Close×

Craft beer is growing. Traditional beer is not. Coopers is capitalising on Australia’s growing fascination for artisanal beers with a Craft Brew Kit that can make a single carton of beer at a time. The smaller kits are already popular in the US.

“Our research has shown that many DIY beer enthusiasts are now looking to produce high quality small batch craft beers, rather than larger quantities of standard beer varieties,” explained Coopers’ marketing manager, brewing products, Scott Harris.

“The Craft Brew Kits enable them to produce the equivalent of a single carton of high quality craft beer, which means it’s easier to experiment with various styles.

“The kits are also smaller and simpler to handle and store while the fermenting process is underway.”

The Craft Brew Kit will be available in time for Father’s Day and includes its own thermometer, hydrometer, bottles and an instructional DVD.

Coopers traditional brew kits make 23 litres. The new kit makes eight and a half litres. To complement the idea that home brewers can now experiment with a wider range of craft beers, it has launched a new range of premium beer concentrates. Coopers Brewery is already the world’s largest producer of DIY beer concentrates.

Concentrates that had originally been developed for the US market for Coopers’ subsidiary Mr Beer, will be released to accompany the new kit.

“These character-filled, 100% malt brews are designed to produce a fuller-bodied, full flavour beer typical of craft styles,” Harris stated.

The range includes an IPA and US-style Pale Ale, along with Dark and Amber Ales. Each variety contains the best quality malt, bittering and aromatic hops and specially selected yeast.

The Craft Brew Kits are available now at Target, BCF stores or online.

Food & Drink Business

Fonterra has announced Anna Palairet is the new chief operating officer, having acted in the role since June 2023. CEO Miles Hurrell says Palairet has “extensive experience in operational, customer, sustainability, and sales roles”.

Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry's take on the big news stories this week, and what caught her eye overseas. How will the Future Made in Australia Act actually be delivered? Shanghai trials traffic light labelling, and Solar Food, making protein out of (virtually) nothing at all, opens its commercial scale facility (that's it in the pic).

Food Frontier’s industry leading annual alternative proteins conference, AltProteins 24, is on in Melbourne on 10 October, with early bird tickets now available.