Broome-based Matso’s Brewery has opened its second location at Eumundi on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast as its owner Good Drinks Australia (GDA) works towards maintaining its mantle as the nation’s most popular Australian-owned alcoholic ginger beer. 

The venue which was formerly known as Joe’s Waterhole pub in the Sunshine Coast hinterland town of Eumundi has been redeveloped and recently reopened as Matso’s Sunshine Coast.

Good Drinks Australia (GDA) purchased the Matso’s brand and its Broome Brewery in 2018 and over the past four years the brand has enjoyed significant growth as the second biggest brand in the GDA portfolio.

Matso’s Sales and Marketing Manager Mick McKeown said Matso’s is renowned as the creator of Australia’s first alcoholic ginger beer which was brewed to beat the heat and humidity of Broome in Western Australia which is home to its first iconic brewery.

“Matso’s is a slightly left of centre brand, which is largely driven by our roots in tropical Broome, so the opening of our second home in an equally quirky location such as Eumundi is fitting and will help us grow brand equity and encourage new uptake as we deliver an amazing brand and consumer experience.

“Ginger beer is projected to become the biggest segment in craft beer in Australia and opportunities for growth are clearly on Australia’s East Coast, particularly Queensland, which is the nation’s biggest alcoholic ginger beer market, covering the same size as New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory combined,” he added.

Mick said they are excited to continue growing their ginger beer category and the new Sunshine Coast venue is part of a broader strategy to expand Matso’s on the East Coast.

“Our success using hospitality venues such as Gage Roads Fremantle to drive brand awareness, product sales and revenue, lead us to purchasing the sprawling and iconic Joe’s Waterhole in September 2021 with the intention of creating a state-of-the-art Matso’s home on the East Coast,” Mick said.

James Penny, Hospitality Project Manager for Good Drinks, said there is an array of new beverage products for Matso’s Sunshine Coast patrons to enjoy and they are using the venue as a way to test and learn with new flavours for future innovation through the new brewery and upcoming distillery.

“Our goal is expanding into a spirit-based, sparkling range, and we’re introducing a still in the experimentation, led by our enthusiastic head brewer Nick Ivey.

“The brewery currently produces around 200,000 litres per year, and we have ambitious plans to supply our range of ginger beers direct from Matso’s Sunshine Coast across the eastern seaboard states.

“We also have a strong commitment to incorporating local ingredients into everything we do including our menus, on tap and in the kitchen. Our kitchen is actively using as many ingredients from the surrounding area as possible and as the Sunshine Coast is a very proud ginger-growing region, there’s a natural synergy so you can expect to find ginger prominently featured throughout our menus,” he said.