Great Barrier brew in new venture

An Australian company behind a crowd-funded beer sold for the benefit of the Great Barrier Reef has launched a new competition to find the next drink in its range.

The Good Beer Company in Queensland launched its ‘Great Barrier Beer’ (pictured) late last year and donates 50% of its profits to the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS).

The beer is brewed at Bargara Brewing and is the brainchild of James Grugeon. The beer was developed with the help of social media, having been funded by a Kickstarter Project and the choice of the style (an IPA) being voted for by social media users.

According to the Brisbane Times, the brewery’s next project will see three Australian chefs championing different beers and a cider and consumers voting on which they’d like to see made as the next drink in the range.

Spencer Patrick, owner of Harrison’s restaurant in Port Douglas, will champion a kölsch-style beer; Ryan Squires, owner of the Esquire in Brisbane, is backing a blonde beer and Ben O’Donoghue, owner of Billy Kart, is behind a dry cider.

Half of the profits of the next drink will also go towards the AMCS.

The company’s ‘Great Barrier Beer’ is currently available in Queensland, but it is hoped that when the crowd funding campaign reaches AU$30,000 it will be possible to roll out the beer across more of Queensland as well as into Victoria and New South Wales.

Grugeon has said that he hopes to eventually sell 5,000 cartons a month, a target that will see the company raise AU$100,000 for the AMCS.

For more information on the Good Beer Company click here and to see the crowd funding page click here.