Australia’s largest independent, family-owned brewery, Coopers, has unveiled its $70 million new home. Still on home soil at Regency Park, Adelaide and sitting next to the existing brewery, as well as hospitality options, a tasting room, and microbrewery, is an exciting twist – a whisky distillery and underground stillage for 5000 whisky barrels.
Dr Tim Cooper (Image: Coopers)
When Coopers MD, Dr Tim Cooper, announced the project more than two years ago, he said the goal was to create an authentic and immersive beer cellar door experience.
“This is an ambitious project that will showcase Australian beer to the world. We’re very proud of our story over the past 160 years, arising from humble beginnings to prevail as an Australian-owned and operated brewery despite wars, recessions and takeover offers,” Cooper said.
Construction company, Built, was chosen from a competitive tender to build the two-storey structure. More than 500 jobs were created during construction, which began in January 2023.
Studio Nine Architects unique curved designed was inspired by the Coopers label and includes a sloping amphitheatre to showcase the brewery’s grounds and maltings plant.
Studio Gram’s interior design was a nod to the stainless steel and copper features in the microbrewery and whisky distillery, with timber and concrete elements crafted by local tradespeople.
The new 3200 litre microbrewery will be prominently displayed and will allow the Coopers brewing team to develop more craft-style beers to supplement its current portfolio. The microbrewery will be used in the regular creation of new ales and lagers for the visitor centre.
It won’t impact the main brewery, which produces more than 90 million litres of beer a year.
Next to the microbrewery is the whisky distillery with custom-made copper whisky stills and equipment that was fabricated in Scotland. Coopers produces its own malt on site that will be used in the whisky process. Patience will be necessary; it will be a few years before the first Coopers whisky is ready.
“This is one of the most exciting projects we’ve undertaken in the 162-year history of Coopers Brewing.
“We wanted every aspect to be truly world-class and of the highest quality. It’s a significant long-term investment by our family company and our vote of confidence in the future of Coopers and Australia’s manufacturing industry,” Cooper said.
The future has also been shored up with recent appointments of fifth and sixth generation family members.
(Source: Coopers)
Last year, fifth generation family member, Melanie Cooper, was appointed chair of the brewery, the first woman in the role. She had been on the board since 2009 and had been company secretary.
She replaced Glenn Cooper, who had joined the family business 34 years earlier.
“I feel it is time for generational change and commencement of the transition to the sixth- generation. Fortunately, we have enthusiastic sixth-generation family members who are supportive of the brewery as it moves into a new era.
“When you’re a Cooper, you never really retire from being an advocate of this great Australian company,” said (Glenn) Cooper.
At the same time, Andrew Cooper, the first sixth-generation family member joined the board to become a director of the company. He is the son of Glenn Cooper and the brewery’s export manager.
Meanwhile, earlier in the year, Iain Cooper, a sixth generation Cooper and son of MD and chief brewer, Tim Cooper, joined the company as a technical brewer.
He had completed a degree in media and economics before deciding to formally pursue brewing. He headed overseas, spent time in Edinburgh, Scotland, working with local breweries and studying a Master of Science in brewing and distilling.
“I had always enjoyed experimenting with home-brews and wanted to develop my skills and knowledge. Any family member keen to join the brewery is strongly encouraged to first earn their stripes outside the business. So, I headed overseas to do just that,” Iain Cooper said.
Louise Cooper, his sister, is the brewery’s strategic development manager.
Tim Cooper said, “It’s great to see Iain now join Louise and Andrew as sixth-generation family members here at Coopers, which all bodes well for the long-term future of our company.”
