CRAFT BREWING
Gas the key to fledging microbrewing industry Air Liquide sees a lot of potential in the micro-brewing industry and plans to be leading the way in supporting its growth. Food & Beverage Industry News explains. Gases are the unsung hero of a good brew.
C
raft brewing has taken off in Australia over the past five years. Driven by consumer demand for something a little different outside the main brands. These usually one- or two-person bands are making inroads into traditional markets right across the country. From Perth to Sydney, Adelaide to Brisbane, micro-breweries aren’t just putting down roots in the main cities, regional Australia is getting its fair share of beer aficionados, too. Some craft breweries are driven by wanting to be in an industry they love, others believe their unique blend of hops, barley, yeast and malt offer an exquisite taste to a discerning public, while yet others are hoping one of the big breweries will buy them out. According to a 2018 report by
"We offer cost-effective, safe solutions and are able to provide the right product, at the right time and the right price. We’ve got fantastic aftersales service and logistics solutions to provide any type of gas delivery – whether it be in cylinders, skid tanks, mini-bulk or bulk vessels." IBIS World, the craft brewery market in Australia is worth about $520 million and is growing at a rate of about six per cent a year. Not only are the brewers themselves excited about the market’s potential, but those providing products and services can also see that the sector offers lucrative opportunities. As well as the four basic ingredients, there are peripheral – but just as important – constituents
that need to be taken into consideration, such as packaging, distribution and gases. Gases are the unseen heroes of a good brew, something that Air Liquide’s Western Australian sales representative, Gavin Lee, is all too aware of. Having a background working at brewing giant Lion, has helped Lee gain momentum in supplying a variety of gases to the large number of micro-breweries
popping up on the west coast. And it’s only going to get bigger, according to Lee. “The micro brewing industry in Western Australia is going gangbusters at the moment,” he said. “There are more than 60 microbreweries in Western Australia – ranging from Exmouth down to Albany. The majority are in the Perth area.” Like wine-making, gas plays an important role, from the brewing of the amber fluid, through to it being dispensed at the tap. Oxygen is both the friend and enemy of the brewer. The only time it is necessary is when there is the oxygenation of the wort, which is the liquid extracted from the mashing process that occurs during the brewing of beer. Wort contains the sugars that will be fermented by
www.foodmag.com.au | October 2019 | Food&Beverage Industry News 25
