TCT talks beer at Blackman’s

Renn Blackman and Jess Giudice talk to the crowd at the TCT lunch.

THE team at Blackman’s Brewery are toasting their success and say local craft beers have a few rounds left in them yet.

Jess Giudice and Renn Blackman hosted members and guests of Torquay Commerce and Tourism for lunch and drinks at their Bell Street brewery, and talked about their five years in the beer industry.

Mr Blackman said the Torquay operation had grown from two beers on tap and a couple of guest beers to at least 12 beers on tap.

Blackman’s has also been running a satellite outlet in Geelong, Blackman’s Beer Bar, since 2016.

“We just struggled in Geelong to actually sell beer to venues – they were all just like ‘we just sell Carlton Draught; we do what we’ve always done’ so we thought maybe we should get a space where we can sell our own beer,” Mr Blackman said.

Ms Giudice said Blackman’s had a five-year plan to add takeaway beers but installed a canning line earlier than expected.

“That was because everyone in Torquay wanted to take away the beer – that’s how it started.”

Mr Blackman said they decided on cans over stubbies as the beer stayed fresher, got colder quicker, and tasted better out of a can when poured into a glass.

“I think the perception of beer drinking and flavour has changed so much over the past few years, too. Most people are drinking a pale ale now.

“Craft beer’s still in a really big growth phase – I think it’s still got five to 10 years, hopefully, then it’ll get really saturated.

“But with all the food, and things like that, it’s getting back to the thing where locals support locals.

If you look to Germany, the Czech Republic, and America as well, people drink beer from their town or their area.”

Blackman’s Brewery recently won Champion Small Australian Brewery at the 2019 Australian International Beer Awards, and TCT president Jeff Crow (who runs Bells Beach Brewing) congratulated the pair on their success.

“We’re very, very proud of them in our business community and our community, they’re beautiful people who have done a lot for our community.

“Personally, they’ve been a great help to myself and Adam – if it wasn’t for them, we couldn’t have done what we’ve done; it’s an exciting time for all of us.”