Australia’s best breweries

By Amy Fraser

Australia’s breathtaking landscapes, vibrant flavours and community spirit come together to create a brewery scene bursting with charm. Whether you like to sip on traditional brews or quirky sours, in every corner of the country you’ll find a friendly brewery to share a beer with mates.

Felons Brewing Co

Sunshine, water views and beers that’ll get your mouth watering; tucked under the Story Bridge, Brisbane’s Felons Brewing is the place to be in this sun-drenched capital. With a strong focus on locally sourced ingredients, there’s little wonder their ales pack a punch. Gather your mates and enjoy some of the city’s most refreshing beers on the banks of the Brisbane River.

Hemingway's

Is there anything more refreshing than an ice-cold beer in the tropics? Hemingway’s Brewery serves up award-winning beers by the waterfront in both Port Douglas and Cairns. Stop in after a day snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef to taste their range and discover the fascinating historical ‘beer story’ to match.

Goodieson Brewery

The McLaren Vale region prides itself on world-class wine, but among the vines, you’ll also discover the award-winning Goodieson Brewery. The owner, Jeff, blends traditional techniques with natural ingredients to serve big, bold beers. Enjoy a tasting on the terrace overlooking sweeping vineyards and a tree-lined creek.

BentSpoke

Known for its adventurous spirit, BentSpoke in Canberra is a modern brewery bursting with award-winning beers that are difficult not to love. Taste everything from caramel red nut IPAs to raspberry wheat beer. Even better, the brewery operates on an eco-conscious system, championing a number of sustainable-minded practices.

Matso’s

Located in Western Australia’s beautiful beach town of Broome, Matso’s Brewery dubs itself ‘Australia’s most remote brewery since 1997’ – but it's not just the location that puts this stomping ground on Australia’s brewery map. Matso’s dreams up some of the most creative brews in the country. Spice things up with their chilli beer, or cool off with a beer infused with mango.

Young Henry’s

Young Henry’s brewery, set within the eclectic suburb of Newtown in Sydney, is known for its top-quality beers and rock-and-roll attitude. Head to the converted warehouse to try anything from easy-drinking lagers and ales to their adventurous line including Tiramisu White Stout and Coral Sours. Be sure to check out their latest collaborations while you’re there; from the Foo Fighters to Afends, this trendy brewery knows how to make magic happen.

Discover Sydney’s best craft breweries

Moon Dog

The outskirts of Melbourne is home to not just one, but two Moon Dog breweries. The converted warehouses – adorned with street art and fairy lights – are just as vibrant as the beers they serve. Expect to try eccentric flavours like the Peach N’ Plum Sour Ale, or go classy with the Cognac Barrel Aged Double IPA.

Discover Melbourne’s best craft breweries

Cascade Brewery

It’s not just the beers that draw locals and visitors to the doors of Cascade Brewery in historic Hobart. Nestled in the foothills of Mt. Wellington, Cascade Brewery has been in operation since 1824, making it Australia’s oldest operating brewery. If you’re seeking history, flavoursome beers and magnificent scenery, then you’ve hit the jackpot.

Little Creatures

Wander through Perth’s port city Fremantle, and you’ll soon stumble upon Little Creatures Brewery – a pioneer of the Australian craft brewery scene. Their speciality has always been pale ales, but that’s not stopped them from crafting some seriously good single-batch stouts, sours and low-calorie beers. Quench your thirst with a schooner and a slice of wood-fired pizza in their lively backyard.

Balter

Located in the heart of the Gold Coast’s surf town Currumbin, there’s no surprise that Balter was founded by four Australian pro surfers (including Mick Fanning). Everything about this brewery oozes minimalist surf chic, from its hipster merch to its warehouse-style taproom serving some of the best pale ales Australia has to offer. While you’re there, have a laugh competing in a "tinnie hurling" competition.

Have a drink in a Gold Coast Brewery.

St. Andrews Beach Brewery

Beer gardens don’t get much better than the St. Andrews Beach Brewery, known for its top-notch food and feel-good ales on the tip of the Mornington Peninsula. The beers here are as fresh as you get, made on-site at the property’s state-of-the-art Italian brew house and farm. Stop by for a long lunch and beer in the sunshine.

Stone & Wood

The chilled-out Byron Bay, located in the north of New South Wales, boasts one of Australia’s most recognised craft beers. Stone & Wood believes in brewing for those sweet Byron Bay moments – an afternoon surf, a live music gig and a beer shared with mates. Drop into the brewery to try the ocean-inspired Original Pale Ale, or the Green Coast Lager that celebrates the region’s lush hinterland.