Victoria-based Grand Ridge Brewery has announced it has filed for voluntary administration after 35 years in craft brewing.

Richard Lawrence and Mitchell Ball from Mackay Goodwin have been appointed as administrators. Grand Ridge, which is Victoria’s oldest independent brewery, said the decision to appoint administrators was as a result of financial pressures dating from the pandemic, along with rapidly rising costs and increasing taxes.

Grand Ridge Brewery is a 100% Australian, family-owned company, with a brewery housed in an old butter factory in Mirboo North, a country town in the Victorian Strzelecki Ranges.

“It has become imperative to restructure the business via voluntary administration,” the brewery said it a statement.

“For the foreseeable future, it will be business as usual, brewing and selling beer and cider. The taphouse and restaurant will remain open. The company also hopes to retain as many staff as possible.”

Founder and owner Eric Walters said: “This decision was the most difficult in 35 years of operation. We believe there is no alternative than to file for voluntary administration. Ultimately, we hope to remain operational.

“It has been an amazing journey, helping build the craft beer revolution in Australia and seeing it flourish into what it is today, and adding to the quality choices for Aussie beer Consumers. I am very proud to have been part of this.

“I want to thank my incredible team who have worked tirelessly to make all the beers great and who have helped promote the brand throughout Australia, driving regional tourism and jobs for locals and across the world more recently as we embarked on a major branding exercise.

“Thank you to all our loyal customers, suppliers and supporters, whose positive comments and feedback along the way have been fantastic.

“Our industry, along with many others, is currently finding business very challenging. We foresee a positive future in a restructured business and are eager to reset and move forward.”

Major campaign launches to save independent craft brewing

The Independent Brewers Association (IBA) is begging consumers to support Australian craft beer as breweries continue to tumble.

The IBA is calling on beer lovers across the country to lend their support to a major campaign to help save the industry.

The Grant Ridge’s devastating news follows popular Melbourne craft brewer Deeds Brewing entering voluntary administration last month. Deeds Brewing was named champion medium brewery and champion Victorian brewery at the 2023 Australian International Beer Awards.

Since the beginning of 2024 alone, Western Australia brewery Golden West, South Australia’s Big Shed, Victoria’s Hawkers and NSW’s Wayward have all gone into administration. Newcastle’s Steel City Brewing has also ceased production due to cost of living pressures.

“After a decade of growth our industry pulled out all the stops to survive through the ‘COVID years’ and looked forward to some light at the end of what had been a very dark tunnel,” the IBA said.

‘Instead, 2023 delivered significant increases in costs of raw materials (up by 40%), energy (up by over 50%) packaging and freight, staff shortages and increased costs of living.

“At the same time we continue to battle the large multinational breweries to access taps in pubs, venues and bottle shops. THEN we face the third highest tax regime in the world. Is it any wonder you are seeing many independent brewers close or be pushed in to voluntary administration?”