Lance Masterton’s path to becoming the Co-founder and Head Brewer at Heads of Noosa Brewing Co. wasn’t a traditional one. It was a journey driven by a shared desire with his brother Craig to break free from the confines of their previous careers in day trading.
The duo, both Brisbane residents at the time, had built a comfortable life trading stocks, however, the aftermath of the global financial crisis (GFC) left them feeling disillusioned with the industry.
“Craig and I had worked side by side for seven years and decided we needed to find a new way to work together,” Lance explained. “The idea of brewing came out of a simple but deep love of beer and an interest in the emerging craft beer industry.”
With this newfound passion, the brothers turned their attention to brewing. Lance, with his engineering background, took on the technical side of the project, while Craig handled other aspects of the business. The pair got to work sourcing the equipment they would need to brew professionally. Lance’s father-in-law, a commercial baker, had valuable connections with US-based fabrication companies that could supply them with the components needed to build their pilot brewing kit.
The brothers started small, brewing in their garage in Chermside, Queensland. At the same time, they worked other jobs to fund their passion project. What began as a small-scale, homebrewing operation soon blossomed into a full-fledged business. Despite the challenges of operating out of a garage, the brothers remained committed, learning the ins and outs of the brewing process, fine-tuning their recipes, and dreaming of a bigger future.
Graduating from the garage
In 2017, Lance and Craig made the bold decision to move their families to Noosa and build a purpose-built brewery. They purchased a 1700m² plot of land in Noosaville and began construction on their new facility. Following two years of hard work, they opened the doors to the Heads of Noosa Brewery and its adjoining taproom in 2019. This moment was not just a business milestone but also a personal achievement for both brothers, who had poured years of effort into bringing their dream to life.
Reflecting on that journey, one of Lance’s proudest moments was brewing and selling their first beer, a Japanese-style lager, at the Noosa brewery.
“It’s still a highlight when customers tell me they love the product and can’t wait to repurchase,” he said.
The brewery’s growing success was also recognised in 2019 when Heads of Noosa won its first gold medals at the Independent Beer Awards – a significant validation of their hard work and dedication to quality.
For Lance, the day-to-day operation of the brewery remains a vital and fulfilling part of the job.
“It’s not always easy being independent; it means you wear many hats, you take risks, but the reward is the freedom to create whatever you choose.”
Lance Masterson
“I love the freedom to choose the beers I brew, and they are the beers I enjoy drinking.”
When it comes to the brewing process itself, Lance enjoys both the creative and analytical sides. His engineering background is a key factor in his approach.
“Strengths are something you enjoy doing and are happy to do every day. I love laying out and working through the flow of the brewery. The way the equipment is laid out. The way the pipes flow to eliminate sheer forces and dead legs in pipe runs. I find that side of it fascinating and satisfying when it’s just right,” he said.
Lance also prides himself on producing clean, balanced beers, a characteristic that has become a hallmark of the Heads of Noosa brand.
“All of our beers are malt-forward in flavour character and also filtered. Being so clean and delicate, balance of all the components in the beer is so important. This comes right back to the very start when selecting the malts and goes through the whole process of well-managed fermentation,” he explained.
The atmosphere of the Heads of Noosa taproom is another continuing joy for Lance.
“The social side is great when I have time, winding down at the end of a long day with the team in the Heads of Noosa taproom,” Lance said.
Looking ahead, Lance, Craig and the team at Heads of Noosa are focused on further growth. While the brewery is firmly established in Queensland, the next big step is expanding distribution networks into New South Wales and Victoria. With production reaching 1.2 million litres per year, Heads of Noosa Brewing Co. is well-positioned for continued success.
The Mastertons’ journey from trading to brewing has been one of passion, hard work, and unwavering dedication. What started as a dream in a garage has blossomed into a thriving business with a bright future ahead.
“We wanted something we could really pour our heart and soul into, and Heads of Noosa has become that something.”
Lance Masterson