“I was born in Canada near Vancouver. I came to Australia the first time about 15 years ago to do the backpacker thing and learn to surf. We flew into Sydney, found a bus, had no plans and went from there. We came up here that time, picking fruit and working odd jobs. I met my wife on that trip in Manly. She grew up in Ballina. My visa expired so I went back home and then my wife got a visa and came and stayed till her visa expired. We came back here and got married at Skennars Head. That was 13 years ago. My wife Elise got a job teaching in Newcastle so we moved there for a while then I went to University in Canada doing Structural Engineering so back to Canada for 8 years. We’ve been back here in Lismore for 2 years.
I’ve always loved Craft Beer so I wanted to be involved somehow. My first idea was to start a brewery but I couldn’t get all the pieces together for that. There were too many requirements to put in place so this is the next best choice, kind of like a brewery but without a brewery. The business is basically a craft beer shop. We stock natural wines and we are trying to support local producers as much as possible. We have Rob and Bec’s Tintenbar Distillery with their Gins. Rob will be doing a tasting here at the end of the month with Lismore’s Pyewacket’s Traditional Shrubs. We have Byron Bay Distillery and Brookies as well. I’m trying to stock as many different beers and smaller boutique stuff as I can that you can’t get in Dan Murphy’s.
This little shop came up in the Star Court Arcade and it was the cheapest property in Lismore to buy. We have four beers on tap right now so people can try them if they want. People can buy a flight of beers, sit and drink them and if you like something you can fill up a bottle and take it home with you. I have bottles for sale you can bring back and refill.
We have two little ones now and the eldest has just started school. Elise’s parents are here on the Northern Rivers so it’s good to have family around.”