FOUND. to acquire fallen Subiaco brewery

Perth brewery FOUND. has expanded its footprint after acquiring the assets of craft brewery Golden West Brewing Co which fell into administration earlier this year.

FOUND, which operates a 200-seat lakeside venue in Byford, is set to takeover the Hay Street venue and acquire the assets under a deal expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.  

It comes after Golden West Brewing Co, registered under Modular Brewing Limited, appointed administrator Mathieu Tribut from GTS Advisory in February.

FOUND was founded by industry experts Steve Finney, Scott Player, Will Irving and Natalie Moeahu-Pehi, who collectively have experience at well-known pubs such as Gage Roads, Feral Brewing Co, Little Creatures and Matso's Broome Brewery. 

The industry veterans opened their Byford micobrewery featuring a 600-litre setup in 2023, after initially planning to put down roots in the delayed East Perth’s Girls School redevelopment. But that plan was put on hold as the major redevelopment was hit by rising construction costs. 

The 400-seat Subiaco venue will remain closed while the FOUND team work with their designers on a major refurbishment of the space, with the aim to open in September.

Mr Finney said their new Subiaco space would allow beer drinkers to come in and sample the FOUND. brand experience.

“What we will create at Subiaco is a place where you can see what FOUND. is all about,” he said.

“They’ll walk away with a better understanding what FOUND. is, and they’ll get to try the magnificent brews that we'll put together, there'll be a great atmosphere and experience.”

Mr Finney said it was unfortunate Golden West had not managed to flourish, but he said the former owners had created a great foundation to build on.

He said the venue’s beer garden will be designed to celebrate Western Australia’s landscape in an urban environment.

“That’s really our focus with the venue- Western Australia. We are West Australian, and we want this brand to be heavily recognised as being quintessentially WA,” Mr Finney said.

Despite the challenges the Golden West team faced, Mr Player said FOUND was very confident in the beer market.

“COVID was tough for a brewery starting out, and post-COVID hospitality has stayed hard,” he said.

“But some of those factors are making the craft beer market itself look tight, but I think more than ever consumers want great beer and I think we can really deliver consistent, good quality beer and great value and excellent hospitality, and there’s always a market for that.”