Queenscliff Brewing goes into administration

A popular pub has gone into administration after less than ten years in business.

Administrators were appointed at the Queenscliff Brewhouse in Queenscliff, south-east of Geelong, on September 23.

The establishment boasts a wide selection of craft beer, gin and whiskey, and also offers a “micro-brewery”, distillery, cellar and family bistro.

Scott Andersen and Nathan Deppeler of insolvency firm Worrells have been appointed administrators for the creditors, who are due to meet for a second time on Tuesday.

The brewery is still operating as normal and there are no signs to customers that business is struggling.

The Queenscliff brewery has been regularly posting food and drink menus on its social media accounts in the weeks since going into voluntary administration.

The company first accepted clients back in July 2016.

It has a 4.2 star rating on Google based on more than 800 reviews, many of which praise the food, beer and location across the street from the beach.

Worrells and the Queenscliff Brewhouse have been contacted for comment.

It comes after Young Henrys founder Richard Adamson accused Anthony Albanese of abandoning the brewing industry, which contributes $1.93 billion to the national economy each year and employs around 10,000 people.

“When he was in opposition, he supported and helped implement the remission scheme (for excise alcohol) (in 2021),” Mr Adamson, who is also president of the Inner West Brewers Association, previously told Daily Mail Australia.

“But I think he has better things to do (than help us) at the moment.”

Independent Brewers Association chief executive Kylie Lethbridge said Mr Albanese was refusing to listen to the industry’s dire concerns, particularly around the need to ease the exorbitant beer tax, which accounts for about a third of beer sales (the third highest in the world after Norway and Finland).

Asked if now was the time to call on the Prime Minister to intervene personally to help ease the pressure on the struggling industry, she said: “We have done this a number of times, as recently as last Friday.

“He continues to ignore our request, not even wanting to respond.”

This flies in the face of party member Greindler’s pledge back in June 2017 to support his local craft breweries, including Hawke’s Brewing, co-founded by his late mentor and former prime minister Bob Hawke.

“There is concern among brewers that Commonwealth excise rates are higher for small kegs than for large kegs, putting brewers at a competitive disadvantage compared to larger brewers,” Mr Albanese said.

“I am disappointed that this anomaly was not addressed in the 2017 Budget, but I will continue to support the industry in its pursuit of common-sense reforms and regulatory changes at the state and local government level.”

Ms Lethbridge warned the industry could not survive within 12 months without urgent government support as production costs rise by as much as 40 per cent, leading to the closure of two dozen microbreweries across the country last year.

“Unless consumers receive some relief from the cost of living, our summer, when warmer weather typically leads to increased sales, will not prevent others from closing their doors, leading to further job losses.

“And the typical pint at the pub will still be out of reach for many Australians.”

The average price of a pint of beer in Sydney is now over $15, making it a night out at the pub with your best friends.

Mr Adamson said now “we need to hold out until the economy really improves”.

“Thank God there was no new rate hike in September,” he said.

“It’s been a tough time for a lot of people.

“Like other businesses, we had government support (during the COVID-19 pandemic) which kept us afloat at the time.

“But coming out of this with no outside help, economic changes and some breweries deferring excise duty during this time, thinking we would open up again, it will all come back to life.

“At a government level, the cupboard is bare and the debt we’ve put aside really needs to be paid off now, but many breweries don’t have the capacity to do that.”

He said there was no level playing field between independent brewers and the two big boys Lion and CUB, who together hold 85 per cent of the market and the majority of beer taps in Australian pubs.

“We have submitted a statement in this regard to government inquiries. Creeping red tape continues to arise, whether it’s labeling or other compliance measures,” he said.

“The barriers we face running a small family business are only getting worse.”

Both Lion, maker of XXXX, Tooheys, Stone & Wood, and CUB, maker of the popular Great Northern, Carlton Draft and VB beers, are owned by Japanese companies.

“Many beer drinkers would think that these iconic brands would continue to be Australian-owned and that their hard-earned brands would remain in Australia,” Mr Adamson said.