Last Man Standing have taken over Newstead Brewing's Milton site, just a week after the latter closed for good.
Last Man Standing (LMS) launched in 2020 and was co-founded by Steven Bradbury, whose gold medal-winning efforts at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City live on as an (in)famous Australian sporting moment. Since that victory, his name has become a verb, with "doing a Bradbury" referring to a moment of unlikely success thanks to luck or those ahead of you being struck by misfortune.
The brewing company's head of marketing, Keith Widelski, told The Crafty Pint their decision to secure the brewery and location had happened very quickly.
"We've been talking to Newstead for a while about working with them and that kind of stuff," he says. "Then what happened with Newstead has been super quick so we've jumped in to keep the space running."
The speed skater founded the brewery alongside Stephen and Damian Prosser, who are the sons of Rugby Union great, the late Roy Prosser. Since launching, the brewing company has focused on a sole beer, Last Man Standing Lager. Keith says they plan to work through Newstead's stock but intend to add more beers to the LMS lineup and hope to contact brew for others in the future.
The Milton brewhouse's location next to Suncorp Stadium made it highly appealing to LMS given the brewery's connection to sport. However, it's not without challenges given it sits in a flood zone: Brisbane's 2022 floods caused significant, long-term damage to the space and meant they couldn't brew for many months.
However, Keith says the team hopes the news the location will live on as a brewery will be widely welcomed by Brisbane's beer drinkers, given just how tumultuous a week it's been for Australian beer.
"The majority of that part of town is [in the flood zone]," Keith says. "But the space is fantastic and it's a great part of town, so while it's something we've got to be aware of, it's too good a space for us to miss."
Last Man Standing's arrival in Milton has been a swift one, with the doors reopening today (March 14) using a temporary setup while they transform the space into a more fully-realised home for the brewery.
This news comes just days after another brewing company back by an Aussie sporting legend collapsed. Sydney Beer Co (not to be confused with Sydney Brewery), part-owned by cricketer Brett Lee, called in administrators just months after attempting to expand their international footprint.
Further details about LMS and their plans in Milton are in the media release below.
Media Release: Last Man Standing Steps Up to Take Over Former Newstead Brewery
Keeping the Dream Alive at the Iconic Brisbane Location
As Brisbane beer lovers thought they were about to lose their go-to spot next to Suncorp Stadium the team behind Last Man Standing Lager knew they couldn’t sit on the bench. In a move that’s as much about doing the right thing as it is about seizing an opportunity, LMS Brewing is stepping in to take over the former Newstead Brewing Co. venue at 67 Castlemaine St, Milton – effective immediately.
With Newstead announcing its closure this week, LMS Brewing the independent Queensland brewers of refreshing Australian lager, have answered the call to ensure locals can still get an ice-cold beer before catching their favourite teams and entertainers at Suncorp.
From 14th March the doors of the venue will reopen, albeit with a temporary setup while LMS Brewing preps the site for its full transformation into the Last Man Standing Brewery. The brewery and iconic location will be the new home of Queensland’s favourite independent, easy-drinking, 100% Aussie-owned and made lager.
Managing Director Damian Prosser says it’s been a long time coming.
"Opening our own brewery and venue is not only the logical next step in our growth, but it’s the realisation of our plans, dreams and hard work over the past five years. We can’t wait to start pouring some cold ones and to show Brisbane and the world what our beer and our brand is all about."
He added “The opportunity has come a little sooner than expected, but this is a fantastic venue in an iconic location and we’re excited to create an exciting space. We’ll keep the taps pouring for sports fans and locals while we get set up properly!”
Who better to champion this move than Australia’s original ‘Last Man Standing’, Olympic gold medallist Steven Bradbury As one of founders of LMS Brewing he’s been ‘in the trenches’ with the Prosser brothers and the rest of the team, fighting as independent Australian brewers for the last 5 years.
“Many Aussies don’t realise that almost every big-name beer you can think of is actually Japanese-owned by big companies, making it bloody hard for the smaller, Australian-owned and independent brewers,” Bradbury said.
Bradbury adds, “Independent Aussie brewers continue to be under threat from ridiculous taxes, overseas corporations, pandemics and up here, the weather – but we’re not going to be swayed from our mission. We want to bring some good news to the industry, buck the trend and inspire fellow indie brewers to push on. Courage, determination, self-belief and just a little luck – that’s what being the Last Man Standing is all about – and I should know!”
"I love Australia, I love sport and boy do I love a few beers with my mates and I can’t think of a better sporting venue in the country to sit alongside than Suncorp Stadium. It would be a crime for this fantastic brewery to be closed while there’s so much happening at the stadium and in Brisbane. We had to step in and make sure that didn’t happen," he said.
The Game Plan: Temporary Setup, Full-Scale Takeover Coming Soon
While the bar service and kitchen will operate a somewhat adjusted service during the transition period, a more comprehensive Last Man Standing Brewery experience is set to launch on 28th March, just in time for the Dolphins vs. Broncos NRL clash. Expect a high-energy sports bar atmosphere, big screens, epic pub fare, plenty of staff, great service and an unbeatable game-day vibe.
So, people of Brisbane, Queensland and Australia the taps aren’t running dry just yet. In fact, they may just be getting ready to pour like never before!
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
