“IT takes a lot of beer to make good wine,” according to Cape Jaffa Wines and Loophole Brewing Company managing director Derek Hooper.
This mentality led the wine leader to branch out in the alcoholic beverage industry with the help of brewer Tom O’Reilly.
Joining the Cape Jaffa team in 2016 to learn the art of wine-making, Mr O’Reilly’s secret brewing talents were soon discovered, giving him a new role within the business.
Mr O’Reilly started making “knock-off beers” for the crew on a hand-made 50-litre pilot brew kit, something Mr Hooper had always dreamed of.
“I had always liked the idea of branching out into brewing beer,” Mr Hooper said.
“Things came together perfectly with Tom coming on board with us, it seemed like the best time to start brewing commercially.”
Launching commercially just over two years ago, Loophole Brewing Company has come a long way since its humble beginnings at Cape Jaffa Wines.
Starting by producing small batches of beer on-site, the company soon outgrew the winery, relocating to the Barossa at a specially designed brewing location.
Demand for the craft product has grown so much, it again needed a new premises with the team at Cape Jaffa Wines creating a purpose-built plant on site, seeing the company move back to its South East roots.
Although on the market for a few years now, 2019 was the first time the company decided to put its brews to the test, entering the Royal Adelaide Show’s Beer and Cider awards.
Facing off against brewing giants such as Coopers, Prancing Pony and Pirate Life, the small South East enterprise established itself as an industry leader, taking home the Champion Traditional Style Pale Ale award for its Quick Hare Cape Ale.
Mr Hooper said he was “stoked” the business received such high praise at such an early stage.
“It was really exciting to take part in the awards, so to take home an award like this is amazing,” he said.
“Here in the Limestone Coast we are well known for our water and grain quality, both important in brewing, so it has been great to showcase that.
“We are all really proud of what we achieved, especially when we were up against some pretty big names in the game – there no other word but to say we are stoked.”
Mr Hooper said the success of the product can not solely be put down to the hard work and dedication of the brewing team, but also support from the South East community.
“We have had great support from the entire community from the get-go really,” he said.
“We do some overseas export, but mainly our product is sold around South Australia, which just proves how strong we are when we get behind each other.
“I think there has been a big swing into craft beer and we are seeing some great brews, especially from companies around the Limestone Coast.
“It has just been so great to see the industry expanding like it is and everyone getting involved.”
