ABOUT US
Big dreams, small beginnings, and a whole lot of beer.
Our Humble Beginnings (and a Really Tiny Brewery)
Picture this: It’s 2013. Nestled in the heart of a residential estate in Pullenvale, a brewery the size of your average living room (39.4m2 to be exact) quietly began making waves.
With a 2.5Hl brewhouse and a head brewer, Lee McAlister-Smiley, who traded his engineering career for a brewing degree, White Lies was born.
Why the name? Well, because we’ve always believed that small lies can lead to big truths—like the one about opening a brewery being “easy.” Spoiler alert: it’s not. But with $40k, a lot of determination, and a love for craft beer, our first beers hit the scene in June 2014, and the local beer lovers couldn’t get enough.
The Big Break (and Even Bigger Medals)
In 2015, we nervously entered the Australian and International Beer Awards (AIBA) and came home with some shiny hardware: Silver for our Bust-a-Nut Brown Ale and Bronze for our IPA. Turns out, you don’t need a massive brewery to compete with the big guys—you just need a relentless respect for your craft and an unwavering refusal to compromise on quality.
Moving On Up: From Pullenvale to Sumner
By 2015, we’d outgrown our cozy little setup, and it was time to stretch our legs (and our fermentation tanks). After a painstaking 13-month licensing process, we opened the doors to our Sumner brewery in October 2016. With a shiny 5Hl system, a cellar door, and a barrel-aged program that would make any beer lover swoon, we were ready to take things to the next level.
The Gin-Sanity Era (a.k.a. 2020)
Then came 2020. You might remember it as that year. For us, it was the year we became a distillery. What started as a pivot to produce hand sanitiser quickly evolved into something far more exciting: Ginesis, our range of craft gin and vodka.
From Wasabi to Finger Lime, Mandarin to Pink Lemonade (yes, it’s as fun as it sounds), our gin range is all about pushing boundaries and bringing something unique to your glass. Oh, and in 2020, we also laid down our first barrel of whisky. Because why not?
Bigger Tanks, Bigger Dreams
By 2021, the craft beer boom was in full swing, and we knew it was time to grow again. Enter Seventeen Mile Rocks, the new home of our 25Hl brewhouse with 300Hl of fermentation space.
Fast forward to October 2023, and White Lies II opened its doors. With space for 300 beer lovers, two beer gardens, a buzzing bar, and the brewery as its heart, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy our award-winning beers, craft spirits, and good company.
Why We Brew
At White Lies, we’re not just about making great beer and spirits—we’re about creating experiences, connecting communities, and celebrating the art of craft. From our humble beginnings to our award-winning present, every pint tells a story.
So, pull up a stool, grab a drink, and join us in raising a glass to the journey, the growth, and the beautiful chaos that got us here.
Whitelies Brewing … 2
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Sumner Park
White Lies Brewing
2/32 Spine Street, Sumner, QLD 4074
Seventeen Mile Rocks
White Lies Brewing 2
30 Benronalds Street, QLD, 4073