Bad Shepherd Brewing Co Beer

Bad Shepherd Brewing Co. is an independent craft brewery established in 2015 and based in Cheltenham, a bayside suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The brand was co-founded by husband-and-wife team Dereck and Diti Hales, who left their corporate careers—Dereck having spent 15 years at Kraft—to pursue their passion for craft beer and American-style BBQ.

Starting as a local brewpub, the company has grown into a notable player in the Australian craft beer scene, specialized in styles ranging from classic pale ales to innovative limited releases like hazelnut browns and fruit sours. In October 2023, the company entered voluntary administration to restructure debt accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the founders successfully emerged from this process in November 2023, retaining full ownership and control of the business under a Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA).

Manufacturing remains centered at their production facility and brewpub in Victoria. While there is a similarly named "Bad Shepherd Beer Company" in Charleston, West Virginia, the two are separate entities; the Australian brand is uniquely characterized by its Melbourne origin and its 'Victoria Pale Ale', which often features 100% Victorian ingredients.