Temple Brewing have announced they will shut the doors to their Brunswick East brewpub for good after May 19 and appoint a liquidator to manage the closure of their operations.
The brewery team said the decision was due to the impacts of COVID-19, post-COVID trading conditions, and a "severely" impacted downturn of their wholesale business and brewpub sales.
"Continued trading in this environment is no longer possible," they said in a statement.
Temple opened the doors to their Brunswick East home in late 2011 after first making a name brewing elsewhere, becoming one of inner north Melbourne's first brewpubs. The original business ran into financial difficulties in 2013 and was taken over by new owners, with Ken Ong acting as the brewery's chief operating officer for a number of years.
Ahead of the brewery's closure, they're seeking to sell off all remaining beer and offering a 40 percent discount on all orders, including online and food and drink purchases at the brewery.
"We invite all our loyal supporters to come along and join us in saying goodbye to one of Brunswick East's oldest [breweries]," they said in a statement.
"Temple wishes to express its gratitude to all its customers, both wholesale as well as our brewpub patrons for their support over these many years."
The news comes just a week after fellow Melbourne brewery Deeds announced they would cease operating following the appointment of administrators in late March; Black Hops have been saved from liquidation after administrators secured a sale of the brewery.
You can read the full announcement from Temple below.
Media Release: Temple Brewing Company - closure of business
After more than 10 years in operation, it is with a heavy heart that Temple Brewing Company will appoint a liquidator shortly to manage the closure of its operations on or about 23 May 2024.
The effects of Covid and the tough Post-Covid trading conditions have made it very difficult to continue operating.
The wholesale business has been severely affected by the downturn in sales volumes. Continued trading in this environment is no longer possible.
Trading in the brewpub has also experienced a downturn as many of our customers face limited or reduced spending capacities.
The Brewpub will cease trading after Sunday 19th May 2024 and will have its final week special with 40% off all drinks and food. We invite all our loyal supporters to come along and join us in saying goodbye to one of Brunswick East's oldest brewery.
The brewery will also clear off all remaining stock through its online store, also with a 40% discount so we recommend customers to place their orders as soon as possible before they are sold out.
Temple wishes to express its gratitude to all its customers, both wholesale as well as our brewpub patrons for their support over these many years.
Past coverage of issues facing the local beer industry:
- Where To From Here For Local Beer?
- The Exploding Cost Of Brewing Beer
- The Year Of Living Precariously
- Under Pressure: A Perfect Storm Brewing For Beer
- Burnout And Beer: Paying The Passion Tax
- The Year In Beer: 2023
Will Ziebell is a history graduate who knows more about The Wire than he does about beer. He was awarded the AIBA Best Media trophy for 2018; HBO have told him to please send his fan mail elsewhere. He can be found on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
The beer(s) or moment(s) that turned you on to good beer:
Spending time living in the UK (and backpacking across Europe) when I was 21 certainly gave me a better understanding of the beer and different styles of the world. But I'd say it was a holiday to the High Country a little while later when lunch and a tasting paddle at Bridge Road Brewers created an obsession with Australian breweries and locally made beer.
You've got three beers to turn someone else on to good beer; what are they and why?
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Boatrocker's Miss Pinky: It's a raspberry-packed Berliner Weisse that neither looks or tastes the way many people conceive of beer.
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Bad Shepherd Hazelnut Brown: A luscious mix of chocolate and hazelnut that can appeal to the sweet tooth within us all.
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Stone & Wood Pacific Ale: As the father of my oldest friend once said to me: "It's the perfect refreshing pint that smells like they've loaded it with the God's herb."
The last beer you enjoyed:
Garage Project's DFA while sitting at the bar at Miss Moses as the sounds of The Rolling Stone drifting in the background.
Three things that represent you:
- Bruce Springsteen
- Ken Burns
- The State Library of Victoria
