It was a dream for Sailors Grave Brewing Owners Gab and Chris Moore to create “Dunetown” as the home of their beer business.
Their vision for Dunetown – a site between Marlo and Cape Conran – was not only to produce local beer at a large capacity but also deliver a major cellar door experience in a permanent farmhouse-style location.
That vision has now come full circle with the local brewer moving to a brand-new site in Marlo this year, producing up to 1 million litres of beer per year.
'Beyond the beer production, we have a fully realised venue with food and the ability to do more events at a larger capacity at such a beautiful location right on the coast,' Sailors Grave Brewing Co-Owner Gab Moore says.
Since 2016, the local brewer has operated from a 100-year-old butter factory in Orbost, producing up to 250,000 litres of beer annually.
Demand for Sailors Grave’s range of local craft brews has soared in that time, growing to become a favourite among Gippsland’s homegrown beer producers.
The Victorian Government recognised Sailor’s Grave’s potential, providing $2.35 million investment through the Local Economic Recovery Fund to establish Dunetown, which will replace Orbost as Sailor’s Grave’s central location.
'We wouldn’t be able to achieve this relocation without the Victorian Government grant funding,' Gab says
Sailors Grave’s wide range of stouts, IPAs and lagers pays homage to ingredients and stories unique to Gippsland.
This includes Apples Will Make Pyes which uses Gippsland apples to create an imperial apple pie beer, and UNI, a gose beer that’s brewed with sea urchins sourced from Mallacoota and native lemon myrtle from the region.
Gab expects the production increase made possible by Dunetown to help distribute Sailors Grave beer to major alcohol stores including Dan Murphy’s and BWS, delivering more economic activity for Gippsland.
'At our old Orbost site, there was no way we could produce any more beer at that location which up until now has made us have to hold off from selling to a lot of markets both interstate and internationally,' Gab says.
'We’ve really needed to have the backing of Dunetown’s capacity to commit before entering larger markets.'
With Dunetown’s beermaking in full swing, Gab and Chris are putting the finishing touches on Dunetown’s cellar door ahead of its public opening this summer.
The cellar door offers snacks – and of course, beer – in what Chris describes as a 'bloody big shed' decked out with 16 taps all pouring Sailors Grave’s unique brews.
The space will serve as a beer enthusiast’s delight with drinks served through rare side pour taps from the Czech Republic for a smoother pour.
It will also open the door as an events space year-round to bring visitors to Victoria’s east coast in addition to Sailors Grave’s pop up “tapshacks” spanning from Meeniyan to Mallacoota and Lakes Entrance.
'The tapshacks have allowed us to access our audience a lot easier across Gippsland,' Gab says.
Dunetown will open the door to more jobs and visitation to the region through a uniquely Gippsland offering.
The Gippsland economy is set to benefit from its food and fibre and tourism sectors, which are listed as strategic strengths within RDV’s Gippsland Regional Plan and Gippsland 2035.
For Gab and Chris, the Sailors Grave business represents a new chapter in the creation and viability of local business and industry.
And with the opening of a new cellar door just around the corner, big things are expected.
'With Dunetown, we contribute to a sense of pride for Gippsland businesses to show there is still a bright future for this area,' Gab says.
'We’re hoping for a big summer.'
To find out more, visit the Sailor’s Grave Brewing website.