The trailblazing Comiskey Group has completed the Eumundi puzzle, officially acquiring the Brewery operation within its Imperial Hotel from Lion.
Eumundi was created by brewing engineer and developer John Lynch, who gathered investors to acquire the Imperial Hotel and establish the brewery. Eumundi Lager was introduced to the market in 1988.
After a brief period when the company was publicly listed, the microbrewery in the hotel ceased operations and production was outsourced to Yatala Brewery.
Castlemaine Perkins, which became Lion, purchased the brands from Carlton & United Breweries in 1998, but brewing of the Eumundi SKUs was discontinued in 2004.
However, in 2016 Lion opted to revive the popular Eumundi line, during the craft beer craze. Production was also returned to the Imperial Hotel, officially resuming August 2017.
The family-owned Queensland-based Comiskey Group was considering ways to elevate its presence in the Sunshine Coast region. Late 2023 the group bought the historic 113-year-old Imperial at Eumundi.
“I have always been a fan of the Eumundi Brewery products and brand,” reports group director Rob Comiskey.
“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.”
Since taking the pub the group has invested in multiple upgrades, stage one seeing the renovation and opening a new front bar, gaming room, TAB area and band room. New wellness facilities and extensive enhancements were added to the hotel’s 15-room boutique accommodation. Stage two is currently transforming the restaurant, function room, kids’ room and beer garden.
Adoption of the Eumundi brewing operation is indicative of the group’s dedication to broadening its ventures, and Comiskey adds that preserving the brewery’s legacy “was a priority” for him.
“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.”
Its portfolio and scale, already operating two of the biggest pubs in the country, allows the group to make more of the brewery’s role in broader operations while also elevating the experience of visitors to the hotel by making it a focal point.
This furthers its production capabilities from the launch of Comiskey Distillery in 2022, marking a “natural evolution” debut into brewing, which is expected to become a cornerstone of the group’s operations, both through its own venues and beyond.
Visitors to the Imperial can now experience local live music while sipping the freshest beer on the Sunshine Coast – a Eumundi lager crafted in-house, poured straight from the vats to the taps.
“It’s a distinctive and authentic local experience that we take pride in continuing,” says Comiskey.
