Bintani marks its 30th anniversary this year, celebrating three decades of dedication to the brewing community. From its humble beginnings in a Melbourne backyard shed, Bintani has grown into a leading supplier of brewing and distilling ingredients.
Founded in 1995 by Peter Meddings, Bintani started by supplying yeast to a handful of brewers around Melbourne. Recognising the challenges brewers faced in sourcing quality ingredients locally, Peter seized the opportunity to bridge that gap, not just as a supplier but as a partner to brewers.
The business quickly gained traction, particularly with the success of the S-04 yeast strain, which became popular among homebrewers. This success led to Bintani’s expansion into international markets, first into New Zealand and later into the United States and the Asia Pacific region. Today, Bintani operates state-of-the-art warehouses near Moorabbin Airport and has additional facilities in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, and New Zealand, ensuring they are always within easy reach of their customers.
Speaking to Beer & Brewer, joint CEO Phil Meddings shared the business was born from a simple but powerful vision: to supply fresh, quality ingredients to brewers and support them in making great beer.
“Dad was always in business, and it probably stems from being best suited to working for himself rather than someone else,” Meddings joked.
“He had a passion for making beer and a strong desire to support Australia’s brewing community. In the 90s, sourcing quality brewing ingredients locally was a real challenge, and he saw an opportunity to bridge that gap – not just as a supplier, but as a partner to brewers.”
He said the early days were “very hands-on and full of hustle” but the business was always grounded in relationships and trust.
While the scale of the company has changed significantly over three decades, Meddings told Beer & Brewer that the fundamentals remain the same.
“Over time, things have grown to being an integral part of a brewer’s journey – from recipe development to technical advice to logistics – and we try hard to stay ahead of industry trends.”
One of the biggest challenges in the early years was convincing brewers to try something new, especially when many came from large national breweries.
“Craft beer wasn’t the movement it is today, so introducing new ingredients required education and trust. On top of that, the logistics of warehousing, importing, and distribution were complex and costly. But the biggest challenge was scaling while staying close to our customers. That’s something we’ve worked hard to maintain over the years.”
Meddings said the key to Bintani’s success has been its focus on relationships and keeping things simple.
“Be fair and provide value to the people you’re working with. We’re all working in the same ecosystem, so brewer success is our success. We’ve always made it a priority to be approachable, honest, and consistent. We are drawn to quality ingredients and that has naturally flowed through to building a team that genuinely cares about beer.”
A major milestone for Bintani was opening its first warehouse interstate in 2010.
“That was quite a leap for us, but we knew from the moment we met Mitch Bradey that the west was in good hands. This gave us control over freshness, quality, and delivery times, which really elevated our service and gave us the confidence to be a true national supplier.
“Beyond that, bringing on key supply partners like Fermentis, Joe White, Weyermann®, and our US hop partners was critical. It meant we could offer Australian brewers the best ingredients from around the world, reliably and at scale.”
Reflecting on the craft beer landscape over the past 30 years, Meddings said the growth has been phenomenal.
“When we started, there were only a handful of craft breweries in Australia. Today, there are hundreds, each with a unique voice and style. Brewer expectations have also changed – there’s a huge emphasis on innovation, speed and cost efficiency, sustainability, and quality.
“We’ve adapted by expanding our product range, including into beverages beyond beer, offering technical support, and staying tightly connected with the global brewing scene.”
Through all of this, Meddings says that relationships have remained at the heart of Bintani’s operations.
“Our business has been built on strong relationships – not just transactional ones, but genuine partnerships. Some of our earliest customers (including our very first customer) are still with us today. We’ve celebrated wins, shared challenges, and worked alongside our customers since day one – it is actually what we love about turning up at the warehouse (or bar) each day.”
Innovation also plays a central role in Bintani’s product offering, driving the introduction of new ingredients, technologies, and solutions that help brewers create exceptional beers and stay ahead in a competitive market.
“Some may feel that beer conferences and trade shows in the US and Europe are all just about IPAs and pilsners but nope, we’re working hard researching.
“We work closely with our supply partners to bring the latest products and research to Australian brewers – whether that’s a new hop variety, a functional yeast strain, or malt with unique flavour and colour profiles. But it’s not just about the newest thing – it’s about helping brewers use these innovations in ways that create better beer. That’s where our technical expertise comes in.”
As Bintani celebrates 30 years, Meddings said he is most proud of the role the business has played in growing Australia’s beer scene and of the team itself.
“Seeing our ingredients in award-winning beers, watching breweries grow from garage setups to national brands – and knowing we had a small part in that – is incredibly rewarding.
“But there’s no doubt that what we’re most proud of is the group of people we work with. Our team is full of honest, intelligent and quirky people that love beer and our industry.”
Looking to the future, Meddings said Bintani will continue to evolve alongside the industry.
“We will keep doing what we do but we are very aware that the industry is still evolving, and that’s exciting. We see huge opportunities in areas like sustainability, and we have put a lot of time into programs such as sourcing sustainable barley and malt, reducing packaging waste through our loopT™ smart grain system, and working with Zevero on emissions monitoring and reduction.
“Non-alcoholic and emerging beverage categories are evolving quickly. So, for us, it’s about keeping our eyes open so we can continue to introduce new options to our customers.
“What excites us most is the creativity and resilience of brewers – no matter the challenge, this community keeps pushing the boundaries, and we’re thrilled to be part of that future.”
As Bintani celebrates 30 years, they remain focused on supporting the Australian brewing community, fostering strong relationships, and continuing to provide high-quality ingredients to brewers across the region.