Scottish craft beer pioneers to build Brisbane riverfront brewery

After a nation-wide search for a base down under, international craft brewing sensation BrewDog will open its first Australian brewery on the Brisbane River thanks to support from the Palaszczuk Government’s Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund.

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the Scottish brewer planned to work with local developers NPD Property Group to build a $30 million production brewery and tap room on an 11,000sqm greenfield site in the Metroplex complex at Murrarie, employing more than 150 people in the next five years.

“BrewDog’s choice of Brisbane over other interstate locations to open its first brewery outside of the UK and the US is a strong vote of confidence in our state from one of the world’s most successful independent breweries,” he said.

“This project will begin generating jobs for Queenslanders immediately, with 60 construction jobs ready to roll and a total 235 jobs expected to be created by this project over the next 10 years, simultaneously supporting local jobseekers and fuelling the state's economy for years to come.

“The incentives our government is providing through our industry attraction fund were instrumental in BrewDog choosing to base its Australian operations here in South-East Queensland, providing another feather in the cap of our state’s growing manufacturing industry.

Mr Dick said the Palaszczuk Government’s assistance to the project also featured in BrewDog’s decision to site the company’s new operation in Queensland.

Starting out in North East Scotland back in 2007, school friends and BrewDog co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie now operate two major breweries in the UK and the US as well as more than 50 bars across the globe, with 800 staff members on their team.

BrewDog’s Australian director Zarah Prior said the Queensland Government and Brisbane Marketing’s support was a major factor in the decision of the company to come to Brisbane.

“We’ve been so humbled by the support from local businesses as well as the local community who have shown a real passion for BrewDog to call Brissie home,” she said.

“The state’s industry attraction program has been fundamental in helping us seal the deal for Brisbane.

“It’s a city that’s on the brink of some incredible growth, and we can’t wait to be a part of that.”

BrewDog co-founder Martin Dickie said:

“We’re committed to giving our Australian fans the freshest possible BrewDog beer and by setting up in Queensland, we’re one step closer to making this happen.

“We’re looking forward to sharing Aussie-brewed Punk IPA with Brisbane locals at our riverfront brewery taproom.”

Mr Dick said Queensland’s $20 billion manufacturing sector employs around 170,000 people, and with programs like AQIAF, the Jobs and Regional Growth Fund and priority industry roadmaps supporting growth, businesses are queueing up to join in.

For more details about the Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund, visit https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/industry-development/advance-queensland-industry-attraction-fund.html

ENDS

Media contact: Anika Hume 0447 320 039