Dermott O'Donnell celebrates 50 years in Aussie beer industry

Master brewer Dermot O'Donnell celebrated a 50-year career in the Australian beer industry at the Builders Arms Hotel in Fitzroy, Melbourne, yesterday.

Currently an international beer judge and master brewer at Asahi Premium Beverages - working on its Cricketers Arms range - O'Donnell entered the industry in 1967 as a beer analyst at Courage Breweries.

In addition to a stint in the UK at Bass Ale and the Carling Black Label from 1970-1975, O'Donnell was a stalwart at both Tooheys and CUB. At Tooheys, O’Donnell launched Australia’s first low-carb beer, Tooheys Dry in 1989 and the low-alcohol Tooheys Blue in 1991. At CUB, O’Donnell developed Foster’s Special Bitter, Carlton Mid, Cascade and Pure Blonde. He also launched Carlton Cold and Fosters Light Ice.

O'Donnell joined Asahi in 2013 and shows no signs of slowing down at age 73.

“On behalf of Asahi Premium Beverages and Cricketers Arms Beer we want to congratulate Dermot on an amazing innings as a Master Brewer,” said Asahi chief commercial officer, Scott Hadley, at yesterday's lunch.

“I am exceedingly fortunate to have worked in such a vibrant industry as brewing for 50 years – it truly is a fraternity of like-minded highly professional people. It just shows that beer drinkers live longer,” O’Donnell added.

O’Donnell brewed a special beer for the lunch, called 'Golden Jubilee' – a strong Golden Lager with 6.2 ABV. However, he expressed concerns over the rapidly expanding craft beer industry in Australia.

"It is difficult to find a niche. It is amazing what is happening in the craft beer industry - the number of startups is unsustainable in my opinion because I don't think there are enough consumers out there to support them."