Last Man Standing steps up to take over Newstead Brewing Co.’s Milton brewery
Last week, long-running craft-beer maker Newstead Brewing Co. announced that it had turned off the taps and emptied the tanks at its Milton headquarters. Though a devastating blow for Brisbane’s independent brewing scene, an enthusiastic brew crew has stepped in to fill the void in the wake of Newstead Brewing Co.’s departure. Last Man Standing moved into the Castlemaine Street site last Friday, tapping kegs of its refreshing Australian lager right as footy season goes full tilt.
When Newstead Brewing Co. quietly shuttered its Milton hub in early March, many beer lovers expected its Castlemaine Street abode to sit eerily quiet for some time. But, as it turned out, that wasn’t the case.
On Friday March 14 the venue reopened with another brewery’s branding affixed to the outside. Last Man Standing Brewing – the Australian-owned beer maker co-founded by Winter Olympic gold medallist Steven Bradbury and Stephen and Damian Prosser (sons of Rugby Union legend, the late Roy Prosser) – stepped in to take over the former Newstead Brewing Co. site, which first opened in 2017.
“Opening our own brewery and venue is not only the logical next step in our growth, but it’s the realisation of our plans, dreams and hard work over the past five years,” says LMS Brewing’s managing director Damian Prosser in a statement. “The opportunity has come a little sooner than expected, but this is a fantastic venue in an iconic location and we’re excited to create an exciting space. We’ll keep the taps pouring for sports fans and locals while we get set up properly.”
“I love Australia, I love sport and boy do I love a few beers with my mates, and I can’t think of a better sporting venue in the country to sit alongside than Suncorp Stadium,” adds Steven Bradbury. “It would be a crime for this fantastic brewery to be closed while there’s so much happening at the stadium and in Brisbane. We had to step in and make sure that didn’t happen.”
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LMS Brewing reopened the Newstead site’s bar and kitchen last week, starting with an adjusted offering as the group navigates the initial transition period. Taking pride of place amongst the libation list is LMS Brewing’s own classic mid- and full-strength lagers, a pair of refreshingly crisp and full-flavoured drops that have become the brewery’s calling card. The group expects to implement a more comprehensive brewery experience before the fourth-round clash between the Broncos and the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Friday March 28, including a high-energy sports bar atmosphere, big screens, pitch-perfect pub-style fare and a bolstered libation range that showcases independent, Australian-owned drinks across the bar.
The Milton site is now Last Man Standing’s production and corporate headquarters, with the team taking over all of the site’s existing brewing apparatus (there is room to bring in additional gear later on, if and when it is required). Long-term plans include adding new lines to the LMS Brewing range, with the crew eager to experiment with some ideas that could potentially extend its classic and mainstream credentials.
As the Australian craft-brewing scene endures a rough patch, the Last Man Standing crew is preaching resilience and grit in the face of overwhelming adversity.
“Independent Aussie brewers continue to be under threat from ridiculous taxes, overseas corporations, pandemics and, up here, the weather – but we’re not going to be swayed from our mission,” says Steven Bradbury. “We want to bring some good news to the industry, buck the trend and inspire fellow indie brewers to push on. Courage, determination, self-belief and just a little luck – that’s what being the Last Man Standing is all about. And I should know!
Last Man Standing Brewing is now open in Milton. Keep your eyes peeled for a closer look at the venue in the coming weeks.