Jan Bruckner

Brewer of the month July 2006

Breweries worked at and now:

1985 – 1989 Prague Breweries Group (Staropramen , Branik, Holesovice, U Fleku ) as a part of brewing college program following by full time employment at Holesovice malt plant and further Staropramen brewery.

Since 1992 Last Drop Brewery (Elizabethan Village at the time ) and also Fremantle Brewing Company O’Connor (Mariner brand )

How you started brewing:

As 15 year old lad I joined College of Food Technology in Prague, Czech Republic. Brewing in Czech Republic has had great brewing tradition so my father thought it may be a job with promising future. I had no idea what to do in my life at the time myself and I did not like the taste of beer either!

Favourite beer you’ve brewed:

My greatest memories go back to the time when I worked U Fleku, 500 old boutique brewery in Prague. It was freshly renovated brewery but with lots of history , with great people and excellent dark lager “The Flekovsky Lezak”. Although I was just a student of brewing helping around it was the first time I realised I really like the job and beer.

Favourite beer you haven’t brewed:

Rauch Beer

Greatest beer achievement:

We have won few medals here and there over the years, but my biggest personal satisfaction is when I see people enjoying our beers.

Favourite brewing website

www.brauwelt.de

Great on news and technical development in the industry. Also English version is available.

How you see Australian Microbrewing industry:

I am quite positive. We will certainly feel pressure from big guys as their market strategies has changed accordingly to changed taste of Australian drinker. Small breweries should stick to their guns and that is quality, flexibility and hand -crafted approach. I am quite sceptical about beer bottling (with exception of cellar door sales) by micros as the price war is there and competition is high - a small brewery can not match economies of scale of big guys.( I know there are some hard working people there but whole thing has to give an economic sense!). This may however change if the rate of excise is reduced or completely withheld for small breweries. Definitely orientation on drought market should be main strategy. I can see some opportunities coming in the restaurant sector (WA) if the changes in the liquor licensing will go ahead.

Brewer you most highly respect:

Horst Kempf – commissioned Matilda Bay Brewing Company as well as many others.

Also Chuck Hahn

Editorial comment: Many brewers of the new Millennium have looked up to Jan Bruckener. Last Drop, Sail and Anchor, Bootleg and Inchant all helped the WA microbrewing industry to where they are today. Our industry has a long way to go but it is the breweries of the 90’s that helped us survive to where we are today.