There’s a great new venue that’s just opened up in Morisset. If you’re into craft beers and love a good venue, a visit to The Yard–Brewery and Smokehouse, is an absolute must! Sample fresh beer from Yard Kings Brewing Co. and feast from the low ‘n’ slow BBQ menu at the onsite smokehouse.

The local business is the brainchild of the collaborative efforts of five families, Alderding, Davies, McEwan, Robertson, and Shiach-Wise. The group, made up of 11 individuals brings together their diverse experiences in both owning and running small businesses.

The five families, all of which are neighbours from a local, tight-knit beach community in Lake Macquarie, came together one afternoon, an afternoon like so many others, filled with fun, food, and frothies in the backyard.

“We live in a community that feels like times gone by. Where neighbours aren’t strangers you nod at as you pass them in the street, but actual mates who you not only say g’day to but then stop and have a proper yarn with.

“We ultimately wanted to celebrate and share this beaut community so, with a number of avid homebrewers amongst us, a brewery felt like the perfect way to extend our community.”

Having only set the plan in motion in April 2021, it’s an absolutely incredible achievement to see the business open up to the public officially from Friday 27^th of May 2022, that’s just over 12-months of preparation, planning, and a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears!

The name itself also plays into the group's friendship, with origins from neighbourhood games of Yardzee, somewhat similar to the iconic Yahtzee but played on the lawn with an enormous timber dice.

“The guys declared their team the ‘Yard Kings’. Fair play, it was a solid name for a game of Yardzee and it got stuck in everyone’s heads – so much so that a few beers later, when the new Aussie dream of opening our own brewery was mentioned… one name seemed the logical choice.”

The venue sits amongst the developing industrial area of Morisset, with new spots opening up left, right, and centre. Upon the hill of Accolade Avenue, Yard Kings Brewing Co. is equally cosy as it is lively.

“It’s going to be like a low-key house party at your best mate’s place.”

On entering, you’ll find it is exactly that. Screaming inner-city industrial brewery vibes, you’ll really have to remind yourself that you are in fact, in Morisset! With the main brewhouse area featuring plenty of indoor seating with market lighting overhead, visitors are transported to a venue unlike any other in the area.

The exposed brewery means that visitors will be able to watch all the action in front of their eyes with all things from taste testing, brewing, and pouring happening right here on-site. Speaking of, keep an eye out for brewery tours sure to kick off in the not-so-distant future.

If you’re in the area but are just after a cup of coffee to get your day started or maybe need a midday lunch pick-me-up, make sure to drop by The Yard Smokehouse Café, with tasty goods sure to keep you coming back for more.

The café opening hours are from 6am-2pm on Monday through to Friday. Taste your way through the menu with options including fresh salads, smoked meat plates, sandwiches, burgers, and more!

Keen to head out for lunch or make a night of it? The crew at Yard Kings Brewing Co. will be excited to have you!

Start by checking out their core range of unique brews including the crowd-favourite the Pacific Ale, the classic Lager, Pale Ale, West Coast IPA, Hazy IPA and my personal favourite, the Czech Dark Lager.

Not sure where to start? Get a paddle duh!

The food menu is exactly what diners want and hope to get their hands around when visiting a brewery. Sink your teeth into their mouth-watering low and slow menu featuring a bunch of hot BBQ plates, in-house smoked meats, burgers, salads, pizzas, and more.

This great new addition to the Morisset area is what we think, is a taste test of what’s to come to the developing area. With the Cedar Mill outdoor concert venue being built just up the road and more to come, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for the area.