A round-up of craft breweries in and around Newcastle
Newcastle has become home to a host of craft breweries in the last decade, and more seem to keep popping up every few months. Here's our guide to the breweries of Newcastle and surrounds.
Newcastle
Taking their name from the ship horns that are a defining feature of Newcastle's soundscape, FogHorn Brewery is quintessentially Novocastrian. Pair their brews with pizza and American-style diner food and you have a winning combination.
Where: 218 King St, Newcastle
Good Folk Brewing
Hospitality aficionados, the Elsley family, are behind the Good Folk Brewing brand. With The Blind Monk, Bartholomew’s, and The Grand Hotel amongst some of Elsley’s establishments, the family knows hospitality and how to do it well. However, Good Folk was their first move into the craft beer industry. Try their core range as well as Dark Lord, an Imperial Coffee Stout collab with Lords Supply. You'll find the brewery hidden behind Danny's Pizza on Beaumont Street.
Where: 80 Beaumont St, Hamilton
A staple of the Newcastle brewing scene for more than ten years, Grainfed Brewing Company has their own brewery situated in the back streets of Lambton. Enjoy their on-tap beers, dig into an easy bite, and take a six-pack home.
Where: 1/52 Young Rd, Lambton
With 11 taps in the taproom, there are plenty of beers to try at Maltnhops Brewhaus. Try some of their more left-of-centre brews.
Where: 10/26 Balook Dr, Beresfield
Independent and locally-owned brewery Method Brewing has three of their own core beers on tap – the Method Pale Ale, Method New World IPA, and Method Hazy Pale. Settle into one of their leather couches and order food from the rotating on-site food truck to accompany your beer.
Where: 18 Maitland Rd, Islington
Enjoy one of Modus Brewing's quality beers in their airy, light-filled space in Merewether. Modus Merewether is more than beers – take a gander at their impressive food offering, ranging from small share plates to burgers and wings, and even desserts.
Where: 20 Merewether St, Merewether
Brewed onsite in Union Street, The Rogue Scholar has 12 rotating taps of their popular beers. There's even an Apple Cider and Ginger Beer for those who aren't beer drinkers.
Where: 4-6 Union St, Newcastle
With four mates at the helm, Shout Brewing Co. is a brewery with plenty of passion behind it. Drink their beers at their fun Islington space (start with the crowd-favourite Mullet Pale Ale) while you dine on pizza.
Where: 22 Clyde St, Islington
Calling Broadmeadow home, Thirsty Messiah joined the local brewing scene in 2023. With a whopping 40 taps featuring their own beer and craft beers from the region, Thirsty Messiah is Mecca for beer lovers.
Where: 140 Lambton Rd, Broadmeadow
Lake Macquarie
Bread & Brewery has six of their own beers on tap, arranged so that you taste them progressively. Head over for a tasting, so you can hear the stories behind beers like Four Weeks Notice and Return to Sender.
Where: 19/14 Kam Cl, Morisset
Located within Wests Cardiff, Cardiff Brewery offers small batch beers in a casual space – perfect for watching sport while you sip a beer.
Where: 18 Munibung Rd, Cardiff
Lake Mac Brewing Co.
Lake Mac Brewing Co. has sustainability at the heart of their brewing operations, giving their spent grain to local farmers and operating their own wastewater treatment plant.
Where: 2 Brodie St, Morisset
Visit this relaxed brewpub in Morisset to sip fresh beer at the source by Yard Kings Brewing Co., enjoy live music on the weekend, and feast from the low 'n' slow BBQ menu, all smoked at the onsite smokehouse.
Where: 32 Accolade Ave, Morisset
Hunter Valley
Hope Brewery
Hope Estate might be well-known for their wine and concerts, but did you know they also have a brewery onsite? Enjoy your beer in the funky indoor space or the rolling lawns of Hope Estate, if the weather is nice.
Where: 2213 Broke Road, Pokolbin
Overlooking the grape vines on the grounds of Peter Drayton Wines, IronBark Hill Brewhouse has ten beers and two ciders on tap, ranging from pales ales and lagers to stouts and porters. There are beer and cider paddles available if you're keen to try a few.
Where: 694 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin
Morpeth Brewery
Morpeth Brewery have been making handcrafted beers on the premises of the Commercial Hotel in Morpeth since 2012. They have up to six taps available for their beers on draft, four of which are dedicated to regular beers, IPAs on rotation and seasonal beers.
Where: 127 Swan St, Morpeth
Sydney Brewery
If you’re a Sydney-sider, chances are you’ve heard of or visited Sydney Brewery’s Surry Hills brewhouse. The Hunter brewery, located within the grounds of the Rydges Resort Hunter Valley, won’t disappoint. The brewery offers a decent range of seasonal craft beers on tap including the popular Lovedale Lager and Sydney Cider.
Where: Rydges Resort Hunter Valley, 430 Wine Country Dr, Lovedale
Tinshed Brewery
Tinshed Brewery brews its artisan beers onsite at its brewery in Dungog. Tinshed has become a local favourite with beers like the Finger Lime Sour and the Dungog IPA.
Where: 109 Dowling St, Dungog
The Valley Brewhouse
The Valley Brewhouse offers tasting paddles, guided tastings, and brewery tours at its Nulkaba brewery. The Valley Brewhouse has a solid range of its own beers on tap at any time, which you can enjoy with a pub-style feed from the bistro.
Where: Wine Country Dr, Nulkaba
The businesses featured within this article have not paid to be featured, the content has been curated by the HUNTERhunter editorial team. We only promote businesses we love and think our readers will love too!
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