SYDNEY’S craft beer brewers are tapping into the state election campaign in a bid to win support for a guild.

Balmain Labor candidate Verity Firth has committed $5000 for a craft brewers guild and $25,000 to promote Sydney Craft Beer Week.

She was approached by Kieran Allen of Pixel Brewing Co in Annandale when he observed the industry’s lack of promotion compared to NSW’s wine industry.

“There’s about 25 brewers throughout NSW, and having a guild means we can have everyone talking, meeting up and learning from each other,” Mr Allen said.

media_camera Verity Firth, Labor Candidate for Balmain with Kieran Allen from Pixel Brewing Co, Joel Connolly from Sydney Craft Beer Week and Andrew Fineran from Batch Brewing Co at the Empire Hotel.

Ms Firth said: “Craft brewing is thriving particularly in Sydney, but NSW has no members guild to help promote the industry.

“It’s a relatively small amount of money, wineries already have public subsidies and we need to do the same for local brewers.”

Ms Firth also highlighted issues such as the lack of industry training and development for brewers, saying a NSW training facility and associated TAFE course would be a good start.

NEWTOWN GROWLER DEPOT DELIVERS FRESHEST CRAFT BEER

INNER WEST IN MIDST OF A CRAFT BEER REVOLUTION

Sydney Craft Beer Week’s festival director Joel Connelly said the event allowed local brewers to grow and market interstate.

“Craft beer has boomed quickly, but it is tough for the small guys to grow particularly outside of NSW,” Mr Connelly said.

“Every pub has craft now, and we want those guys in their backyards, continuing to make beer.”

media_camera Pat McInerney (left) and Nick Newey at their craft beer brewery 'Willie the Boatman' in St Peters, Sydney.

Andrew Fineran of Batch Brewing Company in Marrickville said local brewers had to work together to improve their craft and access a larger market.

“I was working for a big brewery, and I was thinking I gotta get back to craft beer, I have to get back to what’s real, so I started brewing in my backyard,” Mr Fineran said.

“Our culture is moving out of standardisation and into bohemianism - people want to be connected to their local community, more so than they have in a long time, and beer is a thing for communities.”

Mr Connelly said investment in craft beer would also have a positive ripple effect throughout local communities.

“You buy ingredients from local farmers - you can literally sit on the grain sacks at Andrew’s brewery - the brew is made locally, it’s sold locally at pubs which employ local people, serve local people and stimulate other nearby local businesses by thriving,” Mr Connelly said.

media_camera Craft beer has also spawned other industries, including Dave Phillip’s business, which runs the only craft beer tours in Sydney and does a tour called 'Hipsters and Hops' which is an inner west special tour. Picture: Craig Wilson

THE INNER WEST’S MICROBREWERIES:

● St Peters Brewery, St Peters

● Balmain Brewing Company, Balmain

● James Squire, Camperdown

● Batch Brewing Company, Marrickville

● Young Henrys, Newtown

● Wayward Brewing Company, Lilyfield