Brewery brings new flavour to local scene
Kenton Campbell dreams big and works hard.
It’s a combination that saw him launch the now-iconic Zarraffa’s coffee brand and Tonken Property Group – the developer behind the Distillery Road Market (DRM), home to Zarraffa’s headquarters in Eagleby.
His latest venture, Perentie Brewing Co., is a $6 million and 1-million litre brewery and taphouse designed for the community.
The long-time lager aficionado says while he believes Perentie will attract people from outside the area, it’s for locals first and foremost.
‘We want locals to come in and be proud of this lager that is produced in their community,’ Kenton says.
‘We want this to offer a localised experience. Since DRM opened, I have seen there is a sense of pride in this area and an appreciation for what we have here, so I want to honour that.
‘We will have a beer garden, outdoor and indoor areas, entertainment – it will be world class.’
“We can’t wait to be sitting enjoying a beer, and seeing others enjoy the beers we have manufactured.”
— Brennan Fielding
When Kiwanda Café and Sugar Creek Smokehouse at the precinct first opened, Kenton worked at both places as a dishwasher for 5 weeks.
‘I wanted to ensure staff had what they needed, and I also wanted to meet customers and hear what they were thinking,’ he says.
‘It was then I realised how much the community wanted something like what we are creating – something central that would also bring people in from outside the area. Perentie will do that.’
Perentie Brewing Co. sees Kenton collaborate with long-time friend Brennan Fielding of Burleigh Brewing. The pair previously collaborated on Black Giraffe, a black coffee lager that won a range of awards.
For Brennan, coming on as an advisor to Kenton was a no-brainer.
‘I’ve known Kenton since 2008 when his coffee business was growing and our brewery was new so there were synergies between us,’ he says.
‘We have always worked well together, and it is great fun to see it all coming together. When people see it, I think they will be blown away.
‘We can’t wait to be sitting enjoying a beer, and seeing others enjoy the beers we have manufactured.’
Perentie Brewing Co. will launch in the DRM’s 17,000 sqm precinct in mid-2023.
TO LEARN MORE: perentiebrewing.co
