S.A. Life Magazine

Justin checking the locally grown wheat quality

So you want to own a brewery?

Transferring a strong brewing reputation into a successful commercial brand is the primary challenge facing 28-year-old Justin Murdock as he develops his Yorke Brewing Company near Coobowie on the lower Yorke Peninsula.

Since he started experimenting with different small batch beers in 1997 and entering competitions in 2003, Justin has won more than 98 awards, 27 national titles and been crowned national amateur brewing of the year.

Such success has triggered growing interest from commercial stockists, although at present Justin's beers are not yet available to public. He's in the process of gaining planning approval to set up operations in a limestone barn near Coobowie that will serve as a brewing facility and tasting room, and hopes it will be open for business within six months.

"It's not an easy process," Justin says, pointing to the expense of imported equipment required to make beer at commercial volumes - even though he's using his engineering skills to build his own bottling line.

"The brewing awards helped me drum up a few supporters, but I've still only raised about a quarter of the capital I'd hoped for. Still, I'm happy that I'll eventually have my own brewery to make good beer. It's great to be able to focus on what I love doing"

His excitement stems from new work opportunities that commercial brewing presents for him. While he is a qualified mechanical engineer and builder, his capacity to work has been debilitated by chronic fatigue syndrome for the past five years.

Brewing gives him the flexibility to work when he can. "That's one of the joys of working with beer; I've got time leeway to do a brew when I'm able to, at a quality level I'm satisfied with. It's not a production line"

Justin's stern eye for quality even extends to growing his own hops, giving the three intended commercial brews - White Sands wheat beer, Shipwrecked Ale and Golden Harvest Lager - a significant point of difference.

While he's proud of handmade brews, he's also looking forward to expanding beyond small batches and taking brewing operations out of his bachelor home to a commercial facility. "I've had to mop down the ceilings a few times when I've done a full mash inside the house. The place really does smell like a brewery at times," he says with a laugh, "but that's something I really don't mind."

Published in S.A. Life Magazine, December 2008 Edition
Written By David Sly, Final website edit by Justin

Posted by Justin
Sun, 07 December 2008