Two Mates Brewing, the new Boutique Brewery in Engine Street, South Lismore has come along way from our July 2020 story when the Lismore App announced the new business.

At an open day this morning, former Kookaburra and local Casino co-owner Grant Smith invited the public to come and see the progress made and introduce his head Brewer Jake Banachak.

The brewing vats have been delivered this week allowing people to see how the brewery will look when complete. This is on top of the restoration work completed by owner Howard Dooley on the historic rail yard building. The inside is particularly impressive, preserving a great deal of heritage including original timbers, window frames and an operational gantry.

(Two Mates Head Brewer Jake Banachak and co-owner Grant Smith at this mornings open day)

Head Brewer Jake, who has moved from his brewing job in Cairns, said there will be four types of beer when they start operations.

"We're starting with a core range of four beers," Jake said, "the idea is to split the beer industry in two."

"For the beer enthusiasts we are going to have a really nice pale ale and a kind of out there red dog spike XPA (in keeping with the heritage of the land and building). Then for the people that like to drink Great Northern and your typical over the counter tap beers, we are paying particular attention to nailing our lager and our mid-strength beers. They will be very much boutique beers."

Jake explained the difference between a craft beer and a pub beer is that craft beer is brewed in small batches with personalised attention for that individualised taste compared to mass produced beers that have a technician pushing buttons on a computer.

When is Two Mates Brewing opening its doors?

Two Mates Brewing has hit a major hurdle this week when Councillor Nancy Casson called up the Development Application (DA). This means that the approval process that was to be determined by Lismore City Council now gets referred to our nine Councillors.

When the Lismore App published its initial story in July this year announcing the Boutique Brewery for Lismore, the opening was pencilled in for December, 2020.

Now the DA has been called up and the final Council meeting of the year is this Tuesday and the fact that Council doesn't sit in January, the next opportunity for the DA to be approved will be in February, 2021. A further month is added to that timing because of the initial brewing time before the first beers can be served.

Councillor Casson said she had five complaints through texts and emails from Engine Street residents which was enough for her to make the decision. "Let's get all the information so I can make an informed decision," Cnr Casson said.

Some Engine Street residents are concerned about a "pub" being opened in their street with increased traffic through delivery trucks and cars when the venue does open on the proposed Thursday to Sunday public days. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are designated 'brewing' days.

The other concern from residents is noise. With food trucks, a potential 120 families enjoying the outdoor tables and playground area with live music, the noise disruption during the public open days is worrying people.

Tristan Inglis, one Engine Street resident complained about the alleged illegal building activity that has occurred on the site by the owner of the property before the DA was approved. This is being investigated by Council but doesn't take away the fact that Engine Street residents are worried about their quiet street turning into an established brewery that will attract families from all over the region.

Many community members that attended this mornings open day spoke favourably of Two Mates Brewing.

Dick Nolan, who lives on Union Street just around the corner from the site said "I'm looking forward to it. The experience to taste something new."

84 year old Colin Boyle from Goolmangar was impressed with the restoration work done on the building while Wayne Ramsay from Goonellabah said he felt the brewery had the community backing.

Others mentioned Friday afternoon drinks after work being a great social way to unwind. "It's not a pub," one said, "it is brewery where you come and enjoy a few beers after work away from the town traffic or with friends and family on the weekend. You don't sit and get sloshed.I can't wait for it to open."

Co-owner Grant Smith told the Lismore App, "It is a shame that this has happened because we could have been trading over the Christmas and New Year period."

"While we are generating revenue for our business we are also generating jobs for Lismore. We are looking at 10-15 full-time and part-time jobs as well as attracting people into South Lismore."

"Local business owners along Union and Casino Street have contacted me saying they can't wait for us to open. It will benefit everyone in South Lismore and Lismore."

As a community we now wait until the February, 2021 council meeting to learn the fate of Two Mates Brewing.

It is now in the hands of our Councillors.