Nail Brewing

Nail Brewing is an Australian craft brewery associated with Perth and the wider Western Australian brewing scene. The business was registered by brewer John Stallwood in 1996 and publicly launched its first microbrewery on 23 March 2000 at Bobby Dazzler's Ale House on Murray Street in Perth. Its first beer was Nail Ale, an Australian-style pale ale that became the brewery's core product and a recurring medal winner at Australian beer competitions. The brewery's development was interrupted in 2004 when Stallwood was seriously injured after intervening in a fight in Fremantle. He spent ten days in a coma and required a titanium plate following his head injuries. Brewing operations stopped and the brewery's equipment was sold. Stallwood later restarted production in 2006 at Jarrah Jacks brewery in Pemberton. In December 2007, Nail Brewing moved again, establishing brewing operations at Edith Cowan University's Joondalup campus. Nail Brewing has produced a broad but relatively small-scale portfolio spanning pale ale, golden ale, American-style red ale, oatmeal stout, Russian imperial stout, English brown ale, and American pale ale. Nail Ale is made with Tasmanian and German hops and has been described as an Australian pale ale with an alcohol content of 4.7% by volume. Nail Stout, first released in 2002, is an oatmeal stout. The brewery's stronger specialty beer, Clout Stout, is a Russian imperial stout with an alcohol content of 10.8% by volume and was first released in 2008. Other releases have included Nail Golden, Nail Red, Nail Brown Dunn Brown, and Sledgehammer IPA. The brewery became internationally notable through Antarctic Nail Ale, a highly limited pale ale produced in late 2010 using water melted from Antarctic ice. The ice was collected by the Sea Shepherd crew from an iceberg in the Southern Ocean, transported to Tasmania, melted, and then sent to Perth for brewing. Only thirty bottles were produced. Sales supported the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, giving the beer a conservation-fundraising purpose in addition to its novelty and scarcity. The first bottle sold for A$800 at auction in November 2011, while a second bottle sold for A$1,850 at a Sydney fundraising event later that month. These sales led to the beer being described as the world's most expensive beer at the time. Nail Brewing's competitive identity has been built around independent craft production, distinctive limited releases, and recognition in Australian beer competitions. Nail Ale and Nail Stout received medals at the Australian International Beer Awards, Sydney Royal Beer Competition, and Perth Royal Beer Show. Nail Stout was named Best Stout at the 2008 Sydney Royal Beer Competition, while Nail Ale was named Best Western Australian Beer at the 2008 Perth Royal Beer Show. The brewery's products continued to receive gold, silver, and bronze awards through 2012, including repeated recognition for Nail Ale, Nail Stout, and Clout Stout. In January 2012, Nail Brewing and Feral Brewing Company established Brewcorp Pty Ltd to develop brewhouse and warehouse facilities in Bassendean. Publicly available reference material does not establish the brewery's current ownership, operating status, executive structure, or precise distribution footprint. It is therefore best characterized as a Western Australian craft-brewing brand with a documented history of independent production and collaboration, rather than as a large national brewing group.

Nail Brewing Australia was registered by John Stallwood in 1996. The business entered public operation on 23 March 2000, when Western Australian minister Norman Moore opened its first microbrewery at Bobby Dazzler's Ale House on Murray Street in Perth. The opening was accompanied by the release of Nail Ale, an Australian-style pale ale that became the brewery's principal recurring brand. The company's early development was disrupted in April 2004. Stallwood was seriously injured after intervening in a fight in Fremantle and remained in a coma for ten days. His injuries required the insertion of a titanium plate, and brewing operations were suspended. The brewery equipment was sold, effectively ending the first operating phase of Nail Brewing. Stallwood restarted the business in 2006 using brewing facilities at Jarrah Jacks brewery in Pemberton. Nail Brewing subsequently relocated to Edith Cowan University's Joondalup campus in December 2007. During this period, the brewery expanded beyond its core pale ale into stout and other specialty styles. Nail Stout, an oatmeal stout, had first been released in June 2002, while the stronger Clout Stout, a Russian imperial stout, was introduced in February 2008. The brewery's most publicized project was Antarctic Nail Ale, produced in late 2010. The beer used water melted from a block of Antarctic ice collected from an iceberg in the Southern Ocean by the Sea Shepherd crew. The ice was transported to Tasmania, melted, and then moved to Perth. Only thirty bottles were made. Rather than being simply a luxury or novelty release, the project was designed as a fundraising initiative, with proceeds going to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The beer's unusual provenance and very small production run generated international attention. In November 2011, the first bottle sold for A$800 at auction and a second sold for A$1,850 at a Sydney fundraising event. These transactions resulted in claims that Antarctic Nail Ale had become the world's most expensive beer at that time. Nail Brewing's product range included Nail Ale, Nail Golden, Nail Red, Nail Stout, Clout Stout, Antarctic Nail Ale, Nail Brown Dunn Brown, and Sledgehammer IPA. The beers covered Australian pale ale, golden ale, American red ale, oatmeal stout, Russian imperial stout, English brown ale, and American pale ale styles. Nail Ale used Tasmanian and German hops and was listed at 4.7% alcohol by volume; Nail Stout was listed at 5.2%, Clout Stout at 10.8%, and the limited Antarctic Nail Ale at 4.6%. Awards were an important part of the brewery's public profile. At the Australian International Beer Awards, Nail Ale won medals between 2002 and 2011, including gold medals in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Nail Stout received medals from 2003 through 2011, and Clout Stout won a gold medal in 2012. Nail beers also received recognition at the Sydney Royal Beer Competition and Perth Royal Beer Show. Nail Stout was named Best Stout at the 2008 Sydney competition, while Nail Ale was named Best Western Australian Beer at the 2008 Perth show. The product range continued to collect gold, silver, and bronze medals through 2012. In January 2012, Nail Brewing and Feral Brewing Company formed Brewcorp Pty Ltd. The venture was intended to develop brewhouse and warehouse facilities in Bassendean, providing a shared infrastructure project within Western Australia's craft-beer industry. The available reference material does not confirm whether the arrangement represented a change of ownership, nor does it provide reliable current information about Nail Brewing's ownership, leadership beyond Stallwood, production volume, distribution, or operating status. Those details require further verification.

1. 2012Brewcorp is established

   Nail Brewing and Feral Brewing Company formed Brewcorp Pty Ltd to develop facilities in Bassendean.

   Source
2. 2010Antarctic Nail Ale is produced

   The brewery made a thirty-bottle limited release using water melted from Antarctic ice and supporting Sea Shepherd fundraising.

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3. 2007Move to Edith Cowan University

   Nail Brewing relocated to the Joondalup campus of Edith Cowan University in December.

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4. 2006Production resumes in Pemberton

   Stallwood restarted brewing at Jarrah Jacks brewery in Pemberton.

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5. 2004Brewing is suspended after founder's injury

   John Stallwood suffered severe head injuries, after which Nail Brewing stopped operating and its equipment was sold.

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6. 2000First microbrewery opens and Nail Ale launches

   The first Nail Brewing microbrewery opened at Bobby Dazzler's Ale House in Perth on 23 March, with Nail Ale as the inaugural release.

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7. 1996Nail Brewing Australia is registered

   John Stallwood registered the business that became Nail Brewing Australia.

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Independent Western Australian craft brewery focused on traditional and specialty beer styles, award-winning core beers, and distinctive limited releases.

• Nail AleAustralian pale ale2000

  Nail Ale is Nail Brewing's core Australian-style pale ale and was the brewery's first commercial release in March 2000. It is listed at 4.7% alcohol by volume and is made with Tasmanian and German hops. The beer received repeated medals at the Australian International Beer Awards, Sydney Royal Beer Competition, and Perth Royal Beer Show, including gold medals at the Australian International Beer Awards in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

• Nail StoutOatmeal stout2002

  Nail Stout is an oatmeal stout first released in June 2002 and listed at 5.2% alcohol by volume. It became one of the brewery's most decorated beers, earning medals at national and state competitions. It was named Best Stout at the 2008 Sydney Royal Beer Competition and received best-stout and gold recognition at the 2011 Perth Royal Beer Show.

• Nail GoldenGolden ale

  Nail Golden is a golden ale in Nail Brewing's broader range of accessible pale and specialty beers. The available reference material identifies the style but does not provide a launch date, detailed recipe, distribution information, or current availability.

• Nail RedAmerican red ale

  Nail Red is an American-style red ale included in Nail Brewing's documented beer range. The available sources do not establish its launch date, alcohol content, current production status, or detailed tasting profile.

• Clout StoutRussian imperial stout2008

  Clout Stout is a high-strength Russian imperial stout first released in February 2008 and listed at 10.8% alcohol by volume. It received medals at the Australian International Beer Awards and Perth Royal Beer Show, including a gold medal for draught stout at the 2012 Australian International Beer Awards.

• Antarctic Nail AleLimited-edition Australian pale ale2010

  Antarctic Nail Ale was a thirty-bottle limited edition produced in late 2010. It used water melted from Antarctic ice collected by Sea Shepherd from an iceberg in the Southern Ocean. Listed at 4.6% alcohol by volume, the beer was created as a conservation fundraiser, with sales proceeds directed to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Its rarity and unusual ingredient story made it the brewery's most internationally publicized release.

• Nail Brown Dunn BrownEnglish brown ale

  Nail Brown Dunn Brown was a limited-release English brown ale. The available reference material identifies the style and limited nature of the beer but does not provide a launch date, alcohol content, or current availability.

• Sledgehammer IPAAmerican pale ale

  Sledgehammer IPA was a limited-release beer described in the available reference material as an American pale ale and listed at 5.5% alcohol by volume. The sources do not establish its launch date or whether it remains available.

• 2010Antarctic Nail Ale conservation fundraiser

  Australia

  Nail Brewing created a thirty-bottle beer using water melted from Antarctic ice collected by Sea Shepherd. The project linked a scarce specialty beer with marine-conservation fundraising.

  Outcome. All proceeds from the documented sales went to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The release also generated international attention and record-setting auction prices for individual bottles.

  Source

• 2012Form Brewcorp with Feral Brewing CompanyM&A

  Nail Brewing and Feral Brewing Company sought shared brewhouse and warehouse infrastructure in Western Australia.

  What changed. The breweries formed Brewcorp Pty Ltd to develop facilities in Bassendean.

  Aftermath. The available reference material does not establish the venture's subsequent ownership, operating outcome, or financial terms.

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• 2010Produce Antarctic Nail AleProduct launch

  The brewery sought to create a highly limited beer associated with Antarctic conservation and Sea Shepherd fundraising.

  What changed. Nail Brewing produced thirty bottles of pale ale using water melted from Antarctic ice.

  Aftermath. The beer became internationally notable, and two documented bottles sold at auction and fundraising events for A$800 and A$1,850 respectively in November 2011.

  Individual bottle auction and fundraising sale prices. A$800 for the first documented bottle; A$1,850 for the second documented bottle (3 November 2011 and 19 November 2011)

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• 2004Suspend operations and sell brewery equipmentStrategy

  Founder John Stallwood suffered serious head injuries after intervening in a Fremantle fight and spent ten days in a coma.

  What changed. Nail Brewing stopped brewing and sold its equipment.

  Aftermath. The business later resumed production in 2006 at Jarrah Jacks brewery in Pemberton.

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• 2012Nail Brewing and Feral Brewing form Brewcorp

  The two breweries formed Brewcorp Pty Ltd to develop brewhouse and warehouse facilities in Bassendean.

  M&A
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• 2011Antarctic Nail Ale bottles achieve record-setting auction prices

  The first bottle sold for A$800 at auction on 3 November, and a second sold for A$1,850 at a Sydney fundraising event on 19 November. The beer was reported as the world's most expensive beer at the time.

  CampaignPricing
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• 2010Antarctic Nail Ale is produced as a conservation fundraiser

  Nail Brewing produced a thirty-bottle limited edition pale ale using water melted from Antarctic ice collected by Sea Shepherd. Proceeds were designated for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

  CampaignProduct launch
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• 2007Nail Brewing relocates to Edith Cowan University's Joondalup campus

  The brewery moved its operations to Edith Cowan University's Joondalup campus in December.

  Other
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• 2006Nail Brewing resumes production at Jarrah Jacks

  Stallwood restarted Nail Brewing at Jarrah Jacks brewery in Pemberton after the earlier interruption.

  Other
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• 2004Nail Brewing operations stop after founder's serious injury

  Founder John Stallwood suffered severe head injuries after intervening in a Fremantle fight. Brewing ceased and the brewery's equipment was sold.

  Other
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• 2000Nail Brewing launches its first microbrewery and releases Nail Ale

  Western Australian minister Norman Moore officially opened Nail Brewing's first microbrewery at Bobby Dazzler's Ale House in Perth, accompanied by the release of Nail Ale.

  Product launch
  Source

1. Nail Brewing
2. Nail Brewing official website