Krones fits brewery for creature comforts

Beverage filling and packaging technology company, Krones, has kitted out a brand new brewery in Geelong, Victoria, for Lion-owned brewer, Little World Beverages.

The WA brewer, which produces the Little Creatures and White Rabbit craft beers as well as Pipsqueak cider, has already begun brewing at the recently commissioned site.

The company has renovated what was originally a 1920s wool mill. The expansion is expected to help support the growth of its craft beer on the Eastern seaboard.

Lion, which initially owned a 20 per cent share of the brewer, last year bought 100 per cent of the locally-owned company. Lion also has controlling stakes in craft brewers James Squire and Knappstein.

The new Little Creatures facility, like the brewer's original Fremantle site, uses technology from Krones. At the Geelong site, however, Krones has outfitted the entire brewery, including all the utilities.

The new brewery is designed for an annual capacity of 250,000 hectolitres, with an option for upsizing to 400,000 hectolitres. The 200-hectolitre Steinecker brewhouse features a EquiTherm energy storage system, combined with a unit-type cogeneration plant.

In addition to the process technology, Krones has also supplied the bottling line. As in Fremantle, the Geelong site will also include hospitality facilities. Fremantle will continue to be the craft brewer’s registered office and administrative centre.