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!
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. Husk Rum launched 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 is currently open 7 days and they offer distillery tours, lunches and tastings, or you can buy online.
Cauldron Estate and Distillery
89-123 Hartley Rd, Tamborine Mountain
Located in the Hartley Road Winery Precinct on Tamborine Mountain, Cauldron Estate is an 18-acre property with beautiful established vineyards and lush green meadows perfect for picnics, lawn games or kicking back for an afternoon of R&R.
They produce and serve unique Queensland-inspired beverages including their award winning Five To Five Gin range. They also host Sip N Paints, and you can book a distillery tour, gin making class, or gin blending class.
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.
Brouhaha now operates taprooms at both locations, with Maleny acting as pilot lab for Limited Release creations, and Baringa acting as the production brewery with taproom, food trucks and live music.
4 Byres St, Newstead
146 Baroona Road, Paddington
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 or pay them a visit at the Newstead taproom or the Patio restaurant and bar to see what’s currently brewing.
53-55 McCarthy Rd, Salisbury
37 Sinnathamby Blvd, Springfield Central
In 2015, Ballistic’s founder began searching for a site for a new brewery, eventually settling in Salisbury. Since opening in 2017, they have opened four additional venues along the east coast of Queensland. Ballistic was acquired by Catchment Group (who also own Catchment Brewing and Noisy Minor Brewing, among others). Their core range of beers are traditional in style and brewed year-round, and they also have regular releases of special single-batch and 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.
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 and vegan options. You can also buy online.
124 Boundary Street, West End
601 Stanley St, Woolloongabba
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 and their beers are brewed to suit the climate and the local lifestyle. 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.
2 Ern Harley Drive, Burleigh Heads
Co-founded by Peta and Brennan Fielding, Burleigh Brewing have 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 limited edition beers, and you can purchase for delivery through their website, or directly at their taproom.
94 Wilkie St, Yeerongpilly
8 The Avenue, Birtinya
An independent brewery and cellar door in Yeerongpilly owned by Deale and Elisa Stanley-Hunt. 20+ tap beers are straight from the back-of-house production room, so you can savour each sip in full view of the stainless-steel tanks it was brewed in. Slipstream love to explore different dimensions in IPAs, experiment with new styles, and create sessionable beers from Tropical Pale Ales to refreshing Lagers. Limited-release brews have included fruity sours, spicy ginger beers, dark roasty stouts and more, and the range is constantly evolving. They also opened a new satellite venue on the Sunshine Coast in October 2024.
5 Junner Street, Dunwich / Gumpi, Minjerribah / North Stradbroke Island
Straddie Brewing Co was founded by husband-and-wife team Kylie Taylor and Troy Beaven, with Andrew Sydes (formerly of Green Beacon and Catchment Brewing in Brisbane).
The three-storey brewhouse and taproom is just minutes from the water and ferry terminal, and their beers are crafted using the pure, sand-filtered water that flows from Straddie’s ancient aquifer. The rooftop bar also serves up cocktails, local artisan spirits, and a curated selection of Australian wines. Brewery tours are available, and there is one “Beer in Bed” accommodation option hidden away on the rooftop deck (with an extra wide beer-shelf in the shower).
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