Northern beaches brewery Freshwater Brewing Co. has launched a crowdfunding campaign to scale its production and distribution and enhance its hospitality offering.
Having launched during the Sydney lockdowns, later impacted by floods and the increasing cost of living, the journey for Freshwater Brewing hasn’t been plain sailing. In light of that, Founder Jonny Bucknall is optimistic about the future of the brewery.
“We grew our wholesale over 55 per cent last year and our taproom by over 35 per cent. We’re laser-focused on what will bring us growth and we’re small enough and new enough to kick on to scale up our operation. But in relative terms, let’s not get carried away.
“We’re very aware of the market confidence, but in business you need momentum and we could sit on our hands and wait for it or we could keep moving ahead. So now feels [like a great time to scale up].”
Despite its challenges, Freshwater Brewing has fostered a loyal community at the heart of Brookvale’s independent craft brewing scene, which, according to Bucknall, is the reason the brewery exists, and every decision made by the group anchors back to its audience.
“For us, our targets are all focused on bringing more people into our community and getting closer to them. Hospitality is a big part of that.”
To build on the brewery’s position as a community hub and a destination for visitors, the team hopes to create a point of difference by opening a bar above the 200-seat taproom.
“We have a pretty great warehouse space in our building that we want to convert to a 100-person bar. We have a really clear path, we have the compliance and roadmap secured but we need some help in order to get us there more quickly,” says Bucknall.
“So, we thought a crowdfund would be a great opportunity to build some advocacy and get our community to buy in – kind of literally – to shape what it becomes, which in itself is unique. Hospitality is built around locals, and this can take our offering to the next level.
In addition to the new bar, Bucknall teases plans to open and partner with other venues beyond that. And while the brewery grows its hospitality footprint, it will also continue to grow its wholesale presence with a focus on activations and relationships.
“The competitive advantage that craft breweries have when they control their supply chain is not talked about enough. From brewery to glass, every little detail is important to giving people the best possible drinking experience. And we want to drive that: knowledgable, friendly staff, clean lines, clean glassware, poured correctly at the right temperature. Delicious. And so that our community can focus on hanging out with their mates and drinking good beer, in local spaces they enjoy.”
Keeping the momentum going
Another goal of the campaign is installing a new canning line.
“We know the challenges that rising cost of energy, packaging, etc etc etc have on the price of a can of beer. If we can control our destiny with a canning line, we can make the economics of packaged products more palatable without having to pass on too much of the costs, which we think will lead to growth. We are a hyper local brand and looking ahead, that will help our growth plan,” Bucknall added.
If successful, the crowdfunding campaign will allow Freshwater Brewing to expand its production capacity and reach more customers. But above all, the goal is straightforward, building upon momentum and maintaining the high standards and community experience that its consumers know and love.
“When choosing to purchase craft beer, people want a quality and flavour above anything else. Despite the constant conversation around price.
“We have chosen some harder paths – we lager our beer longer, do decoction brews, trial innovative ingredients – because we understand the space in the market that we exist in. The market isn’t a level playing field and so you have to run your own race.
“In a world of faux brands and craft beer-washing, authenticity and independence is really important. We’re not standing here asking for millions of dollars, we’re seeking enough to open an awesome new bar giving our patrons a quality beer-focused experience that they can shape and take ownership of,” Bucknall concluded.
You can find out more about Freshwater Brewing’s crowdfunding campaign and register your interest here.