Best of the Gold Coast 2019: the top 13 breweries, wineries and distilleries in the region revealed
There’s no denying the Gold Coast froths on a locally-brewed drop. A toast to the top 13 breweries, wineries and distilleries in our region — here’s looking at you.
Best of Gold Coast
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There’s no denying the Gold Coast froths on a locally-brewed drop. Best of the Gold Coast has rounded up the 13 top wineries, distilleries and breweries in our region — here’s looking at you.
HUSK DISTILLERS
Dulguigan Road, North Tumbulgum
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This paddock to bottle distiller started with a quest to make a uniquely Australian agricole rum but while it was maturing in the oak, an experiment with gin became a national sensation. The creators of Ink Gin are now expanding their distillery operation from the tiny farm shed they started in, building a new facility, complete with cafe, bar and cellar door, further down the paddock. While their indigo-tinted gin has taken on a life of its own, distiller Paul Messenger has been working on his Spiced Bam Bam rum and Pure Cane unaged agricole, made from the sugar cane he grows on the farm. A forthcoming limited edition agricole Pure Cane in traditional Caribbean style and 50 per cent proof is expected to be sold out before it even leaves the farm.
BLACK HOPS
15 Gardenia Grove, Burleigh Heads
It seems Black Hops Brewery constantly have a reason to crack open a beer and celebrate. In the last couple of months the Burleigh Heads brewers, started up by three mates in 2015, won four awards at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show, opened a second venue in Biggera Waters and launched its range interstate. “We went to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle, we did a launch event at every venue,” co-owner Dan Norris says. “There was a lot of people (we met) who’d been to the Gold Coast and had been supporting us for a long time. It was very cool.” If you’re looking for a drop that captures the essence of Black Hops, the GOAT IPA represents the brewers’ objective to always stay in vogue. “Hazy IPA is really taking off here and in America,” Dan says. “They look and taste like juice.”
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BURLEIGH BREWING
2 Ern Harley Dr, Burleigh Heads
Ever thought up a crazy beer concoction that you wish you could sip? Burleigh Brewing are probably working on it. “We brew a new tap house exclusive beer every single week,” director Peta Fielding says. “We’ve got beers listed that will be done once a week all the way up to October. Some of them we don’t really know we’ll make them but we’ll figure it out before then.” Burleigh Brewing is currently partnering with Gold Coast culture festival Bleach*, where you’ll be able to sip on its signature Burleigh Mid-Tide range with your toes in the sand at the Burleigh Bleach* Club from next Wednesday to April 29.
GRANDDAD JACKS
45 Lemana Lane, Miami
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This family business, founded by the grandson and great-grandson of the infamous Granddad Jack, sells craft gin with character, but there’s so much more in the pipeline. Visit the Miami facility for a distillery tour on Saturday and Sunday from 3pm and keep an eye on the website to secure a seat at new Distillery Experiences. “We have recently committed to bringing out a new small batch product every single month that will only be available from the tasting room in limited stock,” director Luke Ridden says. “Our tasting room is right around the corner from Black Hops and is open Friday, Saturday from 3 — 10pm and Sunday 3 — 8pm serving up our delicious vodka, 3 Gins single keg release craft beer and in June/July we will also have our first whiskey release.”
TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY
10 Macdonnell Rd, Tamborine Mountain
Big things are in store for this Tamborine Mountain distillery. Currently putting the final touches on its bigger and better venue in a more central location, owner Gordon Chalmers says the business was forced to relocate after being unable to keep up with the demand from customers. So what is it about this distillery that has the people arriving in droves? It distils a range of delicious liqueurs and spirits in an Elizabethan-style manor, transporting guests to a magical bygone world that gets more fantastical the more you drink. Gordon says the new venue, set to open later this month, will maintain this olde town charm, just on a much larger scale.
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LOST PALMS BREWING
11 Oak Avenue, Miami
When a few mates start a beach town beer business you can guarantee a by-product is going to be laughter. Lost Palms Brewing’s new Aunty Suzy Key Lime Pie sour NEIPA pays homage to a beloved relative with classic Aussie tongue-in-cheek humour (think Sun Mum). “We had to brew a special beer for the Beer In Cider Festival, so we created a story around it,” co-founder Jayden Kenna says. “Everyone has an Aunty Suzy that’s good at cooking. So we made a funny video for this sour NEIPA and put it up on Instagram.” Jayden says we can expect to see more specialty beers like this one from Lost Palms after recently employing a new head brewer and sale representative to keep up with demand.
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PICKLED PIG BREWERY
2/18 Industry Drive, Tweed Heads South
With a name like Pickled Pig, you might be surprised to know the boutique brewing business’ products are completely cruelty free. “We became vegan by default,” owner Paul Brewer says. “Other companies throw ground up fish gut on the beer which settles the sediment quickly, but we use natural settling.” The Tweed Heads small business distils a range of beer and cider with no additives and preservatives, with its progressive approach to business catching the eye of plenty conscientious restaurants and bars. “We picked up a lot of business from (vegan restaurants) Elixiba and Greenhouse. In terms of the Brewery, we’re solar powered, our bottles are recycled. We’re trying to be green.”
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WITCHES FALLS WINERY
79 Main Western Road, North Tamborine
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Witches Falls Winery was fermenting natural wines with locally sourced grapes before it was in vogue. “Our Wild Ferment range, they’re a range of wine that are treated very naturally,” marketing manager Helen McAteer says. “That’s been something we’ve been doing for a while.” Helen says the picturesque grounds are the perfect place to unwind with an award-winning bottle of white or red accompanied by a platter of handmade cheeses. “It’s always a fabulous place to come, it’s very relaxed,” she says. “We also have cheeses here now which are locally made. We encourage people to put together their own DIY cheese platter, when they’re doing their tasting or just relaxing with a glass. We’re focused on giving a fantastic guest experience, our staff are amazing.”
O’REILLY’S CANUNGRA VALLEY VINEYARDS
852 Lamington National Park Rd, Canungra
There’s no better place to sample the fruits of local labour than in the beautiful grounds of this hinterland winery. Enjoy a picnic on the banks of Canungra Creek — they’ll supply everything you need for your alfresco outing. Make sure you snap up a bottle of the new O’Reilly’s Rhelma Reserve Rosé to pop in the hamper too. The crisp, pretty pink vino is fast becoming a favourite. Historic homestead Killowen is home to Vintage Restaurant, open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and now serving pizzas that provide another option for creekside diners. But perhaps the biggest hit with families is Mountview Alpaca Farm, allowing visitors to walk or snap a selfie with its adorable residents.
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BALTER BREWING CO
14 Traders Way, Currumbin
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If you’ve been to a social gathering in the last few years you would have seen a can of beer from Balter. The simple two-tone tins with the signature smirk have become synonymous with beach days, house warmings and Hottest 100 parties, developed by pro surfing buddies Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr and Bede Burbidge and head brewer Scotty Hargrave. First launched in 2016, fans froth on the award-winning pale ale, as well as its ranges of draughts, pilsners and brown ales. The Currumbin-born company is currently gearing up for the inaugural Great Australian Beer Spectacular to be held in Brisbane later this month, where its speciality Double Hazy IPA will be up for scrutiny.
STONE AND WOOD
100 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay
This iconic brew might have a premises in stylish Byron Bay but its roots lie in Murwillumbah. The pale ale trailblazers brew and bottle its craft beer in the Northern Rivers, putting the region on the map worldwide. Stone and Wood prides itself on being entirely independently owned and made with only four ingredients — water, malt, hops and yeast. That’s not to say the team don’t experiment — you can taste a variety of “Pilot Batch” beers at its Byron taphouse featuring ingredients of seasonal produce, or pick up a pack of classic Pacific Ale, Green Coast Lager or Garden Ale from boutique and large chain bottle shops.
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AARDVARK AND ARROW
4/13 John Duncan Court, Varsity Lakes
He’s probably used it a few times, but owner Guy Scruton says he was a schoolteacher before he made the natural progression to alcohol. Ten years later, what started as a small batch microbrewery offers a wide range of chemical and preservative-free brews: lagers, pilsners, ales, blacks, stouts, mid-strengths and ciders. The Varsity Lakes brew house is also available for hire as a party venue or will deliver its kegs or big fridges to your venue of choice. “You know the old saying ‘can’t organise a piss-up in a brewery’, well, you actually can,” Guy says. “It’s expensive for people to celebrate their special occasions these days and we try to help them do that for a decent price.” There’s a caveat though — no 18ths or 21sts on site but Guy says to contact him or his team for all other occasions.
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LAUGHING LIZARD BREWING COMPANY
Unit 1, 27 Sinclair Street, Arundel
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This local brewer is best known for its top-selling Mexicana drop, a Corona equivalent, that brothers John and Gary Land have perfected over the years. The two started their microbrewery 12 years ago and now make 150 beers and ciders including a couple of left field brews: a gluten-free beer and their own unique tropical cider invention. Punters are welcome to make their own 50 litre batches on site by appointment or can hire any equipment they need for brewing, parties or any other occasion. “We’ve just got some 12 volt camp fridges with a beer font that hold a 10 litre keg,” John says. “Perfect to pack in with your camping gear.” Supplying direct to the public for square deal prices, Laughing Lizard is now branching into commercial supply to boutique bars and restaurants.
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