- 10,000 beers served
- 9,000 customers through the doors
- 7,000 coffees made
- 6,000 meals served
- 1,500 pizzas
- 800 bowls of chips
Standing on centre stage of the Busselton Foreshore, Shelter Brewing Co officially opens its doors yesterday (Thursday 12th November), welcoming eager locals and visitors.
Since the soft opening seven days ago, Shelter Brewing Co has served 9,000 customers more than 10,000 beers, 7,000 coffees, 6,000 meals, 1,500 pizzas and 800 bowls of chips.
Inside and outside in the beer garden facing Geographe Bay, customers have sat on 32 tables that were handmade by Shelter Brewing Co Directors and local company Timber Grooves.
On Wednesday night (11th November), 360 VIPs attended the official welcome party at Shelter Brewing Co.
Director Zeb Packard-Hair said that the project had taken two years from start to finish, from the beginning of the process to pouring Shelter’s first beers.
“Being involved in Building Shelter has been one of great experiences of my life. The teamwork from everyone involved has been phenomenal, I’m super proud of them all,” Packard-Hair said.
City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley spoke at the opening party, endorsing Shelter Brewing Co as an enhancement to the Busselton Foreshore precinct.
“We have the best brewery in the best corner of the best State in the country,” Mayor Henley said.
Shelter is an impressive two-level structure with a central open brewery, function rooms, lounge area, viewing gallery, kids’ playground complete with a custom built wooden retro caravan, also designed and built by the Shelter Brewing Co team.
The café is gaining a cult following thanks to its good Margaret River Roasters coffee, freshly house-baked cinnamon scrolls and bagels available every morning from 7am.
From 10am to 10pm, Shelter is serving its own beer range, namely, Shelter Extra Pale Ale, Shelter India Pale Ale, Shelter Summer Sour and Shelter Lager, along with a large selection of south-west wines and a food menu that focusses on simple food made beautifully.
Revolving around the Italian imported Marana Forni pizza oven, besides pizza, the menu comprises of approachable dishes designed for sharing such as chilli mussels, sweetcorn poppers, hand-cut chips, 12-hour slow cooked beef brisket and gluten-free dark chocolate brownie.
Shelter’s woodfired pizzas are made with dough that’s been rested for 48 hours for an extra crisp base and are topped with locally sourced fresh ingredients.
General Manager Paul Maley said that the menu is designed to cater to everyone.
“The food is based around freshness with delicious dishes for meat lovers, seafood lovers, vegans, vegetarians as well as gluten free options including our pizzas and burgers, healthy options, dishes that are modern as well as old classics such as the chip butty and choc top,” Maley said.
If drinking and eating wasn’t enough, Shelter Brewing Co is sharing its knowledge with brewery tours that include meeting the brewers, tasting the freshest beer straight from the tanks and a talk and tasting paddle of beers currently being poured.
Director and head brewer Jason Credaro said that he was very happy with the beers and how they were pouring.
“The beers are exactly how I wanted them for the opening of Shelter – they are drinking really well,” the head brewer said.
“In time, I’ll play around with hopping rates and varieties and continue to develop the beers, as well as adding seasonal brews to the range.
“The beer I’m drinking the most at the moment is our summer sour – I like sour beers, and with this one, I like the acidity, saltiness and its tropical notes along with the flavour profile,” Credaro said.
Maley said that Shelter is more than a craft brewery.
“Shelter is a place for locals to meet, families to get together and visitors to include in their itinerary of Busselton, whether they stop in for a quick coldie or stay for a long session,” Maley said.
“The beer is great, the food is delicious, the team are trained, eager and enthusiastic, and we are excited to have Shelter full of people and buzzing with life.”
There are 80 people employed at Shelter Brewing Co making it one of the largest private employers in Busselton.
“The construction project has been colossal, and the end result is something that we hope everyone will be proud of, like we are,” Maley said.
Shelter’s architecture is centred around the working state-of-the-art brewery which is open and forms part of the venue in the Main Hall. The canning line will be installed in a few weeks.
Shelter Brewing Co began construction in August 2019, designed with an emphasis on sustainability that includes 100-kilowatt solar panel system on the twin-gabled roof that aims to produce 80 per cent of the brewery’s power requirements.
Externally, the Corten steel cladding is designed to rust over time to form a protective layer, and on the back wall is a beer-inspired mural by artist Andrew Frazer in earthy colours that complement the cladding.
The 10.6 metre floor-to-ceiling windows are designed to maximise the stunning view of the jetty and Geographe Bay, with the 120-person first-floor function room offering the best views, which also includes a stunning beach-inspired canvas by artist Frans Bisschops.
Licensed for 650 people, the venue is 1,078 square metres on the ground floor, 427 square metres on the first floor and sits on an 1,850 square metre site adjacent to the Busselton Visitors Centre.
Shelter Brewing Co is a joint venture between two fourth-generation local families: brothers Matt, Jason, Mike and Chris Credaro and brothers Zeb and Asher Packard-Hair.
- Now pouring: Shelter Extra Pale Ale, Shelter India Pale Ale, Shelter Summer Sour and Shelter Lager
- Now serving: pizzas and prawns along with a great menu for the whole family - dogs are welcome too
- Brewery tours and tastings straight from the tank
- For more information and bookings, visit www.shelterbrewing.com.au