Carwyn Cellars

A few years back, this Thornbury bottleshop was just another run-of-the-mill outlet ticking along steadily without pulling up any trees. Then it was taken over by a former viticulturist raised in the heart of West Australia’s craft brewing culture and things began to change. Ben Carwyn began stocking boutique beers and wines and the northern suburbs had a bottleshop worth hunting down.

Since then, it's moved up the road, continued to expand the bottleshop side of the business and now added a bar. And what a bar: the entire back of the venue has been taken over with the centrepiece a huge, wide font pouring 20 taps of all craft beer and cider (except for one tap that pours Negronis...). Its tap takeovers and brewery showcases have become monumental affairs featuring some of the very best beers to be found on these shores – and often, somehow, those that usually can't be – and there's now a beer garden at the rear too.

The bottleshop stocks hundreds of beers, with homegrown brews from Australia’s finest sharing fridge and shelf space with imports from across the globe. Traditional ales and lagers from Europe sit alongside big, ballsy and cutting edge styles from all corners – the store tends to get its hands on a fair number of uber-rare releases too.

As such, it’s become the epitome of a good local, with knowledgeable staff eager to guide regulars towards new beer adventures. Carwyn’s success is something of a barometer for the growth of the craft beer market in Australia too, with one staff member once telling The Crafty Pint, for a Sunday Age story about luxury beers: “It’s easier for me to sell a $40 bottle of beer than a $40 bottle of wine". 

As if to further prove the point, in 2017 Carwyn launched Club Wild, a bi-monthly beer club specialising in sour, wild fermented, mixed fermentation and farmhouse style ales. This was something they'd long been wanting to do but hadn't felt able, believing they couldn't source the kinds of beers to do it justice. But as more local breweries have opened and drinkers have become increasingly interested in all kinds of beers – whether it's an extremely rare one from the USA, something barrel aged for years in Belgium or some of the most sought after domestic drops – Carwyn has been able to fill its shelves and taps with the very best from home and abroad.  

But, for all that, it’s not just about the beer. Classy nibbles, a wide selection of wine, cider, Perry and spirits line the walls and the events they throw – pastry stouts paired with pastries kicking off at midnight, anyone – are as innovative as any of the beers they stock too. 

Name
Carwyn Cellars
Address

877 High St
Thornbury
VIC 3071

Phone
(03) 9484 1820
Open Hours

Bottleshop:
Sun to Thurs: midday to 9pm
Fri & Sat: midday to 11pm
Bar Hours:
Sun & Mon: midday to 10pm
Tues to Sat: midday to late

This is a directory listing. To find out more, head here

Regularly featured brewers

2 Brothers

2 Brothers

4 Joyner St
Moorabbin
VIC 3189

3 Ravens

3 Ravens

1 Theobald Street
Thornbury
VIC 3071

4 Pines (CUB)

4 Pines (CUB)

29/43-45 East Esplanade
Manly
NSW 2095

Aether Brewing

Aether Brewing

340 Melton Road
Northgate
QLD 4013

Bad Shepherd

Bad Shepherd

386 Reserve Road
Cheltenham
VIC 3192

Ballistic Beer Co Salisbury

Ballistic Beer Co Salisbury

53 McCarthy Road
Salisbury
QLD 4107

Balter Brewing (CUB/Asahi)

Balter Brewing (CUB/Asahi)

14 Traders Way
Currumbin
QLD 4220

Banks Brewing

Banks Brewing

12 Hi-Tech Place
Seaford
VIC 3198

Batch Brewing Co

Batch Brewing Co

44 Sydenham Road
Marrickville
NSW 2204

Beerfarm

Beerfarm

177 Gale Road
Metricup
WA 6280

Bells Beach Brewing

Bells Beach Brewing

Shed 2 22 Baines Crescent
Torquay
VIC 3228

BentSpoke Brewing Co

BentSpoke Brewing Co

38 Mort Street
Braddon
ACT 2612

Black Arts Brewers & Blenders

Black Arts Brewers & Blenders

4/63 Macaulay Street
Williamstown North
VIC 3016

Black Hops Brewing

Black Hops Brewing

15 Gardenia Grove
Burleigh Heads
QLD 4220

Blackman's Brewery

Blackman's Brewery

26 Bell Street
Torquay
VIC 3228

Blasta Brewing Co

Blasta Brewing Co

84-88 Goodwood Parade
Burswood
WA 6100

Boatrocker Brewers & Distillers

Boatrocker Brewers & Distillers

34 & 51 Macbeth Street
Braeside
VIC 3195

Bodriggy Brewing Co

Bodriggy Brewing Co

245 Johnston Street
Abbotsford
VIC 3067

Brewmanity

Brewmanity

Brewing at Colonial Port Melbourne
89 Bertie St
Port Melbourne 3207

Bridge Road Brewers

Bridge Road Brewers

Old Coach House
Ford Street
Beechworth VIC 3747

Bright Brewery

Bright Brewery

121 Great Alpine Road
Bright
VIC 3741

Burleigh Brewing Company

Burleigh Brewing Company

2 Ern Harley Drive
Burleigh Heads
QLD 4220

Burnley Brewing

Burnley Brewing

648 Bridge Road
Richmond
VIC 3121

Capital Brewing Co

Capital Brewing Co

Building 3/1 Dairy Rd
Fyshwick
ACT 2609

CBCo Port Melbourne

CBCo Port Melbourne

89 Bertie Street
Port Melbourne
VIC 3207

CoConspirators Brewing

CoConspirators Brewing

377 Victoria Street
Brunswick
VIC 3056

Dainton Brewery & Taphouse

Dainton Brewery & Taphouse

560 Frankston Dandenong Rd
Carrum Downs
VIC 3201

Deeds Brewing

Deeds Brewing

4 Paran Place
Glen Iris
VIC 3146

Dollar Bill Brewing

Dollar Bill Brewing

166 Millers Road
Invermay
VIC 3352

Edge Brewing Project

Edge Brewing Project

642 Smith Street
Fitzroy North
VIC 3068

Exit Brewing

Exit Brewing

10 Superior Drive
Dandenong South
VIC 3175

Feral Brewing (CCEP)

Feral Brewing (CCEP)

PO Box 3265 Bassendean
WA 6942

Fixation Brewing Co (Lion/Kirin)

Fixation Brewing Co (Lion/Kirin)

414 Smith Street
Collingwood
VIC 3066

Fury & Son

Fury & Son

46 Concorde Drive
Keilor Park
VIC 3042

Future Mountain

Future Mountain

703-707 Plenty Road
Reservoir
VIC 3073

Gage Roads

Gage Roads

Peter Hughes Drive
Fremantle
WA 6160

Green Beacon (CUB/Asahi)

Green Beacon (CUB/Asahi)

26 Helen Street
Teneriffe
QLD 4005

Grifter Brewing Company

Grifter Brewing Company

1/391 Enmore Road
Marrickville
NSW 2204

Hargreaves Hill

Hargreaves Hill

Factory 60
64-86 Beresford Road
Lilydale 3140

Hawkers Beer

Hawkers Beer

167 Henty Street
Reservoir
VIC 3073

Holgate Brewhouse

Holgate Brewhouse

79 High Street
Woodend
VIC 3442

Hop Nation

Hop Nation

Unit 6, 107/109 Whitehall Street Footscray
VIC 3011

Hope Brewery

Hope Brewery

2213 Broke Road
Pokolbin
NSW 2320

Jetty Road

Jetty Road

12-14 Brasser Avenue
Dromana
VIC 3936

KAIJU! Beer

KAIJU! Beer

27 Hume Street
Huntingdale
VIC 3166

La Sirène Brewing

La Sirène Brewing

2 Wingrove Street
Alphington
VIC 3078

Little Bang Brewing

Little Bang Brewing

25 Henry Street
Stepney
SA 5069

Mismatch Brewing Co

Mismatch Brewing Co

Lot 100 Chambers Road
Hay Valley
SA 5252

Modus Beer

Modus Beer

14 Harkeith Street
Mona Vale
NSW 2103

Molly Rose Brewing

Molly Rose Brewing

279 Wellington Street
Collingwood
VIC 3066

Moo Brew

Moo Brew

76a Cove Hill Road Bridgewater
TAS 7030

Moon Dog

Moon Dog

17 Duke Street
Abbotsford
VIC 3067

Mornington Peninsula Brewery (Tribe)

Mornington Peninsula Brewery (Tribe)

Mountain Goat (CUB/Asahi)

Mountain Goat (CUB/Asahi)

80 North Street Richmond
Victoria
3121

Murray's

Murray's

3443 Nelson Bay Rd
Bobs Farm
NSW 2316

Nail Brewing

Nail Brewing

323 Collier Road
Bassendean
WA 6054

New England Brewing Co

New England Brewing Co

19 Bridge Street
Uralla
NSW 2358

Newstead Brewing Co

Newstead Brewing Co

67 Castlemaine Street
Milton
QLD 4064

Nomad Brewing

Nomad Brewing

5 Sydenham Road
Brookvale
NSW 2100

O'Brien Beer

O'Brien Beer

36 Gregory Street West
Wendouree
VIC 3355

Old Wives Ales

Old Wives Ales

PO Box 1155 (Office)
Thornbury
VIC 3071

Otherside Brewing Co

Otherside Brewing Co

Blaikie Street
Myaree
WA 6154

Philter Brewing

Philter Brewing

92-98 Sydenham Road
Marrickville
2204

Pikes Beer Company

Pikes Beer Company

233 Polish Hill River Road
Polish Hill River
SA 5453

Pirate Life (CUB/Asahi)

Pirate Life (CUB/Asahi)

18 Baker Street
Port Adelaide
SA 5015

Prancing Pony Brewery

Prancing Pony Brewery

42 Mt Barker Road
Totness
SA 5250

Red Duck Brewery

Red Duck Brewery

11a Michaels Drive
Alfredton
VIC 3350

Red Hill Brewery

Red Hill Brewery

88 Shoreham Rd
Red Hill South
VIC 3937

Rocky Ridge Brewing Co

Rocky Ridge Brewing Co

10 Marine Terrace
Busselton
WA 6280

Sailors Grave Brewing

Sailors Grave Brewing

7 Forest Road
Orbost
VIC 3888

Sauce Brewing Co

Sauce Brewing Co

1A Mitchell St
Marrickville
NSW 2204

Six String Brewing

Six String Brewing

4/330 The Entrance Road
Erina
NSW 2250

Social Bandit

Social Bandit

223 Mt Buller Rd
Mansfield
VIC 3722

Stockade Brew Co (Tribe)

Stockade Brew Co (Tribe)

25 Cadogan Street
Marrickville
NSW 2204

Stomping Ground Brewing Co

Stomping Ground Brewing Co

100 Gipps Street
Collingwood
VIC 3066

Stone & Wood (Lion/Kirin)

Stone & Wood (Lion/Kirin)

100 Centennial Circuit
Byron Bay
NSW 2481

Tallboy and Moose

Tallboy and Moose

270 Raglan Street
Preston
VIC 3072

Temple Brewing

Temple Brewing

122 Weston Street
East Brunswick
VIC 3057

The Mill Brewery

The Mill Brewery

40 Sackville Street
Collingwood
VIC 3066

The Uraidla Brewery

The Uraidla Brewery

1196 Greenhill Road
Uraidla
SA 5142

Two Birds Brewing (Lion/Kirin)

Two Birds Brewing (Lion/Kirin)

136 Hall Street
Spotswood
VIC 3015

Two Metre Tall

Two Metre Tall

2862 Lyell Hwy, Hayes TAS 7140

TWØBAYS Brewing Co

TWØBAYS Brewing Co

1/2 Trewhitt Court
Dromana
VIC 3936

Van Dieman

Van Dieman

537 White Hills Road
Evandale
TAS 7258

Venom Brewing

Venom Brewing

18 High Street
Yea
VIC 3717

Wildflower

Wildflower

11-13 Brompton Street
Marrickville
NSW 2204

Wolf of the Willows

Wolf of the Willows

39 De Havilland Road
Mordialloc
VIC 3195

Young Henrys

Young Henrys

Units D & E, 76 Wilford St
Newtown
NSW 2042