The rollercoaster year for local beer continues to twist and turn everywhere you look, with Deeds Brewing set to return some months after they announced they were ceasing operations. That said, the brewery's return is likely to be for an undetermined amount of time rather than permanent.
Pat Alé, who co-founded the brewery with Dave Milstein, says that following their time in voluntary administration in March and subsequent decision to wind down in May after they failed to secure a buyer, they're now looking to brew a number of new beers and reopen the taproom too.
"The next step is just having a plan on how we close out in a more constructive way," Pat told The Crafty Pint.
They executed a Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) in June as a means to offer better certainty to their staff, while providing something to their creditors, and giving them the opportunity to work through their stock.
Pat says as they were headed towards liquidation they realised there would be little left over from the administrators' fees, and also that they faced a lengthy process to ensure their staff's entitlements would be paid out.
"We realised ... the administrators would basically get all the excess funds in fees so we pivoted and put forward a DOCA," he says.
"It means suppliers get something, even though it's a minimal amount; they would have got nothing if it went into liquidation. And it means staff get their entitlements, while there's a lot of inventory here that just would have been dumped."
Although entitlements are protected when a business goes into liquidation, Pat says it's a slower and less certain process than going through the one they've chosen.
"It would have taken six months to a year, which is pretty problematic," he says. "It's taken longer than expected anyway because of how long it took us to close out the DOCA, but this way they're going to get it relatively soon as opposed to waiting."
Their decision also means the taproom is reopening – from this Wednesday – and will pour the remaining beers they have, potentially alongside beers from other brewers, as well as their line of Future Proof spirits. The kitchen won't reopen, with the team instead working with local businesses to provide food via pop-up kitchens.
As for the future beyond that, Pat says the Glen Iris warehouse and venue remain on the market; his understanding is that there has been interest from various potential buyers. And, although someone could still buy the brewery and keep the brand alive, he suggests the current market make that less likely.
"The brewery site is on the market, so we're going to trade for as long as we can stay here," he says, "and as soon as the site settles, that would probably be the end."
They have all the materials they require to put out four more limited releases they're still keen to brew and sell alongside their remaining beers and spirits. So, while they have retained a very small number of staff, they're looking to hire people in the short term to produce them and get those beers out into the world.
There's also a significant volume of beer ageing in barrels, which Pat says they hope to sell to other breweries. Among the liquid currently in oak at the brewery is that which was destined to become the next release of their much-loved imperial stout Once More Into The Fray.
"We have heaps of imperial stout barrels, some of it might get packed but there's no way we can pack all of it," Pat says. "So we're hoping that goes to a good home and someone could get a leg up with their barrel program."
Deeds' statement regarding their reopening can be read here.
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
