By Ian Williams
Three of South Australia’s award-winning craft drinks producers are pooling resources and expertise to create a tasting experience like no other.
They are creating a “luxury beverage hub” in the Adelaide Hills for cider, beer and spirits together with the best of local produce.
The ambitious project includes a cellar door, restaurant and production facilities set on a 80-hectare property complete with market gardens and orchards.
One of the joint venturers, cider crafter Steve Dorman of The Hills Cider Company, says the project is a first for Australia.
“We envisage people spending the whole day up here learning about beer, cider and spirits, doing their own blending, eating and drinking locally sourced produce and admiring the phenomenal views,” says Steve.
“We’ll be showcasing what the amazing Adelaide Hills region has to offer in regards to produce and beverage – and everything will be sourced from within a kilometre of the venue.”
The other founding partners are Ewan Brewerton of Mismatch Brewery and Sacha La Forgia of Adelaide Hills Distillery.
They plan to have the hub in operation by early next year but are keeping the exact location under wraps until they receive final regulatory approval, expected within a month.
Steve started The Hills Cider Company with business partner Tobias Kline six years ago. It has quickly become one of Australia’s most successful privately-owned cider companies, winning multiple awards and exporting around the world.
Only Adelaide Hills fruit is used in the cider and that’s a lot – about 15 per cent of all apples grown in the region.
The company has become a shareholder in both Mismatch Brewery and Adelaide Hills Distillery as the three businesses work together.
The Adelaide Hills Distillery 78˚ Gin won a Gold Medal at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Sacha launched Adelaide Hills Distillery in 2014 and has quickly made his mark internationally. His 78 Degrees Gin, a companion orange bitters and a white-spiced rum won gold, silver and bronze at the recent San Francisco World Spirits Competition. He’s now working on a whiskey.
He says the joint venture between the three companies made good business sense.
“We’re three complementary businesses all producing craft alcoholic beverages but we’re not in direct competition, so together we’re a lot stronger,” Sacha says. “We’re already using the the same supply and sales channels.”
Ewan started his business in 2013 and has been operating out of breweries interstate until the new facility is launched.
“I have to go interstate to brew because all the brewers in Adelaide are maxed out due to the growth in the industry,” Ewan explains.
“For for the past three years I’ve been sleeping on people’s couches, so I can’t wait to have a proper home and cement our brands. It’s really exciting and it’s all going to be happening very soon.”
And with a name like Brewerton, was a career in brewing inevitable?
“It means brewer of the town,” he says. “But I’ve looked back in our family history and couldn’t find any other brewers so it’s about time someone created a story for the family name.”
Main header picture -Toby Kline, Ewan Brewerton, Steve Dorman and Sacha La Forgia
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