Five regional craft breweries to explore this weekend
While the image of inner-city craft breweries tends towards bearded hipsters in flannelette shirts eating off shovels, out in the country the brew houses take a more relaxed tack.Beer tasting is still a serious affair but you also get outdoor space, room for kids to run around and the sense of a big day out. Choose a responsible driver and hop into one of these brewing beauties.
St Andrews Beach Brewery, St Andrews, Victoria
What does three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva have in common with brewing beer? Down on the Mornington Peninsula at St Andrews Beach Brewery it becomes obvious. This former thoroughbred training facility is now a brewery restaurant, you can sit in the former stables of the stars, the training track is now planted with cider apples and pears, the beer is cold, and the atmosphere family-friendly. The food tends towards burgers, pizzas and salads and if only year 2000 Cup winner Brew was around, it’d be perfect.
Boston Brewing Company, Denmark, Western Australia
No, this isn’t Scandinavia or Massachusetts but WA’s lush, south west coast. Here you’ll find the Boston Brewing Company where locals enjoy a drink, a feed and the surrounds. There’s a huge outdoor beer paddock (it’s much bigger than a garden) scattered with tables, umbrellas and a seriously exciting sandpit and playground for the kids. The menu mixes pub classics with twists; add a Poison Point IPA, a Hey Hay wheat beer or a glass of Tingletop ginger beer, and it’s perfection.
Camel Rock Brewery, Wallaga Lake, NSW
Any doubts about the family-friendly nature of country brew houses are instantly dispelled by Camel Rock’s location near Bermagui on NSW’s south coast. It’s actually in a Big 4 holiday park and all comers are welcome for a taste of homemade beers, some of which include local native ingredients such as wattle seed. Kids can play mini-golf, dogs are welcome, there’s hearty no-nonsense dude-food, and if you down one too many ales it’s only a short walk back to a cabin.
Scenic Rim Brewery, Mount Alford, Queensland
The pace of life is pretty quiet in Mount Alford, despite being only about an hours drive from the Gold Coast or Brisbane. The local picturesque general store has been transformed into the Scenic Rim Brewery and it’s a fab place to visit. First, there are beers such as Giddy Gout milk stout or Phar Que Belgian ale. Second, there’s the cafe food, including the Food of the Gods home-made Chiko roll. Lastly, the view from the back deck is gorgeous – the perfect spot to kick back, relax and drink up.
Woolshed Brewery, Murtho, South Australia
The Woolshed is well named, it’s a 100 year-old shearing shed that’s been converted to a brew house making and serving thirst-quenching ales. The location is spectacular with lawns sloping down to the Murray River, among towering red gums on the family-owned Wilkadene property just north of Renmark. Stop for a drink, bring a picnic, or raid a local food truck on weekends. You can even stay at Wilkadene Cottage or hire a houseboat to make the most of a lovely journey.
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