We might be biased, but we reckon Brisbane is one of the best cities in Australia to be a craft-beer lover. The City has seen a huge influx of froth-soaked newcomers over the past decade, to the point that no matter where in Brisbane you live, there’s a good chance that there’s an independent froth maker serving freshly tapped tipples and cracking community-friendly vibes nearby. To celebrate International Beer Day on Friday August 4, we’ve assembled a list of Brisbane’s best craft breweries (assorted, loosely, by location) to help you navigate the city’s ever-evolving and ever-growing beery landscape.
Range Brewing, Newstead: Operating under the manta of ‘forever exploring, forever evolving’, Range Brewing owners Matt McIver and Gerard Martin rarely stand still. Their new-wave brewery on Byres Street is a hotbed of hop-led experimentation, with weekly changes to it beer rotation keeping the sipping set on their tippy toes. Recent years have been exciting for the Range crew, having tinned a core range while also opening a Melbourne taproom, a neighbourhood bar in Rosalie and a function space that doubles as a hall for making wild-fermented beers and barrel-aged stouts.
Working Title Brew Co., Newstead: If the Range crew love to experiment, then the beery brainiacs at Working Title Brew Co. are mad scientists. Owners Luke Shields and Mark Howes have penchant for concocting wonderfully weird and wildly creative beers. Its ever-changing range of quaffable beverages include the likes of carbohydrate- and gluten-free sparkling mead, and native pine Christmas ales. Occupying Newstead Brewing Co.’s original brewhouse on Doggett Street, Working Title blends hoppy history with boundary-pushing innovation, making it a stand-out amongst this ranking of Brisbane’s best craft-beer breweries.
Green Beacon Brewing, Newstead: Most Brisbane drinkers will tell you that Brisbane’s craft-beer boom started in Newstead and that Green Beacon is one of the names responsible for kickstarting it. Green Beacon is highly regarded as one of the founding fathers of froth, enduring over the years and evolving into a linchpin of the scene. Though now owned by Asahi and Carlton United Breweries, the Newstead icon continues to make exceptional cold ones – its Wayfarer tropical ale and Windjammer IPA are the stuff of legend.
Newstead Brewing Co., Milton: Another Brisbane brewing titan, Newstead Brewing Co. is an OG beer maker that’s been pioneering pint filling for yonks. Originally based in Newstead (hence the name), the Newstead crew consolidated operations at its mega Milton location in 2022. From here it’s been slinging the same terrific suds as always – from the 3/4 Time session ale to the Crossroad oat-cream IPA.
Milton Common, Milton: One upon a time the original home of Aether Brewing, Milton Common – HQ of Common Ground Brewing – has kept to its microbrewery roots, concocting small batches of its core range alongside collaborative sips made in conjunction with other small Australian breweries. Love your vibes intimate, your banter on point and your beers cold? This is the spot for you.
Valley Hops Brewing, Fortitude Valley: Brews and views – it’s an unbeatable combo best enjoyed at Valley Hops in The Valley. The team from Katarzyna Group built this sun-soaked bar and brewhouse on top of Cloudland, creating a first-of-its-kind locale equipped with 36 taps and a two-vessel 15BBL brewhouse. The beers here pay tribute to its party precinct surrounds – its range of six core beers and the seasonal Nocturnal Animals series offer a cross-section of thirst-quenching tipples to try, each inspired by some facet of The Valley itself.
Soapbox Beer, Fortitude Valley: The team behind Soapbox is raising a megaphone and proclaiming its love for real beer. This independent, award-winning brewery makes a terrific range of handcrafted core, batch and seasonal beers, with standouts being the German-style Storyteller lager and the Loud Mouth American amber ale.
Stone & Wood, Fortitude Valley: What more needs to be said about Stone & Wood? This brewery is credited with helping put craft beer in the mainstream – its orange-labelled Pacific Ale remains one of the most-seen sips at barbecues. Stone & Wood’s Fortitude Valley brewery opened in 2019 and immediately charmed drinkers with a model that allowed folks to see, touch, feel and taste the beer-making experience. All of Stone & Woods faves are available alongside a range of small-batch beers, made exclusively for the Brisbane venue in an 8-hL brewhouse. No list of Brisbane’s best craft-beer breweries is correct without Stone & Wood.
Felons Brewing Co., Brisbane City: Though the gently lapping currents of the Brisbane River don’t indicate it, Felons Brewing Co. made a big splash when it opened in 2018 as the anchor of the Howard Smith Wharves precinct. Taking inspiration from nature, the Felons brewing crew – helmed by head brewer Tom Champion – celebrate locally grown ingredients across its range. The team opened Felons Barrel Hall in 2020, expanding its interests into barrel-aged beers that are now, after a two-year wait, available to the public.
Caxton Street Brewing Co., Petrie Terrace: We’ve all discussed opening a bar with our mates (usually over a schooner or two), but few of us make good on our grand ideas. Pals Tory and Lauren Staples, and Kerry and Johnny Balbuziente actually followed through – together they opened Caxton Street Brewing Co. in the old Fritzenberger site, taking over the venue’s four 1000-L tanks and using them to make ales that strike a balance between approachable and fun. Guests can swill schooners of Helles-style lager, a black lager, Ribena sours and a passionfruit kolsch – something to suit most tastes.
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BrewDog, Murarrie: The award for Brisbane’s biggest craft-beer brewery goes to BrewDog, the Scottish-born juggernaut that made craft beer a big thing all over the world. This $30 million state-of-the-art mega venue is the headquarters for BrewDog’s Australian operations, built initially with a 25-hectolitre brewing system (which is likely now much bigger) and a riverside brewhouse equipped with 28 taps. These nozzles dispense a range of BrewDog beers, including the signature Punk IPA, Hazy Jane and Passionfruit Blitz.
Slipstream Brewing Co., Yeerongpilly: The suds-soaked southern suburbs rival Newstead for the title of Brisbane’s beer epicentre, and it’s thanks to breweries like Slipstream that it’s a discussion. Founded by Deale and Elisa Stanley-Hunt in 2017, Slipstream grew its Yeerongpilly site in 2021 with the construction of a brand-new, cutting-edge brewpub boasting 20 taps. Over at the bar, the team is pouring Slipstream’s six core beers, alongside a range of limited release brewery-exclusive brews made in a small-batch system.
Helios Brewing Co., Yeerongpilly: Beer brewed using the power of the sun – that’s what Yeerongpilly favourite Helios Brewing specialises in. The environmentally minded brew crew harnesses solar and thermal power for its operations, minimising its impact on the planet while still producing some top-flight frothies. The core range is named after prominent members of the Greek pantheon, led by Zeus’s Thunderbolt DIPA, Poseidon Pale Ale and Athena’s Courage Scotch Ale.
Ballistic Beer Co., Salisbury: Highly awarded both here and overseas, Salisbury’s Ballistic Beer Co. has grown tremendously since founder David Kitchen launched the brand in 2017. The crew has opened a string of venues across Queensland (including a bar in West End and another brewery in Springfield Central), cementing its presence among the state’s best. With a roster of brews featuring the Hawaiian Haze IPA, Reef lager and the WaterMeLawn sour watermelon gose, it’s hard to deny the quality at play here.
Hiker Brewing Concern, Salisbury: The beermuda triangle of Brisbane’s southern suburbs turned into a square in 2023 with the addition of Hiker Brewing Concern. Though located in an industrial pocket, founders Daniel Venema and Phil Sharp are keen to hone in on a sense of locality by paying homage to Salisbury’s leafy surrounds. This is evident in Hiker’s core staples like the Hitchhiker American-style IPA, the Toohey Forest lager (named in honour of the nearby bushland), an Australian-style pale ale dubbed the Bushwalker.
The Catchment Brewing Co., West End: Boundary Street in West End isn’t short on bars, but if a beer-centric experience is what you’re after, then The Catchment Brewing Co. is the spot to seek. This hoppy spot pays tribute to West End’s boozy past, drawing inspiration from the original West End Brewery with its core range, including the Pale Select, Whynot lager, Hoogley session and Vulture IPA.
Brisbane Brewing Co., West End: One of Brisbane’s original brewpubs is still going strong, remaining as a popular spot for locals to get locally made, fresh craft beer that’s been made for Queensland tastes and its warm climate. Its four signature beers are available year-round, with the fruity and refreshing pale Brisbane pale ale and the easy-drinking Brissy lager perfect for drinkers looking to show off a bit of Brisbane pride.
Parched, West End: A love affair with lagers, affection for ales and infatuation with IPAs was the impetus for Carl Hallion’s foray into large-scale brewing with Parched, a split-level brewery that’s been pouring thirst-quenching tipples since day dot. The brew team at Parched makes a variety of beers to suit a variety of tastes, from the traditional tipples and classic winners to adventurous ales and sour beers. With 16 taps on hand, there’s a good chance you’ll find something you like.
Sea Legs Brewing Co., Kangaroo Point: We’ve all experienced some sea legs after one too many heavies, but Sea Legs about more than beer’s heady effects. The ethos here is all about brewing quality and creative beer that the local community can be proud to call their own, and judging by how popular Sea Legs gets on the weekend, it’s safe to say it has succeeded.
Future Magic Brewing Co., East Brisbane: This newcomer is built for the people, by the people. Brisbane’s first crowdfunded brewery is proving that it’s possible to break into the brewing scene with a dream and a little support from the wider drinking community. It’s not just the community vibes that are magic – the beers are sensational, too! Future Magic’s Galaxy Dust New England IPA and Meteorite stout score top marks.
Black Hops Brewery, East Brisbane: An established name in the brewing game, Gold Coast-born Black Hops opened a Brisbane outpost on Manila Street in 2020. The team took over the old Semi-Pro Brewing Co. space to pump out the Black Hops’ beloved range of beers, including the Send It session ale, Lay Day lager and the Hornet India pale ale.
Easy Times Brewing Co., Woolloongabba: In hindsight, opening a brewery across from The Gabba is a no-brainer move. Easy Times Brewing Co. snagged a cracker of a spot across Stanley Street from Gate 1. Whether you’re popping in for a pre- or post-game pint, Easy Times has a cold one that’ll capture your taste buds.
Revel Brewing Co., Bulimba: Oxford Street’s own brewery, Revel Brewing has grown from humble beginnings into a multi award-winning powerhouse producer of flavour-packed, personality forward beers. We can say from personal experience that there’s not much better than sipping schooners and chomping on pizza in Revel’s beer garden.
Revel Rivermakers, Morningside: Revel expanded in 2021, opening a jaw-dropping new brewery and restaurant in the old Commonwealth Acetate of Lime Factory at Rivermakers’ Heritage Quarter. Here, a 35-hectolitre, four-vessel steam-powered brewing system is upping the quantity of Revel beers flowing through the market, including Revel’s classic pale ale, session ale, lager and IPA, plus newly added XPA and hazy IPA brews.
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Hudson Brewing, Wynnum: Locally owned and family operated bayside beer specialist, Hudson Brewing, is known for making unpretentious and drinkable brews. Owners Sarah and Richard Hudson are cultivating a loyal community following of die-hard hop heads with its refreshing German-style Fort Lytton lager, fruity All Seeing IPA and gluten-free Orb Weaver ginger beer.
Bacchus Brewing Co., Capalaba: An experimental pioneer, Bacchus was trying out weird and wacky flavour combos when Brisbane’s beer scene was in its infancy. The team here takes pride in creating three brand new beers a week on average, sometimes it’s a Ferrero Rocher red ale, others its a fruited Berliner Weisse-style beer infused with real Australian plums. If variety is the spice of life, Bacchus might be the spiciest schooner filler in town.
Brewtide, Albion: You’ll find Brewtide at Craft’d Grounds, a multifaceted hospitality hub built inside a 100-year-old former timber mill. Here, a brewing set-up boasting 12 tanks and a 15-hectolitre capacity is overseen by head brewer Gavin Croft, who is showcasing a cross-pollination of ideas and flavours, with new and imaginative limited-edition and collaborative beers across most major styles.
Hoppers Brewing Co., Albion: Hoppers Brewing Co is new brewery and distillery that is bringing seasonal brews and vintage vibes to Albion. Operated by a few mates who share a passion for beer, Hoppers is turning that passion into a range of seasonal and traditional brews made using no artificial additives or flavours. There is a palate-pleasing pint for everyone’s taste including a juicy pale ale, a German-inspired golden ale, a sumptuous sour, stout and a ginger beer. Also worth noting, Fonzie Abbott also makes its tight range of beers here!
Archer Brewing, Newmarket: Stuart and Lucy Martin’s aeronautical-inspired froth maker Archer Brewing, nestled inside a brilliant World War II-era igloo-style hangar on Newmarket Road, is sending senses soaring with its range of beers made with 100-per cent Australian ingredients. Head brewer Chris Fletcher is overseeing a 10-hL, two-vessel system – pumping out everything from rice lagers to an IPAs to mid-strength hefeweizens.
Flat Lizard Brewing, Stafford: Hidden in the back of a Stafford industrial pocket, Flat Lizard is giving locals a taste of its sensational selection of ales, lagers and stouts. The brewery has also linked up with a Gympie-based barley farmer to set up a pilot malting system at Flat Lizard, with a portion of the pale malts made in house expected to be used in forthcoming batches of beer.
Happy Valley Brewing Company, Stafford: Back in the day, the area now known as Stafford used to be known as Happy Valley. This laid-back suburban brewery is looking to be ‘Your Happy Place’, no matter if you’re a local or an inter-suburb blow-in. The team is eschewing a static range of core beers in favour of a constantly changing selection of brews in order to gently push drinkers outside of their comfort zones.
Aether Brewing, Northgate: Highly regarded and highly sought, Aether Brewing beers are among the cream of the crop in Brisbane and, perhaps, the entire country. Craft beer with a creative lean, Aether looks to enhance the drinking experience by incorporating the talent of local artists through its Artist Amplifier Initiative. You’ll see work from local creatives adorning cans of Aether’s beer, from its Yuzu Sake Sour to its Mexican-style lager.
FICK Brewing Company, Northgate: This small, family-owned business, run by husband-and-wife team Fabrizio and Nadresha Costa, is all about being there for the locals. The couple is serving a range of balanced beers – from Belgian-style beers to Indian Red Ales – with experimental riffs on recipes always offering a new flavour profile to savour.
Ploughman, Enoggera: Microbreweries don’t get much smaller than Ploughman, a tiny beer maker tucked away at the back of an industrial park off South Pine Road. Owner Leigh Graham uses an electric 360-litre brewing kit to create a rotating range of beers, focusing on hop-forward ales and lagers. Leigh places drinkability and flavour at the pinnacle of Ploughman’s priority list, so visitors to the 35-seat taproom can be assured of the quality.
All Inn Brewing Co., Banyo: A local standout, All In Brewing Co. is the quintessential neighbourhood brewery. The crew behind this beer-making beauty aren’t in it for the awards (though they’ve earned plenty) – making a diverse range of lip-smacking libations is reward enough. And the ales are certainly smashable, from the full-flavoured lagers and sessionable pale ales to the bold red IPAs.
White Lies Brewing, Sumner: One of the first residential breweries to operate in Queensland, White Lies Brewing is a beer maker that is grown from humble beginnings to big-name player in the scene. Its Sumner taproom is a great spot to down some damn-good beers, but a new production brewery and taproom is expected to open over in Seventeen Mile Rocks in late-2023, so watch this space!
Lucha Brewing Co., Seventeen Mile Rocks: Tucked away in a small light-industrial hub in Brisbane’s southwest, Lucha Brewing Co. embodies its namesake when it comes to the beers it produces. A free-flowing and unpredictable approach to brewing has resulted in the likes of smooth stouts and malty red IPAs, as well as other unconventional options.
Brendale Brewing Co., Brendale: We know – Moreton Bay isn’t Brisbane, but we like to think these froth makers deserve to be mentioned alongside Brisbane’s best craft-beer breweries. We love a local that keeps things fresh, which is why Brendale Brewing Co. gets an inclusion on this list. Brendale Brewing’s South Pine Pale Ale and Cryo Genesis IPA were both recently awarded gold at the Royal Queensland Beer Awards, which is a testament to the beer maker’s quality.
Tannins Brew, Brendale: Though small, the beers Brendale nanobrewery Tannins Brew concocts are mighty. Owner and brewer Dave Johansen is the brains behind Tannins’ tight edit of ales, which includes two core beers (an NZ Pilsner and the Tannins Pale Ale) and a clutch of seasonals. The tap list changes week to week – a great excuse to pop in regularly.
Hip Hops Brewing, Brendale: This newcomer is already popular for its classic and experimental jars. Here, 21 taps pour everything from a crisp, clean lager and West Coast IPA called Kapow to a dry Irish stout and chilli coffee dark ale, as well as a range of session ales, sours and hard seltzers (Hard Sars, Boozy Lemonade and Ginger Zing) brewed with fermented rice syrup and local syrup.
Scarborough Harbour Brewing Co., Scarborough: This two-level Moreton Bay booze maker enjoys a primo perch on the water’s edge at Scarborough Marina, where beer lovers can quaff frothies and snack on locally sourced seafood as the sun sets over the Glasshouse Mountains in the distance. Ocean views and a beer or two – is there anything better?