New brewery on tap soon

Albany brewing enthusiast Matty Wilson has given up everything to follow his dream of opening a brewery in his hometown.

About 18 months ago, Mr Wilson and wife Jessica sold their family home and bought a dilapidated nursery on South Coast Highway with the hope of creating their own brewery.

With construction finished and the brewing now taking place they are finally beginning to see the fruits of their labours.

A self-taught brewer, Mr Wilson said his passion for making beer started about four years ago.

“The whole reason we did it is because I love making beer,” he said

“There wasn’t much around in Albany for locals and tourists, so we thought we’d have a crack at it.”

Mr Wilson said the premises had undergone an extensive rebuild after the City of Albany told him the building was unapproved.

“We’ve pretty much had to gut the whole place and redo most of the structure — I’ve managed to reuse most of the stuff that was here,” he said.

The brewery will offer four primary beers and a monthly seasonal release that uses local produce.

The goal of the monthly beer is to try to provide beer lovers with something a little different and with a local touch, according to Mr Wilson.

“We’ll use strawberries from the strawberry farm to do a strawberry wheat beer, we’re looking at the mussel farm and doing a mussel porter.” he said. The couple have the support of most of the local pubs and bars in Albany, and within a month Wilson’s Brewing Company beers will be on tap at the likes of Due South, 6 Degrees, the Earl of Spencer and the Three Anchors.

The brewery has just gained approval for consumption on the premises, the second of its kind in WA, and Mr Wilson is hopeful that within six weeks, beer lovers will be able to drop in and enjoy a local beer at the source of creation.