Discover Melbourne’s latest craft beer brew bars
A RAFT of new micro-breweries are opening their roller doors to the public. Take a look at best spots where the beer’s made right on site.
Best of Melbourne
Don't miss out on the headlines from Best of Melbourne. Followed categories will be added to My News.
While Victoria has always had a strong beer culture — VB was first brewed in 1854 — it’s now at the forefront of the craft beer movement taking the country by storm. Micro-breweries and gypsy brewers are turning hops, malt and water into so much more all over the state, with a raft of new outfits opening their roller doors to the public.
THAT’S THE SPIRIT: MELBOURNE’S BEST BARS
Here are the best new brew bars where the beer’s made on site and out of sight!
QUEENSCLIFF BREWHOUSE
Opening last September, Queenscliff’s old Esplanade Hotel has been transformed into a hub celebrating locally brewed beer thanks to the gang from Otway Brewing.
What are they serving? There’s 27 beers and ciders (predominantly the Prickly Moses beers and Forbidden Fruit cider range) being poured from 38 taps, with five dedicated to Geelong beers in the regional tasting room. There’s also a kitchen serving beer- and kid-friendly fare.
EXPLORE MELBOURNE’S THEME BARS
What’s the signature brew? The Spotted Ale, a beer that raises funds for the Cape Otway Conservation Centre and the endangered tiger quoll. It’s the beer that gives the gift of life.
Anything else to know? There’s a full-scale microbrewery in the works, with a gin, rum and whisky bar ready to pour its first nip in May for National Whisky Day.
2 Gelibrand St, Queenscliff, queenscliffbrewhouse.com.au
CASTLEMAINE BREWING
Castlemaine was once home to 14 breweries (including the Castlemaine Perkins Brewery, which relocated to Queensland where it continues to brew XXXX today). The Castlemaine Brewing Co, at The Mill redevelopment, has brought brewing back to town, opening last April.
A talented trio are behind the space — designer Michael Wolfe, event professional Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns and Hunters & Collectors drummer Doug Falconer.
What are they serving? Eight beers on tap — including the core golden ale, pilsner lager and Celtic red — join a small menu of pizzas fresh from the oven.
What’s the signature brew? The Celtic Red was the first to be brewed, but other seasonal favourites now include a summer ale and an espresso lager from brewer Brad Iles, who learnt the ropes at Gippsland’s Grand Ridge Brewery and Bendigo’s Brookes before joining Castlemaine.
Anything else to know? The Frailty pale ale was brewed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the release of the Hunters’ Human Frailty album. The family friendly taproom holds karaoke nights, jamming sessions and trivia nights.
9 Walker St, Castlemaine, castlemainebrewing.com
TALLBOY AND MOOSE
Take a lanky Aussie — Dan “Tallboy” Hall — add Canadian Steve “Moose” Germain, and you have Tallboy and Moose, Preston’s latest addition to the craft brew canon.
Dan’s brewed around the traps (Hawkers, Brewcult, Moondog) while Steve looks after the sales and marketing side of the venture.
What are they serving? Seven house beers and a guest cider run from eight taps — with another eight soon to be installed.
“We typically have a new beer coming out of the brewery every week or two,” Steve says.
What’s the signature brew? “Our only core beer is our Cream Ale, a clean and crisp easy drinker that goes down perfectly on a hot day. It’s not too full-on but does have a refreshing slight bitterness from European noble hops,” Steve says.
Anything else to know? Food trucks park out front on weekends, while grabbing food from local eateries — Chew Burger, Noi Pizzeria, UAE — and eating in with a beer is encouraged. A kitchen is in the planning stages.
270 Raglan St, Preston, tallboyandmoose.com
WESTSIDE ALE WORKS
Opened at the end of last year by US expat Casey Wall, Westside Ale Works celebrates the craft brews from the West Coast of the US — from Seattle to southern California.
What are they serving? Nine taps offering five year-round brews: Everybody Loves Pale Ale, Electric Socks Pale Ale, Ava’s Amber Ale, Red Roo IPA and Safeword Double IPA. A rotating seasonal is currently a German Weiss that will become a coffee infused Porter when it gets colder.
Anything else to know? The share-house vibe keeps things casual. Pub grub comes courtesy of the Golden Fleece Hotel next door, while UberEats et al are welcome to drop bites by to have with the beer (which can also be ordered online to be delivered around Australia).
23-5 Alfred St, South Melbourne, westsidealeworks.com.au
ATHLETIC CLUB BREWERY
Adding some stylish smarts to Ballarat’s growing craft beer scene, the Athletic Club Brewery opened last Nov.
What’s the vision? “Over the years I have been involved in many Ballarat community sports clubs. While the name pays homage to Ballarat’s rich sporting heritage, it is the essence of a sports club — that of shared passion and a sense of community — that encapsulates what the Athletic Club Brewery is all about,” says founder Peter Parry.
HOW MELBOURNE PUBS HAVE CHANGED
What are they serving? The public brewery launched with eight house beers, from
an amber through pale and sparkling ales to a schwarzbeir.
Anything else to know? The Freight Restaurant next door offers American diner-style dining, while budding brewers can have a crack at making their own with one of the self-brew sessions on offer.
47 Mair St, Ballarat, athleticclubbrewery.com.au
HOP NATION
Adding some backyard brewing to the backstreets of Footscray, Sam Hambour and Duncan Gibson opened Hop Nation in July last year after gypsy brewing for a couple of years. Winemakers by trade, the duo swapped to hops and haven’t looked back.
What are they serving? Reflecting their heritage, there’s a bit of wine available alongside some guest tap takeovers, but it’s really all about the core range including The Damned (pilsner), The Chop (US IPA) and an American Red named The Buzz.
What’s the signature? The Fiend is an Australian IPA that’s won fans far and wide.
Anything else to know? Hungry? You might find a food truck in front, or dial Deliveroo.
6/107 Whitehall St, Footscray, hopnation.com.au
MR BANKS
What Mr Banks lacks in size it makes up for in ambition, with Chris and Penny Farmer opening their Seafood brewhouse doors in December with plans to take their beers across the country.
What are they serving? Just four house brews on tap at the moment, though plans are in place to up the size of the space and with that will come more taps, too. An oatmeal stout and brown are popular with the professionals, with a pale ale and IPA rounding out the offer.
Anything else to know? There’s a small outdoor area for sipping in the sun and a brewery basketball ring that gets a workout between beers for the energetically inclined.
12 Hi-Tech Pl, Seaford, mrbanksbrewing.com.au
STOMPING GROUND
Founder of one of the first — and best — champions of local and international beers, the St Kilda Tap House (along with the annual GABS festival), Steve Jeffares took his beaut brew smarts across the river and opened a huge and handsome warehouse brewery and beer hall in Collingwood in Oct.
What are they serving? With between 12 and 20 house beers on tap at any time, there’s a brew for every mood and everyone. There are Growlers (1.89L) and Squealers (945ml) available to grab and go for brewery fresh beers at home.
What’s the signature? Hard to pick one, but the Gipps St pale ale named after the brewery’s home is a tropical quencher served straight from the tank. The nitro milk stout, all silky choc-espresso, is going to be the go-to this winter.
Anything else to know? Eating’s not cheating here, with the kitchen serving an extensive — and well executed — menu that ticks off wood-fried pizza and burgers but also ventures into knife-and-fork fare that has unexpected flair — the lamb rump with fennel and peanut sambal is especially good. There’s a cubbyhouse and games for kids, too. Fun for the whole family.
100 Gipps St, Collingwood, stompingground.beer
5 TOP MFWF BEER EVENTS
April 1: Melbourne Brewers Collective Beer Deluxe Fed Square
Nine Melbourne breweries will be scattered throughout the venue, each pouring an exclusive MFWF specialty beer, as well as a crowd favourite from their core range.
April 1-2: James Squire Versus the World, The Crafty Squire, city
Join James Squire as he puts his brews to the test against contenders from across the globe, including England, Ireland, America and Czechoslovakia, comparing his styles against their international counterparts.
April 6: Smoky Meats and Craft Beer Kaiju Brewery, Dandenong South
Learn from the experts when Uncle’s Smallgoods and Kaiju Brewery team up for a night of artisan smoked meaty masterpieces matched with craft beer and cider.
April 9: Coffee, Beer and Prosciutto at The Craft and Co, Collingwood
Celebrate the best of coffee, beer and prosciutto over three individual workshops. Book for one, two or all three for a whole day of learning and tasting: coffee roasting, brewing or making prosciutto.
April 1-2: South Wharf Craft Beer Weekend
Part of the festival’s opening weekend River Graze, the inaugural South Wharf Craft Beer Weekend celebrates our best craft beer and cider producers.
How to plan a post-lockdown Great Ocean Road getaway
The regional border has lifted, which means we can plan a trip to the Great Ocean Road. Here’s where to eat, stay and play.
‘I wouldn’t even s*** that’: What you missed on Wentworth
Wentworth does WikiLeaks in the third episode of the new season, as the Foxtel drama welcomes a new face. And there’s drama for Reb and Lou. Warning: Spoilers.