After more than 10 years in operation, Temple Brewing Company has announced it is closing permanently following tough post-COVID-19 trading conditions.

The brewery is appointing a liquidator to manage the closure of its operations on or about 23 May 2024.

“The wholesale business has been severely affected by the downturn in sales volumes,” the brewery said. “Continued trading in this environment is no longer possible.  

“Trading in the brewpub has also experienced a downturn as many of our customers face limited or reduced spending capacities.”

The brewpub will cease trading after 19 May 2024. It has invited all its loyal supporters to come along and join them in saying goodbye to one of Brunswick East’s oldest brewery.

Temple opened the doors to its current Brunswick East home in late 2011. It won the coveted Orora Golden Can Trophy in the 2023 GABS Craft Beer Can Design Awards for its HELLO, MY NAME IS AMBER beer.

The brewery will also clear off all remaining stock through its online store with a 40% discount.

“Temple wishes to express its gratitude to all its customers, both wholesale as well as our brewpub patrons for their support over these many years,” the brewery said.

Brewers under threat

The news follows desperate calls from the drinks industry for the Australian Government to pause the alcohol excise tax and support local producers falling on deaf ears in the Federal Budget.

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, while popular Melbourne craft brewer Deeds Brewing announced last week that it was permanently closing.

“I don’t use language like ‘the situation is dire’ very often, but it absolutely is,” Independent Brewers Association (IBA) chief executive Kylie Lethbridge recently told 9news.com.au.

There are more than 600 independent brewers, with two-thirds of these small businesses based in regional and rural Australia.

The IBA represents 425 brewery members, primarily small producers making less than 700,000 litres annually.

In its Budget submission, the IBA called for the Federal Government to take action to help the beer industry. Suggestions included providing funding for a study to investigate the feasibility and potential structure for the creation of Beer Australia in line with the role and remit of Wine Australia; providing funding to the IBA to develop new market programs, resources, industry development and sustainability activities so they could continue to help alleviate the current pressures for members; and freezing indexation of alcohol excise for a period of two years

Its pleas were not heard.