Guide to Australia’s craft breweries

Craft beer has been a rapidly growing industry in Australia over the last decade, you might have noticed a lot more vividly decorated labels and cans popping up in bottle shops. Standard-looking beers are no longer in fashion, instead the industry has moved towards bright neon, funky artwork, or even more imaginative can and bottle designs.

For those who don’t know, craft beer is made in a traditional or non-mechanical way by a small brewery. It’s perfect for those who want some range, with breweries often mixing it up and having different limited runs of some delicious types that’ll have you wishing they weren’t limited.

While craft breweries certainly stock Lagers, they’re great for finding those rarer types such as the varieties of Pale Ales (IPA, APA, XPA), Sours, Stouts, Goses and more. With so many to choose from, it can be intimidating to pick, but if you go into a brewery you’ll be able to try before you buy.

There are over 700 craft breweries in Australia, ranging in sizes from the difficult-to-find microbreweries to those big enough to be found in most venues nationally. While they’re mostly focused around the South-East coast of Australia, there are still some in each state ready and waiting for you.

There are plenty of breweries to choose from in NSW, particularly in Marrickville in Sydney’s inner west. For those who love craft beers, it’s definitely recommended to have a walk around the area, with so many within a stone’s throw it makes the perfect self-guided tour of Sydney’s smaller breweries. The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre is a great place to finish up, with its own 80’s themed Australian-Chinese restaurant, but make sure to book ahead as it gets very busy. Some other breweries include labels that have quickly become stock standard, including Young Henrys, Stone & Wood, James Squire and 4 Pines.

As cool as Melbourne is, with the foodie culture they have, it’s no surprise that they’ve got plenty of craft breweries on offer. A lot of these have great stories behind them, started by people who really care about beer like Boatrocker, Two Birds and Bridge Road Brewers. Keen to go deeper into IPA culture? Fixation Brewing has made this beer type their trademark, making them fresh, hoppy and ready to be poured into your glass. Moon Dog Brewing don’t just have great froths, but also their own seltzers for those wanting something different.

Thanks to Canberra’s fantastic water quality, you’ll be able to enjoy some top shelf beer from the breweries. Two favourites are BentSpoke Brewing Co and Capital Brewing Co. BentSpoke take their beers with a twist, giving modern a new name with everything from award-winning ale to gluten-free ginger beer. Meanwhile, Capital Brewing have made it their business to create delicious beer, with seasonal and taproom-only releases making the trip worth it.

With breweries from Brisbane up to Cairns, the Sunshine State will get you that delicious amber liquid you desire. In Currumbin, four Australian pro surfers including Mick Fanning, started Balter. Not only does it deliver some great beers that have won national and international awards, the brewery also has ‘tinnie hurling’ competitions, so if you want to test your skills this is a must visit. Other ones to check out are All Inn Brewing Co, which centres around being eco-conscious while delivering fantastic flavour, or Green Beacon, who love to experiment.

Just outside of Launceston, Little Rivers Brewing Co has some classic beers that make for easy drinking, as well as seasonal releases that will pair beautifully with your surrounds. Close to the Pipers River wine route and 30 minutes’ drive from Australia’s most exciting mountain biking track (though please don’t combine the two activities), you’d be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful spot

South Australia is known for their wine from the world-famous Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, but that isn’t the only alcohol they’re knocking out of the park. They also have the Prancing Pony Brewery, whose head brewer travels the world for the latest in brewing to bring it back home and make their own. Pirate Life and Big Shed Brewing Co are two other breweries that are worth checking out, combining good beer with great vibes. If you’re wanting views to go with your pint of beer, Goodieson Brewery and Shifty Lizard Brewing Co are located in the stunning McLaren Vale area.

The West coast has got its own share of great breweries, including one of the Little Creatures breweries, arguably one of the most famous Aussie craft beers. This will be one of the ones that will be easy to find at your local pub, but visiting the brewery is always recommended because the range is bigger with seasonal brews and their iconic pint-sized bottles. Another main event is Gage Roads Brew Co, which is one of Australia’s longest-running breweries, the perfect spot for those who want to get int the history of the art. Other breweries worth checking out are Nail Brewing and Feral Brewing.

Visiting the Top End means heat and humidity, which can feel like a lot if you aren’t used to it. So grabbing a beer to cool off is more tempting than ever. One Mile Brewery, which started as a home-brew hobby, caters specifically for that tough climate making it the perfect place to visit at the end of a long day. Darwin city centre has Six Tanks Brewing Co on offer, with 26 taps to choose from and the dishes to complement them. Or for a rustic feel, the cellar door in Beaver Brewery is a charming family-owned microbrewery.

Want to know more about beer? Why not watch Beers of Joy (M) a documentary about beer on iWonder available on Optus SubHub.