As a momentous year for beer in Australia draws to a close, it's time to round up the latest dozen new brewery and venue listings added to our directory. We've welcomed breweries, pubs and bottleshops from Far North Queensland to North East Tasmania, from Penrith to Inner North Melbourne and, the way things are looking, we might even have another dozen added before the year is out...
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Bargara Brewery (QLD) – Proving Bundaberg is about more than rum and ginger beer, Bargara opened its doors in late 2014 in the coastal town of the same name before moving into Bundaberg. Call in to the brewery venue and you'll be able to choose from a broad and rotating lineup of beers or, if you fancy something a little different, founder Jack Milbank's Honey Murcott Mandarin Vermouth.
Saccharomyces (QLD) – Brisbane's Southbank and neighbouring West End are home to so many great venues and brewpubs, it makes for one of the best Crafty Crawls in the land. One of the bars calling the area home is Saccharomyces, which combines a dedication to craft beer with arcade games, art, coffee, comedy and more.
Ballistic Beer Co (QLD) – The brewing scene has grown exponentially in 2017, with a rash of new breweries opening in the closing weeks of the year too. Ballistic opened at the start of the year and got off to a suitably ballistic start, with brewer Lachy Crothers' beers collecting a swag of gold medals and Salisbury locals embracing the venue from the off.
Endeavour Tap Rooms (NSW) – From the day they launched their first beers, the team behind Endeavour Brewing said they'd one day have their own venue. And, in 2017, they got what they wanted, opening the refined Tap Rooms in the heart of The Rocks in Sydney where brewer John Bogan has been knocking out small batch brews ever since.
Frenchies Bistro & Brewery (NSW) – Wandering Frenchmen Vince de Soyres and Thomas Cauquil – the former a brewer, the latter a chef – settled into their own Sydney joint in 2017, bringing Gallic flair to your glass and plate at their bistro and brasserie.
Porters Liquor Ryde (formerly Midway Cellars) (NSW) – The owners of the bottleshop formerly called Midway Cellars have been bringing their knowledge and passion for quality booze to the people of Ryde and surrounds for decades. These days, they've upped their focus on beer, installing taps and a CANimal machine too.
Little Rivers Brewing Co (TAS) – Having launched successfully with a tiny 200 litre brew kit upon which Chris Carins would complete triple brew days, in 2015 Little Rivers installed a 2,000 litre brewery at their Scottsdale home. They use it, predominantly, to create approachable, traditionally minded beers found all over Tassie and pretty much everywhere in their corner of the state.
Casey's Brewery (NSW) – Pat Casey has been a homebrewer for years and the owner of homebrew shops since 2003. He's now gone all in, initially building a brewery for gypsy brewers to use before creating his own range of approachable beers he'll send direct to your door. He's still on hand to help homebrewers too, should you call into his Penrith operation.
The Dan O'Connell (VIC) – One of Melbourne's best known Irish pubs was given a new lease of life in 2017 as new owners stepped in. They brought a fine pedigree – two are the duo behind The Catfish; one owns Northern Git – and with them knowledgeable staff, top quality beers and a desire to pump the place full of love once more.
Aether Brewing (QLD) – The Brisbane suburb of Milton has long been associated with beer, given it's the home of XXXX. These days, it's got plenty to offer those on the hunt for something more flavoursome with Aether Brewing opening a brewpub within walking distance of the likes of Newstead Brewing's second venue and The Scratch. Crafty Cabal Member offer at Aether Brewing: FREE Pint!
Fishers Craft Beer (VIC) – As things stand, only the first part of the Fishers story has been revealed: the only store offering packs and hampers themed by parts of the world. In 2018, a four-storey venue and bottleshop will complete the picture in South Melbourne, with the venture the new direction for the fourth generation of the Fishers family that once operated more than a dozen IGAs in regional Victoria.
Hemingway's Brewery (QLD) – All of a sudden, Far North Queensland is awash with locally brewed beer. One of the breweries leading the way is Hemingway's, which opened its first brewpub in an idyllic location at the water's edge in a Port Douglas marina. The first half of 2018 will see them open an even larger one in Cairns too.
As well as finding a growing number of Australian breweries, venues and bottleshops in our directories, you can check out Crafty Recommends. This enhanced map feature has even more places dedicated to craft beer on it, each linked to the stories we've written about them.