The September/October issue of drinks trade features a complete list of Sydney’s breweries. Here, Hannah Sparks looks at 10 favourites
Who would have thought that there are more than 40 breweries in Sydney today (and that’s only counting the metropolitan area)? Beer is alive and thriving in this city, with countless pubs, clubs and hotels also doing their part to support the craft movement. Meet Your Local Brewers introduces the interesting and eclectic gypsy brewers, microbrewers and larger brewers across Australia, one city or region at a time.
1. MALT SHOVEL BREWERY
The Malt Shovel Brewery is the busy hub of James Squire, one of Australia’s most famous craft beer brands. Like James Squire, the brewery also tells a great story. Originally a furniture factory, the building in Camperdown was first transformed into a brewery by craft brewing pioneer Dr Charles Chuck Hahn, who had worked with Coors in Colorado, Tooths in Sydney and Lion Breweries in New Zealand. After his time in New Zealand, Hahn returned to Australia and established his brewery which brought much acclaim and success. However, the economic conditions in the early 1990s soon created problems and by 1993, Lion Nathan took over the Hahn Brewery. Fortunately in 1998, the brewery was relaunched as the Malt Shovel Brewery and began brewing the James Squire range of beers in honour of Australia’s first brewer. Still today under the direction of Brew Master Chuck Hahn, the brewery and the beers have won countless awards domestically and internationally, including Champion Australasian Brewery on several occasions.
Tel: 02 9519 3579
Malt Shovel Brewery
2. AUSTRALIAN BREWERY
One of the larger brewers, the Australian Brewery, has gone from humble beginnings in a small brewery in the Hunter Valley to breaking out of the Sydney bubble from its newer base in Rouse Hill to national and international acclaim. In fact, it’s currently sitting on a two-year gold medal strike rate at every competition it’s entered. It’s easy to see why its beers are popular with the masses, with the Australian Brewery taking international styles everyone loves and putting its own slant on them. The current range includes a New World Pilsner, Seis Hermanos Lager, Australian Pale Ale and All Star Session IPA.
Tel: 02 9679 4555
3. BALMAIN BREWING COMPANY
The Balmain Brewing Company was launched in 2010 by a group of local Balmain friends passionate about beer and bringing great tasting, hand crafted beers to other locals. Its home is an iconic one, claiming the largest amount of pubs per capita in Australia in the mid-1800s. With that number having fallen somewhat over the years, Balmain Brewing Co. aims to re-establish the area’s former sentiment of tradition, mates and pub culture, and become Sydney’s well-known local beer company. Currently their beers include the Original Pale Ale, Pilsner, Summer Ale and Bock. The pale ale, a popular brew across the city, is a ramped up English-style ale, rich in malt flavour and bitterness.
Location: (Balmain is currently contract brewing in western Sydney)
Tel: 0418 244 658
4. ENDEAVOUR VINTAGE BEER COMPANY
Endeavour was the first brewery to introduce vintage to its beers – not just the name. It was launched by Ben Kooyman, a man of the industry since 2006; corporate guy Dan Hastings; and winemaker and brewer Andy Stewart, who together realised that they could create better-tasting beers by selecting the ingredients from the regions that experience the best vintage each year. Like wine, this means the recipes vary slightly depending on the barley and hops sourced from the season. Their first commercial beers were released in August 2010 and the range today includes the Harvest Blonde; Growers Bright Ale, Pale Ale and Golden Ale; and the Reserve Pale Ale and Amber Ale.
Tel: 1300 289 233
Endeavour Vintage Beer Company
5. NOMAD BREWING COMPANY
Nomad is an apt name for a brewing team that met while travelling the globe. This Brookvale brewery has its roots in the friendship of Kerrie and Johnny Latta, owners of one of Australia’s leading craft beer distributors, and Leonardo di Vincenzo, an Italian world-class brewer. After a lot of correspondence and travel, the Lattas convinced Leonardo’s protégé, Brooks Caretta, to move across the globe and start what came to be Nomad Brewing Co. Three years on and they are still going strong, and their year-round range, which focuses on showcasing Australia’s unique botanicals, now consists of an IPA (Easy As), a sessionable pale ale (Sideways Hoppy), an IPA brewed with native finger lime (Jet Lag) and a saison (Long Trip).
Tel: 02 9907 4113
6. REDOAK BOUTIQUE BEER CAFÉ AND BREWERY
Redoak was established in 2004 by siblings David and Janet Hollyoak, with the aim of serving as many craft beers as imaginable and to find as many beer and food matches as possible. They believe that there is always a new flavour combination out there waiting to be tried and tested. That’s why at the Redoak Boutique Beer Café up to 20 different beer styles can be found on tap in a day, fresh from the brewery, as well as a recommended dish to go with it. Beers can range from anything like an oatmeal stout to a weizen doppelbock, which are also sold to good bottle shops.
Location: 201 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Tel: 02 9262 3303
7. ROCKS BREWING COMPANY
After six years of blood, sweat and tears, relying on other breweries to take them in and let them make their beers, the Rocks Brewing Co. team finally found its perfect home in the industrial setting of Alexandria in 2014. Rocks is dedicated to showcasing Australian ales and its first ever Red Ale is still a favourite. Its core range of beers is based around early convicts and settlers, while the Conviction Series features limited edition brews that push the boundaries of brewing.
Location: Building 2, 160 Bourke Road, Alexandria, NSW 2015
Tel: 02 9669 3600
Rocks Brewing Company
8. WAYWARD BREWING COMPANY
The name Wayward represents the brewery’s willful nature. A term often used to explain a desire to take the road less travelled, the people at Wayward aren’t afraid of doing things differently if it means creating something people are excited to drink and share. Quality is still key and brewers Peter Philip and Shaun Blissett are dedicated to finding the best ingredients, even if it takes a little longer. The core range includes the Pale Ale, Bavarian Lager, Indian Red Ale, India Pale Lager and Raspberry Berliner Weisse, which are sold primarily to venues and bottle shops around Sydney. Seasonal releases are also released in kegs to the on-prem.
Location: 1 Gehrig Lane, Camperdown, NSW 2050
Tel: 02 7903 2445
9. WILLIE THE BOATMAN
Nick Newey and Pat McInerney met on the school run many moons ago and instantly connected over their mutual love of fishing, boating and home brewing. A few successful experiments later, and with neither happy in their professions at the time, they threw caution to the wind and followed their passion. Luckily the support of the community carried them and in 2015, Willie The Boatman opened. The duo is still committed to using their original home brewing ethos to make good, clean beer. Current beers include the slightly left of field Albo (a corn ale) and Salty Melon (a slightly sweet and salty gose). There’s also the more traditional Todd’s Trailer Ale (pale ale), Crazy Ivan (IPA) and Marrickville Lager, among others.
Location:Suite 202-75 Mary Street, St Peters, NSW 2044
Tel: 0413 514 026
10. YOUNG HENRYS
First brewed in 2012, Young Henrys was started after two dudes at a bar started talking about their love of beer and the need to improve Sydney’s beer scene. Their idea was straightforward: “brew beer our local community would enjoy and be proud to call their own.” Despite the brand’s popularity, the YH team still believes in keeping things local and minimising the brewery’s environmental footprint. Most of its stockists are based around the Inner West and YH promotes for consumers to use refillable growlers. YH also uses cans for the majority of its packaged beers, which include the Real Ale (English best bitter), Natural Lager (unfiltered lager), Newtowner (Australian pale ale).
Location: 76 Wilford Street, Newtown, NSW 2042
Tel: 02 9519 0048
Young Henrys
