It will be good to see the new Matilda Bay brewery up and running in Melbourne. The move from Dandenong to Melbourne and the eventual opening of a cafe bar will potentially give CUB’s craft brand a clearer identity, something has has been largely missing since the brand was moved from its Fremantle home in 2007.

While Fat Yak, Big Helga and Dirty Granny will continue to come out of the Cascade Brewery in Tasmania (pending any changes made by the new corporate overlords at SABMiller), Matilda Bay’s new Port Melbourne base will produce the lower volume beers such as Alpha Pale Ale and Dogbolter. Head brewer Scott Vincent told Australian Brews News that the relocated facility will also focus on producing some new “smaller stuff”. I look forward to seeing what he has planned, in addition to the rumoured release of an Australian-style pale ale from the brewery.

The move has seen the existing 2500-litre brewery moved from Dandenong, and a few new tanks and packaging equipment added. Matilda Bay has also welcomed a new brewer to the team, with former assistant brewer Aine O’Hora taking a position at CUB’s Abbotsford brewery and her position being taken by Chloe Lovatt. [MK]

Media Release

Matilda Bay Brewery moves house to Port Melbourne

Matilda Bay's Scott Vincent

The Matilda Bay brewing team have rolled up the garage door and taken the covers off the shiny tanks and kettles at their spiffy new brewery in Port Melbourne, minutes from the city centre.

Outgrowing its previous home in Dandenong, Australia’s original craft brewer finds its new, roomier residence in an old Cadbury factory on Bertie St, and introduces the new Matilda Bay Port Melbourne Brewery to beer lovers. Keeping with tradition of only brewing delicious things at the site, the 2000 sq. metre chocolate-haunted space will now serve as the home base for Matilda Bay whose revered range of beers and cider, includes the golden child Fat Yak, the big boy Alpha Pale Ale, and the crochet cider queen, Dirty Granny.

The best part of the new digs is that they’ve got room to finally have people over with the very first Matilda Bay-style bar due to open early next year. Serving all the Matilda Bay favourites, there’ll be some exciting brewer’s specials as well as a cracking selection of tasty snacks to match the brews.

Boss man and head brewer Scott Vincent is pumped for the brewery’s unveiling. Like anyone moving house he’s got a few more grey hairs and needs a good sleep in but he’s thrilled to have the brewery up and running before Christmas.

“The new brewery means we now have the space for a few experimental brews which is worth getting out of bed for alone, but most importantly it means we can brew more of the Matilda Bay favourites and that’s good news for all beer lovers full stop.

“It’ll get even better when we throw open the doors to everyone and you can actually come past, see us at work, say hi and have a beer with us. I’m already working on an iPod playlist.”

Once the doors open and the taps start to flow, the Matilda Bay Port Melbourne Brewery is set to be the place to go for any beer fan who finds themselves south of the city for an after work drink or a lazy Sunday catch up with mates. Whilst we can’t give all the details away just yet, rest assured it’s going to have Matilda Bay written all over it and get ready for Fat Yak Fridays to take on a whole new meaning.

Matilda Bay, Australia’s original craft brewery, produces some of Australia’s favourite craft beers including the full-flavoured and award-winning beer lovers’ beer Alpha Pale Ale, the smash hit North American style pale ale Fat Yak, the quirky Beez Neez, the wheat beer that started it all Redback, the salute to Oktoberfest lagers, Big Helga, and the new addition to the family Dirty Granny cider – she’s a beauty. Traditionally Matilda Bay also launches a limited edition seasonal release for summer and winter. These have included Crema, Barking Duck, Barking Flamingo and most recently Longshot.

*The Matilda Bay Port Melbourne brewery is now fully operational while the café bar is set to open its doors to the public early next year.

Matilda Bay Port Melbourne Brewery
89 Bertie St
Port Melbourne VIC.

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