Australia’s first-to-market, Indigenous-owned, non-alcoholic craft beer company, Sobah Beverages, has entered voluntary administration. Worrells has been appointed administrator. Founded in 2017 by Dr Clinton Schultz and Lozen McDiarmid, Sobah opened its own brewery on Queensland’s Gold Coast in 2023.
Schultz and McDiarmid created Sobah to celebrate First Nations culture, spark meaningful conversations, and change the way we think about drinking. The company was a Food & Drink Business Rising Star in 2021.
In a message on LinkedIn, Schultz said the decision came after a tough period for the independent beverage industry and the wider economy put significant pressure on the business.
“Despite strong brand recognition and consumer support, these conditions have led the directors to make the difficult decision to appoint voluntary administrators,” Shultz said.
In March, Sobah entered a strategic partnership with Black Hops Craft, consolidating brewing and distribution out of their Biggera Waters facility.
Since then, the company has started to sell assets, with equipment being sold through brokers at Craft Brewing Solutions. The brewery site has recently sold, though this transaction is not related to Sobah Beverages.
“Despite these structural changes, Sobah products remain available and continue to perform strongly in the market. The staple brew Tropical Lager, launched nationally in Dan Murphy’s in March 2025, has been selling well, with encouraging feedback from customers across Australia.
“In addition, plans are underway to relaunch Sobah’s popular bush tucker range ahead of summer, ensuring the brand’s unique offerings remain accessible to consumers,” he said.
Schultz and McDiarmid said, “Sobah was born from our vision to create a healthier, more inclusive drinking culture while celebrating First Nations culture and storytelling. We are proud of what we have achieved over the past eight years. This decision has not been made lightly, and we deeply thank everyone who has supported Sobah along the way.”
