Chris Shanahan: Jerry Schwartz to open Canberra brewery

Canberra is to get a new brewery as part of Dr Jerry Schwartz’s overhaul of Olim’s Hotel, Ainslie. It’ll be Dr Schwartz’s second brewery, and it’ll be about three times the size of his original at the Macquarie Hotel, Sydney, says Olim’s Daniel Gaul.

Olim’s has been selling some of the Schwartz beers for the last few years. But Daniel says that it’ll carry the full range after the completion of renovations to the kitchen and bistro in about six weeks.

He expects construction of the brewery, which is to include a bottling line, to commence some time after that and to be completed by 2010. He says that Dr Schwartz plans to broaden distribution of the beer when the plant comes on line.

At the present eight-hectolitre plant in Sydney, brewer Samara Füss produces five different styes – Wheat Beer, Pale Ale, Bavaria Red Lager, Dark Bier and Pilsner, and has a Porter under development.

According to Schwartz’s website (www.schwartzbrewery.com) these are all brewed using grain only, without sugar or extract, with each batch showing its individuality.

Schwartz’s arrival will give Canberra its third brewpub. It’ll join our great landmark, the Wig & Pen, city, and the recently opened Zierholz Beer Café, Fyshwick.