Home delivery service connects craft beer to customers

A home delivery service is helping craft beer lovers around Australia access ale from independent brewers.

Based in Adelaide, Small Beer has launched with a handful of independent craft breweries on its books, including Mismatch Brewing, Pirate Life, Smiling Samoyed, Hawkers and West City Brewing.

The service has started with South Australian and Victorian beers but hopes to ramp up to include craft beers from around Australia.

Founder Evan Hayes said the service aims to remove the barrier to getting good beer from independent producers that may have limited access to distribution channels.

Customers can buy specific beers or sign up to a monthly subscription service where mixed six-packs or cases of Australian craft beer are delivered to give them a chance to try a variety of brews.

“It’s focusing on Australian breweries that are a little bit quirky, crafty and niche to get their name out there and build distribution through a previously unavailable channel,” Hayes said.

He said the ability to deliver beer while it was still fresh was a key feature of the model, with all beer shipped within two days.

Hayes came up with the idea while living in the United States, where he was impressed by the highly developed craft beer industry. He hopes to one day expand into Asia.