CBCo Brewing
CBCo Brewing is a Western Australian microbrewery, formerly known as Colonial Brewing Co, producing beers for Australian and international markets.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
CBCo Brewing is a Western Australian microbrewery located in the Bramley Brook Valley near Margaret River. The brewery occupies a substantial rural site of approximately 30 hectares and operates within one of Australia's best-known wine and tourism regions. Its production portfolio has included mainstream-style ales and lagers, contemporary India pale ale and sour beer, darker beers such as porter and Baltic porter, and historically oriented specialty styles based on European brewing traditions. The business was established in 2004 by Ross Smith with Steve Plowman as head brewer. At the time, it was one of only three breweries operating in the Margaret River area. The brewery developed an identity combining regional tourism, independent brewing, and a broad beer range rather than concentrating solely on one flagship style. Its beers have been sold in Australia and exported to international markets. A significant ownership and capital change occurred in late 2006, when the brewery was purchased by Empire Beer Group, a group associated with investment bankers. Empire Beer Group paid A$15 million for the business and subsequently arranged a reported A$30 million public float to finance expansion plans. Those plans included a larger brewing and packaging operation and an additional outlet in Fremantle. In July 2007, Empire Beer Group instead acquired the Royal Bar and Brasserie in East Perth for A$3.5 million, a move that differed from the Fremantle-focused plan described in its prospectus. In August 2008, Empire Beer Group agreed to sell both the Royal on the Waterfront and CBCo Brewing to CLG, a company owned by Computershare founder Chris Morris. The transaction marked another change in the brewery's ownership structure during a period when Australian craft brewing businesses were attracting investment and developing hospitality-linked growth models. CBCo Brewing also experienced several head-brewer changes. In 2008, Mal Secourable was appointed head brewer, having previously worked at Matso's in Broome and the Sail and Anchor Hotel in Fremantle. He replaced Dean McLeod, whose earlier experience included the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel and Malt Shovel Brewery. Secourable left the brewery in March 2013 and was replaced by Justin Fox, who had worked at Swan Brewery and The Generous Squire brewpub. The brewery's recognition has come from both beer competitions and the hospitality sector. In 2006 it was named Champion Small Brewery at the Australian International Beer Awards. In 2007 it received both Champion Australian Brewery and Champion International Small Brewery honors at the same competition. CBCo Draught later won Best Ale Draught, Best Commercial Beer, and the Premier's Trophy for Best Western Australian Beer at the 2009 Cryer Malt Perth Royal Show. In 2012, the Australian Hotels Association of Western Australia named the brewery joint winner of Best Boutique Brewery alongside Cheeky Monkey Brewery. The brand's range has included CBCo Middy, a lower-alcohol lager; CBCo Draught, described as a German-style Kölsch; CBCo Pale Ale, described as a German-style Altbier; CBCo India Pale Ale; CBCo Porter; and several South West Sour variants. Its specialty program has explored historical and regional European styles including Mumme, Keutebier, Baltic porter, Kottbusser, and Dampfbier. This combination of accessible core beers and historically informed limited releases has been a defining feature of the brewery's product identity.
History
CBCo Brewing began operations in 2004 in the Bramley Brook Valley near Margaret River, Western Australia. Ross Smith founded the brewery and worked with Steve Plowman, its initial head brewer. The business was among the first small breweries established in the Margaret River area, a region already associated with tourism, agriculture, and premium beverages. Its location on a roughly 30-hectare site gave the brewery a strong regional identity and supported a visitor-oriented model alongside packaged beer production. The brewery's early development took place during the expansion of Australia's independent brewing sector. Rather than limiting itself to a single local ale, CBCo Brewing developed a varied portfolio that included lager, draught beer, pale ale, India pale ale, porter, and specialty releases. The range combined accessible beers with products drawing on historic European styles. This approach allowed the brewery to participate in both everyday beer consumption and the growing market for distinctive craft and small-batch products. In late 2006, Empire Beer Group acquired the brewery for a reported A$15 million. The new owner then arranged a reported A$30 million public float to finance a broader expansion plan. The stated strategy included developing a second outlet in Fremantle with a larger brewing and packaging facility. The ownership group's plans linked brewing with hospitality and production infrastructure, reflecting the period's interest in scaling successful regional breweries. The strategy changed in 2007 when Empire Beer Group purchased the Royal Bar and Brasserie in East Perth for a reported A$3.5 million. The acquisition represented a departure from the Fremantle-focused plan described in the group's prospectus. In August 2008, Empire Beer Group agreed to sell both The Royal on the Waterfront and CBCo Brewing to CLG, a company owned by Chris Morris, the founder of Computershare. The transaction introduced another ownership change while preserving the brewery's operations as a Western Australian brewing business. Brewing leadership also evolved. Mal Secourable became head brewer in 2008, replacing Dean McLeod. Secourable brought experience from Matso's in Broome and the Sail and Anchor Hotel in Fremantle. Under this period of brewing development, CBCo's products received prominent recognition. At the 2009 Cryer Malt Perth Royal Show, CBCo Draught won Best Ale Draught, Best Commercial Beer, and the Premier's Trophy for Best Western Australian Beer. These awards reinforced the brewery's reputation beyond its regional base. CBCo had already received major industry recognition at the Australian International Beer Awards. In 2006 it was named Champion Small Brewery, and in 2007 it received Champion Australian Brewery and Champion International Small Brewery honors. In 2012, the Australian Hotels Association of Western Australia named CBCo joint winner of Best Boutique Brewery with Cheeky Monkey Brewery. Secourable left the business in March 2013 and Justin Fox became head brewer. Fox had previously worked at Swan Brewery and The Generous Squire brewpub. The brewery's documented range has included core beers such as CBCo Middy, CBCo Draught, CBCo Pale Ale, CBCo India Pale Ale, CBCo Porter, and South West Sour variants featuring tropical or fruit flavors. Limited and specialty releases have included Mumme, Keutebier, Baltic porter, Kottbusser, and Dampfbier. These beers demonstrate the brand's interest in both modern craft categories and revived historical styles. The available reference material does not provide a current corporate owner, current executive roster beyond the documented brewing leadership, current production volumes, or a confirmed official website. Accordingly, the brewery's historical ownership and product information are better documented than its present corporate structure.
- 2013
Change of head brewer
[1]Justin Fox replaced Mal Secourable as head brewer.
- 2012
Best Boutique Brewery recognition
[1]The Australian Hotels Association of Western Australia named CBCo Brewing joint winner of Best Boutique Brewery.
- 2009
CBCo Draught wins Perth Royal Show awards
[1]CBCo Draught won three honors, including the Premier's Trophy for Best Western Australian Beer.
- 2008
Sale to CLG
[1]CBCo Brewing was included in Empire Beer Group's agreed sale of the brewery and The Royal on the Waterfront to CLG.
- 2007
Major Australian and international brewery awards
[1]The brewery was recognized as Champion Australian Brewery and Champion International Small Brewery at the Australian International Beer Awards.
- 2006
Empire Beer Group acquisition
[1]Empire Beer Group acquired CBCo Brewing and subsequently pursued a major public capital-raising program for expansion.
- 2006
Champion Small Brewery
[1]CBCo Brewing was named Champion Small Brewery at the Australian International Beer Awards.
- 2004
Brewery established near Margaret River
[1]Ross Smith founded the brewery in the Bramley Brook Valley with Steve Plowman as head brewer.
Products and positioning
An independent Western Australian brewery positioned around regional provenance, broad beer styles, award recognition, and a combination of approachable core beers with experimental and historically inspired specialty releases.
Lager
CBCo Middy
A lower-alcohol lager listed at 3.5% alcohol by volume and described as containing 100 calories. It represents the brewery's lighter, more accessible offering for consumers seeking a moderate-strength beer.
Draught beer
CBCo Draught
A 4.8% alcohol by volume beer described as a German-style Kölsch. CBCo Draught is one of the brewery's best-known products and received multiple awards at the Cryer Malt Perth Royal Show in 2009.
Pale ale
CBCo Pale Ale
A 4.4% alcohol by volume beer described by the reference material as a German-style Altbier. The product combines a pale-ale presentation with a traditional continental style reference.
India pale ale
CBCo India Pale Ale
A stronger 6.5% alcohol by volume India pale ale, positioned within the brewery's more hop-forward and flavor-intensive core range.
Porter
CBCo Porter
A 5.6% alcohol by volume porter providing a darker and malt-oriented alternative to the brewery's lager, draught, pale ale, and IPA offerings.
Kettle sour
CBCo South West Sour Tropical
A 4.6% alcohol by volume dry-hopped kettle sour. The beer reflects the brewery's more contemporary experimental approach to sour beer and hop aroma.
Fruit-infused kettle sour
CBCo South West Sour Watermelon and Raspberry
A 4.0% alcohol by volume kettle sour infused with watermelon and raspberry, combining tartness with fruit flavor in a modern flavored-beer format.
Historical European-style ale
Colonial Mumme
A 5.5% alcohol by volume German-style Braunschweiger Mumme made predominantly with barley ale. It belongs to the brewery's historically oriented specialty program.
Historical European-style beer
Colonial Keutebier
A 5.6% alcohol by volume Hamburg adaptation of Mumme using barley, wheat, molasses, and oats. Its formulation emphasizes the brewery's interest in older, less common brewing traditions.
Baltic porter
Baltic Porter
A 7.5% alcohol by volume dark beer in the Baltic porter tradition. It is a stronger specialty release compared with the brewery's regular porter.
Historical German-style beer
Colonial Kotbusser
A 5.7% alcohol by volume Kottbusser-style beer incorporating raw oats, molasses, and honey. The reference material notes that the style was historically outlawed in Germany because it did not comply with Reinheitsgebot restrictions.
Dampfbier or steam ale
Colonial Brewing Dampfbier
A 5.5% alcohol by volume German steam ale or Hefeweizen-style beer made with barley rather than wheat. It is another example of the brewery's specialty exploration of European brewing history.
Brand decisions
2013
Head-brewer successionOtherBackground
Mal Secourable left CBCo Brewing after serving as head brewer from 2008.
Action taken
Justin Fox, previously associated with Swan Brewery and The Generous Squire brewpub, replaced Secourable as head brewer.
Aftermath
The change maintained continuity in the brewery's professional brewing leadership while bringing in a brewer with experience in both large-scale and brewpub operations.
2008
Sale of CBCo Brewing and The Royal on the Waterfront to CLGM&ABackground
Empire Beer Group changed ownership of the brewery and its associated hospitality asset after its expansion strategy evolved.
Action taken
Empire Beer Group agreed to sell CBCo Brewing and The Royal on the Waterfront to CLG, owned by Chris Morris.
Aftermath
CBCo Brewing continued under a new ownership structure. The reported combined sale value was A$4.5 million.
Agreed sale price. A$4.5 million (August 2008)
2007
Acquisition of the Royal Bar and BrasserieM&ABackground
Empire Beer Group redirected part of its expansion activity toward hospitality assets.
Action taken
Empire Beer Group purchased the Royal Bar and Brasserie in East Perth for a reported A$3.5 million.
Aftermath
The transaction differed from the Fremantle outlet development described in the group's prospectus.
Acquisition price. A$3.5 million (July 2007)
2006
Sale of CBCo Brewing to Empire Beer GroupM&ABackground
The brewery was acquired during a period when independent breweries were attracting outside investment and hospitality-linked expansion strategies.
Action taken
Empire Beer Group purchased CBCo Brewing for a reported A$15 million.
Aftermath
Empire Beer Group pursued additional capital and expansion plans involving brewing, packaging, and hospitality operations.
Acquisition price. A$15 million (Late 2006)
2006
Public float and expansion planStrategyBackground
Following its acquisition of CBCo Brewing, Empire Beer Group sought funding for a larger operating footprint.
Action taken
The group arranged a reported A$30 million public float to support plans for a larger brewing and packaging facility and a Fremantle outlet.
Aftermath
The subsequent acquisition of the Royal Bar and Brasserie in East Perth represented a departure from the Fremantle-focused plan described in the prospectus.
Public float. A$30 million (After the late-2006 acquisition)
Recent events
- 2013
Justin Fox replaces Mal Secourable as head brewer[1]
Leadership change
Justin Fox became head brewer after Mal Secourable left CBCo Brewing.
- 2009
CBCo Draught wins multiple Western Australian beer awards[1]
Other
CBCo Draught received Best Ale Draught, Best Commercial Beer, and the Premier's Trophy for Best Western Australian Beer at the Cryer Malt Perth Royal Show.
- 2008
CBCo Brewing sold to CLG[1]
M&A
Empire Beer Group agreed to sell the brewery and The Royal on the Waterfront to CLG, a company owned by Chris Morris.
- 2008
Mal Secourable appointed head brewer[1]
Leadership change
Mal Secourable joined CBCo Brewing as head brewer, replacing Dean McLeod.
- 2007
Empire Beer Group acquires the Royal Bar and Brasserie[1]
M&A
Empire Beer Group bought the Royal Bar and Brasserie in East Perth for a reported A$3.5 million, changing the emphasis of its hospitality expansion plans.
- 2006
Empire Beer Group acquires CBCo Brewing[1]
M&A
Empire Beer Group purchased the brewery in a transaction reported at A$15 million and pursued a larger expansion and capital-raising program.
- 2004
CBCo Brewing established near Margaret River[1]
Other
Ross Smith established the brewery in the Margaret River area with Steve Plowman as head brewer.
Sources1 sources
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