The addition of two more breweries to the Crafty directory over the weekend means it's time for another of our Crafty Dozen articles. These are where we round up the 12 latest new listings in one place in case you missed them first time around (you can check out the previous one here). And, with another 20-odd waiting in the wings, hopefully we'll have the next dozen ready before the end of August.
This time around it's all brewing companies and venues, from locations as far afield as Ipswich, Dubbo, Margaret River and Wollongong. You'll find them and hundreds more – plus a growing number of beer businesses – within the various directories and, should you be keen to find good beer when you're out and about, you can download our new app for free. There, you'll find full listings, events, Crafty Cabal offers and more for all subscribed breweries and venues plus links to stories about many more.
Anyway, onto July's Crafty Dozen...
Masterson's Bar (VIC) – Peter Cornwell and Gillian McKenzie fell in love with the nascent craft beer scene while living in Hong Kong, they decided to bring it back to Australia with them. Join them at Masterson's in Moonee Ponds and you'll find the likes of Young Masters, Black Kite/Kowloon, Moonzen and The Yardley Brothers alongside a small selection of beers from local brewers.
Wrong Side Brewing (VIC) – After two decades as a railway engineer, Paul Hann fancied a change of direction and wife Deb was on board. So they took over the former Jamieson Brewery, made it their own, complete with new deck overlooking Lake Eildon and the surrounding mountains and hop flower lampshades, and set about filling 18 taps with typically European inspired brews, often created in collaboration with local producers.
Pumpyard Bar & Brewery / Dovetails Restaurant (QLD) – The first local beer brewed in Ipswich in generations was by 4 Hearts Brewing. That started as a gypsy operation before building a home in the city at the Pumpyard Bar & Brewery. More recently, another strong has been added to the bow in the shape of the Dovetails Restaurant, sharing a site yet offering something a little more sophisticated than its neighbour's laid-back vibe. Take your pick!
CoConspirators Brewing (VIC) – Initially spawned from the Merri Mashers homebrew club and armed with recipes for colourful beers and equally colourful designs by Clint "Pocket Beagle" Weaver, CoConspirators has become one of the best loved gypsy operations serving the drinkers of Melbourne and surrounds. You'll usually catch them launching a beer at a cracking venue on most weekends if you want to thank them in person.
Native Rose Hotel (NSW) – Boasting "No Crap On Tap" with a sign hanging outside, the Native Rose Hotel is a 14-year-old pub in Rozelle that's been reinvigorated by new owners in the past nine months into a craft beer-pouring, family-friendly joint. You'll find a wide array of Rocks Brewing beers on tap plus a rotating lineup of guests too.
Brewhouse Margaret River (WA) – A few mates decided they'd have a go at living the dream, moving to Margaret River for a life of surfing, brewing and good times with mates old and new. They did it in the shape of Brewhouse Margaret River and locals and tourists alike are rather pleased they did, bringing trophy-winning beers and a laid-back, all welcome vibe to their surf shack like brewery home.
The Monkey Bar (NSW) – They fell in love with craft beer at the Grain Store in Newcastle, with Tim Smith inspired enough to start a beer blog. Realising their passion for the good stuff was too strong to ignore, he and wife Cass headed home to Dubbo, opened The Monkey Bar, now serve up a selection of beers to put most capital city bars to shame and even launched the city's first beer festival to.
Stockade Barrel Room (NSW) – The Stockade Brew Co brand was launched from the now re-named BrewPack operation, as the owners took the plunge and launched their own beers as well as brewing scores for other breweries. It's gone rather well for them and now the brewery has its own home in Marrickville, one lined with barrels and open to the public so you can quaff away in the midst of oak ageing beers.
Thunder Road Brewing (VIC) – This Brunswick brewery has attracted attention for more than just its beers over the years, making it one of the most fascinating in the country, from the (only occasionally open) on-site archive/treasure trove of Australian beer history and the epic food truck outside now they open regularly to the public to the record of two Champion Brewery titles from two Australian International Beer Awards entered.
Rocky Ridge (WA) – Hamish Coates' farm-based brewery in the Margaret River region has enjoyed a phenomenal start to life, winning over fans with a kaleidoscopic lineup of beers, many of them collaborations, and a grow-your-own philosophy that success has forced him to tweak a little until the farm can catch up. From white stouts to big NEIPAs, barely a week seems to pass without another new beer appearing. And a venue is coming soon too...
Bulli Brewing Co (NSW) – It's not actually in Bulli, operates as a Brewers Café as much as a brewery bar during the week, releases new beers every now and then as the owners see fit and has one of the largest Buddhist temples in the Southern Hemisphere across the road. It's fair to say the crew behind Bulli Brewing Co are happy to let things happen then they're ready to happen.