Extra special: tiny brewery’s beer wins big recognition

Jamie Saville, who owns Mort’s with his wife, Vanessa, was rightfully proud of earning a medal.

Business Writeup by Janine Hill

A BEER made in a tiny brewery under a pub in Nambour has claimed an award in an international competition.

The Extra Special Bitter made by Mort’s Brewery received a silver medal at the Melbourne Royal International Beer awards earlier this month.

The only other ESBs to medal at the award were made by long-established Tasmanian company James Boag and a Brazilian brewery.

Jamie Saville, who owns Mort’s with his wife, Vanessa, was rightfully proud of earning a medal, which recognises a standard rather than a placing.

“There’s a lot of breweries on the Sunshine Coast but for us, being so little – we are one of the tiniest breweries in Australia – to get on that podium in an international event is pretty special,” Mr Saville said.

Mort’s opened a little more than two years ago and maintains a core range of about three beers although has produced about 130 different beers in its time.

The brew pub is in a small space under the Commercial Hotel where customers can look across the bar and watch Mr Saville brewing, if he has time, and talk beer.

A vehicle spray painter by trade and self-described beer nerd, he brewed in his spare time for 20 years before he and Vanessa decided to open the business.

“I’ve always been very process-oriented as my trade goes and my brewing was my love of process again,” he said.

He and Vanessa have travelled extensively, seeking out the best brews and bars, and will head to the the Great American Beer Festival to expand their knowledge.