Coast pub backs craft beer trend

By Clyde Mooney – editor Australian Hotelier

Kincumber Hotel has been made the lead bar for the James Squire brand on the New South Wales Central Coast, further extending the venue's emerging focus on craft beer.  

The Kincumber Hotel is the only venue between Sydney and Newcastle to offer small batch and limited release brews from Lion brands James Squire and Little Creatures. 

"We have been working with James Squire through [brand manager] Tim Knight, building their tap profile in the bars," said Kincumber owner, James Henty, who also owns burgeoning Sydney craft beer venue, The Woolpack Hotel.

"The management team at Kincumber Hotel are all keen craft consumers, and are educating the bar staff, who in turn offer sampling to customers.

"Even die-hard Tooheys New drinkers are trying the craft beers. Some are converted, some never change their loyalty.

"The volumes are increasing slowly, but still Tooheys New is our number one seller."

The Kincumber is restricted to selling only Lion or CUB products in draught form, but Henty says that’s not a bad thing, given the area’s demographic and "Lion’s appetite for buying craft breweries".

The hotel has two rotating taps, this month serving Mad Brewers Wee Highlander Scottish ale and Little Creatures Single Batch Shepherds Delight. 

Henty said James Squire will also be bringing back the hugely popular Hop Thief (American Pale Ale) next month – initially only available in kegs to limited customers.