Matilda Bay Brewing Company

Matilda Bay Brewing Company is an Australian craft beer brand with roots in the small-batch brewing movement that emerged in Western Australia during the 1980s. It is widely described as Australia's first craft brewery and as the country's first new brewery opened since the Second World War. The business grew out of Brewtech Pty Ltd, formed in 1983 by former Swan Brewery brewer Phil Sexton together with Garry Gosatti, John Tollis and Ron Groves. The founders sought to produce commercial boutique beers at a time when Australia's beer market was dominated by large established breweries and hotel operators were reluctant to support independent brewing. The first stage of the venture was the renovation of Fremantle's Freemasons Hotel, which was renamed the Sail and Anchor. A microbrewery was installed there, and its first beer, Anchor Ale, was produced in late 1984. Brewtech subsequently opened the Brewery Alehouse in Nedlands and established a second microbrewery at Carrington Street in Nedlands. That facility began producing beer under the Matilda Bay Brewing Company name in 1985. The business also expanded its hospitality footprint through the acquisition of Perth venues, including the Queens Hotel and the Brass Monkey. Matilda Bay's early growth was driven by beers that departed from mainstream Australian lager conventions. Redback, initially introduced in 1986 as Summer Wheat and renamed the following year, became a nationally recognized German-style wheat beer. Dogbolter, a Munich-style dark lager first released in 1987, and later products such as Alpha Pale Ale helped establish the brand's reputation for experimentation and specialty brewing. Alpha Pale Ale received extensive recognition at the Australian International Beer Awards, while Redback won the competition's grand champion award in 1993. The brand attracted investment from Carlton & United Breweries, which acquired a 20 percent shareholding in 1988. In 1989, Matilda Bay moved production into a larger former Ford Motor Company building on Stirling Highway in North Fremantle. Elders IXL, later renamed Foster's Group, acquired the company in 1990 in a transaction valued at more than A$50 million. The acquisition brought the pioneering craft brand into a major brewing group, while production and ownership arrangements changed over subsequent decades. The original Sail and Anchor microbrewery was later separated from Matilda Bay's brewing operations. In 2005, the Matilda Bay Garage Brewery began operating in Dandenong South, Victoria, to support small experimental batches. In 2007, Foster's announced the closure of the Perth brewery and the transfer of production to other facilities, with larger-volume beers including Redback, Beez Neez, Fat Yak and Bohemian Pilsner moving largely to Cascade Brewery in Hobart. A brewery bar and associated operation opened in Port Melbourne in 2012, but closed in 2014, after which production again moved to Cascade. In 2019, Carlton & United Breweries and founder Phil Sexton partnered to re-establish the brand with a new brewery in the Yarra Valley. The revival separated the Yak beers from the Matilda Bay identity: those products continued to be brewed within Carlton & United Breweries facilities, while Matilda Bay developed a new range from the Yarra Valley brewery. The brand's portfolio has included pale ales, wheat beers, dark lagers, pilsners, specialty honey beers and experimental small-batch releases. Its historical significance lies in combining independent brewing credibility with the distribution and production resources of a major Australian brewer.

Matilda Bay Brewing Company emerged from Brewtech Pty Ltd, a venture established in Western Australia in 1983 by Phil Sexton, Garry Gosatti, John Tollis and Ron Groves. The founders aimed to make boutique beer for the commercial market, but initially encountered limited support from Perth hotels. They responded by purchasing and renovating the Freemasons Hotel on South Terrace in Fremantle. The venue reopened as the Sail and Anchor with an installed microbrewery, operating under the Anchor Brewing Company banner. Anchor Ale, a dark copper-colored traditional ale, was first produced there in late 1984. Brewtech expanded in 1985 by opening the Brewery Alehouse on Stirling Highway in Nedlands and establishing a second microbrewery at 31 Carrington Street, also in Nedlands. The Carrington Street facility became associated with Matilda Bay Brewing Company and began producing beer under that name. The business grew not only through brewing but also through hospitality venues, acquiring three additional Perth outlets, including the Queens Hotel in Highgate and the Brass Monkey in Northbridge. In 1987, Brewtech changed its corporate name to Brewtech Limited and consolidated its activities under the Matilda Bay banner. Product development was central to the company's identity. The wheat beer first released in 1986 as Summer Wheat was renamed Redback in 1987 and distributed nationally. Dogbolter, a Munich-style dark lager, also appeared in 1987. These beers helped demonstrate that Australian consumers could be offered a broader range of beer styles than the mainstream pale-lager format then dominant in the market. Redback subsequently won the grand champion award at the Australian International Beer Awards in 1993, while Alpha Pale Ale later became one of the company's most decorated beers. Carlton & United Breweries purchased a 20 percent interest in Matilda Bay in 1988. The following year the company moved its main brewing activity into a larger former Ford Motor Company building on Stirling Highway in North Fremantle. In 1990, Elders IXL acquired Matilda Bay in a deal reported to value the business at more than A$50 million. Elders IXL was later renamed Foster's Group. Around this period, Carlton & United Breweries sold the Sail and Anchor Hotel to the Australian Leisure & Hospitality Group, and the hotel's microbrewery operations eventually ceased. The brand continued under large-brewer ownership while retaining a specialty-beer profile. In 2000, Matilda Bay's original brewers opened the Little Creatures microbrewery in Fremantle, a development that reflected the continuing influence of the early Matilda Bay brewing community but was a separate business. In 2005, Matilda Bay opened the Garage Brewery in Dandenong South to make limited and more experimental beers, including Alpha Pale Ale, Dogbolter, Crema, Barking Duck and Rooftop Red Lager. In June 2007, Foster's announced that the Perth brewery would close in September. Production was transferred to other breweries to improve cost and capital efficiency. Larger-volume Matilda Bay products, including Redback, Beez Neez, Fat Yak and Bohemian Pilsner, were produced principally at Cascade Brewery in Hobart. In 2012, the company opened the Matilda Bay Brewery Bar in a former Cadbury factory building in Port Melbourne and relocated brewing operations from Dandenong. The bar closed in 2014, and production was again moved to Cascade. A renewed phase began in 2019, when Carlton & United Breweries partnered with Phil Sexton to re-establish Matilda Bay. A new brewery was built in the Yarra Valley, creating a dedicated base for a new Matilda Bay range. At the same time, the Yak beers were disconnected from the Matilda Bay identity and continued to be brewed at Carlton & United Breweries facilities around Australia. The brand therefore entered its latest phase as a heritage craft-beer label combining its early independent-brewing legacy with the manufacturing and distribution resources of a major brewing group.

1. 2019The brand was re-established in the Yarra Valley

   Carlton & United Breweries and Phil Sexton partnered to revive Matilda Bay with a new Yarra Valley brewery.

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2. 2012The Port Melbourne Brewery Bar opened

   Matilda Bay relocated brewing operations from Dandenong and opened a brewery bar in a former Cadbury factory building.

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3. 2005The Garage Brewery began operating

   A Dandenong South facility was established for experimental and small-batch beers.

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4. 1993Redback won major beer competition recognition

   Redback received the grand champion award at the Australian International Beer Awards.

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5. 1989The North Fremantle brewery opened

   Matilda Bay moved brewing into a larger former Ford Motor Company building on Stirling Highway.

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6. 1987Redback was renamed and Dogbolter launched

   Summer Wheat became Redback, while Dogbolter was introduced as a Munich-style dark lager.

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7. 1986Summer Wheat was introduced

   The wheat beer later renamed Redback was launched as a seasonal product.

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8. 1985Matilda Bay production began in Nedlands

   A second microbrewery at Carrington Street in Nedlands began producing beer under the Matilda Bay Brewing Company name.

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9. 1984Anchor Ale was first brewed

   The renovated Sail and Anchor Hotel produced Anchor Ale, an early commercial product of the founders' microbrewing venture.

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10. 1983Brewtech was formed

    Phil Sexton, Garry Gosatti, John Tollis and Ron Groves formed Brewtech Pty Ltd to develop commercial boutique beers.

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Australian craft brewing with a heritage of small-batch experimentation, distinctive beer styles and nationally distributed specialty products.

• Alpha Pale AlePale ale

  A North American-style pale ale and one of Matilda Bay's most prominent products. The beer became particularly associated with the brand's experimental and award-oriented approach and was reported to have won more awards than any other beer at the 2003 Australian International Beer Awards.

• RedbackHefeweizen wheat beer1986

  A German-style wheat beer named after Australia's redback spider. It was first released in 1986 as Summer Wheat, renamed Redback in 1987 and then distributed nationally. Redback became one of Matilda Bay's strongest commercial successes and won the Australian International Beer Awards grand champion title in 1993.

• DogbolterDark lager1987

  A Munich-style dark lager first released in 1987. It became one of the brand's enduring specialty beers and was also used as the basis for a Brewers' Reserve version.

• Owl Original AleGolden ale

  A European-style golden ale listed among the brand's current beers. It represents Matilda Bay's continuation of a varied portfolio beyond pale lager and wheat beer.

• Beez NeezHoney wheat beer

  A specialty wheat beer made with honey. Its character can vary from year to year according to the available honey supplies and varieties, making it one of the more ingredient-led products in the former portfolio.

• Bohemian PilsnerCzech-style pilsner

  A Czech-style pilsner that formed part of Matilda Bay's broader specialty range and was among the higher-volume beers moved to Cascade Brewery after the Perth brewery closed.

• Fat YakAmerican-style pale ale

  An American-style pale ale associated with the Yak family of beers. Following the 2019 revival, the Yak beers were separated from the Matilda Bay brand and continued to be brewed within Carlton & United Breweries facilities.

• Wild YakPacific ale

  A Pacific ale that belonged to the Yak product family and was subsequently disconnected from the Matilda Bay brand during the 2019 re-establishment of Matilda Bay.

• Rooftop Red LagerRed lager

  A red lager brewed with red crystal malts. It was part of the brand's portfolio of distinctive lager styles.

• MB21Strong dark wheat beer

  A strong, dark and unfiltered wheat beer presented in a 750-millilitre bottle with a directly printed label and heavy red wax seal. The release was described as unavailable for public sale or ownership, making it an unusually restricted product in the Matilda Bay range.

• Matilda Bay I.G.P.Cloudy Australian pale ale

  A cloudy Australian pale ale whose initials stand for Itchy Green Pants. It illustrates the brand's use of informal naming and unconventional specialty-beer concepts.

• 2019The brand was revived with a dedicated Yarra Valley breweryStrategy

  After years of production at larger group breweries, Carlton & United Breweries and founder Phil Sexton sought to re-establish Matilda Bay's independent craft-brewing identity.

  What changed. The parties formed a partnership and built a new brewery in the Yarra Valley. The Yak beers were separated from the Matilda Bay brand, while a new Matilda Bay range was developed.

  Aftermath. The brand returned to a dedicated small-scale brewing base while retaining a relationship with Carlton & United Breweries' broader production and distribution infrastructure.

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• 2007Production was moved out of PerthStrategy

  Foster's sought to improve cost and capital efficiency in the Matilda Bay manufacturing network.

  What changed. The North Fremantle brewery was scheduled for closure, with beer production transferred to other breweries, particularly Cascade Brewery in Hobart for several larger-volume products.

  Aftermath. Matilda Bay no longer operated its original major Perth production site, and manufacturing became integrated with the wider Foster's brewing network.

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• 1987The business consolidated under the Matilda Bay bannerStrategy

  Brewtech had developed brewing and hospitality operations under several names, including Anchor Brewing Company and the Sail and Anchor.

  What changed. After changing its corporate name to Brewtech Limited, the company chose Matilda Bay Brewing Company as the consolidated banner for its brewing activities.

  Aftermath. The decision established the Matilda Bay name as the principal identity for the company's expanding specialty-beer business.

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• 2019Matilda Bay and Phil Sexton partnered to re-establish the brand

  Carlton & United Breweries and founder Phil Sexton formed a partnership and established a new brewery in the Yarra Valley. The Yak beers were separated from the Matilda Bay brand.

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• 2007Foster's announced closure of the Perth brewery

  Foster's announced that the North Fremantle brewery would close and production would be transferred to other facilities for cost and capital-efficiency reasons.

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• 1990Elders IXL acquired Matilda Bay Brewing Company

  Elders IXL, later renamed Foster's Group, acquired the brewery in a transaction reported as valuing Matilda Bay at more than A$50 million.

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• 1988Carlton & United Breweries acquired a 20 percent stake in Matilda Bay

  The investment gave the major brewer a significant minority position and preceded Matilda Bay's move into a larger North Fremantle production site.

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1. Matilda Bay Brewing Company