MicrobreweriesAUSTRALIA’S BREWERIES & BEST BREWS
Due to open as we go to press, this craft newcomer is located at Lobethal in the Adelaide Hills and operated by brewing partners Alistair Turnbull and Phil Jones. The operation includes cellar door tastings, restaurant and takeaway sales, with outside venues supplied by a 1941 Chevrolet delivery truck; an interpretation of local brewing history is also planned. Australian Independent Brewers AIB is basically a contract brewery for hire, and has attracted all manner of clients since opening its doors in late 2005. St Arnou, Barons Brewing, Silly Yaks, Feral White Beer and Pike’s Oakbank Beer are just a few of the brands produced at this western Sydney brewery. Barons Brewing Company Black Wattle Superior Wattleseed Ale Barossa Brewing Company Housed in an historic 1860s wheat store, this cellar door “beer maturation” venture fired up in 2005. Darryl Trinne brews his beers at the Mildura Brewery and tankers the fermenting wort back to the Barossa Valley in a specially designed tanker/trailer (Trinne works as a stainless steel tank maker in the wine industry), where it is fermented and matured in leisurely fashion. Cellar-door tasting/sales available at weekends only; beers on tap at local Greenock Tavern. Barossa Valley Brewing This freestanding microbrewery came on line in late 2005 and is located at the historic Yaldara Estate in the heart of the Barossa Valley. Partners Denham D’Silva and Fergus McLachlan previously worked in international equity finance and this is their first craft beer venture with Bee Sting, an easy-drinking “honey wheat ale”, their lone product to date. Bee Sting Bell’s Hotel and Brewery Veteran South Melbourne publican Bill Bell seems to have been around forever and, in fact, he was born in the pub that carries his family name. Some time in the late ‘80s, Bell installed his own tiny brewing plant, which has since been through several rebuilding stages (at one point the mash tun was an old bathtub and there are still photos of Bill splashing around in the suds in his birthday suit). The brew-pub is now Melbourne’s longest-running and Bell’s beers are proudly on tap next to Melbourne’s best-known brews and a few of Belgium’s finest. Down at Bell’s pub they still barrack for the South Melbourne Swans, while Black Ban Bitter is so-named because the joint was black-listed during the fiery Formula One-Albert Park protests. Beer selection: Hells Bells, Summer Belle, Black Ban Bitter, Ginger Bell, Stout Billy, Summer Lager Billabong Brewing This new kid on the block has evolved from WA’s first brew-on-premise operation (where home-brewers come to create their own beer of choice). Owner Alan Proctor has taken the next step, producing commercial craft beers under the Billabong label. Among the extensive range of beers are several gluten-free varieties. (The brewery won three medals from three entries at the 2007 RAS NSW Beer Competition.) Billabong 4 Hop Ale Established in 2003 by local grape grower Michael Murtagh in the heart of the Rutherglen wine-making region, Bintara has been re-located in recent times to his Vintara vineyard. The restaurant/tasting room is open seven days. Blackwood Valley Brewing Company The range of craft beers produced here are an offshoot of the Blackwood Valley Cidery in the heart of the Bridgetown apple-growing area. The beers are brewed in small batches and available on tap with free tastings offered (Blackwood Stout won a Gold Medal at the 2007 Royal Perth Beer Show). Bluetongue Brewery Since launching in early 2004, Bluetongue Brewery has established itself as a major regional player in the Newcastle region and has recently upscaled significantly in size. More recently, colourful Sydney ad man John Singleton has invested heavily in the enterprise, which has led to inroads with the Newcastle Knights rugby league team (Bluetongue supply beers for the stadium’s home games) and the revamping of Bondi Blonde as a low-carb beer (famously launched in Sydney by Paris Hilton). An alcoholic ginger beer evolved from a house brew previously produced on-site at the Queen’s Wharf Brewery, while a new range of beers has been spun-off under the Hunter label. Bluetongue Traditional Pilsener J. Boag & Son Boag’s Draught James Boag’s Premium Bootleg Brewery This long-term craft brewery has been operating in the Margaret River wine region since 1994, housed in a sprawling homestead-style building complex that includes a tasting room/bar, restaurant, and spacious outdoor beer garden overlooking a lake. It’s a popular lunch-time destination for Margaret River wine tourists who want a change of pace and beverage. While Bootleg is the longest-running microbrewery in this region (it bills itself as “an oasis of beer in a desert of wine”), there are now four other craft beer operators dotted among the wineries. Tom’s Brown Ale Raging Bull Brew 42 Bridge Road Brewers Young winemaker-turned-brewer Ben Kraus has recently relocated his operation to a new venue in his hometown of Beechworth. Kraus was inspired initially by the lively Margaret River craft beer scene during a stint of winemaking there; his passion for beer was further fuelled by a trip to Europe. Bridge Road Brewers kicked off in mid-2005 and operates under a cellar door licence, six days a week (Wednesday-Monday). As well as the Beechworth range of beers, Kraus has introduced the Chevalier Biere de Garde and Saison brews, handsomely packaged in heavyweight champagne bottles. Beechworth Bavarian Wheat Chevalier Saison Bright Brewery The original Bright Brewery last produced beer in 1916 and this re-born enterprise is the brain-child of two couples – David and Julie Cocks, and Scott Brandon and Fiona Reddaway – who moved to Bright for the outdoors lifestyle and to raise young families. Their “brewery-door bar” operation includes a large outdoor seating area and makes an ideal refreshment stop for skiers en route to Mount Hotham, as well as paragliders and other visitors to the outdoors-oriented region. Bright Blowhard Pale Ale Bright Hellfire Amber Ale Buckley’s Beers The numerous partners involved in this craft beer venture had great difficulty deciding on a suitable brand name. “We’ve got Buckley’s chance of coming up with a name which everyone agrees on,” one of them said in exasperation … and the name stuck. Buckley’s beers can now be found in numerous outlets in Melbourne and surrounds, while the name’s origin is still in doubt (some say it’s derived from “wild man” William Buckley who lived on the Bellarine Peninsula in the 19th century, others says it’s a pun on Buckley and Nun, an upmarket Melbourne store). Buffalo Brewery This country pub has been brewing its own for more than a decade. Publican/brewer Greg Fanning uses local spring water and produces a range of easy-drinking brews. The pub has a colourful connection with one Lily Arrabela Cherry, reputed girlfriend of one of Ned Kelly’s gang, and her face graces the Buffalo beer labels. Beer selection: Buffalo Lager, Wheat Beer, Dark Ale, Stout Cascade Brewery Australia’s oldest working brewery is also the most picturesque, especially against the majestic backdrop of a snow-capped Mt Wellington. The original building dates back to 1832 (the 1824 emblazoned on the brewery’s façade refers to the date founder Peter Degraves arrived in Australia from England) and the distinctive façade and upper storeys were completed in 1927; the brewery was substantially rebuilt after devastating bushfires swept through southern Tasmania in 1967. Cascade Premium Lager was successfully launched into the national market in 1987 and more recently (as part of the Foster’s group), a range of specialty brands was rolled out, including Blonde, Amber Ale and the annual First Harvest Ale (made from the first of each new season’s Tasmanian-grown hops and barley). Cascade Blonde Cascade Stout Coldstream Brewery Colonial Brewing Company Colonial Brewery kicked off in late 2004, based at a family-friendly restaurant/bar 10km from the Margaret River township. A free shuttle bus service operates from the town and the outlet offers brewery tours, tastings and take-away sales. Other attractions include a sizeable children’s playground, BBQ facilities and regular live music. In late 2006, a $10 million public float was raised to bankroll plans to open another outlet (with a larger brewing and packaging facility) in Fremantle. Seasonal brews include a Belgian witbier, a robust porter and a smoked rauchbier. Colonial Dr Quick Strong Ale Colonial Spruikers Challenge Coopers Brewery Established in 1862 by founder Thomas Cooper, this Adelaide-based family-run brewery is still controlled his sixth-generation descendents (despite a recent aggressive take-over attempt by the Lion Nathan group). The Cooper dynasty has specialized in bottle-conditioned, “cloudy” ales and stouts and only belatedly embraced kegs in the 1980s. Since re-locating to a new ultra-modern brewing plant in 2001, Coopers has grown to be a significant national player and now rivals J. Boag & Son as our third-largest beer producer (admittedly, a long way behind the Big Two). Cooper’s Sparkling Ale Cooper’s Extra Stout Cowaramup Brewing Company This family-run operation in the Margaret River region opened in late 2006, producing a range of ales and lagers from a new DME-built 800-litre microbrewery. Nine varieties of hops are grown on-site and facilities include an impressive rammed-earth tasting room/restaurant, a landscaped beer garden, children’s play area and brewery tours by request. Dark Isle Brewery This tiny craft brewery is part of a brew-on-premise/home-brewing supply business in the northern suburbs of Hobart. Bottled beers are available in selected Tasmanian outlets and a handful on the “mainland”; Dark Isle also makes Barilla Bay Oyster Stout for the Hobart oyster farm/restaurant. Duckstein Brewery Billed as “a little piece of Germany in the Swan Valley”, Duckstein began life as a tiny (100-litre) brewery housed inside a restaurant. Owner/brewer Erich Massberg brewed numerous German-inspired beer styles to match the food served in the restaurant. After being the first craft brewing enterprise in the Swan Valley wine region, they have since been joined by four others. (A second Duckstein operation is due to open at Saracen Estate in the Margaret River in 2007.) Beer selection: Munich Hefeweizen, Classic Pilsner, Holsteiner Amber, Rostocker Red, Copper Ale, Dunkel Lager. Elmar’s In The Valley German-born couple Elmar and Anette Dieren have moved beyond a successful smallgoods business to establish this extensive brewery/restaurant and beer garden complex in the Swan Valley, whose centerpiece is a see-through, glass Elmar’s Over Draft Ale Emerald Hill Brewery This South Melbourne craft beer newcomer is wedged into one of the city’s narrowest and most exclusive bars – it’s the length of a cricket pitch, a few metres wide and only open Friday nights. Chemical engineer turned microbrewer Carl Jacobson convinced a few of his mates to back the venture which is named after the original term for the area (it was apparently once a green island surrounded by swamp). Bottled beer was released late in 2006. Feral Brewing Company Another Swan Valley brewery/restaurant, whose Feral Brewing flagship White Beer can be found on tap at numerous outlets around Perth and Fremantle, and in bottles, nationally. The authentic Belgian wit style is boldly spiced with dried orange peel and coriander seed; other brews include the fully-certified Organic Pils (AIBA gold medal winner), the hybrid Feral Pale (made with German and Australian malt, British and US hops) and the creamy, chocolatey Swan Valley Stout. Feral White Beer Five Islands Brewery This bustling outlet close to a Woollongong’s major sports stadium, entertainment centre and beachfront, is run by local rugby league identity Michael Bolt; while the microbrewery has been re-located to a nearby warehouse, to incorporate an expansion into bottling. The former brewing area in the bar has been transformed into a function/beer tasting area. Regular beers include a flavoursome dark ale (Bulli Black), a delicately smoked porter (Porter Kembla), and a robustly bittered IPA (the catchingly-named Parkyns Shark Oil); Pig Dog Pilsner and Longboard are now available in bottles. Beer selection: Dapto Draught, Pig Dog Pilsner, Parkyns Shark Oil, Longboard, Rust, Bulli Black, Porter Kembla FIBC Longboard Fosters Group Australia’s largest beer-maker is also the country’s biggest beverage group, having acquired the gigantic Southcorp wine company in recent years. The flagship Foster’s Lager is something of a conundrum, as it’s one of the biggest-selling beer brands globally and yet commands only a tiny percentage of the domestic beer market (while VB accounts for one in every five beers consumed). Formerly known as Carlton & United Breweries, the Foster’s Group has taken over more than 100 individual breweries in 100-plus years and, naturally enough, closed most of them down. In recent times there have been encouraging signs of innovation from Fosters, in particular, the revamping of Matilda Bay Brewing and the release of new premium brands. Victoria Bitter Original Ale Gage Roads Brewing Company Started by two former Sail & Anchor brewers, Peter Nolin and Bill Hoedemaker, Gage Roads Brewing is a relatively ambitious venture which came on line in mid-2005. Initially distributed within WA, the brand has been subsequently rolled out into the eastern states (both in keg and bottles). Gage Roads takes its name from the waterway off Fremantle where the 1987 America’s Cup was staged. Beer selection: Gage Roads Pure Malt Lager, Pils, IPA Gage Roads IPA Gage Roads Pure Malt Lager Grand Ridge Brewery Situated in the picturesque Gippsland hamlet of Mirboo North, the long-established Grand Ridge Brewery is run by owner/brewer Eric Walters who, over the years, has substantially increased the brewery’s output and distributed his products to ever-widening markets. In recent years, Walters has taken over the restaurant adjacent to the brewery, opened Grand Ridge Manor accommodation and grows prime Gippsland beef, raised on spent grain from the brewery (his restaurant specializes in “beer grain-fed” steak). Grand Ridge has won numerous AIBA awards (including the Premier’s Trophy for Best Victorian Beer on three occasions) and boasts Australia’s strongest, locally-brewed beer in Supershine (11% A/V). Grand Ridge Moonshine Grumpy’s Brewhaus Originally opened as a home-brew shop on the outskirts of Hahndorf, Grumpy’s was transformed into a brewery/restaurant in 2002 with the twin installations of a wood-fired pizza oven and a second-hand 1200-litre microbrewery from Renwick, New Zealand. All beers are available solely on-site and on tap, and show a heavy German-British influence. Regular brews include a “British/American/Australian hybrid” pale ale, a German altbier (Auld Fokker) and an unusual “pre-prohibition American pilsener” (Tom Cat) made with a hefty whack of maize. Seasonals include Smoked Porter, Oktoberfest, Honey Wheat Lager, Goldrush (Californian steam beer), Smoked Pale and Heysen Oatmeal Stout. Gulf Brewery Relatively new micro-brewery based in inner Adelaide, whose beers are sold through selected hotels and bars in that city. Beer selection: Fish Tale Pils, Pilots Light, Humpback Pale, Kitten 9 Tails Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company Simon Walkenhorst is a trained classical pianist who has turned his hand to micro-brewing (or “nano brewing”, as he calls the 400-litre batches he knocks out from a shed in a remote corner of the Yarra Valley). The beer is named after Hargreaves Hill, part of the craggy ranges within Kingslake National Park, which loom above the brewery/shed. With wife Beth Williams (an opera singer) also involved in the business (which kicked off in late 2004), the musical couple sells their beer at local markets and festivals, and other outlets. Walkenhorst favours locals ingredients (including malted barley from Powell’s Maltings, Romsey) and brews flavoursome ales which are bottle-fermented. Hargreaves Hill Porter Holdfast Brewpub Publican/brewer Craig Schiller installed a second-hand brewing plant in 2002 and knocks out 500-litre batches in a “three-barrel ale brewery” which formerly saw service in a London brew-pub (as part of the Firkin chain). The beers are dispensed directly from conditioning tanks; seasonal brews include The Dark One (a winter porter) and Strawberry Blonde (a fruit-infused pale ale brewed for summer). Holgate Brewhouse Paul Holgate started brewing AIBA gold medal-winning ales from a shed next door to his family home in Woodend. In 2002, he and wife Natasha took over the nearby Keatings Hotel as a suitable extension of their burgeoning craft brewery. The sprawling, 100-year-old pub was thoroughly refurbished and re-branded as Holgate’s Bar and Restaurant; during 2006 the microbrewery was re-located within the hotel complex, neatly completing the pub-brewery enterprise. Holgate ESB Holgate Winter Ale Indian Ocean Brewing Company Situated in an oceanfront restaurant, 45 minutes north of Perth, this brand-new Canadian-built microbrewery came on line in mid-2006 under the control of master brewer Deo Lule (ex Scharer’s Little Brewery, Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel and the Sail & Anchor). Ironbark Brewing Former farmer Graeme White set up this craft brewery in an old winery building in the Swan Valley region, with the first brews rolled out in 2001. The brewing equipment is almost entirely pre-loved and the range of beers is extensive. The casual beer garden has a wood-fired pizza oven (usually manned by White) and a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere. Jamieson Brewery Jeff and Jeanette Whyte have been running the Jamieson Hotel in the heart of Victoria’s high country since the late 1990s. Looking at ways to attract more tourists to their lakeside pub, their installed an attractive, cooper-clad microbrewery (bought secondhand from New Zealand) and started brewing their own beer in mid-2001. Their biggest-seller is Jamieson Brown Ale, a classic English style version with a malty, toffee-ish palate and slightly sweet finish; the Raspberry Ale is made with fresh (or frozen) fruit from the region. Jamieson’s bottled beers are widely available around Melbourne, and their eye-catching labels have won several awards from the Victorian Beer Label Collectors’ Society. Jamieson’s Raspberry Ale Jarrah Jacks Brewery Located on the Woodsmoke Estate vineyard near the timber town of Pemberton, this craft brewery is named after a legendary local bushman. The 1200-litre microbrewery fired up in mid-2005, with their bottled beers available at the brewery door and at selected retail outlets. Visitors can sample the range of six beers on “an authentic jarrah tasting rack” in the tasting room/restaurant. Jarrah Jacks Wheat Beer Knappstein Enterprise Brewery This is a wonderful story where beer history has turned full circle: beer was last brewed at the Enterprise Brewery in the Clare Valley in 1916 and the gorgeous stone building has been home to the Knappstein winery since the 1970s. Knappstein is now part of the Lion Nathan group and in 2006 a microbrewery was installed and beer soon flowed here as a sideline to regular winemaking activities. Combining twin crafts, winemaker/brewer Paul Smith has created a highly aromatic brew that appeals as the beery equivalent of gewurtztraminer. Knappstein Reserve Lager Last Drop Brewery This brewery/restaurant is situated in Canning Vale, close to the Swan Brewery. Regular beers include a Bohemian-style pilsener, a Bavarian-style wheat beer and a full-bodied dark lager and are available at two other Last Drop taverns and a handful of Perth outlets. Lion Nathan Breweries The Lion Nathan group controls a quartet of established breweries in different states – Tooheys (New South Wales), XXXX (Queensland), Swan (Western Australia) and the South Australian Brewing Company. Without an obvious national brand to rival the ubiquitous VB, it’s a sign of the times that XXXX Gold, a mid-strength beer, is currently their biggest-seller. The group recently made an unsuccessful attempt to buy out the family-owned Coopers Brewery in Adelaide. Southwark Old Stout Toohey’s Old Black Ale
Little Creatures Brewing Located right on the water’s edge in Fremantle, this brewery/bar is a must-visit for craft beer tragics (the flavoursome beers are best enjoyed at the source, during a brewing shift, accompanied by wood-fired pizzas). When the 5,000-litre microbrewery fired up in late 2000, their flagship pale ale set an impressive local benchmark for this style of US-inspired, highly-aromatic pale ale, with generous quantities of fresh hop flowers added via a hopback device. The beer has lost some of the intense hop character at times but still remains a formidable beer. Recent developments include rolling out the elegant Pilsner into national markets, and releasing Bright Ale. Rogers’ Little Creatures Bright Ale Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel One of Australia’s longest-running brew-pubs, this historic sandstone hotel has been brewing its own since 1987. A well-run, English-inspired pub with naval-themed beers to match its famous namesake; beer-friendly pub snacks include traditional pork pies and ploughman’s platter. Can get a bit hectic on Friday nights and week-ends but this place is a must for any serious beer tourist. The Lord Nelson is now bottling their flagship Three Sheets and formidable Old Admiral for wider distribution. Lord Nelson Three Sheets Lord Nelson Old Admiral Malt Shovel Brewery Re-launched in 1998 as the craft brewing arm of Lion Nathan Breweries, the Malt Shovel Brewery has built up an impressive portfolio of beers under brewmaster Chuck Hahn. Their James Squire brands are named after a former convict who became Australia’s first successful brewer and hop grower. As well as the regular core brands, there are limited-edition brews which have included Hop Thief, Rum Rebellion Porter and Australian Strong Ale; their Golden Ale was first released as one-off summer seasonal but has become a regular brand. A trio of James Squire Brewhouses have been set up in Sydney and Melbourne as joint ventures, producing house beers on-site to complement the James Squire range on tap. (Rather confusingly, Hahn Premium Lager is produced by Lion Nathan, as are a new range of limited-edition Hahn brands – including Super Dry, Vienna Red and Pale Ale.) James Squire Pilsener James Squire Porter Matilda Bay Brewing Company Our pioneering craft brewery began life as a tiny independent operation in Fremantle back in 1984; Matilda Bay Brewing expanded rapidly during the ‘80s and was eventually bought out by CUB (now known as the Fosters Group). In recent times, the parent company has re-invigorated its craft beer division and the “Garage” brewery in South Dandenong has become Matilda Bay’s new spiritual home. While the bigger-selling brands are brewed at the Fosters Group’s larger plants around the country, Rooftop Red Lager and the Brewer’s Reserve range (Dogbolter, Alpha Ale) are produced at the South Dandenong microbrewery (it operated as the Stockade Brewery until 2004). More importantly, the Garage is where head brewer Brad Rogers and his team tinker with new limited-edition and experimental brews (including Sticklers Best Bitter, Barking Duck and Crema). Matilda Bay Bohemian Pilsner Matilda Bay Alpha Pale Ale Mash Brewing Company The newest brewery/restaurant in the Swan Valley region opened in mid-2006. The restaurant – ten 250 brasserie – takes its name from the street number and the microbrewery is a spanking new Canadian-built 1200-litre system. The simplistically-named beers include the hoppy Pale (floral and citrus notes), a cloudy hefeweizen (Haze), Black - a dark lager (coffee, chocolate and mocha notes), the easy-drinking Mex and a mid-strength “cream ale” named 50:50. Matso’s Broome Brewery Matso’s Café began brewing in 1997 and has since upgraded to a more substantial level, with their beers available on tap as far afield as Fremantle. The building has a colourful history, in keeping with the former pearling port’s past – it was built in 1900 as a bank, subsequently operated as Matso’s Store (run by the Matsumoto family), was later acquired by local property tycoon Lord Alpine and has been twice re-located. Matso’s Broome Brewery’s beers include a boldly flavoured Extra Special Bitter and the Dortmunder style River Rocks Lager; seasonals include the mango-infused Cooperhead Ale. Matso’s Smokey Bishop Mildura Brewery Housed in a stunning art deco building (formerly the Astor Theatre), the Mildura Brewery is pumping out beers in the heart of the town’s bustling restaurant precinct. The 2,500-litre microbrewery came on line in late-2004 and the beer names are locally themed with the biggest-seller being Mallee Bull; other regular brews include Desert Premium (faintly aromatic, crisp, refreshing finish) and Honey Wheat (brewed with local orange blossom honey); check out the latest seasonal offerings. Mildura Mallee Bull
Probably the best-appointed microbrewery in Australia, Moo Brew was launched in late 2005 as an off-shoot of the Moorilla Estate winery, on the outskirts of Hobart. Housed in a stunning, curved, glass and steel building, the upper-storey brew house boasts sweeping views of Mount Wellington and the Derwent River. Moo Brew is a word play on Moorilla, reinforced with quirky labels designed by prominent artist John Kelly (who seems to have a thing about cows), which grace the unique, piccolo-like bottles. Moo Brew Pale Ale Moo Brew Wheat Beer Mountain Goat Brewery Self-styled “goat guys” Cam Hines and Dave Bonighton made craft beer hip and funky when they fired up their Richmond micro in the late ‘90s. With guerilla style marketing (they recruited members for their Goat Army) they built up an inner-city, cult following for their cloudy ales and inspired a new wave of young craft brewers. Their monthly Friday open brewery nights were legendary (and always packed!) and probably paid the bills during earlier lean times. In 2005 they moved around the corner to larger premises and now hold weekly open nights, brewery tours and regular beer appreciation courses. More importantly – after filling countless bottles by hand over the years – they installed an automatic bottling line. A pint of cloudy, fruity Hightail Ale drunk inside their brewery on a Friday evening is a must for any self-respecting beer lover. Mountain Goat Hightail Ale Murray’s Craft Brewing Co. Despite the misleading name, the Pub With No Beer has plenty of amber nectar available, including lots of unusual styles from their own microbrewery. Owner Murray Howe bought the former Metropolitan Hotel in Taylor’s Arm (population: 50) on NSW’s Mid North Coast four years ago and re-named it in honour of the famous Slim Dusty song (or, more correctly, because Gordon Parsons – the man who penned the lyrics – was a local and die-hard regular at the pub). “I thought it would be ironic to put a micro [brewery] in here,” Howe says. He then recruited Kiwi brewer Graeme Mahy and gave him a free hand to create “unconventional, hand-crafted beers”. Their limited-edition Anniversary Ale is a 10% A/V barley wine, matured in merlot casks, blended with 50 per cent fresh beer and bottle-conditioned in 750ml corked champagne bottles. Murray’s Sassy Blonde Murray’s Nirvana Pale Ale Nail Brewing John Stallwood’s Nail Brewery previously operated out of Perth’s Bobby Dazzler’s pub from 2000-2004; after an interim period off the market, Nail beers re-appeared in 2007 (they’re currently brewed under contract at Jarrah Jack’s in Pemberton). The flagship Nail Ale is an Australian pale ale made with Tasmanian and German hops; Nail Stout is a full-flavoured dry stout, served under nitrogen on tap. Nail Ale Northern Rivers Brewing Company This small craft brewing operation near Lismore is run by husband-and-wife team Kevin and Andrea Rowland. Their beers are available in bottles and mini kegs from the brewery door and selected outlets. (Northern Rivers Stout won Champion Beer at the 2006 Australian Hotel Beer Awards.) Northern Rivers Pale Ale Northern Rivers Stout Occy’s Brewery This small brew-pub operation kicked off in mid-2006 and is named in honour of Aussie surfing legend Mark Occhilupo (the partners behind the venture are all surfing nuts) There is a large, shaded outdoor beer garden with children’s playground and outdoor stage. Old Swan Brewery The original Swan Brewery riverside site was re-opened in 2001 as a café/restaurant and function centre with an in-house microbrewery. Master brewer Hugh Dunn boasts 18 years brewing experience and conducts brewery tours and runs regular beer dinners and tastings. The house brews can be sampled from a tasting paddle and include a strongly-bittered pilsener, a cloudy pale ale, a spicy witbier and a roasty porter. Paddy’s Brewery (Markets Hotel) This past winner of the Champion Small Brewery trophy (2004 AIBA), is something of an anomaly, sitting as it does inside a busy 24-hour pub opposite Sydney’s Flemington Markets. The microbrewery has been pumping out house beers since 2001, but VB and Toohey’s New are still the pub’s biggest-selling tap brands. Worth the journey to sample the house brews. Port Dock Brewery Hotel This 1883 building in Port Adelaide has a colourful history – the original hotel was closed down in 1909 by the local temperance movement and operated variously as a boarding house, stevedore’s office and brothel, until re-opening as a brew-pub in 1986. House brews include the hoppy Black Diamond Bitter; silky, sweetish Black Bart Stout (one of this country’s rare “milk stouts”); and the rich and potent Old Preacher (with hints of fruitcake and mocha). In a nice touch of irony, the latter is named after the zealous Reverend Kirby who was responsible for having the pub closed down in the 1900s. Potters Brewery Potters Brewery (and Inn) takes its name from the handful of historic beehive-shaped, brick kilns scattered around the property, outside Cessnock. The first microbrewed beer flowed in early 2003, making it the Hunter Valley’s only brew-pub among 140-odd wineries. The shiny, copper-clad, 600-litre brewing plant is housed in a designated tasting room, where brewer Luke Scott conducts regular brewery tours and tastings. The house beers are available on tap and bottled in champagne bottles and magnums for takeaway sales; hops are grown on-site. Look out for the excellent Hunter Oyster Stout which is brewed for St Patrick’s Day each year. Hunter Pale Ale |
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Adelaide Hills Craft Brewing (Lobethal Bierhaus)