“When you say it out loud, 25 years is a long time to be in business,” Paul Holgate explains, “in any industry really, but particularly an industry like craft beer where both the producers and consumers are intensely passionate about the products. Yeah, we are very proud to be one of the earliest small independent brewery start-ups in Australia. We put together our first business plan in 1997 and started brewing and selling in 1999, well before the term ‘craft beer’ was used.”
“Our 25th Anniversary is a great opportunity to celebrate and thank all our customers and staff who have supported us over the years,” continues Natasha Holgate. “I can’t believe how much our business and the craft brewing industry has grown since 1999!”
The Holgate business is based at their historic hotel and tourist destination in Woodend, just outside Melbourne in the Macedon Ranges, and has grown since 1999 to employ approximately 40 people across production, sales/marketing and hospitality, with a site capacity of 6 million litres. Holgate brands are distributed nationally through independent stores and pubs and exported to several countries throughout Asia – with the business also producing for other third party brands under contract.
Master Brewer on site!
As part of the anniversary celebrations, Holgate Head Brewer, Chris Brady and team, will be producing ‘25 Beers for 25 Years’ in both keg and cans. As part of this, Holgate will be collaborating with a series of brewers who worked at Holgate during their careers, including Nic Sandery from Molly Rose, Matt Ives from Aunty Jacks, Alex Carr at Noodledoof, Ian Morgan from CUB Development, Evan Hunter from Bendigo Brewing, Nick Rhodes from White Rabbit, Josh Kendall from Wolf of the Willows, Ben Turley from Love Shack Brewing Co. and Justin Corbitt from Fox Friday.
Paul says, “For the first almost eight years after starting up, all of the brewing was done by me and then, from 2007 on, the business took on trainee brewers and gradually built a multi-member production team as sales and capacity expanded. Over the past 25 years, a number of brewers currently employed in the industry have worked at Holgate – either getting their initial start as a trainee and progressing through the industry or coming to Holgate as an experienced brewer – and a few have gone on to start their own business. The collaborations between former brewers and Holgate Brewhouse is a celebration of the industry as a wonderful employer of good people, and showcases how the industry worldwide has come together to change the drinking habits for the better. Current Head Brewer, Chris Brady, who has been at Holgate for 10 years, will have a chance to reunite with many former colleagues to share their artistry, creativity and love of good beer.”
Rolling out the releases!
The first beers released in 2024, as part of the ‘25 Beers for 25 Years’ are:
- NZ Hazy IPA in 375mL cans (available now) – inspired by a pivotal trip to NZ by Paul & Tash in 1998, checking out other small operations and ultimately leading to them buying their first brewing kit from NZ;
- Kolsch – Original Mt Macedon Ale in kegs – inspired by Original Macedon Ale which was a Kolsch (available now).
Holgate will also be hosting Tap Takeovers across Australia throughout the year and holding major events in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and their home in Woodend in Spring 2024.
They will also be partnering with The Crafty Pint on a People’s Choice Award, allowing Crafty Pint readers to help choose one of their limited can releases from Holgate’s epic, 25 year back catalogue.
Holgate fans can stay up-to-date with releases and events by following @holgatebeer on Instagram or Facebook or signing up to their newsletter via their website.
