Now Open: Keeper Is the New Brunswick Brewery and Bar Focusing on Perfecting the Pilsner
Drop by this independent brewery for a damn good pilsner, plus a regularly rotating selection of local beer and wine.
A little over six months ago, Asahi-owned Matilda Bay made Harry Sexton, Phil Sexton (the original founder of Matilda Bay), Miriam White and Andy Dunn redundant. It was a real kick in the guts, but the team didn't let the huge brand defeat them — deciding instead to open a new brewery within the former Temple site in Brunswick.
They named the new venture Keeper Brewing, and have decided to focus on brewing just one beer (something almost unheard of within the craft beer industry). They consider themselves perfectionists, and so are giving all their love into crafting one of the best pilsners in Australia.
But this doesn't mean that you can only get one kind of beer when visiting the new bar. The team also has a regularly rotating selection of guest beers from independent brewers, plenty of cocktails and a short but well-curated selection of local wines. Both Harry and Phil have a background in winemaking, so this wine list is in very safe hands.
The food here is all made to complement the beers on show, featuring dishes like sweet potato and jalapeno croquettes, crispy polenta with honey and blue cheese, pork and fennel sausage rolls, fried schoolfish with house-made tartare sauce, and a very affordable cheese board. In fact, the entire menu is priced well within reason, highlighting the crew's desire to make the brewery bar an accessible community space.
Taking this to the next level, the team is also planning to work with artists on exhibitions and gallery evenings, host live music gigs, and get a steady stream of DJs playing long sets — either inside by the steel brewing equipment or out in the courtyard.
It's currently a small operation, but Keeper Brewing is working hard to get itself on the map and fight hard for other independent brewers.
Co-owner Harry Sexton shared, "The last real mission of this brewery is to be another voice shouting out to our customers about the current state of the brewing industry in Australia.
"We have a duopoly — the same as Coles and Woolies — where two big Japanese-owned breweries are controlling nearly 90% of all beer drunk in our country. They have bought up some of the best craft breweries, and brew these beers all over the country in shared breweries.
"It really is hard nowadays to work out where your beer is coming from. With Keeper Pilsner, at least you can be sure it's coming from Brunswick."
You'll find Keeper Brewing at 122 Weston Street, Brunswick East, open Thursday–Sunday. For more information, you can check out the brewery's website.
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