Great Ocean Road Brewing are taking over the former home of Sou’West Brewery in Torquay, with the intention of making it their flagship site in coming months.
Sou’West Brewery entered administration, closing their doors without warning in the middle of last month. Their administrators immediately began searching for a buyer for the brewery’s equipment as well as the lease on the space, which is when fellow Surf Coast operation Great Ocean Road Brewing stepped in.
The business launched in South Geelong in 2021 after taking over Cockies Beer, whose beers remain part of the brewery’s lineup.
Matt Shortal, who founded the brewery with wife Lesley and close friends Mick and Renae Ranger, says: “For us, it was just a great opportunity.
“It’s a brand new fit-out and quite elaborate, while they’ve also got an almost brand new brewing kit."
The team had always wanted a home closer to the major tourist attraction after which they’re named and Torquay is considered the start of the Great Ocean Road: one of Australia’s most scenic drives and the world’s longest war memorial.
“It was always part of the plan to get ourselves located at a very prominent position on the Great Ocean Road and to pick up a venue at the very start of it is perfect,” Matt says.
“It was just an opportunity we had to take up. It’s not the easiest time in the brewing and hospitality industry but we'll be working pretty hard to engage the local community and travellers to come in and enjoy the Great Ocean Road beers.”
Sou’West only opened their doors to the public in 2021; the brewery’s ownership was made up of a large group of investors, including several AFL players. The brewpub is located inside the former headquarters of Quicksilver, and represents a significant step up for the new owners, who plan to continue opening their venue in South Geelong on Fridays.
Their new home can accommodate close to 400 people and has a full commercial kitchen, with this acquisition ensuring Torquay will continue to host three distinct breweries; Bells Beach Brewing is located across the road and Blackman’s Brewery's original home is a short drive away closer to the town centre.
Matt says the town continues to grow quickly, with tourism also attracting a steady stream of people all year round. And, while Sou’West's plans didn’t work out, his understanding is that patronage within the venue was good.
“Getting numbers through the venues is going to be key but that didn’t seem to be Sou'West's biggest challenge,” he adds. “They had quite good revenue on the books; it’s probably the cost that we want to control a bit better to make sure that the business is profitable or sustainable.”
The move also allows Great Ocean Road Brewing to expand their capacity considerably, increasing from around 150,000 litres per year to 500,000 litres. To grow, the founders wanted to build a greater hospitality presence alongside wholesale trade.
“Wholesale is tough and the margins are lean,” Matt says, “but it is an important part of brand development and exposure.
“I think you've got to continue to build your brand and make it as famous as it can be. And I think that starts within the area.”
Great Ocean Road Brewing hope to launch in Torquay in September. Their new home is at 27 Baines Crescent.
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
