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Welcome to the Barter Edge Podcast—your insider guide to smarter business, bigger networks, and better ways to trade.
Whether you're a seasoned member or just getting started, we're here to share real stories, expert tips from different industries, and fresh ideas to help you grow your business using the power of the Bartercard ecosystem.
Jen: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Barter Edge Podcast, your insider guide to smarter business, bigger networks, and better ways to trade. We are here to share real stories, expert tips from different industries and fresh ideas to help you grow your business using the power of barter cart. Well, welcome back to another episode of the Barter Edge.
Today I am excited to be here with a Justin Mystery from Tap That Brewery and Keg House. I'm your host, Jen Truro, and it's always great to have some of our amazing members join us to share their experience, their stories, and also words of wisdom with us today. So about Tap That. Tap that is a proudly modern Australian company built around the idea that life's.
Best moments happen with family, friends, and community. Often over a good beer. They're on a mission to make, uh, enjoying quality brewers more affordable and accessible. Who would not want [00:01:00] that? Cutting through the rising costs of a simple schooner and bringing the pub experience into your own homes.
Recently they hosted our very first Bartercard event here on the Gold Coast, making them a true partner in both business. And community. Justin, it's a pleasure to have you with us today. Would you like to introduce yourself and tell us more about Tap That?
Justin: Ah, thanks Jen. I think you pretty much summed it all up with that great intro, but um, yeah, along with my business partner Chris and head Brewer, uh, we kicked off tap that uh, November 30 last year.
So we've been going for about eight months now. Um, and yeah, Chris comes from a very well known and respected brewer having held roles at Four Pines. Um, lost Palm Slipstream catchment, so very good at what he does. Uh, and along with my very patient, uh, tolerant, uh, and talented wife Monica, um, yeah, we decided to kick this new business off.
Jen: I love that. And it's such a different direction [00:02:00] from your previous career. What inspired you to start to tap that brewery and care house?
Justin: Yeah, great question. Yeah, it's a different type of therapy I suppose. So I actually came from a physiotherapy background. I had three physiotherapy clinics, um, and was fortunate to have those acquired by an asex listed company and did what all normal 40 year olds would do.
I bought a Harley Davidson and decided to start a brewery. Um. Where the business idea came from, I suppose we've got three kids. So for us, entertaining from home is a lot more enjoyable than taking kids to a restaurant and meeting friends that have kids at a restaurant. So, so much easier to, you know, kids are in the pool playing cricket out the front.
We're out the back barbecuing and, and having a few drinks and having a good time. So, yeah, I suppose, yeah, we produce beer, we, we sell keg systems, but ultimately what we're really selling is a lifestyle upgrade, um, and social connection.
Jen: Amazing. I love it. It's so different to [00:03:00] physiotherapy, physiotherapy to, like you said, a different type of therapy, a more
Justin: enjoyable type of therapy.
Jen: Yeah. Yeah. So you did just host the Bartercard event where we announced our partnership with bx. We did speed networking. It was a great vibe in there. Um, um, being with so many people, um. How has that exposure helped your business?
Justin: Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, it was a great, great night and ultimately. Ultimately we've got four arms of our business.
So we, we sell and, uh, provide keg systems for home and commercial use. Uh, we produce a great range of beers, uh, RTD, spirits and cocktails, all on tap that can be enjoyed through those keg systems. But our taproom is also a great place to hold functions and events. Um, so, um, the fourth arm is wholesale, so we're starting to dip our toe into.
Um, trying to get our products in restaurants and venues, so we were able to showcase basically that, that whole [00:04:00] spectrum of, uh, our business to the Bartercard and BX members that night.
Jen: Amazing. Can you tell everyone where you are located as well?
Justin: Yeah. We're just in the industrial pocket of Burleigh, so earn Harley Drive, um, um, right near Capricorn Distillery and Bur Brewing.
Jen: Amazing. It's a great location with a great vibe in there. And you've also got the Mez mezzanine level as well, so you can sort of go and hang out and just play games and things like that. You do create this amazing atmosphere. So tell us more about. The venue itself.
Justin: Yeah, we tried to make it family friendly, um, as well.
So we have a 22 foot shuffleboard table upstairs. Games of Guess Who and Jenga and Uno to keep the kids occupied while the, while the parents can have a, have a nice catch up and, and a few drinks as well. So we, we do host functions and events. Um, uh, we've been doing quite a lot of music events recently as well, so capacity is probably.
About 130, 150 is the sweet spot. Uh, we did [00:05:00] have a, a, a local musician put to a album release recently, and there was over 200 people in the venue that was a little bit, a little bit too crowded. Um, but anything from a a, a work function of 30 people to a, a music event with 150, uh, it's a great spot. And being split level, you can kind of cordon that off, uh, and have two functions at the same time as well.
Jen: Yes. Now you are one of the our team's favorite members. I wonder why, I dunno why, um, Leon comes and visits you at least once a week because at least he loves you brew. Uh, and he often just walks around with his cans and stuff like that, that he gets done from you, uh, which I absolutely love. Um, now since joining Bartercard, what are some of the new opportunities?
Or doors that have already opened in just the last few months?
Justin: Yeah, I'd, I'd say the function and events side of things. That was never part of the original business plan, but the site does lend itself to, to hosting a great, [00:06:00] um, great function or event. So yeah, off the back of joining Bartercard, we've, we've probably booked six functions already.
Um, utilize the, um, Bartercard trade dollars to join BX as well, so that's certainly opened up a few. More doors in terms of referral partners, uh, and potential opportunities as well.
Jen: Yeah, that it all goes hand in hand, doesn't it? So you've got six events booked so far. What does that mean for the business?
Justin: Um, well we, we kind of think of the tap room, uh, as top of funnel stuff towards our keg system. So you mentioned in the intro about the rising cost of, of beer. It's just, it's just getting out of hand, I think. Going out with a group of mates and buying a round of beers, that'll be a thing of the past pretty soon, if it's not, not already.
Um, so with our, our keg systems and our keg refills, it works out at $2 34 a schooner. So a lot more pal palatable, um, than the $14 I paid at a local surf club for a schooner, a balter the other day. Um, so yeah, definitely [00:07:00] opening, opening people's eyes about the availability of keg systems. 'cause not a lot of people, not a lot of people know.
They even exist. Um, and it's just such a great addition to people's outdoor entertaining spaces or home bars, man caves, um, and starting to put a few into workplaces now as well.
Jen: Woo. That might be one for Bartercard to look into. A hundred percent. Look, I, I've gotta admit, I do not like beer. I do not like the smell, the taste.
I'm not a beer drinker, but. What are the benefits of having a keg?
Justin: Um, I see four main benefits. So, first of all, costs. So I, I touched on the cost aspect before with our beers. It works out $2 34 a schooner when you're buying it as a keg. Um, convenience, you know, no last minute. Dashes to the bottle shop when you're, you know, unexpected, unexpected guests turn up, you've always got beer.
Uh, not only beer, but spirits and cocktails on tap as well. Um, connection is the [00:08:00] next aspect. Um, um, I think we touched on it earlier, like so much more enjoyable and relaxing to entertain from home rather than going to a venue and more cost effective as well. Uh, and the last one is kudos. Like it's pretty.
Damn cool having beer on tap at home.
Jen: Yeah, that is pretty cool. Very cool actually. Um, so looking ahead, how do you see, uh, Bartercard continuing to support your growth and your mission of making beer more accessible to Aussies?
Justin: Yeah, it's a, we've identified this little gap in the market right now where the bigger commercial breweries don't do keg refills.
Uh, and the breweries that do keg refills are really, they're home brew stores more than anything else. So we're producing a commercially brewed product for residential use. Um, so I think, yeah, leveraging off. The Bartercard network, um, um, to get our products, [00:09:00] um, out and about. We're about to push go on a a, a B2B model for our keg systems as well.
Um, so getting, uh, our systems into workplaces for staff engagement. Um, client, um, uh, client. What's the word I'm looking for? Client functions. Yeah. Um, client servicing. Um, and then that will open the door to a subscription model as well, so we can just drive around and drop off the kegs like the milkman, uh, used to do.
Um, so I think that's probably where our next big opportunity is, is pushing into B2B as well as B2C.
Jen: Amazing. Could you imagine going to work? And in the lunchroom there's a keg. Like, seriously. That sounds amazing. We might have to put some limits on that in the workplace. Um, now do, if you were to speak to another business owner, like you've been in business since November 20, 24.
What would you say to [00:10:00] them about jumping in and joining Bartercard? Because out on the road speaking to people, a lot of people go, I don't think I'm established enough. I need to build my client towel up more. First. What would you say to them?
Justin: I actually wish I'd heard a Bartercard when I had the physio clinics 'cause it would've been a great way to plug quiet times of the day or new physios that were coming on.
Um, so yeah, I kind of wish I knew about it back then. Um, but for this, our, our new business and for any perspective people thinking about joining Bartercard, my advice would probably be to just leverage the network as much as possible. Um, it's almost like a, a, a warm and open introduction to potential referral partners.
Um, and I wouldn't be afraid. To ask for help from the team at Bartercard like Leon and Renee, who have been absolutely fantastic, uh, for us as we're getting started.
Jen: I love that they, we do have the best team in the whole world, I reckon. But [00:11:00] I agree. I wish I had a new known about Bartercard earlier and I remember ke I kept saying, oh, they're not going to be able to get me my ideal clients.
And you know. Getting, I would rather get cash. You know, cash is king, but for me, if I had a gap in my day, I could never make. Money off that time. So then becoming like into the Bartercard community, I'm like, there are so many of my ideal clients here. Why didn't I jump in sooner? So, completely agree with that.
Now, Justin, do you have an offer for our Bartercard members?
Justin: Yeah, absolutely. So, you know, if there's any local, I suppose, Bartercard members around and they wanna come in for a beer, we can do 20, $25 gift vouchers on full trade. Um, they can use those for themselves, or they can give them to their clients or staff as a, [00:12:00] as a thank you.
Jen: That is amazing. Now, that is a limited offer as well. Um, just so you know. But what a great incentive. You know, you wanna treat your staff, you wanna get a gift for someone. Support local. It is so important to. Um, support the people in our community and we are on the Gold Coast, but you know that that goes Australia wide.
So let's see who we can support in the barter car community. Justin, once again, thank you so much for being here for the Barter Edge and make sure everyone you tune in to the next episode.
Justin: Awesome. Thanks for the opportunity, Jenn.
Jen: Thank you for being with us today and sharing your stories and expertise.
If you wanna find out how Bartercard can help your business, or if you wanna be a guest on our future podcast, contact our team at hello@bartercard.com. Make sure you tune in for our next episode of the Barter [00:13:00] Edge.