Town Talk | The heart of Shepparton Brewery

It was a picturesque part of the township and Bryant and Sheil rapidly established a thriving business — until 1928.

Today’s Shepparton Brewery was established in 2019; who could know what was about to happen?

However, Daina Winch and Matt Milsome survived the COVID years and have established not only a thriving brewery, but a very popular restaurant.

Matt and Daina’s history

In 2002, they relocated from Melbourne to establish Kirwan’s Bridge Restaurant in Nagambie.

Three years later, they opened Teller’s in Mooroopna. And in 2007, they opened the Chairman’s Kitchen, opposite the Victoria Hotel in Fryers St.

Then there was an opportunity to purchase land in Fryers St (formerly the New China Restaurant).

They redeveloped the site to house The Teller Collective and included a three-bedroom apartment, for their growing family.

The busy days and nights soon included the Fryers St Food Store and the Vault, tucked away behind their stores.

If you consider their workload, plus the birth of three children, it is no surprise they decided they’d had enough of business.

Daina repeated to me what she had once heard: “You might have several careers in your life, but there is only one opportunity to raise your children.”

So, focus was on the family from 2015.

However, having a good ‘rest’ from business can sometimes lead to ‘restlessness’.

And Matt began showing signs.

He knew that Shepparton needed a local brewery; after all, many of Australia’s large breweries are no longer Australian owned.

Shepp should have a good local brewery — maybe with a restaurant attached.

He worked and studied towards that end.

Shepparton Brewery

Daina and I discussed the ‘long COVID tail’; the outcomes that affect businesses for long periods.

She said that before COVID, she never had any trouble finding good staff; today, however, it was very difficult.

I then asked, somewhat tongue in cheek, what she did with her spare time.

And she told me about a house they have, just outside Beechworth.

The house is off the grid, with 150 acres backing on to a national forest.

Not a bad retirement plan, hey?

Since leaving the charming, contemporary environment of Shepparton Brewery, I have studied the menu closely.

It is extremely well priced and very tempting.

Personally, I can no longer ‘fit in’ a three-course meal but when I selected one, I found it totalled $40.

Most people would spend around $49, if most people are very hungry!

I love that they are sourcing local suppliers and noticed Kreuger’s kabana, bacon and Scotch ham.

And I had a laugh at the bottom of their pizza menu.

*Pineapple and anchovies available upon request … if you must.

I’d definitely be requesting anchovies – love ’em.

About the beer

There are nine beers available, priced from $5 to $6.50 for a pot. Here’s some of them.

Maude Street: a classic pale ale.

Raymond West: refreshing, with hints of tropical fruits.

Careful Cobber: a mid-strength ale — simple, clean and easy to drink.

I am told ‘Raymond West’ is named after the swimming pool established in 1953; not Mr West himself.

(Although I doubt he would object. I think he’d approve whole-heartedly of their slogan: ‘Brewed local, by locals, for locals — also family, friends and nice people everywhere.’)

My conclusion

I haven’t tasted a beer for around 55 years — but, sometime this year, when most of my family is around, and the eldest grandson isn’t writing or power-lifting, we will book in to Shepparton Brewery.

I might even get my husband out, once again — one can only try.

I know passion when I see it, and I see it in every detail of this establishment — the building, the environment, the ‘company car’, the food, the people and, I’m sure, the beer.

Shepparton Brewery is open for dinner on Wednesday and Thursday, and for lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday.

Excuse us, please

Guys, would you please allow the ladies and I to have a chat about skin care.

I realise it is not quite your glass of beer — although I notice a new skin cream ‘for men only’ has reached the market.

It will make you beautiful again and has a 30-day guarantee, although the commercial doesn’t tell us exactly what the guarantee covers. (A bad rash? Pimples?)

For the first time in my life, I’m looking at skin creams — because it seems to me that every time I put lipstick on, I see the beginning of yet another wrinkle.

Yes! I know it’s too late, but, for a few decades, I was always in a hurry.

I’d buy a moisturiser, apply it for perhaps a week and then forget about it.

A few weeks ago, I bought a serum with a headline, on the box, saying “Inspired by mother cells science”.

And follows with “Mother cells, the source of new skin cells, become less active as we age, meaning fewer new cells are created. Their optimal activity occurs at night, with the peak starting at midnight.”

This was in small black print on a gold background and not easy to read in the pharmacy.

It was easy enough to see after I had paid for it.

To me this was sounding more like magic than science.

Surely, “the peak starting at midnight” was a bit woo-woo? And what were “mother cells”?

The answers

Mother cells appears to be a term used to avoid mentioning stem cells; the use of the latter remaining controversial.

However, these cells are generated from plants, not human embryos — and more research is required.

AI says:

Anti-ageing effects:

By stimulating collagen production and improving skin elasticity, stem cells can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Skin’s natural regeneration:

At night, the skin is in a repair and regeneration phase.

Applying stem cell treatments during this time allows the cells to more readily absorb and utilise the benefits of the stem cells.

Both these statements make sense to me; perhaps it’s not woo-woo after all?

AI also recommends the best of the stem cell serums and the one I’ve purchased, three times now, isn’t among the best six.

The best one is priced at $650. (Good heavens! You’d have to be desperate, wouldn’t you?)

But the one listed as second is from Iherb and less than $40.

I might try that one next, if I can find it.

My conclusion

On the box it says: After four weeks, wrinkles are reduced and skin complexion is radiant; that 84 per cent agree skin looks tightened, as if lifted.

Note: 84 per cent did not say wrinkles were reduced.

Anyway, I must have used too much with each application because I finished the bottle before the four-week mark.

So I bought another one.

I noticed that the wrinkles were still thriving but my skin did look and feel better.

I’ve recently purchased my third bottle, with some still left in the second bottle, because it was on special — $39 down from $59.

I’m coming to terms with the wrinkles.

It would be interesting to know if stem cells are also involved in the new serum for men. If anyone buys it, please let me know.

I won’t tell anybody — except a few friends.

Take care and may it be easy, my friends.

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Letter: Town Talk. The News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631

Phone: Text or call 0409 317187