06/06/2026
🍻CAPES CONVERSATIONS | RAISING A PINT TO LOCAL BEER
Craft beer has become a familiar part of life in the Margaret River region — enjoyed after a surf, shared at family lunches, or discovered by visitors exploring beyond the cellar doors. But behind every pint is a story shaped by collaboration, sustainability and a strong sense of community.
In a recent episode of Capes Conversations, local brewers and growers shared how the Margaret River beer scene has grown from humble beginnings into a nationally respected industry — without losing its local heart.
Margaret River’s craft beer story began in the mid–1990s with Bootleg Brewery, standing alone in wine country. Over time, a small group of independent breweries followed, choosing quality, place and hospitality over rapid expansion.
Today, that shared approach has evolved into the South West Brewers Alliance, a collective formed in 2021 by local brewers who recognised they were stronger together.
“I guess it started as a bit of a support group,” alliance chair Iliya Hastings explains. “We were all new businesses trying to work out what our future looked like in a wine–focused tourism region.”
By formalising the group, local brewers gained a stronger voice with government, suppliers and the broader tourism industry — while maintaining a culture of generosity and shared learning.
“In our industry, the general culture is we all get on,” Iliya says. “If we all rise, we’re all better off.”
While brewery doors might compete for customers, the region’s collective approach has helped Margaret River gain a strong reputation well beyond the South West.
"For a region our size, we probably win more brewing and hospitality awards than almost anywhere,” Iliya says. “That comes down to the quality of the people, the beer, and the experiences being offered.”
That togetherness is also behind initiatives like the Margaret River Region Beer Trail, a new self–guided digital trail developed in partnership with MRBTA and the City of Busselton. The trail helps locals and visitors discover breweries, plan their journey and learn what makes each venue unique.
While great beer brings people through the door, sustainability is increasingly shaping what happens behind the scenes.
Rocky Ridge Brewing has been a national leader in this space since opening in 2017. Co–founder Mel Holland says sustainability was part of the business from day one — not a marketing add–on, but a values–based decision.
“Certified sustainable is about doing the right thing across your whole supply chain,” Mel explains.
“Carbon neutrality is about understanding and offsetting the impacts of your operations. They’re different paths with the same goal.”
Rocky Ridge now operates 100 percent off–grid with solar, captures and reuses carbon dioxide from fermentation, and continues to refine water and waste practices — a significant challenge in a water–intensive industry.
While sustainability may not command a higher price point, it does build trust and loyalty.
“People want to know who they’re buying from and what that business stands for,” Mel said. “That connection really matters.”
That focus on authenticity and place extends to the paddock, with Margaret River Hops emerging as a new link in the local beer supply chain.
Established in 2023, the hop farm had its first harvest in 2024 and now supplies dozens of breweries across WA.
Co–founder Dirk Funnekotter says hop growing in the region is challenging — but rewarding.
“WA is a marginal growing region for hops, but that doesn’t mean it can’t work,” Dirk says. “You just need to work a bit harder.”
With deep agricultural roots and strong relationships with craft brewers, the business is helping breweries tell a fuller local story — one that starts in the soil.
“There’s something powerful about being able to say your beer was brewed here, with ingredients grown here,” Dirk says. “People care more about that than ever.”
What stands out across the industry is that success hasn’t come from scale or speed — but from care, collaboration and connection. From brewery floor to hop field, the Margaret River beer scene reflects the same values that define the wider community.
“These are family–run businesses, built by passionate people,” Iliya says. “And people can feel that when they walk through the door.”
So next time you raise a middy or pint at your local, you might spare a thought for the growers, brewers and hospitality teams behind it — and appreciate that what’s in your glass is very much a product of this place.
🎙Capes Conversations is a podcast series created by The Margaret River Region, hosted by Kellie Tannock, and broadcast onRadio Margaret River
