• Brooklyn staying with Coopers: CEO

• Gage Roads prepped for indie rollout
• Coopers releasing Amber Ale
• Burleigh adds ‘tropical pale ale’
• Geelong gets Blackman’s Brewery Bar

• Unique brewery bar for Tassie

Brooklyn CEO Eric Ottaway

Brooklyn staying with Coopers: CEO
Kirin’s acquisition of a minority stake in Brooklyn Brewery will have no ramifications whatsoever for the brand’s Australian distribution, says Brooklyn CEO Eric Ottaway.

Speculation has already been widespread about the knock-on effects of the partnership in Australia, where Kirin subsidiary Lion is very active in the craft beer segment and has recently lost many of its international brands to Carlton & United Breweries.

But Ottaway told Australian Brews News that the Japanese tie-up is completely irrelevant to Australia, where Coopers has distributed Brooklyn since August 2015.

“There really won’t be any changes to staff, contracts, relationships, etc.We just now have a new global partner with whom we will launch joint ventures [in] Japan and Brazil, and look for opportunities to collaborate in other parts of the world, too,” he said.

“In Australia, we’re very happy with our relationship with Coopers. The Brooklyn brand is growing nicely, and Miro [Bellini] continues to work his magic as our fantastic brand ambassador,” Ottaway said.

John Hoedemaker – Picture by Nic Ellis

Gage Roads prepped for indie rollout
Gage Roads Brewing Co has announced new distribution agreements, just days after orchestrating the buy-back of Woolworths’ stake in the company.

Gage Roads’ national distribution partners now include Metcash-owned Australian Liquor Marketers (ALM) and on-premise wholesaler group 100Proof.

ALM will support Gage Roads as a broad range liquor wholesaler, supplying more than 12,000 accounts nationally.

100Proof provides Gage Roads access to tailored distribution to up to 5,000 restaurants, bars and hotels in on-premise markets including NSW, VIC and QLD.

“Complementing our existing distribution arrangements, these new relationships provide Gage Roads great access to new untapped markets,” said managing director, John Hoedemaker.

Family Secrets Amber Ale

Coopers releasing Amber Ale
Coopers Brewery has announced the release of a new draught-only beer, Family Secrets Amber Ale, in selected hotels across Australia from mid-October.

Family Secrets is the second limited edition seasonal beer Coopers has released this year, following Brew A IPAin April.

Showing a ruby red hue, the beer offers a rich malt character with Centennial and Galaxy hops augmenting estery aromas, according to Coopers managing director and chief brewer, Dr Tim Cooper.

Marketing director Cam Pearce said the seasonal beers aim to offer publicans some unique products, while underlining Coopers’ credentials as “Australia’s original craft brewery”.

Burleigh adds ‘tropical pale ale’
Burleigh Brewing Co has launched Twisted Palm, a tropical pale ale showing orange, mango and papaya characters.

The idea for Twisted Palm came from “wanting to bottle a day on the beach at Burleigh Heads”, according to Burleigh brewmaster Brennan Fielding.

“This is a really easy to drink beer that fits well with the Queensland lifestyle,” he said.

“While flavourful and aromatic, it’s a relaxed and uncomplicated beer that is perfect for sharing with mates at the beach or at a summer barbie.”

The 4.2 per cent ABV beer is available now across South East Queensland.

Geelong gets Blackman’s Brewery Bar
Torquay, Victoria brewer Blackman’s has opened a second venue in Geelong, which the company said provides access to a market otherwise locked up by the big brewers.

Blackman’s Brewery Bar has ten taps of beers comprising the Blackman’s core range, single batches and seasonals, as well as occasional guest beers.

The venue has teamed up with neighbouring businesses including The Hot Chicken Project, which will serve food on Saturday nights. A rotating wine list has been curated by the Union Street Wine Bar, while Cartel Coffee Roasters will collaborate on a permanently available coffee lager.

“With the majority of Geelong beer taps tied up with the big guys – Lion and CUB, we decided the best way forward for good beer in Geelong was for us to start a second venue,” Blackman’s said.

“That way, not only can we get our beer in to people’s hands, we can talk to more people about good beer, which is what we like to do most.”

Blackman’s Brewery Bar is located on Dennys Place, Geelong (just off Little Malop Street).

The Margate train cellar door

Unique brewery bar for Tassie
Tasmanian outfitDevil’s Brewery has opened a cellar door in a 1950s steam train carriage located in Margate in the state’s south.

Founded in 2014, Devil’s Brewery currently produces its beers at Morrison Brewery in Launceston.

Devil’s undertook months of restoration of the carriage, adding a 4.5 metre-long bar made of Tasmanian Oak, with 1950s copper fire extinguishers converted into bar fonts.

Located on the busy stretch between Hobart and popular tourist destination Bruny Island, you can find it at 1567 Channel Highway, Margate.