Our first liquor licence

We’re not going to lie, starting a brewery is equal parts exciting and overwhelming. Somewhere between building our nano brewery in Matt’s home office and launching our first Pale Ale, we also had to tackle the slightly less glamorous side of things: licensing.

As of today, we’re proud to say that Shack Bay Brewing is officially licensed under a Pre-Retail Liquor Licence through Liquor Control Victoria (LCV). This licence allows small producers like us without a bricks-and-mortar retail space (yet!), to sell our beer wholesale.

The process? Let’s just say it was a crash course in red tape. It involved detailed business plans, signed declarations from our brewing partners, RSA certification, national police checks, and more forms than we care to count. 

It took time... LCV doesn’t move at the pace of a cold Pale Ale on a summer arvo but persistence paid off. The day the approval came through was huge for us. It meant we could legally share our beers with stockists, join festivals, and get Shack Bay Brewing out into the world properly.

If you're a fellow brewer looking to get started, our advice is simple: stay organised, read the fine print, and don’t be afraid to call and ask questions. The LCV team was helpful, but the system is built for detail—not speed.

So now, with licence in hand and beers in the fridge, we're full steam ahead. You’ll start seeing Shack Bay Brewing in more venues across Victoria, and soon, on our online store once our next licence is approved (come on, regulators—cheers to picking up the pace).

Here’s to jumping through hoops, ticking all the boxes, and finally cracking a cold one—with paperwork to match.