Asahi today announced plans close Green Beacon's production brewery in Geebung, with the brewery saying they will add brewing capacity to the original Teneriffe brewpub while moving Green Beacon's production to their other breweries.
The production brewery in north Brisbane has been the source of much of Green Beacon's beers since 2017, with Asahi buying the brewery in August 2019 following a string of major awards. Asahi says the production site will close in around ten weeks and three full-time and two casual employees will lose their positions due to the move, with the remaining members moving to the Teneriffe brewpub. The brewery said it would provide support to those impacted and may find work for them in other parts of Asahi.
In a media release, Green Beacon's general manager, Richard Shrosbery, said they had outgrown the site after experiencing significant growth.
"Today’s announcement means Green Beacon can continue its growth trajectory by unlocking capacity constraints, which will help ensure we continue to get it to lovers of Green Beacon everywhere," Richard said in a statement.
The recently-rebranded Green Beacon are celebrating turning ten throughout 2023, with the brewery holding a party at the start of the year and planning on releasing ten birthday beers. Recently, longtime head brewer Johann van der Walt departed the brewery to launch Boxer Brewing with the team at Witches Falls Winery - look out for our story on the new brewery in the coming days.
Below is the media release announcing the decision.
Media Release: Asahi Beverages statement on Green Beacon
Asahi Beverages is today announcing the Green Beacon brewery in Geebung, north Brisbane, will cease operations in around 10 weeks.
The closure follows several years of strong growth for Green Beacon and is part of a plan to ensure it continues its strong trajectory by increasing brewing capacity across multiple sites.
Under the plan, Asahi Beverages will invest in Green Beacon’s original site at the brewpub in Teneriffe to add brewing capacity. Most Green Beacon brewing will be transferred to Asahi Beverages’ other Fire & Earth Ventures sites across Australia, including Pirate Life in Port Adelaide and 4 Pines in Brookvale, NSW, where Wayfarer kegs are already produced. These other sites have the capability to manage Green Beacon’s continued growth.
The closure of Geebung will result in the loss of three full-time and two casual positions. The remaining Geebung employees will transfer to the Teneriffe brewpub.
Green Beacon GM Richard Shrosbery said:
“Geebung has been our home for more than six years and has driven much of our recent success.
“However, we are experiencing significant growth and have now outgrown the site. Today’s announcement means Green Beacon can continue its growth trajectory by unlocking capacity constraints, which will help ensure we continue to get it to lovers of Green Beacon everywhere.
“We will still have a strong presence in Brisbane with the upgraded Green Beacon Brewpub in Teneriffe. And, under the watchful supervision of our chief brewer, all Green Beacon beers will retain their distinct and award-winning flavours.
“The team at Geebung have been tremendous and I am very proud of the contribution they’ve made to Green Beacon’s success.”
Asahi Beverages will provide career transition to employees who are impacted by redundancy. A process is also underway to identify if there are suitable alternative roles within Asahi Beverages.
