Stone & Wood Brewing Co.

Stone & Wood Brewing Co. is an Australian brewery established in 2008 in Byron Bay, New South Wales. The company was founded by Jamie Cook, Brad Rogers and Ross Jurisich, who had previously worked at Carlton & United Breweries. Their first facility was a 25-hectolitre brewery built in Byron Bay, establishing the brand in a regional Australian market rather than in one of the country’s major metropolitan brewing centers. The brewery developed a reputation through its Pacific Ale, a flagship beer associated with the contemporary Australian craft-beer movement. The beer later received international recognition when it won a silver medal at the World Beer Cup in the English-Style Summer Ale category. Stone & Wood’s broader range has included year-round and seasonal beers, although the available reference material does not provide a complete historical product catalogue. The business expanded beyond its original Byron Bay site in 2014, when it opened a second brewery in Murwillumbah with a 50-hectolitre capacity. That expansion increased production while retaining the brand’s connection to northern New South Wales. The company also received the Regional Award at the 2014 Telstra NSW Business Awards and was named Champion Large Australian Brewery at the 2016 Australian International Beer Awards. Ownership changed during the company’s development. In 2012, the founders bought back Lion’s 20 percent stake in the business. That stake had been held by Lion after its acquisition of Little World Beverages. In 2021, Stone & Wood’s parent company, Fermentum, agreed to sell 100 percent of the business to Lion, subject to regulatory approval. The transaction transferred custodianship of Fermentum’s family of brands, including Stone & Wood Brewing, Two Birds Brewing and Fixation Brewing Company, to Lion. Stone & Wood is therefore best understood as a regional Australian craft-beer brand operating within the wider Lion portfolio, while its historical identity remains closely linked to Byron Bay and the founders’ independent brewing origins.

Stone & Wood Brewing Co. began in 2008 when Jamie Cook, Brad Rogers and Ross Jurisich established a brewery in Byron Bay, New South Wales. All three founders had previously worked at Carlton & United Breweries, giving the new company professional brewing experience while its location and scale placed it within the emerging Australian craft-brewing sector. The founders built a 25-hectolitre brewery as their first production facility. The company’s early development included an ownership relationship with Lion. After Lion acquired Little World Beverages, it held a 20 percent share in Stone & Wood. In 2012, Cook, Rogers and Jurisich bought that stake back, restoring full ownership to the founders at that stage and reinforcing the brewery’s independent identity. Stone & Wood expanded its physical production network in 2014 by opening a second brewery in Murwillumbah. The new facility had a 50-hectolitre capacity, twice the capacity of the original Byron Bay brewery. The expansion reflected the company’s growth while keeping its operations in the northern New South Wales region. In the same year, the brewery received the Regional Award at the Telstra NSW Business Awards. Pacific Ale became the brand’s best-known beer and contributed to its recognition beyond its home market. It won a silver medal at the World Beer Cup in the English-Style Summer Ale category. Stone & Wood also received a significant domestic industry accolade in 2016, when it was named Champion Large Australian Brewery at the Australian International Beer Awards. The next major turning point concerned corporate ownership. Stone & Wood became part of Fermentum’s family of brewing brands, alongside businesses including Two Birds Brewing and Fixation Brewing Company. In 2021, Fermentum agreed to a 100 percent sale to Lion, subject to regulatory approvals. The agreement placed custodianship of the Fermentum portfolio with Lion and marked a transition from the brewery’s founder-controlled phase to ownership by a major Australian brewing group. The available reference material does not specify the final regulatory timetable, transaction value, or subsequent management structure. The brand’s documented historical identity nevertheless remains centered on its Byron Bay origins, northern New South Wales production base, and Pacific Ale.

• 2021

  Fermentum agrees to sale to Lion

  [1]Stone & Wood Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  Fermentum agrees to sell the entire business and its family of brands to Lion, subject to regulatory approvals.

• 2016

  Named Champion Large Australian Brewery

  [1]Stone & Wood Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  Stone & Wood receives the Champion Large Australian Brewery award at the Australian International Beer Awards.

• 2014

  Second brewery opens in Murwillumbah

  [1]Stone & Wood Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  Stone & Wood opens a 50-hectolitre brewery in Murwillumbah, expanding its production capacity in northern New South Wales.

• 2014

  Wins the Regional Award at the Telstra NSW Business Awards

  [1]Stone & Wood Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  The company receives the regional business award in New South Wales.

• 2012

  Founders reacquire Lion's 20 percent stake

  [1]Stone & Wood Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  The founders buy back Lion’s minority interest, which Lion had obtained following its acquisition of Little World Beverages.

• 2008

  Stone & Wood is founded in Byron Bay

  [1]Stone & Wood Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  Jamie Cook, Brad Rogers and Ross Jurisich establish the brewery and build its first 25-hectolitre facility.

A regional Australian craft-beer brand rooted in Byron Bay and northern New South Wales, with an emphasis on approachable ales and local brewery identity.

• Pale ale

  Pacific Ale

  Pacific Ale is Stone & Wood’s best-known documented beer. It is associated with the brewery’s Australian craft-beer identity and received a silver medal at the World Beer Cup in the English-Style Summer Ale category. The available reference material does not provide a full ingredient list, alcohol percentage, or detailed tasting specification.

• Beer range

  Year-round beers

  Stone & Wood has maintained a year-round beer range in addition to its better-known Pacific Ale. The supplied reference material confirms the existence of this range but does not identify all individual beers or provide their launch dates and specifications.

• Seasonal beer range

  Seasonal beers

  The brewery has also produced seasonal beers, allowing its portfolio to extend beyond permanent offerings. Specific seasonal names, recipes, release schedules and current availability are not documented in the supplied sources.

• 2021

  Fermentum agrees to a full sale to LionM&A

  Background

  Fermentum controlled a family of brewing brands that included Stone & Wood, Two Birds Brewing and Fixation Brewing Company.

  Action taken

  Fermentum reached an agreement to sell 100 percent of the business to Lion, subject to regulatory approvals.

  Aftermath

  The agreement transferred intended custodianship of the Fermentum brand family to Lion. The supplied sources do not state the transaction value or provide a detailed post-acquisition management structure.

  Source

• 2014

  Expand production with a Murwillumbah breweryStrategy

  Background

  Growth in the Byron Bay operation led the company to add production capacity in the same broader northern New South Wales region.

  Action taken

  Stone & Wood opened a second brewery in Murwillumbah with a 50-hectolitre capacity.

  Aftermath

  The company gained a larger production base while retaining its regional operating identity.

  Source

• 2012

  Founders buy back Lion's minority holdingM&A

  Background

  Lion held a 20 percent interest after taking over Little World Beverages, creating a minority corporate stake in the brewery.

  Action taken

  Jamie Cook, Brad Rogers and Ross Jurisich purchased Lion’s 20 percent share.

  Aftermath

  The founders regained the documented minority stake and continued the brewery’s independent ownership phase.

  Source

1. 1Stone & Wood Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org