermentum, the parent company of Stone & Wood and Fixation, among others. It comes ten years after founders Jayne Lewis decided to form Australia's first female-owned brewing company.
Black Hops Buy Brisbane's Semi-Pro
Black Hops have bought Brisbane's Semi-Pro Brewing and will turn their East Brisbane brewpub into the third Black Hops brewery venue. The Semi-Pro founders are sticking around as part of the new venture.
Ten Years Of Crafty: Infiltrating And Taking Over
The beer industry today is far bigger, far better in many ways, far more colourful and far more competitive. It's also changed plenty with independence now declared with the same gusto once applied to craft. Here's a look at how.
All Hands Changes Hands
All Hands Brewing House claimed the Champion Brewpub title at the 2019 Indies. And now it's become the latest brewery to change hands with Signature adding it to a portfolio that includes TGI Fridays and Foresters in Brisbane.
Founders First Take FogHorn To The Hunter
Founders First's rapid rise to prominence within the Australian beer industry continues this week with the purchase of Potters Brewery and Brasserie in the Hunter Valley, set to become a second home for FogHorn.
Meet The New GABS. Same As The Old GABS
As voting opens for the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Beers of 2019, we introduce the man who took over both festival and poll earlier this year, Mike Bray, and find out where he plans to take the two in the coming years.
CUB Buy Balter
The rumours swirling around the beer industry have turned out to be based in reality as CUB today confirmed they've added Balter to a stable already containing the likes of Pirate Life and 4 Pines.
The Balter Sale: Analysis
Following today's Balter sale to CUB, we spoke to an expert in the business of beer about the potential ramifications for the industry as the IBA puts out a statement about independence.
Founders First Continue To Accelerate
Founders First, the "craft accelerator" that started out with an investment in Jetty Road, today they'll announced they're adding SA beverage company Sparkke to their portfolio, continuing a frantic burst of activity ahead of their IPO.
GABS Founders Sell Their Festivals
GABS, the beer festival meets circus that has grown into a multi-city extravaganza over the past decade has been sold. Founders Steve Jeffares and Guy Greenstone have sold it to focus on their Stomping Ground brewing operation.
The Booze World's Crowdfunding Barassi Line
Since it became an option in Australia late last year, a number of breweries have launched equity crowdfunding campaigns. But none of them have been in WA or SA and, according to crowdfunding platform Birchal, that's because they can't.
Indie Beer's Family Ties
Breweries are just diversifying their offering when it comes to beers and venues. There's a number of independent operations with multiple brands under their umbrella, both bought and birthed.
Indie Beer Gets Its Own National Day
October 26, 2019, is to become the inaugural Indie Beer Day, with supporters of independent Aussie beer encouraged to raise a glass in support of the local industry.
Green Beacon Bought By Asahi
Asahi's shopping spree continues apace with today's news that they've acquired Green Beacon. The move comes shortly after last month's announcement they plan to purchase CUB, 4 Pines and Pirate Life from AB InBev.
CUB Bought By Asahi
AB InBev have announced they are to sell Australia's CUB to Asahi for $16 billion Australian dollars.
Bridge Road Splits From Australia
Bridge Road Brewers have issued a Declaration Of Independence, forming a micronation on the grounds of their brewery under the name Brewland.
Gage Launch Atomic Beer Project
Gage Roads has revealed details of a new venture, with Atomic, its American style pale ale, evolving into a new brand focused on hop forward beers, the Atomic Beer Project.
Black Hops Set Crowdfunding First
Just six days after opening their equity crowdfunding campaign to the public, Black Hops have reached their maximum fundraising target of $400,000 – and broken a few records in the process.
Paying For Beer
As Endeavour becomes the first Australian brewing company to launch a public equity crowdfunding campaign, we look at the growing number of options on the table for brewery owners looking to build their businesses.
Good Drinking For Gage Roads
Gage Roads is putting of its brands, both those developed in house and those they've acquired, under the new Good Drinks Australia umbrella and looks set to continue to build a family of drinks brands like Tribe and Fermentum.
The Big Issue: Ownership Revisited III
Close to 100 brewing companies have licensed the IBA's independence seal since its launch in May. We contacted the US Brewers Association, whose campaign inspired it, to find out how they are driving the message in the States.
The Gypsy Lifestyle
As Barrow Boys winds down and West City Brewing makes a comeback under new ownership, we speak to three other brewers about the challenges facing gypsy/cuckoo/contract brewers in today's evolving beer world.
The Business Of Beer: Where To From Here?
The acquisitions of Matso's and Mornington Peninsula Brewery by Gage Roads and Tribe Breweries respectively suggest an industry entering an era of consolidation. We asked a specialist in the business of beer what recent moves could mean.
Mornington Peninsula Brewery Joins The Tribe
Mornington Peninsula Brewery is the latest brewery to sell, becoming the newest addition to the Tribe family of businesses launched by the people behind Stockade Brew Co and the contract facility previously known as BrewPack.
The Big Issue: Ownership Revisited II
Last month, we returned to the topic of ownership. Then, we sought the views of people predominantly operating in the independent sector. Here, we follow up with the views of those who own or work for formerly independent beer brands that are now part of larger businesses.
