Lion’s craft beer bar brand - Malt Shovel Taphouse - is set to open its sixth venue in a century-old Geelong pub.
The heritage listed Lord Nelson Hotel will receive a $1.1million makeover before reopening, under plans submitted to the City of Greater Geelong by owners the Muhor Family.
The planning application seeks approval to build a new beer garden frontage to match the building’s 1920s facade while removing and replacing a series of interior walls, doors and glazing, and also to paint the building in a new black and white colour scheme.
The owners have signed a contract with Lion that will see the pub provide the different kegs for about 15 taps at the new ‘craft beer emporium’.
Works have started at venue, which owners hope will be able to reopen in November.
The first Malt Shovel Taphouse opened in Adelaide in November 2018 and there are now venues in Bendigo, Randwick, Sunshine Coast and The Rocks.
They stock beers including Byron Bay Brewery, Eumundi Brewery, Brooklyn Brewery, Furphy, James Squire, Little Creatures, Panhead and White Rabbit.
Lion business development manager Adam Keane told Brews News: “What we wanted to do within the hospitality team was to create a craft beer-led venue which gave us the opportunity to range our whole portfolio of craft beer as well as have standard classic and contemporary beers as well.
“From our perspective, when you look at the beer landscape at the minute, craft only takes up a small percentage of the category.
“There are lots of drinkers out there that are not drinking craft beer and we think they should be.”
“We make some of the best craft beer in the country and have some of the most passionate brewers, with the backing of Lion behind them as well."
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