Pirate Life was founded in 2015, and was voted as Australia’s best craft brewery in Beer Cartel’s 2017 Australian Craft Beer Survey.
Pirate Life says the partnership with AB InBev will allow it to “take our dream to a level we could never imaging and push ourselves and our beers further.”
Training and education for brewers
Having run out of capacity at its current Hindmarsh brewery, Pirate Life will build a new brewery, while the Hindmarsh brewery will become a site dedicated to creating new beers, including sours, seasonal and barrel-aged products.
The team at Pirate Life brewing will remain the same. Co-founder Jack Cameron said that the partnership with AB InBev will give staff the chance to become part of a global network of brewers, and benefit the team with training, education and career development.
“We’ve always believed in and understood what brewers like AB InBev can contribute to the craft beer world with their experience, knowledge, funding and expertise in every aspect of the industry,” he said. “Good beer is good beer and we believe that our beers are only going to get better.”
Jan Craps, President of AB InBev’s Asia Pacific South Zone, said Pirate Life’s lifestyle-driven brand complements and contributes to AB InBev’s portfolio.
“With its focus on canned packaging that gives consumers fresh, well-crafted beers and consistent quality, Pirate Life has resonated with Australian beer drinkers who want something different,” he said.
“Pirate Life’s brand is premised on a carefree and relaxed attitude and the ability to create great beers. This approach can only be enhanced with a new brewery, access to ingredients and shared knowledge from other AB InBev brewers in Australia and elsewhere.”
AB InBev’s acquisition of Pirate Life follows that of Sydney craft brewer 4 Pines in September.
Headquartered in Melbourne, AB InBev’s Carlton & United Breweries (obtained via its acquisition of SABMiller in 2016) brews Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught and Cascade among others.
Feral Brewing, which took second place in the 2017 Australian Craft Beer Survey, was bought by Coca-Cola Amatil in October.