John Moloney
John claims to have taught Julian everything about brewing, whilst Julian just nods and lets the old bloke prattle on. A self confessed beer snob, listening to John one would think he knows a bit about breweries. John has learnt the hard way and actually understands what works and what doesn’t. John did the short course in brewing at Regency Park TAFE in South Australia. John recommends this course for anyone interested in developing a brewery.
He has a long established relationship with Cask Canning and in 2016 he was encouraged by the founder of that Canadian company to visit Philadelphia for the CBC conference. John also took time out to visit San Diego to observe at first hand how small breweries integrated into the local community.
In another life, John was the CEO for Australasia for two International agribusiness companies, involved in plant breeding and biotech. This gives John a great understanding of what malts are preferred for brewing and why, as well as how hops are integral for both flavour and bitterness.
A brewery is very dependent on recruiting and retaining quality staff for brewing and the hospitality segments of the business. John has worked as a search consultant across the globe and has also owned and operated a very successful labour hire company.To assist the industry in recruiting qualified staff, John has developed links with universities in Europe and also Australia that specialise in tertiary courses for brewing and hospitality.
John now resides in Brisbane and sees great opportunities for new breweries in Queensland and NSW - particularly in regional areas.
Julian Widera
Julian has been working in the Brewing and Beverage Industry for nearly 10 years. Whilst Julian claims to be a native of Alice Springs, it can be revealed that he is originally from the home of all things beer - Germany. Julian was trained in one of the premier tertiary brewing institutions in Berlin. After graduating Julian headed to New Zealand where he assisted in the build of a new brewery. That is where his new appetite for new breweries setting up breweries arose.
He then realised that the Wallabies would one day beat the All Blacks and always looking to be on a winner, he headed to Oz.
John made him an offer he couldn’t refuse and he landed in Port Campbell. Julian set about building a new brewery. He worked on the recipe development and after the release of his beers, it was decided to build another brewery. and also install a packaging line. Since then life has been interesting to say the least. Julian has project managed a new brewery in Yamba, another in Lancefield and a third in Toowoomba.
Coming from Germany Julian knows a competitive beer market. Family-run breweries have been surviving over centuries by focusing and looking after their local market rather than trying to compete around the country. He knows how to integrate your local market for success.
Steve Brown
Steve is the ideal person you need as a Project Manager. Steve grew up in regional Victoria and attended school in Melbourne. After school he commenced working for one of Australia’s largest corporate agribusinesses – Nardoo Pastoral Company…
Steve worked across Australia and gained valuable insight in how to make a piece of number eight wire do everything in life. He has spent over 30 years in project management roles and has had budgets of many millions of dollars under his control.
His time in agribusiness has taught him much about the need to deliver on time and in full. Steve is a thinker and make sure that he has a plan before commencing a task. He has dealt with some real characters in his life so nothing really phases him when it comes to interacting with people. He is calm under pressure and does not get flustered.
Prior to relocating to Brisbane and semi retirement Steve work five years for one of Australia’s largest privately own coal mining enterprises in the lower Hunter Valley of NSW. In this role he had the title of Property Manager and oversaw a large asset base.
Steve has cut his teeth under the direction of Julian and has survived the German work ethic. Julian was impressed and that is saying something. He’s learning a lot about brewing and now realises that craft beer is far superior to any previous beer that he may have consume copious amounts of in life time.
Steve is here to make sure your brewery is delivered on time, in fall and within budget
Marion Klink
Marion grew up in a small unknown country west of Great Germany. Besides all her struggle, she grew to be one of the most important human beings in her time and runs not only The Brewery Mentors, but according to Julian - Australia!
Marion is the back office support and understands the numbers that make for a profitable brewery. Marion understands the software and the hardware to ensure hassle-free reporting.
Mick Robertson
Ask Mick why he brews and he’d tell you “the pursuit of a well made beer” is his sole priority. With a passion for craft beer, Mick and his wife made the sea change back to their hometown of Warrnambool in 2017. He started out with a Kit and Kilo around 1998 while living in Melbourne
, by-passing bottles and going straight to kegs (Cornelius ball lock style).
The desire to brew all-grain beers, saw the purchase of his first Braumeister system and he hasn’t looked back since.
Over the years Mick has helped out at GABS, been a steward for VicBrew and won some awards for his beers along the way.
Mick & his wife then spent a couple of years living in Vietnam where he was involved with the dynamic & emerging micro brewing scene which has really taken off in the last few years.
Mick also traveled to Europe, based himself out of Southern Germany for a few weeks and visited several breweries across Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium, Ireland, Iceland and Britain.
While living overseas, he completed a Certificate commercial brewers course in Sunderland, England (Brewlab) and also helped out at a Micro Brewery in the Scottish Highlands.
These days, you will find Mick in the micro brewery at Sow & Piglets in Port Campbell brewing small batch artisan beers for consumption in the Sow & Piglets Guesthouse Bar. Collaborating with Julian on training, recipe development and brewing techniques has yielded some classic style beers, while concentrating on four core beers and two seasonal at any given time.