Australia: Sydney Brewery to increase production with Rocks Brewing takeover

The Schwartz Family Company (SFC), which owns Sydney Brewery, has acquired the Rocks Brewing Company, including its productions facilities and restaurant/bar in Sydney’s Alexandria, Beer & Brewer reported on February 18.

Rocks Brewing entered into voluntary administration in October 2024. It will now be incorporated into the operations of Sydney Brewery, with the brewery and restaurant re-branded as Sydney Brewery Alexandria, complementing Sydney Brewery Surry Hills and the Sydney Brewery production facility at Lovedale in the Hunter Valley.

SFC director Dr Jerry Schwartz said that after a difficult 2024 that saw multiple breweries enter voluntary administration, the increase in the Sydney Brewery facilities was a good-news story for the industry.

“Last year was a very difficult year for the craft brewing industry, but Sydney Brewery bucked the trend, and we have been urgently seeking extra capacity to produce our craft beers,” said Dr Schwartz.

“Our Sydney Brewery and restaurant in Surry Hills has been very popular and we believe that we can make Sydney Brewery Alexandria similarly popular with locals and visitors. We will be looking to sell the remainder of the Rocks Brewing stock and then start producing the Sydney Brewery range from the Alexandria site.”

The brewing capacity at Sydney Brewery is set to nearly triple with the Rocks Brewing acquisition, as well as new facilities under construction. The 20hL brewhouse in Alexandria would be one facility helping meet demand for Sydney Brewery beers and ciders, while in Lovedale an additional 30hL brewhouse is expected to open in Easter – in addition to the existing 18hL brewhouse currently operating.

“We will more than double our production capacity at Lovedale in the Hunter Valley, and by the time everything is operational, our potential capacity will have increased to over half a million litres of craft beers, ciders and spirits across our various breweries,” stated Dr Schwartz.

The Schwartz Family Company’s network of 14 hotels across the eastern seaboard – one of the the largest privately owned accommodation hotel portfolios in the country – will be one of the beneficiaries of the increased production of Sydney Brewery beers.

“It was perhaps inevitable that the craft brewing industry would consolidate after years of rapid growth. Sydney Brewery has been operating since 2005 and not only has its own outlets, but it also supplies to our network of 15 hotels in NSW, ACT, Queensland and Victoria, and has a strong presence in retail trade,” Dr Schwartz explained.

“We are ramping up production while many craft brewers are struggling to survive, and our takeover of the Rocks Brewery operation will provide an outstanding opportunity to both increase the amount of Sydney Brewery craft beers that we produce and also revive the Alexandria location as a prime brewpub, dining, entertainment and functions venue.

The Alexandria location is currently operating, and will officially launch with new branding and menus in mid-March.

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