One year on from the launch of Largo Brewing, founders and Lime Cordiale musicians, Louis and Oli Leimbach, have achieved fantastic results – including a win at the World Beer Awards. Food & Drink Business spoke to the musicians-turned-brewers about the journey to Largo’s success.
Largo Beer first rolled onto store shelves in August 2023, with two easy-drinking flavours. Clean Lager is a 4.2% ABV low in bitterness beer, and The Dawdler is its low-carb and mid-strength companion, at 3.2% ABV. The brand name comes from the popular expression “Late Afternoon Glass Off”, perfect for a beachside arvo drink.
The Leimbach brothers said the opportunity to start the brand came up through their manager, and they worked on the brews for over two years.
“We love beer and for a while we had been thinking that making our own one would be cool, but didn't really think it would ever happen,” Oli and Louis said.
“Our manager actually came to us one day and suggested we look into making a beer – then one thing led to another and Largo was born. We really saw a need for a beer that you didn't get sick of and that was perfect for enjoying with mates after a show or a surf or doing whatever it is that you love.”
Endeavour Group’s distributor, Pinnacle Drinks, was backing the project from the start of the process, with the Leimbachs saying it was great to have the team’s technical knowledge and broader industry relationships to help bring Largo to life. The beer is currently being produced at a brewery under licence in Victoria.
Having the support of a major distributor didn’t stop the musicians from being involved in every part of the production process though. Louis designed the artwork for the cans and all the merch, having experience from producing all the art for Lime Cordiale’s own albums and merchandise.
After developing the flavours for their beers through many tasting sessions the Leimbachs said they settled on a cracking, easy drinking Australian Lager style. The brothers also were very involved with making the production a sustainable process.
Largo is accredited by Climate Active, a government body that certifies products that have undergone a process to reduce or offset some of its carbon emissions. The packaging has a QR code which links to the organisation’s disclosure statement, breaking down all of the measures taken to receive a carbon neutral certification for the brand.
“Both our beers are carbon neutral and certified as such by Climate Active,” the Leimbachs told F&DB.
“As touring musicians we are very mindful about our impact on sustainability and it is important to us that everything we do is done in a way that has as little impact as possible on the planet.
“As part of our commitment to being a carbon neutral beer, we’ve made changes to the brewing process to reduce our emissions, like brewing with a combo of malted and unmalted barley, skipping an unnecessary filtration step and using a natural refrigerant that does not impact the ozone layer.
“Over 99.5% of our partner brewery waste is recycled, this includes all the grains leftover after brewing, that goes to supplement cattle feed. On top of this, the brewery has solar panels on the roof helping to reduce the power needed from the grid,” they said.
The commitment to sustainability and the refreshing taste of Largo has clearly been a success so far, with Clean Lager taking home the award for Australia’s best Light Lager at the 2024 World Beer Awards.
The win highlights Largo’s commitment to quality and innovation in the brewing industry. Light Lager, as defined by style rather than alcohol by volume (ABV), is a category that Largo aims to redefine with its eco-conscious credentials and modern, creative-driven appeal.
“We are really stoked with our recent win, and incredibly proud to have Largo recognised on the global stage,” said Louis and Oli.
“Winning the Country Winner award for Light Lager is a testament to our dedication to creating a beer that not only tastes great but also aligns with our commitment to striving for sustainability. We’re thrilled to bring new energy to this category.”
