Could you be Mildura’s next beer baron

IF you want to brew your own beer, and you want to go big, a unique business opportunity has emerged in Mildura.

The brewery component of the venue known as Mildura Brewery is now a separate business called the Mallee Brewing Company and it is available for lease.

Purchased by prominent Mildura businessman Don Carrazza last year after it went into voluntary administration under previous owners Broo, the brewery’s bar and restaurant, now called the Mildura Brewery Pub, has been leased and open since last December.

The brewery section has undergone refurbishment and advertising for a lessee began this week.

Mr Carrazza told Sunraysia Daily that the lease provided a unique opportunity because it came with $3 million worth of brewing equipment at the landmark Langtree Avenue site, which was originally the Astor Theatre.

“The brewery has been revamped and it’s in immaculate condition,” he said.

“For anyone who wants to get into the beer business, it’s there ready to go.”

Mr Carrazza said that although a new lessee would not be required to use the Mallee Brewing Company brand for the business, it was a “great brand” ready for market.

The brand uses imagery based on a Mallee bull, an Australian symbol for rugged strength.

“All over the country, the Mallee has a great name,” Mr Carrazza said.

He said the region consumed about $20 million worth of beer a year and that even if the brewery captured only a small percentage of that “they’ve got a good business”.

The brewing operation, which operates in the same space occupied by the restaurant and bar, had the capacity to produce up to 3000 kegs of beer a year and there was scope to increase that.

A brewer was already available to join the new lessee if required, so operations could begin quickly.

“The fact is there’s a brewery that is already started, and they can lease it rather than spend $3 million on equipment to do it, and it would take 12 months to do it,” Mr Carrazza said.