Epic three-level BrewDog bar opens in Fortitude Valley

A three-storey brew pub in a heritage-listed Valley building, with 20 craft beers on tap, city views, deep-fried Oreos and “farm-to-table junk food” opens Friday.

BRISBANE will welcome a new three-level bar in the heart of Fortitude Valley this week.

Following the popularity of their first venue in Murarrie, Scottish-born brewery chain, BrewDog, is opening a second venue in Brunswick St at midday on Friday in revamped heritage-listed Tranberg House.

The brewhouse, opposite the Fortitude Valley train station, spans three storeys and unlike Murrarie, includes a 130-capacity private function space with a balcony that overlooks the city skyline, suitable for weddings, parties, corporate meetings and events.

BrewDog’s head of operations Calvin McDonald said it said it took about 18 months to transform the spaces, which were a former automotive garage, dentist and office, into the impressive 400-seat bar.

The new BrewDog set to open in the Valley on Friday. Picture: Markus Ravik image

“It required a little bit of vision to see how these spaces, which didn’t have any relationship with each other, would be repurposed into a hospitality fit-out but the landlord came to us and said ‘what about this for a new BrewDog venue?” he said.

“We have had constant requests for private hires, corporate events and people wanting to show sports and we just don’t have flexibility for that in Murarrie.”

As well as events, the space includes a “beer hall” on the lower floor, areas to watch big sporting games on TVs, bars on each level and a kitchen offering all the favourites from their Murarrie site.

“We wanted to do something different but still with the classic BrewDog blueprint and being in a heritage building, it’s full of character and we’ve kept some original finishes,” he said.

“On the basement level there are the original paintings on the wall which are old advertisements for Shell Motors, we’ve kept original beams and some parts of the ceilings.”

“It’s a cool combination to get to move into an old building but we’ve had a new fit out.”

The shuffle boards at BrewDog in the Valley Picture: Markus Ravik

The top floor is also home to two shuffle boards, where you slide pucks down a smooth table made of wood, for punters to use.

McDonald said the new bar would have 20 beer taps including session-strength pale ales and lagers, imperial stouts and sours, made at BrewDog’s solar-powered Murarrie brewery and taproom which is 100 per cent carbon negative, and a range of gust local breweries.

He hopes their central location will bring in a new demographic.

The menu, described as “farm-to-table junk food” is 50 per cent plant-based, including four burgers, a plant stack grazing platter, all wings are available as a cauliflower option and there’s a spicy heribvire pizza. For carnivores there everything from a cluck norris chicken burger, a reuben, a Queensland banana prawn pizza and deep-fried Oreos to finish.

“Our M-O has always been to bring good beer to as many people as possible” McDonald said.

“The Valley doesn’t have a reputation for a beer conisseur but we might rectify that and now in the valley there’s Stone and Wood, Bloodhouds, Valley hops and Netherworld, so hopefully if you’re a series beer fan, and want to enjoy beers, the valley is an attractive place.”

One of the spaves in the 400-seat new BrewDog bar. Picture: Markus Ravik

McDonald said he hopes they can bring business and life back into the valley after recent tough times throughout the pandemic.

“This end of Brunswick St is undergoing a huge transformation and I think we’re getting in at a right time … we are part of a vibrant rejuvenation.”

They will be open 11am- midnight seven days a week.