Renowned industry stalwart Dermot O’Donnell has celebrated a 50 years in the beer industry this month, with Asahi Premium Beverages recently holding an industry lunch for O’Donnell at the Builders Arms Hotel in Melbourne.

Entering the industry in 1967, O’Donnell’s first industry job was at Courage Brewery working in beer analysis. He then transferred to the Melbourne operations of Courage to assist in the new brewery in Victoria, before working on Bass Ale and Carling Black Label alongside Bass Bass Charrington in the UK on from 1970 to 1975.

O’Donnell went on to be a pioneer at Tooheys, launching Australia’s first low-carb beer, Tooheys Dry in 1989 and the low-alcohol Tooheys Blue in 1991. 

After winning countless accolades at Tooheys, O’Donnell moved on to CUB where his efforts never ceased, developing Foster’s Special Bitter, Carlton Mid, Cascade and Pure Blonde. He also launched Carlton Cold and Fosters Light Ice in 1994, both of which became the second biggest sellers in the market at the time.

O’Donnell joined Asahi in 2013 where he currently holds the title of Master Brewer. O’Donnell has created a number of beers for Asahi’s Cricketers Arms range, including the Captain’s IPA, Journeyman, Scorcher Summer Ale, Nightwatchmen and the renowned Spearhead Ale. A notable brew O’Donnell created is the Cricketers Arms Keepers Lager, winner of last year’s AIBA Gold Medal.

Asahi Premium Beverages Chief Commercial Officer Scott Hadley said, “On behalf of Asahi Premium Beverages and Cricketers Arms Beer we want to congratulate Dermot on an amazing innings as a Master Brewer.

“And what does Dermot think of making it 50 years in the beer industry? “I am exceedingly fortunate to have worked in such a vibrant industry as brewing for 50 years – it truly is a fraternity of like-minded highly professional people. It just shows that beer drinkers live longer!”