There’s always plenty of champagne and six packs in our family fridge for Christmas (and usually heaps left over for New Year’s celebrations) but here are some local tipples you might like to bring home to the family this year. Cheers!
85 Doggett St, Newstead
67 Castlemaine St, Milton
Beginning in an old 1940’s bus depot in Newstead (of course) which became their popular, industrial “spiritual home” on Doggett St, and with their production brewery and pub now open in Milton, Newstead has a name in Brisbane for really good beer. They keep their core range of nine beers and one cider, plus a seasonal lager and one-off, small batch, limited release beers and collaborative brews.
142 Distillery Rd, Eagleby
Australia’s oldest operating distillery Beenleigh Rum has been brewing for over 130 years, still use the original copper equipment for pot stilling, and use high-quality local molasses and Queensland rain water in their craft. They offer tours and tastings, and you can also to sign up for their Rum Club to enjoy limited edition releases, exclusive events and tours, and more.
1152 Dulguigan Road, North Tumbulgum NSW
Creating Husk Rum, from sugar cane grown on their farm, and Ink Gin, with its vivid purple colour derived from the butterfly pea plant. Husk was Australia’s first agricultural rum distillery, launching Husk Rum in 2012, and Ink Gin was first released in 2015, after three years of experimentation, by distiller Paul Messenger of Husk Distillers which is nestled just over the border in the Tweed Valley on the family’s cattle and cane farm. The Husk Farm Distillery and Cellar Door is currently open Friday-Sunday and they offer distillery tours, Christmas party packages, or you can buy online.
6/39 Coral Street, Maleny
1 Edison Cres, Baringa
Based in Maleny on the Sunshine Coast, I’ve enjoyed the Brouhaha varieties I’ve tried (the Strawberry Rhubarb Sour made with Maleny natural yoghurt and stewed fruit is my personal favourite). Canned and kegged on site, you can find your nearest retailer on their stockists page or take a day trip up to the beautiful Hinterland and grab it yourself – their modern brewpub boasts a 10 tap bar and curated wine and spirit list of Australian wineries and distilleries, as well as a seasonal menu.
4 Byres St, Newstead
A small batch brewery in Newstead (and now also in Abbotsford, Victoria) specialising in a rotating line-up of hoppy, dark, and sour beers. Striving to explore different flavours and styles, they have no core range but are constantly evolving. Check online of pay them a visit (they also serve up sourdough pizzas if you want to stay for a pint) to see what’s currently brewing.
53-55 McCarthy Rd, Salisbury
1/208 Montague Rd, West End
37 Sinnathamby Blvd, Springfield Central
In 2015, Ballistic’s founder began searching for a site for a new brewery, eventually settling in Salisbury. Their core range of beers are traditional in style and brewed year-round, and they also have seasonal releases of special single-batch, experimental brews that push the boundaries. Shop their beers online, pay them a visit, or find them via their stockists.
5 Boundary St, Brisbane City
Within the Howard Smith Wharves development, Felons is brewing under the Story Bridge. Meet the beers on their website or pop in to their riverbank brewery to test out the merchandise. You can also order from their food and beers menu for home delivery!
259 Montague Rd, West End
Brisbane’s first grain-to-glass artisan distillery and Brisbane’s only Gin School, where you can sample gins, rhum (made directly from sugar cane, not molasses like most rum) and botanical vodkas at the tasting bar or brew your own. They also offer gift boxes, and gift certificates for their gin school classes.
31 Wellington Rd, Woolloongabba
This microbrewery in Woolloongabba has a menu of 225 preservative-free beers that you can brew with them – read more about it on their website.
150 Boundary St, West End
Four core beers and an ever-changing variety of limited edition brews are on tap at this West End establishment, and you can also buy online for delivery within Australia. They’ve also got merch, and offer brewery tours.
340 Melton Rd, Northgate
Wholly owned by Dave and Annie Ward, Aether Brewing’s Taproom has 16 draught options, a huge core range, limited & seasonal options, as well as gluten-free options. You can buy online, and the majority of their beers are also vegan, and free from preservatives and additives.
124 Boundary Street, West End
As one of the oldest independent breweries in Queensland, family-owned Brisbane Brewing Co. played a key role in introducing the world of craft beer to the city. Their beers are only distributed locally, and are brewed to suit the climate and the local lifestyle.
If you want to learn more about beer and brewing, you can join one of their Brewniversity sessions. They also have gift cards and merch.
85 Rene Street, Noosaville
Heads of Noosa Brewing Co. is an Australian independently owned craft brewery located in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. With a passion for lagers and a focus on quality, their beers are inspired by the nearby rocky headlands of Noosa Heads. Their Taproom in Noosaville has the full range of beers on tap as well as a seasonal menu, and they offer brewery tours.
2 Ern Harley Drive, Burleigh Heads
A range of beers, available online via their website and at most local bottle-os. All brewing, fermenting, maturing, filtering, bottling, canning are done onsite at their Burleigh Heads brewery, and their beers are vegan friendly, non-pasteurised, and preservative free.
15 Palomar Rd, Yeerongpilly
A local brewery with a focus on sustainability, with the goal to make 100% solar powered beer. Their brewing infrastructure has been custom-designed to maximise energy and water efficiency, minimize waste and carbon-footprint while capitalising upon Queensland’s renewable natural resources. They have a core range as well as seasonal beers, and you can purchase for delivery through their website, or directly at their taproom.
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