Brewpack rebrands with new $35m production facility

Brewpack and Stockade Brew are restructuring under the newly formed Tribe Breweries umbrella. This will include a $35 million production facility in Goulbourn, with the aim of expanding its capabilities and becoming the largest independent craft brewery in the region.

Founded in 2012, Brewpack focused heavily on innovative and high-quality craft brewing of its own proprietary brands, as well as sharing its platform with contract brewing partners to further grow the craft industry.

Stockade — which is owned and produced by Brewpack, now Tribe — has become one of the fastest-growing independent craft beers in Australia since it was founded in 2015, receiving multiple awards such as the GABS People’s Choice Award in 2017.

During this restructure, Stockade will continue to operate under its own brand and label, but Brewpack will become part of the Tribe Corporate business.

Anton Szpitalak, co-founder and CEO of Tribe Breweries, said, “This rebrand to Tribe Breweries encompasses our mission of growing independent craft and sharing the craft journey in Australia through our collaborations with a variety of artisans in both partner and proprietary labels. With the number of craft breweries growing at 24% p.a. since FY13, we are all about uniting to inspire and excite consumers about premium craft products globally.

“With three brewing facilities slated for operation by September 2018, Tribe is establishing itself as one of the largest and most successful independent craft brewers in the Austral-Asian region.”

Tribe plans to grow its portfolio of craft products through expanding its production of premium cider, RTDs and boutique non-alcoholic beverages. Launching in April, its Marrickville barrel room will also offer Stockade customers craft beers, experience tours and tastings. The company aims to become the largest brewer of next-generation beer styles in Australia, with the Marrickville site focusing on beers such as oak-aged beers and fermented sours.

In just five years, Tribe’s manufacturing facility at Smeaton Grange has grown to over 1 million cartons of production annually, and its production volumes have grown on average by over 50% per year over the last three years.

As a result, Tribe aims to expand these capabilities in the new Goulbourn facility, which will be completed in September. Slated to be the largest of its kind in Australia, the facility will help Tribe realise its goals of producing over 30 million litres p.a. (approximately 3.5m cartons annual production) with eventual potential for over 70 million litres p.a. (approximately 9m cartons annual capacity).

“We at Tribe see this facility as an important investment in independent beer in Australia as it gives successful craft beer brand owners an alternative growth option through partner brewing,” Anton concluded.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/ArtemShadrin