Support local always.
Support local always.
Right, so we’re in isolation, chatting to our friends via video, baking copious amounts of banana bread and trying not to be bored but alas, being bored. Enter alcohol, a necessary addition to group chats (cheersing the screen is a good time) and the perfect companion to a bit of midday baking. What would we do without it?
You know what the best kind of alcohol is? Gold Coast alcohol. Made by local legends who are crafting the absolute goods when it comes to a tasty drop.
Since we’re all about supporting local and we know you are too, we comprised a list of local breweries and distilleries from whom you can purchase your iso alcohol direct, cutting out the middle man and giving them all a helping hand in this ridiculous time.
Here they are, get drinking (in moderation obvs).
Black Hops
The lads at Black Hops have two breweries on the Gold Coast, one in Burleigh Heads and one at Biggera Waters and both slinging takeaway cans for your sipping pleasure. They’ve got quite the array of beers available including Pink Mist (our fave) and the recently re-released Beach House. Not matter your preference, they’ve got you covered.
Where: 5 Gardenia Grove, Burleigh Heads and 671 Pine Ridge Road, Biggera Waters
Balter Brewing
As you’d expect the Balter boys are on the bandwagon serving up their beloved brews in the form of cans (of course) but also as long necks in singles or three packs. Which is a truly Aussie thing to do. All your Balter favourites are on offer and they can all be delivered should you not want/be able to get to the brewery. We’re big fans of all Balter’s beers and particularly love their branding. Buy yourself a long neck or three and check out what they’ve done with the paper bag. Too good.
Where: 14 Traders Way, Currumbin
Burleigh Brewing
The legends at Burleigh Brewing are makers of really, very excellent beer in a variety of flavours that we love equally. Big Head in particular is carb free, which is very handy at a time when we eat a lot and don’t get out much. You know what the greatest thing about Burleigh Brewing is right now though? They’re delivering across the Coast. Simply order online and get your goods dropped right at your door. Perfection.
Where: 2 Ern Harley Drive, Burleigh Heads
Mt Tamborine Distillery
Need some fancy, delicious liqueurs to sip on while you’re doing all that indoor stuff? Same. Mt Tamborine Distillery has you covered with their very extensive range. Jaffa, Choc Mint, Choc Chilli perhaps? They’ve also got a life changing Limoncello and spirits too, so pretty much everything you could possibly need. Add some of their new hand sanitiser to the mix and that’s you covered for the next week or so. Grab some from the tasting room if you live up that way or get it shipped directly to you.
Where: 10 Macdonnell Road, Tamborine North
Lost Palms Brewing
The pretty pink brewery has created a little takeaway window on site and from it they are selling all of their epic brews including the recently released Peach Hard Seltzer which we can tell you (from Hottest 100 day experience) is a taste sensation. It’s also low in calories, carbs and sugar making it pretty much good for you and our new fave thing. They also have many other delicious types that you should sample ASAP.
Where: 11 Oak Ave, Miami
Granddad Jacks
The Miami crew are selling their delicious, delicious gin out of the distillery on Lemana Lane and there are a few to choose from in varying degrees of strength. There’s Two Pencils (our fave), 65 Miles (navy strength, fun) and Greenhouse, a botanical treat. They’ve also created their very own hand sanitiser because they’re clever like that, so you can pick up all the necessities in one go. Love.
Where: 45 Lemana Lane, Miami
Fortitude Brewing
Up at Tamborine Mountain, Fortitude Brewing are still making their tasty tipples for your sampling pleasure. They’ve got many a type of beer to choose from including your regular Pale Ale and Lager faves plus their very own ginger beer, which is one of the best around. If you’re up that way, pop through their new makeshift drive-thru and grab yourself a couple to take home and enjoy. Always a pleasure at Fortitude Brewing.
Where: 165 Long Road, Mount Tamborine
Happy sipping friends.
Words by Kirra Smith
Go big or go home is a thing people say and it’s certainly true of the lads at Black Hops who have, in the last few days, opened their second brewery and it is indeed big and also likely your new home.
Black Hops II can be found up north in Biggera Waters, not too far from Harbour Town Shopping Centre, so there’s two excellent reasons to drop in.
It’s a warehouse-style space that, interestingly, used to be a place where giant boats were built. Now though, it’s a sweet, extremely good-looking brewery and the boys really have outdone themselves.
As you’d expect, it’s a big, open space decked out in the boys signature dark hues. High wooden tables line the sidewall underneath another big thing – a stunning mural by another local lad slash legend, Kiel Tillman. It reads ‘Beer made by 3 mates on the Gold Coast’ and it’s a topographical map of the Gold Coast and you probably won’t stop staring at it the entire time you’re there.
On the opposite wall is the reason you came, the bar. Pendant lights hang from above the marble bar, greenery cascades from above the taps and you’ll find 13 beers and one cider on offer.
Around the corner, there’s merch for sale including take-home Growlers and Squealers (our favourite word) and, the hallway leading to the bathroom is a delight, lined with sweet, cartoon-style artwork.
The whole space just screams good vibes.
In case you’re wondering why Dan, Eddie and Govs undertook the mammoth task of opening a second brewery, the answer is simple; supply and demand. Since brewing began in 2015, Black Hops have been stocked in over 400 venues and retail outlets in (mostly) Queensland alone and the rest of Australia want in.
To help fund the new brewery, Black Hops undertook a record breaking equity crowdfunding campaign, raising $400,000 in just six days. Which obviously goes to show that the people want the beer.
The team are Australia’s first brewery to run a successful equity crowdfunding campaign and we are super proud of them (and y’all) and also stoked because we get an epic new brewery to frequent.
To celebrate the official opening, a few limited release beers will be pouring, including Danger Zone (an Imperial Red Ale), Thunder Cloud (a hazy Triple IPA) and Kiwi Lager (an Imperial Lager) so get ‘em while they’re frothy.
Oh and ps. try the Pink Mist, it’s what they call a Saison and (excuse the clumsy explanation) but it’s brewed in a similar way to how champagne is made and it’s got raspberries and it’s very delicious (and not overly beery if that’s your thing).
On Friday and Saturday nights there will be food trucks so you may make the most of a Saturday night on the beers.
Bye now, buying all the Squealers.
LOCATION: 14 / 665 Pine Ridge Road, Biggera Waters
HOURS: 12pm until 6pm Wednesday and Thursday and 12pm until 9pm Friday and Saturday
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
In what may just be the happiest news of 2018, a gin and whiskey distillery will roll open its doors in a few short weeks and we could not be more into it.
Granddad Jacks Distillery has been in the works for what feels like four years to those of us who love both gin and whiskey a little too much. In reality it’s only been four months but the wait is almost over.
On August 24th, the industrial-style Miami distillery will open for the good folks of the Gold Coast and, it’s certainly a cause to celebrate. Found on Lemana Lane, the distillery has taken up in what used to be a mechanics workshop and the transformation is pure magic.
Father/son team and owners Dave and Luke Ridden (along with the lovely Jess) scoured the Gold Coast in search of iron beams and the like to build a space that fits perfectly in Miami’s backstreets. Steel-inspired high tables with copper stools stretch down the centre of the room and two of the coolest leather couches we’ve ever seen make for a little chill spot at one end (if they go missing forget you read this). A day bed along one wall is lined with colourful cushions and underneath a mural proclaiming ‘too busy for bullshit, too tipsy to care’ and that, friends, is our new life motto.
Above the bar, an exposed brick wall boasts a painted portrait of the man himself, Granddad Jack, whose face peers out over the whole space, keeping an eye on you and your whiskey-fuelled shenanigans. There are wine barrels placed artfully about and the cruisiest of cruisers, decked out in Granddad Jack’s signage, is parked up the back. Oh and the main affair, a huge copper still sits at the back pumping out all the tasty booze. Love you.
So who is this Granddad Jack your new favourite watering hole is named after? Well, he’s a New Zealand born lad whose hard work and sharp mind allowed him to pay a huge family debt singlehandedly at the ripe old age of 14, that’s who. Luke, his great grandson, adopted the same hard working, ‘too busy for bullshit’ attitude and here we are, just a humble beachside city with our very own distillery. What a time.
Granddad Jack’s will sell only their own styles of both gin and whiskey and they’ll have a few varieties of each including what they call a ‘navy strength’ gin that’s 58%. Gimme.
There’ll be no food available on site but, hooray, you can BYO whatever you like so it’ll be a cheese platter and gin party for us thank you very much.
The epic space is also available for events including birthdays, engagement parties and wedding receptions and there was even a secret Sofar Sounds gig there recently. So much room for activities.
Okay we’re done and so very excited. Keep August 24th free, you won’t want to miss this one.
LOCATION: 43 Lemana Lane, Miami
HOURS: 10am until midnight Wednesday to Sunday
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
In one of the biggest glow ups of 2020, hand sanitizer has fast become a hot commodity with approximately zero bottles available in local supermarkets. You know where there are bottles available though? Distilleries. Who would’ve thought our beloved local distributors would come through for us even more than usual?
They have though, with several switching things up to create their very own brand of hand sanitizer to alleviate the stress of mass unavailability world (and indeed Gold Coast) wide.
A big pat on the back to these local brands who have come up with the goods in terms of keeping our hands fresh and clean.
Granddad Jack’s Craft Distillery
The gin and whisky distillery were already serving up the goods when it came to delicious alcoholic beverages and now they’re keeping us free of germs too. The team began creating their own liquid hand and surface sanitizer just this week and they sold out quick smart, such is the demand. They’re releasing the 1L goods online every day at 12pm, as they only have limited numbers, but you can also join the online waiting list. They’re making up to one litre of beautifully scented Lemon Myrtle, Grapefruit & Rose Hip bottles and you know you want that! Get in quick here. May as well add a bottle of delicious gin too…
Tamborine Mountain Distillery
The beloved distillers found up on Tamborine Mountain have also come to the rescue with their new liquid hand sanitizer, with scents of Tea Tree, Eucalyptus and Lavender Essential Oils and ranging from 100ml to 700ml bottles. The bottles are the same as those that their liqueuers are presented in so once you’ve used up all your sanitizer, you can keep the bottle for a lovely little house decoration. Pre-order is open now and you’re also able to pickup from the distillery. Grab yourself some here.
Husk Distillery
Down south a little further, Husk Distillery is doing their part to fill in the gap in the hand sanitizer market with their very own brand of the liquid gold in a lemon myrtle scent. Beautifully branded, the new product is available in a square gin bottle, also perfect for displays once you’re all done with it. The team at Husk have an online ordering system available for delivery and a drive thru pick up service too. You get 200ml for $10 and it’s a limit of three bottles per person for obvious reasons. Pick yours up here.
Wildflower Gin Distilling
A newbie that hasn’t even had the chance to release their new goodness to the public thanks to the virus which we shall not name, have instead launched with hand sanitizer and we are all very grateful for it. Wildflower Gin Distilling are adding their own Wildflower botanicals and the distillers own backyard honey to the mix, making it a little bit more magical than you might expect. Available from April 14th, you can support them here.
See, there is some good in the world.
Words by Kirra Smith
