Cricketers

Cricketers

Cricketers Arms arose as a tribute to the father of the Melbourne publican Paul Scott, whom he watched as a boy playing cricket and who after every match shared a beer with teammates and opponents alike, a custom that for Scott captured the essence of the sport of cricket. The brand was launched around 2009, and Scott initially had the first beer, Cricketers Arms Lager, contract-brewed at Mildura Brewery, a brewery in an outback town about 500 kilometres north of Melbourne. With his experience as a publican and the craftsmanship of brewmaster Dermot O'Donnell, a contemporary, flavourful and approachable beer was created that quickly found its way into the major liquor chains. The slogan «Cricketers Arms lager, worth going out for» summed up the idea that a good beer should be enjoyed together with friends, family, workmates and teammates.

At the end of April 2013, Independent Distillers, a subsidiary of the Japanese Asahi group, acquired the brand rather than building its own craft beer brand, thereby bringing an established brand with a convincing story into its portfolio. Under the new owner the range grew: alongside the original lager came Journeyman Mid at 3.5% ABV, Captain's IPA at 5.8% ABV, Spearhead Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV, a Scorcher Summer Ale and a Session Ale in cans introduced in April 2017. Brewing today takes place in the Melbourne suburb of Laverton, and the lager, listed in the range as Keeper's Lager at 4.6% ABV, as well as the mid-strength beer and the IPA, were awarded bronze medals at the Craft Beer Awards of the Australian brewers' association CBIA.

At the relaunch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the brand received a new look and, with Spearhead Pale Ale, another «member of the team», and since then Cricketers Arms has been expanding its visibility beyond Victoria, among other things with its own partner venues such as the Pineapple Hotel in Brisbane, brand-specific glassware and taps for lager, pale ale and summer ale. Scott understands craft beer as the «spirit of brewing»: what matters is the passion to brew interesting and good beers, not the size of the brewery or the number of litres sold. With values such as friendship, fairness, community and a touch of humour, Cricketers Arms thus stands for an uncomplicated, sociable beer that brings the spirit of cricket into every glass.