Overview
Gage Roads Brewing Co is officially heading to the east coast. The Perth brewery announced last week that it has signed the lease for a space that'll soon be home to its first microbrewery and taproom — and it's right here in Sydney.
Having launched way back in 2004, Gage Roads has expanded to become one of Australia's largest independently owned breweries. In 2018, it rebranded nationally as Good Drinks and acquired Western Australian brewery Matso's — makers of the state's favourite alcoholic ginger beer — with more brands expected to join Good Drinks in the future.
Now, the growing company has snapped up a space in Redfern. "Redfern is a community with a great diverse spirit and culture, and that aligned really well with Gage Roads," says head of marketing Miles Hull.
When the brewery and taproom opens in the next 12 months, you won't find Gage Roads signatures — like the Single Fin summer ale or Atomic pale ale — instead, a new experimental sub-brand will be launching. "We see this as an opportunity to create some new beers and styles that we haven't previously done under the Gage Roads banner," says Hull.
The brand will invest $3 million into making over the 578-square-metre space, which will be home to both a brewing facility and a 250-capacity taproom.
The brewery won't be large enough for mass production; instead, the focus will be on creating a range of beers for onsite consumption, with the potential to send a few kegs to local bars and restaurants down the line. This super-local vibe is the exact reason why Gage Roads was keen to set up a bigger presence in the east.
"We recognise that to be local is really important and we wanted to provide our east coast beer drinkers with a brewery and taproom where people can come in and taste beers that they can't get anywhere else," says Hull.
If all goes well, the brewpub should be up in running in the next 12 months. You can expect to see Gage Roads snap up more properties across the east coast soon, too. We'll update you with more details as we get them.
The new Gage Roads Brewery and Taproom is slated to open in the next 12 months along Regent Street, Redfern. Keep an eye on this space for updates.