Stone & Wood to shut Brisbane brewpub as cost pressures mount
Lion will permanently close Stone & Wood’s Brisbane brewpub – another setback for the local beer scene after a string of independent collapses. The venue’s last day of trade is November 21.
“Due to rising operational costs and the broader challenges currently facing the hospitality industry, we have made the difficult decision to close this venue,” a Lion spokesperson said in a statement supplied to this masthead.
The cost squeeze facing hospitality is real, particularly for craft brewers. High-quality hops, malt and barley have jumped by about a third in recent years, CO₂ rose roughly 50% in a single year, and energy bills have spiked — with one South Australian brewer reporting a power bill surge from $237,000 to nearly $600,000 in FY23–24.
Independent operators have borne the brunt: more than a dozen were pushed to the brink of insolvency in the 12 months to March 2024. In Brisbane, Ballistic Beer Co entered voluntary administration in early 2023 before being rescued by new investors, while Newstead Brewing Co shut its doors in March.
Major-backed craft ventures have not been immune. Lion closed Victoria’s Two Birds in 2023, part of the same Fermentum portfolio it acquired in 2021 when it took control of the Stone & Wood Brisbane brewpub.
Lion insists the Brisbane decision does not signal wider issues for Stone & Wood. “We remain committed to investing in the long-term success of the Stone & Wood brand and while we have made the difficult decision to close the microbrewery, our home in Byron Bay remains open and welcomes visitors,” the spokesperson said. “This decision does not reflect the strength of Stone & Wood, which continues to be one of our most recognised and valued brands.”
The 150-seat, eight-hectolitre microbrewery opened in November 2019 inside the heritage-listed Trails Ltd Ice & Cold Stores on Bridge Street, Fortitude Valley. It has poured Stone & Wood staples alongside limited-edition beers brewed on site.
Jonathan Jackson, 28th October 2025
