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http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/69...-its-last-drop/
It has been a beacon in Fremantle's brewing history since the 1980s, but after more than 25 years the brewery at the Sail & Anchor is set to produce its last beer.
The Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group, which operates the Sail & Anchor Hotel, will close the brewery in coming weeks, marking the end of an era for one of Australia's first pub-breweries.
The Sail & Anchor helped revitalise Fremantle in the 1980s, changing people's attitudes to drinking in pubs and become the focus of international attention when the America's Cup swept the port city in 1987.
Its former head brewer and current Fremantle Chamber of Commerce chief executive Peter Nolin said he was disappointed with the decision to close the brewery, which he said was considered by many to be a pioneer in Australia's craft-brewing industry.
"It contributes to Fremantle's eclectic character," he said.
"Fremantle had three pub-breweries, so really we're the home of craft-brewing in WA. To lose a brewery is very disappointing. The Sail & Anchor has an incredible reputation.
"It's an iconic pub-brewery and people, particularly beer connoisseurs, have been coming to the Sail & Anchor for more than 25 years."
ALH spokesman David Curry said the closure of the brewery did not mark the end of the hotel or Sail & Anchor brand beer. It will now be brewed by the Feral Brewing Company in the Swan Valley.
"We've made a commercial decision to close the brewery operation and it's just that component of the business," Mr Curry said. "The rest of the pub and the physical layout of the hotel will remain as is.
"We'll still be keeping that component of the micro-brewery and it will still just sit there because of its historical significance."
The Sail & Anchor opened in 1984 and is one of the country's most awarded small breweries.
"It was craft brewing, so you were in charge of all phases of the brewing process from sourcing the raw materials, designing the recipes, to brewing the beer," Mr Nolin said.
"Then you had the additional satisfaction that because you were at a pub-brewery, you saw your customers enjoy the product right away and you got instant feedback from them."
More and more Australians were "waking up" to craft-brewed beers, which was evident in the success of other WA breweries such as Little Creatures, Matilda Bay and Gage Roads
It has been a beacon in Fremantle's brewing history since the 1980s, but after more than 25 years the brewery at the Sail & Anchor is set to produce its last beer.
The Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group, which operates the Sail & Anchor Hotel, will close the brewery in coming weeks, marking the end of an era for one of Australia's first pub-breweries.
The Sail & Anchor helped revitalise Fremantle in the 1980s, changing people's attitudes to drinking in pubs and become the focus of international attention when the America's Cup swept the port city in 1987.
Its former head brewer and current Fremantle Chamber of Commerce chief executive Peter Nolin said he was disappointed with the decision to close the brewery, which he said was considered by many to be a pioneer in Australia's craft-brewing industry.
"It contributes to Fremantle's eclectic character," he said.
"Fremantle had three pub-breweries, so really we're the home of craft-brewing in WA. To lose a brewery is very disappointing. The Sail & Anchor has an incredible reputation.
"It's an iconic pub-brewery and people, particularly beer connoisseurs, have been coming to the Sail & Anchor for more than 25 years."
ALH spokesman David Curry said the closure of the brewery did not mark the end of the hotel or Sail & Anchor brand beer. It will now be brewed by the Feral Brewing Company in the Swan Valley.
"We've made a commercial decision to close the brewery operation and it's just that component of the business," Mr Curry said. "The rest of the pub and the physical layout of the hotel will remain as is.
"We'll still be keeping that component of the micro-brewery and it will still just sit there because of its historical significance."
The Sail & Anchor opened in 1984 and is one of the country's most awarded small breweries.
"It was craft brewing, so you were in charge of all phases of the brewing process from sourcing the raw materials, designing the recipes, to brewing the beer," Mr Nolin said.
"Then you had the additional satisfaction that because you were at a pub-brewery, you saw your customers enjoy the product right away and you got instant feedback from them."
More and more Australians were "waking up" to craft-brewed beers, which was evident in the success of other WA breweries such as Little Creatures, Matilda Bay and Gage Roads
