A popular pub has gone into administration after less than a decade of operating, falling victim to the cost-of-living crisis and massive taxes on beer.
The Queenscliff Brewhouse in Queenscliff, southeast of Geelong, had administrators appointed on September 23.
The venue offers wide variety of craft beer, gin and whiskey plus a ‘micro brewery’, distillery, cellar and family bistro.
Scott Andersen and Nathan Deppeler from insolvency firm Worrells have been appointed administrators with creditors due to meet for a second time on Tuesday.
The brewery is still trading as normal and there have been regularly posts on social media accounts since entering voluntary administration.
The business, which opened for business in July, 2016, has a 4.2 star rating on Google from more than 800 reviews, with many complimenting the food, beers and location across the road from the beach.
The Queenscliff Brewhouse, in Queenscliff, southeast of Geelong, had administrators appointed on September 23
A spokesperson for Queenscliff Brewhouse told Daily Mail Australia: ‘We are trading as normal during this period and anticipate the business will continue to do so.
‘We have no further comment.’
Worrells has been contacted for further comment.
It comes as the founder of Young Henrys, Richard Adamson, accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of abandoning the craft brewery industry which contributes $1.93billion to the national economy each year and employs about 10,000 people.
‘When he was in opposition, he was supportive and helped get the remissions scheme (for excisable alcohol) through (in 2021),’ Mr Adamson, who is also president of the Inner West Breweries Association, earlier told Daily Mail Australia.
‘But I guess he’s got bigger fish to fry at the moment (than help us).’
Independent Brewers Association CEO Kylie Lethbridge said Mr Albanese was refusing to notice the collapse of the craft brewing industry and pubs more broadly.
He said the government was refusing any relief on the exorbitant beer tax, which accounts for about a third of the price of beer (the third highest in the world after Norway and Finland).
Asked if it was time to appeal personally to the Prime Minister to intervene, she said: ‘We have – several times, as recently as last Friday.
‘He continues to ignore our plea without even the courtesy of a response.’
The venue boasts a wide variety of craft beer, gin and whiskey while also offering a ‘micro brewery’, distillery, cellar and family bistro
It flies in the face of a promise by Mr Albanese while in Opposition back in June 2017 to back his local craft breweries, which include Hawke’s Brewing, co-founded by his late mentor and ex-prime minister Bob Hawke.
‘Among the concerns of the brewers is the fact that Commonwealth excise rates are higher for small kegs than larger kegs, which puts the brewers at a competitive disadvantage in relation to big brewers,’ Mr Albanese said at the time.
‘I am disappointed this anomaly was not addressed in the 2017 Budget but will continue to support the industry in its push for sensible reform, as well as regulatory change at the state and local government levels.’
Ms Lethbridge warned the industry may not exist in 12 months without urgent government support as production costs rise by as much as 40 per cent, causing two-dozen microbreweries to fold nationally in the past year.
‘Unless consumers have some relief in the cost of living, our summer, when the warmer weather usually generates increased sales, will not save others from closing their doors leading to further job losses.
‘And the quintessential pint at the pub will still be out of reach for many Australians.’
The average price of a pint of beer in Sydney now tops $15, making a night at the pub with mates now a luxury rather than the commonplace social activity it once was.
Mr Adamson said it was now ‘a matter of us hanging on till the economy really improves’.
Anthony Albanese has the highest concentration of craft breweries of any federal electorate – but he’s turned his back on a once-booming industry that is facing last drinks
He said there wasn’t a level playing field between the independent brewers and the two ‘big boys’ – Lion and CUB – who combined own 85 per cent of the market and the majority of beer taps in Australia’s pubs.
‘We’d made submissions to government inquiries about this. The creeping red tape keeps coming in, whether it’s labelling or other compliance measures,’ he said.
‘The barriers we’ve got to run a small, family-owned business are only getting worse.’
Both Lion, which produces XXXX, Tooheys, Stone & Wood, and CUB, makers of popular beers Great Northern, Carlton Draught and VB, are owned by Japanese companies.
‘Many beer drinkers would think these iconic brands would still be Australian-owned and that they hard-earned would be staying in Australia,’ Mr Adamson said.
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