Australia’s largest privately owned hotel group, the Schwartz Family Company (SFC), has acquired the Rocks Brewing Company, including its production facilities and restaurant/bar in Alexandria.

Rocks Brewing entered voluntary administration in October of last year. At the time, owner Moni Osborn told The Crafty Pint that the pandemic and rising interest rates had hit the company hard.

“This year, we’ve faced the cost of living pressures and our customers being unable to spend as much as they would like to,” she said.

The brewery will be incorporated into Sydney Brewery’s operations, with the brewery and restaurant re-branded as Sydney Brewery Alexandria, complementing Sydney Brewery Surry Hills and the Sydney Brewery production facility at Lovedale in the Hunter Valley.

SCF Director Dr Jerry Schwartz said the 20hL Brewhouse in Alexandria would be vital for meeting the massive increase in demand for Sydney Brewery beers and ciders.

In addition, a new 30hL Brewhouse is scheduled to open at Lovedale by Easter, which will function in addition to the existing 18hL Brewhouse.  

Dr Schwartz said: “Last year was a very difficult year for the craft brewing industry, but Sydney Brewery bucked the trend, and we have been urgently seeking extra capacity to produce our craft beers.

“Our Sydney Brewery and restaurant in Surry Hills has been very popular and we believe that we can make Sydney Brewery Alexandria similarly popular with locals and visitors. We will be looking to sell the remainder of the Rocks Brewing stock and then start producing the Sydney Brewery range from the Alexandria site.

“We will more than double our production capacity at Lovedale in the Hunter Valley, and by the time everything is operational, our potential capacity will have increased to over half a million litres of craft beers, ciders and spirits across our various breweries.

“It was perhaps inevitable that the craft brewing industry would consolidate after years of rapid growth. Sydney Brewery has been operating since 2005 and not only has its own outlets, but it also supplies to our network of 15 hotels in NSW, ACT, Queensland and Victoria, and has a strong presence in retail trade.

“We are ramping up production while many craft brewers are struggling to survive, and our takeover of the Rocks Brewery operation will provide an outstanding opportunity to both increase the amount of Sydney Brewery craft beers that we produce and also revive the Alexandria location as a prime brewpub, dining, entertainment and functions venue.

“We will revamp the menu, the drinks selection and the entertainment over the next few months. The Brewpub is currently operating and will officially relaunch with its new branding and menus in mid March.”