Eumundi Brewery, situated within the 113-year-old Sunshine coast venue The Imperial Hotel, has been acquired from Lion by Comiskey Group.
The Queensland family pub group purchased the hotel in October 2023, with the brewery’s role in venue operations now set to elevate the visitor experience.
This also marks the group’ s debut in the brewing industry and highlights the evolution of the business, delivering a unique hospitality experience from hotel operations to the launch of Comiskey Distillery in 2022.
Comiskey Group director, Rob Comiskey, proudly shares this significant milestone for the company: “I have always been a fan of the Eumundi Brewery products and brand. One of the main reasons we purchased The Imperial Hotel was its connection to the brewery. We saw the site as an iconic landmark for the Sunshine Coast, brimming with untapped potential. Owning the brewery as well was an obvious next step, enabling us to invest further and make it the centrepiece of the hotel.”
Brewing engineer and developer John Lynch spearheaded the Eumundi Lager in 1988 and brought together investors to establish a brewery.
They acquired The Imperial Hotel, where they installed a microbrewery and launched the iconic lager.
Following a brief period as a publicly listed company, the microbrewery at The Imperial Hotel ceased operations, and production was outsourced to Yatala Brewery.
In 1998, Castlemaine Perkins (now Lion) purchased the Eumundi beer brands from Carlton & United Breweries (CUB). Brewing was discontinued in 2004.
Lion revived the much-loved Eumundi craft beer in 2016 and by August 2017, the new brewery had officially reopened with new beers, including a lager and pale ale, honouring its legacy and commitment to quality.
Comiskey said he looks forward to building on the iconic brand.
“With its deep roots in the Eumundi community, preserving the brewery’s legacy was a priority for me. We are thankful Lion revived such a nostalgic brand, building it to what it is today. Eumundi Brewery has a solid foundation for us to continue to grow and distribute Australia-wide. With this growth, the brewery will create even more local employment opportunities. We are excited to see what the future holds.”
“We serve Eumundi Brewery on tap—it’s the freshest beer on the Sunshine Coast, poured straight from the vats to the taps! Visitors can enjoy local live music at The Imperial Hotel, all while savouring a lager crafted in-house. It’s a distinctive and authentic local experience that we take pride in continuing. We’re thrilled to expand the brewery’s brand presence, not only at The Imperial Hotel but across our other venues and nationwide,” he said.
The group has invested in upgrading The Imperial Hotel by renovating and opening a new front bar, gaming room, TAB area, and band room as part of the first stage of renovations, with the second stage currently underway.
The ongoing renovations will continue with the kids’ room, restaurant, function room, and beer garden.
Comiskey Group also operates the hotel’s 15-room boutique accommodation, which has been enhanced with new wellness facilities including a magnesium-enriched heated pool, a hot spa, and a BBQ area.
