After 12 months of perfecting the recipes and taste testing on very willing Members, Oak Havens first two brews, Slygrog and the Bolthole, are on tap at the Club.
In naming the brewery and beer brands, significant consideration has been given to pay tribute to the history of Gosford RSL. The chosen name for Gosford RSL’s brewery has reflected its heritage in being named after the Fagans house, Oak Haven.
The original developers of the Gosford area were the Fagans.
Their interests included farming, citrus orchards, timber, cattle and champion racehorses. They were the first to grow oranges locally and they lived at what is now Henry Kendall Cottage.
Ernest White was the founder of Gosford RSL. The first RSL members would meet at the Brisbane Water District Club at the rear of the Anglican Church in Broadwater Avenue.
The land was donated by Dr James Paul who provided the premises on the condition that no liquor was to be sold there.
The crafty members complied with this condition to the letter by buying coupons which were then exchanged for beer or spirits at the bar to ensure that no alcohol was technically sold.
The bar was basically a basement full of beer. Beer was hard to come by so it was transported from Lithgow and Mudgee.
Fire gutted the Gosford RSL on January 22, 1973. The club then purchased the Galaxy Motel in West Gosford which was owned by a Hungarian immigrant, Zoltan Kamenitzky.
Originally, the land belonged to George and Agnes Fagan. The Fagan’s stone house on the land was called Oak Haven.
The Oak Haven brewery is located at West Gosford and now produces the Sly Grog Pale Ale, The Bolthole Dark ale and continues to develop different beers for our local members.
The ales are crafted by an expert brewer with 10 years’ experience in brewing American, British, European and Belgian beers.
The brewery’s mission is to lead the Central Coast market in brewing the freshest, most flavorsome craft beer, true to 600year old recipes but enhanced by a commitment to local produce, local farmers, precision brewing and ethical and environmentally sustainable practices.
