From the mountains to the city: The best NSW brewpubs worth visiting

There’s nothing quite like drinking a beer where it’s made. Here’s five of the state’s best breweries worth a pilgrimage.

From mountain-top tastings to inner-city taprooms, NSW’s craft breweries are serving up more than just award-winning beers in uniquely Australian settings. Picture: iStock

From mountain-top tastings to inner-city taprooms, NSW’s craft breweries are serving up more than just award-winning beers in uniquely Australian settings.

Mountain Culture Beer Co

Katoomba

Mountain Culture Beer.

Mountain Culture has become one of Australia’s most popular independent brewers, topping the GABS Hottest 100 craft beers list for the past three years running. The original Katoomba brewpub is still the best place to enjoy the huge range of adventurous and eternally surprising beers on offer – kick back on the deck with a burger and an ice-cold ale and soak in the mountain air. The main brewery is now located at a much larger Emu Plains facility, which also has a taproom and rotating food trucks. Or drop by the new Redfern digs for a more inner-city mountain vibe.

23-25 Parke St, Katoomba
mountainculture.com.au

Sauce Brewing Co

Marrickville

Sauce Brewing Co.

This Marrickville craft brewery sports one of the Inner West’s best beer gardens – the perfect spot for a Sunday session or lingering stopover on a trek along the Inner West Ale Trail. Quench that thirst with one of the guaranteed-to-please brews from the core range, or explore what Sauce is really capable of and ask for a tasting paddle. You might encounter a roasted pineapple XPA, a honey-infused IPA or a mimosa wheat beer – there’s always something new on offer. Rotating food trucks keep thirsty punters fuelled; live music, trivia, televised sport and special events keep the good times rolling.

1a Mitchell St, Marrickville
sauce.beer

Sunday Road Brewing

Kirrawee

Sunday Road Brewing.

A brewery in The Shire? You betcha. Sunday Road is all about looking forward to – and then making the most of – the best day of the week. This buzzing spot in Kirrawee is the ideal place to kick back of a weekend, and the beers are as easygoing as the atmosphere – the best-selling Enigma XPA, the award-winning Cryotherapy hazy IPA and the breezy Coastal Track lager are highlights in a solid core range that’s flanked by a rotating line-up of special releases. Guest food trucks supply solidly satisfying grub, and live music on Sundays (of course) keeps the good vibes coming.

147 Bath Rd, Kirrawee
sundayroadbrewing.com.au

Bucketty’s Brewing Co

Brookvale

Bucketty's Brewing Co.

You’re always guaranteed a good time at Bucketty’s, where the whole family is welcome. There’s a kids’ play area for two-legged babies; four-legged fur-babies are welcome throughout. For grown-ups, there’s a choice of 15 rotating beers on tap – Bucketty’s brews and guest pours – as well as cider, ginger beer and a range of non-alcoholic options. The food menu is equally generous, with six big burgers to choose from as well as some epic loaded fries and sizzling wings. Once night falls, it’s time to take the hounds and little humans home, as the brewery transforms into a live music venue.

26 Orchard Rd, Brookvale
buckettys.com.au

One Drop Brewing Co

Botany

One Drop Brewing.

If you’re into sours, milk stouts and all things bonkers in brewing, Botany’s first microbrewery needs to be on your tap list. Inside a converted 1950s warehouse, locals Meg Barbic and Clay Grant work hard at creating a community environment in their dog and kid-friendly taproom – offering comedy and trivia nights, daily food trucks, pool comps and even a run club. Head brewer Nick Calder-Scholes delivers endless surprises with a range that veers from sessionable to surreal, with a speciality in experimental IPAs and award-winning sours, some almost smoothie-like in form, bursting with real fruits like mango, dragonfruit and watermelon.

5 Erith St, Botany

onedropbrewingco.com.au