Preppers stock up to keep drinks on tap
Sales extra frothy for home brew suppliers
HOME-BREW suppliers are in good “spirits” as the latest prepper craze ferments across the Far North for the coronavirus lockdown.
Marlin Coast Home Brew Supplies has seen a spike in sales from both regulars and brewing novices.
“Everybody is coming in to buy their home brew supplies,” Marlin Coast’s Terri Morgan said.
“Our shop was just about emptied of supplies.”
Preppers should not despair though, as the long-awaited supply truck duly arrived yesterday.
“Lots of people have started making their own beers but a lot of our regular customers are also buying a lot this week.”
Kuranda Homebrew’s Colin Roberts said sales had gone “absolutely bonkers.”
“Our shopfront has seen a significant increase,” Mr Roberts said.
Luckily for brewers across the Kuranda Range, Mr Roberts was able to secure a delivery from Brisbane before the wholesalers ran dry.
“My two main suppliers in Brisbane both are seeing significant ‘out of stocks’,” Mr Roberts said.
But as soon as he had unpacked the new delivery, it had virtually sold out.
“Between Sunday into Monday I had taken 60 orders online,” Mr Roberts said. “By Monday evening I had to shut down the website and could not keep up with demand.
“Customers have been buying across the range, from beers and ciders to spirit making – people wanted to make hand sanitisers.”
There are a few tips that the novice brewer should heed lest their garage or basement be strewn with burst bottles.
“It is one of the rookie mistakes, to bottle too early,” Mr Roberts said.
“A hydrometer will tell you when the fermentation is complete.
“And sanitisation is important for home brewing – everything has to be kept to a sanitary standard.”
Walk-in bottle shops have also recorded increased sales.
Staff at Sheridan Street Liquorland have noticed customers buying multiple bottles of spirits; one stocking up with 20 bottles of wine.
Retail liquor stores across Cairns are still reportedly well supplied from their wholesalers.
The Alcohol and Drug Foundation has noted with concern a 20.4 per cent increase in sales compared to this time last year.
Foundation CEO Dr Erin Lalor said alcohol consumption was not a healthy mechanism to deal with stress.
“We are urging people to be mindful not to encourage the normalisation of alcohol consumption, especially around children,” Dr Lalor said. “It’s important that people take steps to maintain their health and wellbeing and reduce the risk of alcohol-related harms.”
Dan Murphy’s has introduced sales limits in Queensland including 18 bottles of wine, three casks, six bottles of spirits, three cases each of beer, cider or premix per customer per day.