A cheers is in order for Emu Plains residents who will soon be able to enjoy a range of craft beers at a new tap room opening in early May.
Mountain Culture Beer Co has had its Development Application (DA) approved by Penrith Council to have on-site consumption from its brewing facility at 35 David Road, Emu Plains.
Co-founder of Mountain Culture Beer Co, DJ McCready, who operates a popular brewpub in Katoomba, told the Weekender that the plan to expand came as a result of the pandemic.
“I have been a professional brewer for 14 years starting in the US for larger craft breweries and then my wife and business partner, Harriet, and I decided to open a small boutique brewery bar where people can come into,” he said.
“Our business plan was turned on its head by the bushfires and then COVID, but luckily we had been canning beers since day one, so we got a website up and shifted to packaged beer you can experience from your living room.”
With the company quickly gaining interest both around the country and internationally, Mr McCready said it went from producing 60,000 litres of beer per year to half a million litres. The business needed to expand and took on the Emu Plains site last year, which provided opportunities for further development.
“We had only been in business a year and needed to expand but we wanted a good area, so we settled on Emu Plains as it is still tied to the mountains, but has the same ease of accessibility as Penrith,” Mr McCready said.
“It has about 2,000 square metres of factory space, so we can produce up to eight million litres of beer, but it also allows us to bring people in like we originally wanted with our facility.”
Currently the number one rated brewery in Australia, Mr McCready said the proposed bar within the facility will allow for education around brewing and recreation.
“We take our products very seriously but we are not snobby, so we just want to create a cool spot that people can come in and try some beers with their mates while actually seeing it being made,” he explained.
“It will have an industrial vibe to go with the location and we have been approved for 120 patrons.
“It will have opportunities for people to expand their knowledge on craft beer but we will also have other food and drink offerings.”
Emily Feszczuk
A graduate of Western Sydney University, Emily covers Local, State and Federal politics for the Weekender, as well as crime and general news.