Gage Roads was not supposed to be a craft story. It was a contract brewer with a major retailer on its share register, a model that made strategic sense until it didn’t. Recorded at the Craft Brewers Conference in Adelaide, hosts James and Pete Mitcham sit down with Aaron Heary – the company’s COO and one of its founding brewers – to pick apart how Gage Roads unwound that arrangement, repriced its products, rebuilt its route to market and still managed to grow volume. The result, announced on the ASX that same week, was profit.
“I’ve always been an advocate that the number one thing craft brewers need to do is adopt the quality systems from the bigger brewers and apply those to craft beer. The same quality system that makes Heineken consistent all over the world can make a craft beer the best IPA in the space.”
Aaron Heary
Aaron Heary
Aaron Heary initially started his career in winemaking prior to working as a brewer with Little Creatures. After its sale, Aaron travelled extensively, further educating himself on the world of beer to kindle his knowledge and love of the craft.
Aaron spent a year working with Steamworks Brewing Co. in Vancouver before serendipitously meeting up with the other founders of Gage Roads whilst abroad. Aaron later returned back to Western Australia to assist in establishing the brewery, initially taking the position of Head Brewer before taking on the roles of Brew Chief, COO and Vice President.
Gage Roads’ Little Dove New World Pale Ale was awarded Australian Champion Beer at the AIBA last year, in addition to overwhelming reception of their other brews both this year and last year.
