Lenny | Feb 2025 | BeerCo Brewing and Distilling News
Dermott Dowling
Hey Brewers, Distillers and Makers,
We just got slogged again with another of our bi-annual escalator excise tax hikes on beer and spirits linked to CPI inflation. The latest hike is taking us close to 40% of the cost of a full strength beer in tax and 60% of the cost of spirits and cocktails in tax. At a time of high cost of living, housing crisis, and a high cost of doing business for small businesses this is placing an enormous strain on our medium sized craft breweries and distillers. We have seen many close, go into voluntary administration or liquidation in 2024 and many are for sale and this trend is only going to continue in 2025. The Australian federal government needs to take meaningful action on alcohol excise taxes reform which are indirect taxes distorting an otherwise free and open market.
If you feel the same way we do...please do something about it...please write to your federal MP and ask for your alcohol excise tax back! Here are some links to resources or just write your federal MP an email and say #enoughisenough before its too late and many more independent hard working Australian family businesses go down the drain!
Those links here for ways to show your support to your industry and your local brewers and distillers.
Independent Brewers Association | Campaign 2025 | #SaveIndieBeer
DISTILLERS AND BARS OUTRAGED AS SPIRITS TAX NEARS $104
We have been beery busy in 2025 - Time to Thrive! Let us talk about some exciting NEW! Products...on with the #Brewsletter folks...
NEW! Recipe Kits
NEW! Lenny | LupoWater | Sparkling Hop Water Refresher Drinks Kit $29.95-$36.95 Choose between 6 different Hop Combos and up to 9 different Flavours including "neutral". Looking to enjoy a super healthy beverage this summer! Lenny | LupoWater is your new best friend in the fridge and/or on Tap!
NEW! Franz | Radler Light Lager | BeerCo All Grain Brewers Recipe Kit $54.95-$59.95 un/milled dry/liquid yeast with your choice between 7 flavours. Cut with Soda Water you have a lower alcohol refreshment option to enjoy responsibly! Brew! Cycle! Prost!
NEW! New World Ale | Artisan Ale | Fresh Wort Kit
$54.95 Fresh Wort Kit Only $71.85 Combo Bundle with Hop + Yeast
FRESH! US Hops drop! and HOP SALE! past Crop Years
We are landing lots of #freshies everyday from the Crop 2024 US Hops Harvest and UK/GR Crop 24 and soon AU/NZ Crop 25 will be on their way! Grab some #StealsandDeals on past Crop Years too!
NEW! Yeast
NEW! BSY-L002 Freiberg Bluestone Yeast $17.95
NEW! BSY-L015 Tijuana Bluestone Yeast $17.95
NEW! Botanical
NEW! Strawberry Gum Leaf | Eucalyptus olida Whole and Cut Leaves $14.95/100g $109.95/1Kg (SAVE 26%) Put some native flair in your next food or beverage creation!
NEW! Aids
NEW! Still Spirits Flavourings | Essences $8.95 each. Transforming neutral alcohol or commercial vodka into your favourite spirit has never been easier thanks to the Still Spirits range of flavourings.
NEW! Equipment
NEW! UltraTap | Martinus | Side Pour $99.95 and Ultratap | Czech Pilsner Spout $13.95
Calling all Craft Brewers - do not forget about the ReDuce ReUse and ReFill of our popular Squealers and Growlers - no CDS and no labelling regulations and lower excise tax vs. packaged beer. Better for your pocket and better for the environment. That sounds like a winner winner chicken dinner right there!
Lastly, keep up with what is happening out and about on our Events | Blog
Good luck to all you #homebrewers entering the competitions we are supporting and we look forward to seeing a lot of our friends in the friendship industry at the IBD Conference in Hobart 3-7 March and Australian Distillers Conference in the Gold Coast 1-2 April - do drop by and say Hi!
cheers #brewhappy #distilsafely #enjoyresponsibly always #nomoreexcisetax #enoughisenough
Dermott Dowling
BeerCo.com.au - Your no.1 Buddies in Brewing and Distilling Supplies