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Vale - Keith M. Deutsher, Brewery Historian - Brews News
Vale - Keith M. Deutsher, Brewery Historian - Brews News
Vale - Keith M. Deutsher, Brewery Historian - Brews News
Australian brewery historian Keith Deutsher has passed away aged 98.
In addition to being a life member and former president of beer label and brewing
ephemera collectors group, the Victorian Beer Label Collector’s Society
(http://www.vblcs.com/), Deutsher was the author of the ambitious book The
Breweries of Australia : A History.
Current president of the VBLCS, Rob Greenaway, said he had known the retired
businessman for for more than 35 years with Deutsher mentoring him into the role of
society President.
“When I first met Keith over 35 years ago he mentioned to me that it was important
to capture the history of brewing and it’s development within Australia,” Greenaway
told Brews News.
“Many would seek the quiet life of retirement but not Keith.”
His book ‘’The Breweries of Australia – A history” was first released in 1999, with a
second edition featuring Australia’s burgeoning micro-brewing industry published in
2012.
“The books are collector pieces for those interested in Brewing history and the
development of the craft brewing industry,” Greenaway said.
Thunder Road Brewing Company founder and avid beer ephemera collector Philip
Withers was greatly influenced by Deutsher’s work, naming his brewery’s historical
library in honour of his mentor.
“Keith taught us the importance of reflecting on history when building a business and
to keep moving forward in times of trouble,” Withers said in a Facebook tribute
(https://www.facebook.com/thunderroadbrewing/posts/3220686701288906).
The Keith Deutsher library at the brewery is a repository of hundreds of rare brewing
books and antique artefacts collected by Withers detailing every aspect of Australia’s
brewery history. The library is open to the public by appointment.
Keith passed away peacefully on Wednesday 15th April. He was 98. Keith’s wife
Norma passed only a few months ago.
(https://www.brewsnews.com.au/2013/01/30/the-breweries-of-australia-a-history/)
Sheds, in Railton
Tasmania.