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The Goat Story
Two goats, no money but plenty of beer
Mountain Goat started out in Dave’s backyard in the early 90′s. Dave was cranking out homebrews almost every weekend when a postcard turned up from Cam (backpacking through Canada).
Cam was travelling OS after quitting his music industry job in Melbourne. “When I turned up in Vancouver a friend took me out to some local bars serving a host of local microbrews on tap. I just suddenly got the picture and realised what Dave was striving for back home. My perception of beer got turned upside down right then and there. So I sent Dave a postcard that said something like Dave, we gotta talk, we need to start a microbrewery in Melbourne…”
After two years of frantic product development in Dave’s backyard and a lot of red tape the first serious Mountain Goat beer was born. The Hightail Ale hit the shelves (well around three shelves) in October 97.
Having no money they kicked off by contract brewing their initial batches in borrowed facilities when not in use. A good way to start but they really needed their own brewery.
So while Dave was living in a disused town hall in country Victoria overseeing the brews Cam wrote a business plan and started knocking on doors in Melbourne. “Plenty of people liked the idea of owning part of a brewery but when it came down to it we were two, young, overly ambitious guys without much business experience. We approached every banking institution imaginable and most of them wouldn’t even open our business plan. Our personal position statements included three surfboards, a couple of mountain bikes and Dave’s EH Holden” says Cam. Not a lot of security for the banks evidently.
Anyway, Dave and Cam learned to be persistent. Really persistent. They finally secured the required funds from friends, family and a business banker who wanted them out of his face.
Today the boys operate their very own microbrewery in Richmond (inner Melbourne). They craft the Hightail Ale, Organic Steam Ale plus seasonal beers in longnecks like the Surefoot Stout , IPA and Double Hightail.
“The plant is very labor intensive, but we can squeeze great beer out of it” says Dave. “And after hand filling, capping and labelling just on 2 million bottles you can well imagine we’re pretty happy about putting in a small, automated bottling line.”
Mountain Goat has collected a swag of awards over the years for their traditional, all natural ales and now has about 80 bars in Melbourne pouring their beers on tap plus bottled beer distributed nationally.
So why Mountain Goat? Well, a mountain goat’s a big hairy animal that’s never gonna fall over.
Contact Cam and Dave direct at Goat HQ.
Dave and Cam,
Guys, I live in brisbane and was at
my local 1st Choice liqour store. I saw your High Tail Ale in the fridge and decided to give it a go, not knowing anything about it. After opening the bottle and taking in a big wiff i knew this was
going to be different than any other beer. I love this beer!!!! It is great! Keep up the good work, i’m telling all me mates about this one. I look forward to trying your other beers
too!
Cheers fellas and to everyone who put the effort in to make this beer.
Chris.
Guys,
The pale Ale…..
My new fav beer, without a doubt.. and i’m
a beer snob.
Thank you.
Guys,
The pale Ale…..
My new fav beer, without a doubt.. and i’m
a beer snob.
Thank you.
I was in that backyard in the early 90′s. I was at the first tasting and
it’s true…Dave did have an EH Holden.
Cheers Boys
Hey Wal,
BIG shout-outs…!
Aaahh that car…I miss her
so.
Cheers,
Dave
cam and dave,
I was born in Kew and was bought home to Fitzroy as a new born back in 1968. I barrack for Richmond as I went to Richmond High School back in the late 70′s, early 80′s. I’ve lived around this wonderful country and parts of the world… now living back in Fitzroy.
Back to the two of you… WOW!! I had a few Goats at a hotel (Port Melb, forgot the name… sorry guys) one early Saturday morning due to a bucks turn… I’m hooked! My partner has just tasted the Pale Ale and has demanded that we buy nothing else from now on. We will be seeing you guys very soon at a Wednesday night tour as Trish wants to see how awesome you both are.
Cheers for the beers and keep brewing boys.
PS: I never had a EH but I had a pretty wicked HR
Hey guys,
We had the pleasure of having a keg of hightail for our wedding in October last year. Besides the slight issue with the regulator, the guests loved the brew and no one fell over… a testament to the whole mountain goats never falling over thing..
Thanks!
Steam ale was one of the first craft beers I tried, safe to say it was a nice turning point in my life. Epic stuff fellas, seedy goat – chaars!
Cheers Dom!
Hey Guys, I am from Gippsland and being in sales over the years I have sold your fantastic Hightail to so many locals……not for money…..just for fun……..even the local taxi drivers are asking me about it. What a great brew !
Thanks James,
Sounds like we owe you a beer!
Cheers,
Goats.
… I must say I’m not a beer snob (fast becoming one) and finally got up the courage to spend my then $50 on a carton of beer, Purchased the organic steam ale from Dan Murphies hear in brisbane. Instant fav beer, intact i have now tried many other beers from all over the world and this one is just fantastic! I have been flying the goat flag ever since, everyone I give it too agree. The only thing I ask is to make it available on tap in some local brisbane bars…
Aaron