Quietly brewing away nestled in an industrial unit in Jamisontown sits one of Penrith’s best kept secrets.
Casey’s Brewery is bottling some of the best flavours in the west, as Managing Director Pat Casey uses a lifetime of experience and knowledge to create flavoursome beer.
“I had been home brewing for some time and it struck me that what I really wanted to do was to make beer for other people,” he said.
“I’ve always liked breweries. My father used to work in the wine industry and, as a little boy of five or six, the highlight of the week would be going with him in a little brown Volkswagen Beetle to McWilliam’s cellar in Pyrmont.
“I suppose by long and devious routes I’ve become my father’s son.
“But it’s a topic of debate, have I truly followed him by going into the alcohol industry, or have I rebelled against him since he was wine and I am beer.”
Penrith proved to be the perfect location for the 1,800 litre brewery to make high quality everyday beers to sell online for home delivery.
“There’s not enough hours in the day,” he laughed.
“I started in 2015 mostly doing contract work and hosting various gypsy brewers. I only started really selling under my own name last year.”
With three standard beers including a refreshing pilsener inspired pale golden ale, a medium bodied smooth black ale in the style of Tooheys Old and an aromatic amber ale, as well as a special smoke red ale just bottled last week, there is a flavour for everyone.
Last year, the Australian Home Brewer Survey found that more people were taking a chance at home brew, and with the rising popularity of craft beer in Australia, most craft breweries are founded by home brewers.
Mr Casey said there are varying reasons that more people are turning away from the typical slabs you buy at the bottle shop.
“It’s changing, but there are a whole lot of reasons,” he said.
“One is that not as many people drink Tooheys or VB because there’s not as many Tooheys or VB-type jobs in the economy.”
Mr Casey said different tastes from around the world are making their way into Australia expanding the beer industry with more “characterful” flavours.
Visit http://www.caseysbeer.com.au or check out the brewery for yourself during the next open day on Sunday, February 4.
Emily Newton
Emily Newton is the Weekender's police and political reporter. Emily is also the Weekender's Senior Journalist.