Ghanem Group is in the middle of a restoration of the Commercial Hotel Boonah, adding the Boonah Brewing Co to the pub’s offer.
The heritage-listed pub in Queenland’s Scenic Rim region is currently being restored, with a new craft brewery addition – Boonah Brewing Co (BBCo) – and a vibrant beer garden, both opening on 8 May.
With the addition of Boonah Brewing Co and beer garden, Ghanem Group fulfils a long-held dream of opening a craft brewery, as well as bringing a unique new offering to the region.
The brewery is in full production, with Michael Punch, Boonah Brewing Co head brewer and specialist consultant from Brewery Mentors at the helm. Boonah Brewing Co is a 1000L/10hL brewhouse with four, 1000-litre conical fermenters, and plans to add some bright beer tanks in the future.
“For now, we’re focused on brewing first-class beers and releasing them to our community over coming months. It’s an exciting time and we’re looking forward to seeing how things develop from here,” said Punch.
The Ghanem family also has a farm in the nearby town of Tarome where they raise livestock and grow fruit and vegetables. Natural spring water from the farm will be used in the beers. Beer barley mash from the brewing process will be fed to the family’s cattle.
A full-flavoured mid-strength beer brewed with a variety of malts and a mix of Australian and European hops, and an alcoholic ginger beer are already on tap throughout the venue.
An additional four core brews will gradually hit the taps over coming weeks, including an Aussie XPA brewed with 100 per cent Australian Galaxy hops; an Italian lager brewed with specially grown Italian barley; a rice lager brewed with flaked rice and pilsner malt; and a hard lemonade. Seasonal and specialty brews will follow.
Punch said Ghanem Group’s vast hospitality experience dictated what beers would kick off brewing at Boonah Brewing Co.
“We have experience on our side as a hospitality group, and can see first-hand what our guests like to drink based on the top-selling beers across our restaurants and bars. Taking that into account, and our local knowledge of the Scenic Rim, plus the ability to use our own spring water from the family farm, we had great fun debating what our starting range of brews would be,” Punch explained.
“The criteria were approachable, local and seasonal. They’re all food-friendly brews that pair well with a wide range of dishes, which is what the Commercial Hotel Boonah bistro offers. You’ll find everything from pub classics, to more diverse ‘Commie Classics’ like tandoori duck curry, and slow-glazed pork ribs with honey BBQ sauce and Asian slaw, as well as Detroit-style pizzas on the menu. The brew selection pairs well with this kind of variety.”
The restoration of the iconic Queenslander pub, established in 1905, includes a gentle facelift of the bistro, improved accessibility, air-conditioning, new furniture, new lighting, and upgraded kitchen and bathroom facilities. A new car park is adjacent to the just-launched beer garden. Upstairs accommodation is under full renovation, and is expected to open by the end of the year, strengthening the getaway offerings and food-and-drink experiences in the increasingly popular travel destination of the Scenic Rim.
The full refurbishment of the historic hotel is expected to be complete by late-2025, positioning it as a boutique, short-stay destination for Scenic Rim visitors.
Boonah Brewing Co beers are currently exclusively available at the Commercial Hotel Boonah and BBCo, but will eventually be available in all Ghanem Group venues and bottle shops.