Shark Island’s Dion ‘Driza’ Dickinson

The Kirrawee, Sydney production premises formerly occupied by Blackhorse Brewhouse has been taken over by Shark Island Brewing Company.

Blackhorse has gone “on hiatus” following the closure earlier this year of related Sylvania brewpub, Blackrock Brasserie, Shark Island co-founder Dion ‘Driza’ Dickinson told Australian Brews News.

“They invited us to come in and we took over the running costs in exchange for being able to use all the equipment that was here and start to set up a cellar door environment,” he said.

“From July 1, Shark Island is totally running the Kirrawee cellar door.”

However, Shark Island is currently making its beers at Illawarra Brewing Company, where the Shire outfit has lease-purchased its own tank, ahead of receiving delivery of its own gear at Kirrawee.

“We bought everything here at Kirrawee except for the brewing equipment, because we already had our own plans. We’ve ordered a four hectolitre brewhouse with two brite tanks and three fermenters and that will be here in three or four weeks,” said Dickinson.

He said Shark Island has made considerable improvements to the cellar door, which has been winning over locals with food trucks in residence on a fortnightly basis.

“We’re all really excited about the next 12 months, we’ve got some monster plans. We’ve made a conscious decision that we’re really going to focus on the Sutherland Shire,” he said.

Dickinson said Shark Island and Illawarra have recently embarked on a new collaboration series called Southern Brewers, starting with a Triple IPA, which will be released in the coming weeks.

Shark Island Brewing Company is open at Unit 8/29-33 Waratah St Kirrawee between 2pm and 5pm on Wednesdays, 2pm and 7.30pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and 12pm and 5pm on Saturdays.