Victorian D.P.I. And the Carlton United Brewery

Day 2:



Victorian Department of Primary Industries

A few group members stuck inside the brewery

We started the day off with a visit to the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and got several extensive lectures regarding the animal identification system used here to track where to and from the meat is transferred throughout Australia. There are a few ways to do so but they all follow the same concept. Each and every animal is given an identification number that includes the origin of the animal and their individual number. In one system they use electronic ear tags and a wand or stationary reader to record the animal at each location. They have furthermore created a system to link all of the systems used so each location that the animal is tracked at is given all information available on the animal. After leaving the department our bus driver Richie took us on a lovely tour of the city. We were fortunate enough to see marvelous architecture and the rugby and soccer stadiums where some of the national tournaments are played. We continued on and stopped at the Shrine of Remembrance where they honor those fallen in the Korean War. We also stopped and toured such monuments as the Botanical Gardens, The home of Captain Cook, and the St. Patrick's Cathedral. After taking countless pictures we left to visit the Carlton United Brewery where such beers as the Carlton Draught, Foster's, and Crown Lager are made. I learned from our tour guide that they distribute around 2 million liters of beer annually and that they can make several thousand cans and bottles of beer a minute. A fact I found fascinating was that with the massive amounts of alcohol pushed out daily, it takes Australians only 3 to 5 days to consume 100% of the beer that requires 3 to 4 weeks to brew. Lastly I would like to give a special thank you to Geneveve who rescued us when we were locked in the brewery and provided us with complimentary beverages before concluding our visit.