Asahi Beverages has announced it is closing its Matilda Bay brewpub in Healesville, Victoria on May 19.
The move comes less than five years after Asahi called in original founder Phil Sexton to help revitalise the brand. Sexton first establishing Matilda Bay in Western Australia in 1983 before it was later fully acquired by CUB in 1990 for $23 million.
CUB’s then-CEO Peter Filipovic said at the time: “Phil will oversee everything from brewery construction to brewing and marketing. He is a craft beer visionary who revolutionised Australia’s beer landscape. There is no one in the world more suited to delivering this venture than him.
“We’re meeting the changing needs of consumers by creating beautiful new beers in pristine surroundings that live up to Matilda Bay and Phil’s original vision. We couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity and we know beer drinkers will love it.”
Ryan Saundry, who is the general manager of Fire & Earth Ventures (the craft arm of Asahi/CUB), said the company had made the “difficult decision” to close the doors and cease manufacturing at Healesville.
“We want to express our thanks and gratitude to our Matilda Bay team who have helped us expand the brand over the last few years, including through the very challenging COVID-19 period when we first launched the brewpub,” Ryan said.
“The team really embodies the pioneering spirit of Matilda Bay, and we thank them for their contributions over the past few years.”
While the venue will close, Matilda Bay beers will continue to be brewed at other CUB sites, including Pirate Life in Port Adelaide.
“This will help us simplify our operations and ensure Matilda Bay products are available to our customers, as well as enabling an enhanced focus on the growth of our other premium local breweries,” Ryan said.
The announcement comes during a difficult time for the craft beer industry, with a slew of breweries closing their doors. This week Deeds Brewing announced it was shutting down after failing to find a buyer or investor.
“In these tough times for businesses and individuals alike, we extend our best wishes to everyone in the industry,” the brewery said. “Now more than ever, it’s crucial to support local businesses.”