Craft beer makers to test tastebuds
EXPECT more novelty and experimentation from craft brewers in 2020 as the battle to attract attention from beer drinkers intensifies in an ever-more crowded market.
That’s the forecast from industry analyst Matt Kirkegaard, a Brisbane-based beer educator and writer who trades under the banner of BeerMatt.
“Interesting ingredients, bold flavours and collaborations between brewers and other creative food and drink businesses will all draw a lot of attention,’’ he predicts.
At the same time, Kirkegaard says consumers are increasingly drawn to small brewers in their local community as the demise of local clubs accelerates.
That’s good news for a few rising stars among Queensland’s independent operators, including Moffat Beach Brewery, an award-winning outfit launched on the Sunshine Coast in 2015 by Matt and Shaz Wilson.
“They are everything that consumers are looking for in craft beer: great people making excellent beer in a beautiful part of Queensland,’’ Kirkegaard says.
Brisbane’s well-regarded Ballistic Beer Co. and Slipstream Brewing also have ambitious growth plans.
Both companies received a capital injection this year from business accelerator Founders First, a Melbournebased company which raised $17.5 million ahead of its IPO in December. Ballistic was only launched in Salisbury in 2016 but it has already opened a pub in the West End and, more recently, a third outlet based at Springfield. Slipstream started operating in Yeeroongpilly in 2017.
Other craft operator to keep an eye on include Gage Brewing, which is looking to expand from its WA base, and BrewDog, the Scottish giant which opened a brewery and pub in Brisbane this year and is expected to unveil more outlets across the state.
With more than 600 independent craft brewer now operating across Australia, it’s likely that industry giants will keep buying the best of the bunch. This strategy saw Asahi’s acquisition of Green Beacon and CUB’s snaring of Balter Brewing in 2019.
Australia’s craft beer makers, including those brands owned by the majors, generated $518 million in revenue in the past financial year, or 13 per cent of total beer sales.
That figure includes $223 million in total sales for truly independent craft producers.
While this turnover still represents a small part of the estimated $4.1 billion in revenue generated by Australia’s entire beer industry in 2018, craft brews remain the fastest growing part of the sector.
There are now about 90 craft producers across Queensland and the State Government has set up a task force, along with a brew lab and training initiatives, to help encourage the industry.
But key players say there’s still a desperate need to reform antiquated liquor and planning laws which hinder the sector’s growth.
“The craft beer industry is only seeking parity with the wine industry and some related red tape reduction,’’ one operator says.
Kirkegaard said unless the government did something to address the access to market challenges, many small breweries will really struggle.