the story of 2 brothers.

It all began with two Melbourne-born brothers — Andrew and Dave Ong — who found themselves living on opposite sides of America. Andrew was an aeronautical engineer in Seattle, while Dave worked as a physiotherapist in New York. Despite the distance, they shared a love of catching up over a good beer.

On one of Andrew’s visits to New York, he introduced Dave to the booming American craft beer scene. The brothers were captivated. The creativity, the community, the flavour — it was unlike anything they’d experienced back home. Over countless conversations, the seed of an idea was planted:

what if they brought this energy back to Melbourne?

Then fate intervened. In 2006, the Times Square Brewery in New York shut its doors, with disney about to take over the site. Its brewing equipment — massive stainless-steel tanks and machinery —was destined for the scrap heap. The Ong brothers saw opportunity where others saw waste.

Under the cover of neon and midnight steam, the brothers struck a deal with a shadowy shipping outfit that promised discretion over legality. In what became a legendary “midnight rescue mission”. At two in the morning, flatbeds rumbled into Times Square, their crews working with the speed of thieves. tanks rolled past glowing billboards and bewildered tourists. One brother kept scanning for cops, heart pounding, while the other grinned at the absurdity of their dream riding through the city’s sleepless heart — a secret convoy that would vanish before dawn, leaving no trace but the memory of steel giants gliding under Broadway lights.

Back in Melbourne, Andrew trained hands-on at Diamond Knot Brewery in Seattle to master the craft, while Dave scouted for the perfect home. They found it in Moorabbin — an industrial pocket of the city with space to grow and a community ready to embrace something new.

By 2007, the dream was real. 2 Brothers Brewery opened its doors, with those rescued tanks proudly installed and christened with names like Soho, Hell’s Kitchen, and Brooklyn — a nod to their New York adventure.

From day one, the brewery was about more than beer. It was about story, place, and people. The Beerhall became a gathering spot, echoing the energy of New York with Melbourne hospitality. The Beergarden followed, a dog-friendly space filled with music, laughter, and clinking glasses.