The WA brewer of Little Creatures craft beer, is poised to open a brand new brewery in Geelong, Victoria and has already begun brewing at the recently commissioned site.
The Lion-owned brewer, Little World Beverages, which makes Little Creatures and White Rabbit beers and Pipsqueak cider, has renovated what was originally a 1920s wool mill in Geelong. The expansion is expected to help support the growth of its craft beer on the Eastern seaboard.
Lion, which initially owned a 20 per cent share of the brewer, last year bought 100 per cent of the locally-owned company. Lion also has controlling stakes in craft brewers James Squire and Knappstein.
The new Little Creatures facility, like the Fremantle site, uses technology from beverage filling and packaging technology company, Krones. At the Geelong site, however, Krones has outfitted the entire brewery, including all the utilities.
The new brewery is designed for an annual capacity of 250,000 hectolitres, with an option for upsizing to 400,000 hectolitres. The 200-hectolitre Steinecker brewhouse features a EquiTherm energy storage system, combined with a unit-type cogeneration plant.
In addition to the process technology, Krones has also supplied the bottling line. As in Fremantle, the Geelong site will also include hospitality facilities. Fremantle will continue to be the craft brewer’s registered office and administrative centre.
TFG, a company specialising in stainless steel process pipe work and turnkey installations, also had a hand in the new facility. It was contracted by Krones for the installation of the brew house, cellar and utilities at the new plant.
According to TFG, the mechanical installation involved installing over 11km of stainless steel pipe work over a 10 month period from July 2012 until May 2013.
The Geelong site has significant historical significance, according to TFG, and it worked collaboratively with Lion, Krones and Little Creatures as well as the Geelong wider community to successfully complete the project.
