Players and media gathering at a pub together is a rare sight, but today Tom Bellchambers and Michael Hurley wound back the clock at the Colonial Brewing Company in Port Melbourne.

The duo challenged the media to a beer pouring contest to officially mark the Club’s new partnership with the Australian craft brewery.

Colonial Brewing Company was established in 2004 and is now the Official Beer and Cider Partner of the Bombers for the 2017 season.

Essendon CEO, Xavier Campbell, said Colonial Brewing Company’s beers and cider will be poured at the Club’s match day functions and events throughout the year.

“We are proud to partner with the Colonial Brewing Company, they are run by an energetic and passionate team who deliver a fantastic line up of beverages, all brewed locally here in Melbourne,” Campbell said.

“We are constantly looking at ways to offer our members, supporters and broader network with the best possible experience at Essendon functions and events and we also understand the growing appetite for craft beers and cider.

“The new partnership will deliver our members, supporters and guests with a wonderful choice of fine craft beers and cider at Essendon home games and functions.

“We served Colonial Brewing Company’s beers and ciders in our Culinary Chairman’s Function on ANZAC Day and the feedback from our guests was overwhelmingly positive.

“Season 2017 is shaping as an exciting chapter in the Club’s Comeback Story, and we are excited Colonial Brewing Company has joined us on this journey.”

The partnership has also seen Colonial Brewing Company back the Club’s #FridayFootyPanel podcast hosted by Scott Lucas and Julian de Stoop.

Recorded live at Colonial Brewing Company’s Port Melbourne Brewery, the #FridayFootyPanel provides Essendon members and supporters with the latest news, insights and entertaining interviews with past and present players.

The brewery is also the venue of choice for Essendon supporters to gather and watch the Club’s interstate matches.

National General Manager of Colonial Brewing Company, Lawrence Dowd, said the new partnership is significant.

“We are extremely proud to be one of the first craft breweries to partner with such an iconic sporting Club in Essendon,” Dowd said.

“We are an Australian owned and run brewery operating out of Port Melbourne and Margaret River with a small but passionate team of brewers. 

“Our unique partnership with Essendon is extremely exciting and reinforces the growing demand for craft beer here in Australia.

“We look forward to working with Essendon over the coming season, and providing their members and supporters with our great line-up of beers and cider to enjoy at Club functions hopefully after many a Bombers win.”

For more information about Colonial Brewing Company, click here.

Essendon Football Club and Colonial Brewing Company promote the responsible service and consumption of alcohol.