Gerringong’s Stoic Brewing has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Regional Jobs Creation Fund, with the investment expected to create five full time jobs over five years.

The grant will pay for half of a centrifuge – due to arrive from Germany in late October – which will change the way owners, Andrew and Steve Prosser, run their brewery and help increase production to 5000 litres a week.

“Right now, we produce 1500 litres a week on average,” says Andrew.

“There’s roughly a three week process to make the beer.

“The first two weeks is fermentation and then one week of cleaning it up, which is called cold crashing, to get all the sediment out.

“This machine replaces that last week and does it in two hours, making our turnaround one third quicker.”

Andrew says the centrifuge will allow for a cleaner beer to be brewed.

“It will mean there’s no live yeast in the beer and it’s a more durable product so we can distribute it far and wide,” he says.

“We also get 10 per cent more product because we’re not losing a lot of liquid as it condenses the waste product.”

Five new vats are also being installed in the coming weeks, allowing them to produce double the amount they brew now.

Construction is currently underway to expand the premises into the unit next door. This will give a 120 patron capacity limit, up from the current 50, and more production room.

“We’re aiming for it to be open on 1 September, which is our fourth birthday,” says Andrew.

“If anyone’s looking for a job, we’re going to have a fair bit of work.”

On announcing the funding, Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, said, “So many of these businesses wouldn’t be able to expand their operations without this support.

“These grants are not a cost to government, they are an investment in more jobs and opportunities for locals.

“At the heart of a strong economy is a resilient and growing private sector that embraces innovation and change. Given our region is home to these businesses, our local economy will benefit through their expansion and success.”