Swan, Emu Export to be brewed on east coast

Western Australian beers Swan Draught and Emu Export will be brewed in NSW or Queensland after Lion announced the closure of its West End Brewery this morning.

A Lion spokesperson said the beer produced at the facility would be brewed at either Queensland’s XXXX brewery or Tooheys in New South Wales from June 2021.

Lion announced the closure of Perth’s Swan Brewery in Canning Vale in 2012, moving the production of Swan and Emu to South Australia in 2013.

In a statement, Lion said West End had been operating well below its full production capacity for some time now and it was no longer viable.

It said the decision was the best way to ensure it had a sustainable brewing network for the future.

“Our input costs have continued to rise against this backdrop of declining volume, and a further drop in draught beer sales as a result of the pandemic,” it said.

The closure of the 160-year-old brewery will result in the loss of 94 staff in brewing and operations.

About 40 sales roles will remain in South Australia.