ORIGINAL recipes steeped in its 157–year history have played a big part in the comeback of Billson's Brewery, and turning the brewery into a unique experience for its customers.
Super proud of Billson's history, owners Nathan Cowan and Felicity Cottrill purchased the building and business from Murray Breweries five years ago as founder George Billson had sold the brewery in 1914.
"Known as Murray Breweries for the last 106 years, we took it back to its original name and labels in 2019," Nathan said.
Nathan and Felicity have restored the brewery to its former name and roots while extending its range of handcrafted beers and spirits and its cordial range with original flavours.
The original five cordial recipes peppermint, raspberry vinegar, brew ginger, lime juice and cloves had been developed by George Billson with the town's local pharmacist in the early 1870s and have continuously been produced since the brewery began.
"With history and flavours, it's all about giving our customers a new and memorable, and exciting, experience when they're tasting a flavour," Nathan said.
"If it transports them back to their childhood or to a really good memory that's important to us.
"We roll out new products every couple of weeks and aim for 100 new products a year which include cordials, beers, sodas, cocktail bitters, premix spirits of gin and vodka and we're working on whiskey."
With choices aplenty when visiting the brewery, customers can taste the products, grab a bite to eat, see and take in the aromas of the brewing process in action, and chat to brewers and distillers.
Visitors can then duck onto the viewing deck where they can view the factory with products being packaged.
Unique for every product produced is the brewery's natural spring water – which is older than the building itself.
It is from the brewery's original well and is as pristine as the day it was first tested.
Nathan says George Billson had been so proud of finding the spring water that, after a government analysis, an ad was placed in the local newspaper to show people how amazing their drinks were going to be and this is still happening 150 years later.
"In 1874 George Billson and his son sailed across the high seas with their spring water and won a gold prize within their category at a world trade fair in Philadelphia, America.
The fair drew 10 million visitors with exhibitors and businesses from 36 different countries.
Among inventions at the trade fair was the telephone, popcorn, root beer and ketchup, and George and his son sat opposite telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell.
Billson's Brewery continues to win awards and gold medals for its products so visit them today in Beechworth and taste the history.
