Australia: Lion increases its craft brewing share

In December, Lion, owned by Japan's Kirin, opened its A$60 million Little Creatures brewery in Geelong. The facility incorporates a historic building, the 1920s art deco-style former Valley Worsted Mill, Goodfood.com.au reported on January 15.

The hospitality centre emulates Little Creatures' highly successful brewery-bar-restaurant facility in Fremantle, Western Australia - making it a must-visit for anyone heading down Geelong way during the holiday period.

Lion plans to brew about 1.25 million cases of beer there, principally for east coast markets.

While craft beer accounts for a little over 3 per cent of Australia's beer market, the category is growing at 13 per cent a year. Industry sources put Lion's share of the market at 50 per cent, mainly through its James Squire and Little Creatures brands.

Australian Brewery Extra Hoppy Ale and Weihenstephaner Pilsner are two of Little Creatures brewery craft beers.

Australian Brewery Extra Hoppy Ale – this American-inspired beer, packed in an elegant, slimline can combines masses of hops aromas, flavours and bitterness with opulent, sweet malt and 5.8 per cent alcohol. It won't appeal to those seeking a cold drink on a hot day. But it'll fascinate the hop-obsessed, though the malt-hops harmony needs some work.

Weihenstephaner Pilsner – in a world where pilsner means a thousand different things, Bavaria's Weihenstephaner remains the standout - complex and subtle, featuring lovely hops aroma and flavour, smooth, rich malt and a lingering, dry, perfectly balanced bitter finish.

15 January, 2014