A GOSPORT brewery was the toast of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after producing customised cans of beer for the premier’s wedding day.

Albanese and Jodie Haydon celebrated their big day with the special brews from Sydney brewery Willie the Boatman - which became part of the growing empire of Powder Monkey Group in 2023.

Powder Monkey-owned bewery Willie the Boatman produced these special cans with images of the bride and groom for the wedding of Australia PM Anthony Albanese | Mike Bowers

placeholder image — Powder Monkey-owned bewery Willie the Boatman produced these special cans with images of the bride and groom for the wedding of Australia PM Anthony Albanese | Mike Bowers

The cans were the result of a long-standing friendship between the Labour leader and Willie the Boatman’s founder Pat McInerney. Pat named one of his first beers after Albanese - Albo Pale Ale - more than 10 years, when he was a regular customer So when the PM dropped by again earlier this year Pat offered to produce a can of the bespoke Willie the Boatman pale ale featuring the faces of Albanese and his now-wife - and he ordered 16 cases for the wedding in the capital Canberra.

Andy Burdon, Group CEO of Powder Monkey Group, said: ‘This was great work by Pat and the Australian team on this initiative which helps strengthen Powder Monkey’s brand and growing portfolio. Our operations are widespread but our heart is very much in Gosport.’

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon walk down the aisle after getting married today in Canberra. Photograph by Mike Bowers | Mike Bowers

Albanese became the country's first leader to tie the knot while in office. He and Jodie became engaged on Valentine's Day last year, having first met at a business dinner in Melbourne in 2020, while he was leader of the opposition. His dog Toto acted as ring bearer while the couple walked back down the aisle to Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)".

“Albo called me on the way home, with Jodie, and said how much he loved them … In hindsight I should have kept a four-pack but I was busy toasting to their health,” said Pat in an article in The Guardian.

Flower girl Ella with Toto at the wedding of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon in Canberra. Photograph by Mike Bowers | Mike Bowers

Powder Monkey opened in Priddy’s Hard in 2021 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. In Australia the group acquired Willie the Boatman along with the Southern Highlands, Akasha and Wayward brewing companies. Closer to home, they headed across the Solent by adding Goddard’s Brewery on the Isle of Wight to the company, along with Empress Ale in the West Midlands and Castle Eden Brewery in the north east.