Exmouth’s Froth Craft Brewing poised to open first microbrewery in Bunbury

When two Perth mates and their Canadian chum started Froth Craft Brewery in Exmouth three years ago, it was the only craft brewery between Perth and Broome. Within six months, Whalebone Brewing Co. also opened in the tourist town with a population of only 2500 permanent residents. Scarborough-raised co-owner Pete Firth, who runs Froth alongside Trigg lad Filip James Gary and head brewer Tyler Little, from British Columbia, sees their Exmouth rival as “complementary competition”. “It’s added brewery tourism to the region, which is great,” Firth says. “You get a lot of people coming in and enjoying the ‘pints of difference’ between the two venues. “They both offer their own takes on what a craft brewery is in the North West.” Froth has established itself as a local institution and social hub, hosting gigs and community events. The 200-capacity brewpub, which produces around 50,000 litres of beer per year, was recently smashed by a 40 per cent increase in visitors after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. At one point, they ran out of all bar three of their beers. They usually pour 14 different brews, including the popular single-hopped mid-strength showcasing different hops, and Little’s favourite creations such as sour mango New England IPA, Hopmouth XPA and Nor’Esther Pale Ale. The two breweries in Exmouth are now joined by Finlay’s in Kalbarri, North West Brewing Co. in Karratha, and Burnt Barrel outside Geraldton. Next year, the three friends plan to open a microbrewery in the centre of Bunbury — a town somehow left off the craft beer map. “It still boggles the mind as to why there isn’t a brewery in WA’s third-biggest city of 80,000 people,” Firth says. Bunbury does have the Mash Brewing taphouse and a healthy home-brewing community, but the 300-capacity venue dubbed Froth Craft Bunbrewery and designed by architect Brian Borshoff will take things up a notch or three. Little is excited to move to a bigger facility — the Bunbrewery should pump out 225,000-275,000 litres of the good stuff each year. Firth says the venue will have 16 Froth beers on tap, be family-friendly and offer hearty food, share plates and wood-fired pizzas using local produce. Being in the centre of town, on the corner of Victoria and Carey streets opposite Guppy Park, they plan to cater to local workers as well as visitors. Froth’s Bunbury venture shapes up as a significant investment, particularly in the current climate of uncertainty. “Everyone’s bunkering down due to COVID,” Firth says. “But we’re going out on a limb to try to foster something in a centre where we think people will really get behind it.” Froth Craft Brewery beers will feature at the Perth Craft Beer Festival, Claremont Showground, September 4-6.