Sydney Brewery have taken over the former home of Rocks Brewing and transformed the substantial inner-city brewpub into Sydney Brewery Alexandria. The acquisition comes after Rocks went into voluntary administration in October last year, which led to insolvency solutions and business turnaround firm Jirsch Sutherland overseeing a targeted marketing campaign to sell the Alexandria site.
The news means Sydney Brewery now operate three breweries; Sydney Brewery Alexandria joins their brewpub in Surry Hills and their production facility at Lovedale, in the Hunter Valley, which is undergoing significant expansion.
Sydney Brewery have been operating since 2005, initially as the Schwartz Brewery when beers were brewed on an old 800-litre wood-clad brewhouse from the UK that had been installed in the subterranean warren of the Macquarie Hotel on Wentworth Street. The brewing company is owned by the Schwartz Family Company, which has a range of other businesses under its group, including many hotels.
In a media statement, director Jerry Schwartz said that while the craft beer industry was facing a difficult period, Sydney Brewery had "bucked the trend" and needed more capacity to meet demand for their beers.
“Our Sydney Brewery and restaurant in Surry Hills has been very popular and we believe that we can make Sydney Brewery Alexandria similarly popular with locals and visitors,” he said.
“We will be looking to sell the remainder of the Rocks Brewing stock and then start producing the Sydney Brewery range from the Alexandria site.”
Throughout the voluntary administration and ownership change, Rocks Brewing remained operational and existing staff continue to work for Sydney Brewery Alexandria. Sydney Brewery signage has now been installed, with the brewery team saying the space, menu, drink selection and events calendar will continue to develop over the coming months.
For more, see the media release below.
Media Release: Jerry Schwartz’s Sydney Brewery takes over Rocks Brewing Company in major boost to brewing capacity
While craft brewers are struggling in many locations around Australia, Sydney Brewery is on the expansion trail with the takeover of the Rocks Brewing Company and Restaurant in Alexandria and the development of a new brewery in Lovedale
The Schwartz Family Company (SFC) has acquired the Rocks Brewing Company, including its production facilities and restaurant/bar in Alexandria. Rocks Brewing entered voluntary administration in October of last year.
The brewery will be incorporated into Sydney Brewery’s operations, with the brewery and restaurant re-branded as Sydney Brewery Alexandria, complementing Sydney Brewery Surry Hills and the Sydney Brewery production facility at Lovedale in the Hunter Valley.
The 20hL Brewhouse in Alexandria will be vital for meeting the massive increase in demand for Sydney Brewery beers and ciders, according to SFC Director Dr Jerry Schwartz.
In addition, a new 30hL Brewhouse is scheduled to open at Lovedale by Easter, which will function in addition to the existing 18hL Brewhouse.
Dr Schwartz said that the acquisition of Rocks Brewing Company was a positive move for the industry.
“Last year was a very difficult year for the craft brewing industry, but Sydney Brewery bucked the trend, and we have been urgently seeking extra capacity to produce our craft beers,” said Dr Schwartz.
“Our Sydney Brewery and restaurant in Surry Hills has been very popular and we believe that we can make Sydney Brewery Alexandria similarly popular with locals and visitors. We will be looking to sell the remainder of the Rocks Brewing stock and then start producing the Sydney Brewery range from the Alexandria site.
“It was perhaps inevitable that the craft brewing industry would consolidate after years of rapid growth. Sydney Brewery has been operating since 2005 and not only has its own outlets, but it also supplies to our network of 15 hotels in NSW, ACT, Queensland and Victoria, and has a strong presence in retail trade.
“We are ramping up production while many craft brewers are struggling to survive, and our takeover of the Rocks Brewery operation will provide an outstanding opportunity to both increase the amount of Sydney Brewery craft beers that we produce and also revive the Alexandria location as a prime brewpub, dining, entertainment and functions venue.
“We will revamp the menu, the drinks selection and the entertainment over the next few months, with the launch of new branding, a new website and new management.”
Sydney Brewery Alexandria is in the Sydney Corporate Park, 160 Bourke Rd Alexandria with easy access from Sydney CBD and the Sydney Airport precinct.
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 in 2018 and in 2024; 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
