Brewing a little bit of fun
Boutique beers and cider on tap. Local food (most importantly, pizza). Lake views. CHECK. CHECK. CHECK!
Welcome to Meningie’s newest tourism venture, The Coorong Brewing Co. It’s the creation of Stacey Peckover and Peter Reichelt, who have created a venue that is a little bit of fun, and has a foodie focus on all things Coorong and South Australian.
Stacey and Peter, a former local, have big plans for their new business, and are especially keen to provide locals and tourists with an experience that’s uniquely ‘Coorong’.
‘We are working towards a Producers License which will enable us to brew our own beers. The plan is to have own beer on tap within 12 months, and then we can offer tours and experiences as well,’ says Stacey.
‘Visitors want to enjoy local produce when they travel, so we’re aiming to have 100% SA beer, wine and food. Our pizza bases come from a lovely Italian man, Andy Clappis, who runs the famed Our Place Restaurant at Willunga Hill, a great example of how to do local, authentic food.’
Having returned to the area about 18 months ago when they were expecting their first child, Stacey and Peter were keen to be near family support, but also saw an opportunity to create their own business.
‘The potential for tourism in Meningie and the Coorong is exciting. We have a lot of natural assets that are so appealing, but it’s all very under-developed as an industry,’ Stacey says. ‘We hope to provide the region with a place for special occasions, and make it a fun place to be.’
When they first decided to make Meningie their home, it was because it offered them an affordable, relaxed lifestyle where Peter could continue his electrical business and get in a bit more fishing.
Stacey, originally from Kangaroo Island, has always worked in tourism, for the Sealink Travel Group, Dudley Wines Cellar Door and hotels. So when the Meningie Cheese Factory restaurant hit the market, they really got to thinking about what the town needed and how they could create a new experience.
Stacey did a lot of research into the area. ‘The growth potential for tourism is huge. We just have to provide reasons for people to come, and then they will discover the rest – amazing bird life, produce, history and eco-systems.’
So, the best part of working and living in the Coorong? For Stacey, it’s the relaxed lifestyle and all the birdlife, and for Peter, it’s all about the fishing.
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