Catch you at Currumbin Valley Brewing.
Catch you at Currumbin Valley Brewing.
There’s certainly no shortage of things to do in Currumbin these days, doubly so if said ‘thing’ happens to be quenching thirsts and filling famished tums. The creekside locale officially has one more watering hole to adore, with the local Currumbin Valley Brewing lads unveiling their brand new taproom and brewery – a triumph for ale involved.
Complete with a 10hL Rolec copper cladded brew house (brew-speak for ‘legit’, we assume), the long-awaited Currumbin Valley Brewing HQ offers choice aplenty, boasting 16 beers on-tap. Their new digs combine crafted burgers, bowls, bougee bar snacks and boutique beverages in an environmentally-conscious space that is as much about community as it is craft beer.
Owners Pete “Smokey” Wheldon & Luke Ronalds have gone ale in on the project, the culmination of several years of blood, sweat and beers for their budding beer brand. The chance meeting at Luke’s home-brewing club back in 2016 where the two bonded over their love of an IPA turned out to be a hoppy coincidence indeed.
The brand is infamous among beer lovers for their ingenious infusions, after finding notoriety with their breakout brew Grape Bubblegum Sour Ale in 2019 and bringing us a steady slew of cracking craft-beer creations ever since. The duo credit the clever concoction with putting their brand on the map (or menu, rather), turning the then flagging operation around ‘overnight’.
As it turned out, the art of crafting a tasty drop turned out to be the yeast of Smokey and Luke’s problems. Their elusive white whale ale, a brewery expansion – and accompanying hopes of ‘tapping’ into the retail market – proved to be a pipe dream that evaded them for some time. Following two years of time and funds sunk into a failed former site, the pair ultimately turned to the community, sending out the beer-signal to get the project across the line once and for ale.
Luckily, second time’s a charm for the Currumbin Valley Brewing lads. Perched only a block beyond the banks of the iconic creek, the new venue is in excellent company – sharing the same section of the humming Currumbin Creek Rd strip as AM brew bringers Portside Coffee and Refinery Coffee. Those familiar with the area will also note its proximity to Balter Brewing, though there is no bad blood (nor a bad drop) between them.
To complement the libations, Chef Peter “Booges” Werth has pulled together a cracker menu as painstakingly crafted as the brews. If you’re envisioning generic bar fare and basic burgers, the likes of the Lamb Burger made with Confit lamb shoulder, provolone, house slaw, Onion jam and peperonata will blow those expectations out of the water.
Currumbin Valley Brewing is an inviting neighbourhood nook where frothy fanatics, families and their paw-legged pals, can converge for lols and libations. Indoor and outdoor areas offer plenty of pews poised for sinking brews (and chews), while behind the bar the beer-averse have the option to imbibe in a stellar spirits selection dominated by none other than our very own Husk Distillery. The little ones are also not forgotten, with frosty poppas and soft drinks on offer.
Where: 27 Traders Way, Currumbin Waters
When: Wednesday–Sunday, 12–8pm
Words by Kellie Leader.
Images by Mathilde Bouby.