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Willunga Brewery To Be South Australia’s Third Largest

McLaren Vale Beer Company has begun work on its new Willunga Brewery, which when complete will be the third largest brewery in South Australia, representing an investment of over $1 million.

The craft beer company has also appointed one of Australia’s leading brewers and one of South Australia’s most talented emerging brewers as a result of the investment.

Renowned brewer Bruce Peachey has been appointed as Chief Brewer with responsibility for commissioning Willunga Brewery, while McLaren Vale identity Jeff Wright has been appointed Head Brewer.

Bruce spent 21 years with Tooheys in various roles including brewery manager and technical manager. He was founding General Manager and Head Brewer of Bluetongue in the Hunter Valley. Bruce is also a judge for numerous Australian beer awards and regularly features in Beer & Brewer magazine.

Jeff has been part of the South Australian viticulture scene for the past 15 years, nine of those in management roles for private vineyards throughout McLaren Vale.

He has been active in raising the viticulture quality and profile of the region as a member of the McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association – Winegrowers Development Group.

Over the past eight years, Jeff has also been refining his procedures for all grain brewing, becoming an active member of the Adelaide Home brew scene organising and participating in local competitions. He recently completed Ballarat University’s Graduate Certificate of Brewing and participated in the internationally accredited Beer Judges Certification Program.

He also helped with the judging at the Australian Amateur Brewing Competition held in Melbourne in 2010.

McLaren Vale Beer Company Managing Director Adam Trippe-Smith said the two appointments came at an exciting time for the company.

“Bruce is regarded as one of the best brewers in the Asia Pacific and Jeff is a passionate brewer with a growing track record, so we’re looking forward to what they’ll bring to the team,” Adam said.

“We’ve begun work on our new Willunga Brewery, which will employ up to 10 people and will initially be brewing in excess of 1 million litres of beer.

“In the past 12 months, McLaren Vale Beer has already grown from a team of one to 15.”

Willunga Brewery will be commissioned with a 4-vessel 35HL brew house, 105HL fermentation vessels, a kegging line and an automated bottling and packaging line.

McLaren Vale Beer has awarded the contract to supply brewing equipment for its brewery to DME Brewing Services in Canada.

DME is one of the leading global suppliers of brewing equipment to the craft beer industry and was the successful tenderer from over 10 global suppliers.

McLaren Vale Beer Company crafts the internationally-awarded Vale Ale and recently released Vale Dry – Australia’s first unfiltered dry lager. Its home is the world class hospitality venue, The Salopian Inn.

Vale Ale was voted #1 in the annual Local Taphouse’s Hottest 100 Craft Beers of 2010, with stable mate Vale Dry voted #9 and the top lager.

For more information visit www.mvbeer.com

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