How good is an icy cold beer on a balmy afternoon? Heck, or any afternoon for that matter. Especially right here on the Gold Coast, where not only are we blessed with copious amounts of year-round sunshine, but an increasing array of talented breweries and equally impressive spots to take a load off and enjoy their hard work.

Although the possibilities for lavishing yourself with a great beer are endless, here’s our whittled down top 11 spots (listed north to south) to grab a brew on any (post-lockdown) afternoon you please! Cheers to that.

Fortitude Brewing Company
Fortitude Brewing Company is special because they brew under not one but two names. Fortitude for the dependable beers you enjoy with mates and Noisy Minor for the loud beers we all love now and again. Due to brewing excellent beers, it’s Tamborine Mountain’s best spot for a Sunday sesh. Enjoy hot gourmet pizzas and one of their 14 icy-cold beers while you listen to the live band on the patio.
Beer to sip: Fortitude Pacer — the perfect session pale ale.
Where: 165 Long Rd, North Tamborine

BOB’s Beer
The newest beer stop of the bunch is BOB’s Beer. This highly anticipated first microbrewery in Surfers Paradise opened with an impressive range of beers on tap and an incredible menu filled with bites you might not expect. Positioned on a corner block means there’s also plenty of window seating for watching the world go by outside. Talented (former) Melbourne brewer Ryan Fullerton and his team have created inhouse a lager, IPA, XPA and a Saison among six others, all available on tap (plus six guest taps from around Australia and NZ).
Beer to sip: Turmenator, a brut IPA that’s dry, spicy and tropical with hints of fresh tumeric root and saffron.
Where: 10/2 Elkhorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise

House of Brews
The name says it all. House of Brews has a whopping 32 beers on tap! In fact, they have so many kegs, they’ve even got a ‘keg room display’. If you aren’t a beer lover (sacrilege), there’s every chance if you still head to House of Brews, they’ll make a beer lover out of you. The food menu is inspired by traditional American BBQ so grab yourself some sticky ribs and maybe an Onion Ring Volcano tower. You’ll be one ever so happy afternoon beer drinker.
Beer to sip: Huge selection! Try something — left of centre — from North America if you can.
Where: 17 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise

Bine Bar & Dining
The Gold Coast’s first craft beer bar, Bine, is adored by locals and packed to the brim every single weekend (and often throughout the week). Serving over 100 bottled beers and with eight rotating taps, the folks at Bine know their brews. Not to mention there are food specials daily, including regular 50 cent chicken wings specials every weekday evening! Wash those down with a beer or two, and that’s an excellent way to pass some time by anyone’s standard.
Beer to sip: Something local like Currumbin Valley Brewery.
Where: 1/28 Chairlift Avenue, Nobby Beach

Lost Palms Brewing Co.
The baby of the Gold Coast’s brewery bunch, Lost Palms joined us just four years ago, all bright pink and pretty and with a unique selection of very delicious beers on offer. Currently, you’ll find a Hibiscus and Guava sour and American style mango and passionfruit wheat ale. And if you feel like something a little different and looking after the rig, they’ve even knocked up a peach seltzer brewed from grain and coming in at a marginal 80 calories a serving — that’s just a 25-minute stroll on the treadmill, by the way. They also have a small share-style menu and a basketball hoop so you can both feast and play while you sip.
Beer to sip: Lost Palms Hibiscus & Guava Sour — a sour tropical lolly in a glass.
Where: 11 Oak Avenue, Miami

Precinct Brewing
Bursting onto the Miami arts precinct scene with a rapacious welcome, Precinct Brewing has quickly made itself a solid status as a place to grab a freshly made beer, pull up a stool and forget all of life’s woes. They make matters much more bearable with the tastiest of pizzas, stand-up comedy, and some captivating, limited releases like their recent Lime & Chilli Lager and Manuka Smoked Pilsner — yummy!
Beer to sip: Check out their weekly Friday releases for exclusive flavours!
Where: 17 Christine Avenue, Miami

AWOL
If robust and deep flavoured ales get your heart rate rising, you have to try out Black Hops newest foray into brewing beer. Located a hop, skip and jump away from Black Hops HQ, this new — hidden in plain sight — stylish bar will take your tastebuds on an odyssey with imaginative barrel-aged beers. Ex gin, wine, and whisky barrels from worldwide have been sourced to help produce the Gold Coast’s most inventive brews with some serious ABVS to match. Not for the faint of heart, but nevertheless some seriously great drinking to be had.
Beer to sip: AWOL Rebellion Stout — imperial stout aged in used Tasmanian whisky barrels: delish.
Where: 4 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh Heads

Black Hops Brewing
What do you get when you mix three mates, a passion for beer and a little know-how? Damn good beer. That’s the story behind Black Hops who have three brewery/taproom sites across Burleigh Heads, Biggera Waters and Brisbane. The boys have worked super hard to build a solid reputation for themselves not just here on the Gold Coast but nationally with multiple awards and trade recognitions. Their original easy-going taproom tucked away in Burleigh Heads is the perfect watering hole when the mercury starts to rise.
Beer to sip: Black Hops Send It Session Ale — light, fruity, and not too strong.
Where: 15 Gardenia Grove, Burleigh Heads and 14 665 Pine Ridge Road, Biggera Waters

Burleigh Brewing Co.
One of the unprecedented and best brewers on the Coast, husband and wife team Brennan and Peta Fielding opened Burleigh Brewing Co. to rave reviews, and it’s been onwards and upwards ever since. The brewery is spacious with lots of outdoor seating and always filled with revellers having an absolute time. When they’re not throwing big events, be sure to slip in for an exceptional selection of craft beers, all of which we’re big fans of.
Beer to sip: Burleigh Brewing Burleigh Bighead — No carb, no-fuss big flavoured thirst quencher.
Where: 2 Ern Harley Drive, Burleigh Heads

Balter Brewing Company
When a gang of pro surfers came together and created an award-winning brewery, Australia sat up and paid attention. And although the original owners may have parted ways with their baby, the beer is still on point, and it’s still the perfect spot to enjoy a few brews with the crew. There’s a sweet outdoor area where the kiddies can run about and weekly food trucks with live music in the evenings. Too hard not to love this spot: plenty of tasty frothies to sample.
Beer to sip: Balter XPA — Balter’s most awarded beer can be yours fresh from the production line.
Where: 14 Traders Way, Currumbin Waters

Craft House Bar & Restaurant
Craft House has the Tugun beer-drinking scene covered with 20 Australian craft beers on tap at any given time. When one tap runs dry, they swap it out for a completely different kind, meaning you can go there often and experience something new. And if you feel like trying as many as possible, you must do one of their tasting paddles. Not to mention their food menu is pretty all-time with share plates aplenty, meaning you might nip in for a quick one but end up staying a little longer.
Beer to sip: Lots of choices — try something you’ve never had before.
Where: 445 Golden Four Drive, Tugun

Words by Alex Mitcheson.

After eating their way through the US on a taste-testing mission, the team at newly renamed Brooklyn Depot Kitchen & Brew brought home 15 of the most authentic dishes they found for your finger lickin’ pleasure.

While there are obviously 15, here are the top three reasons to make a date with the Brooklyn boys stat.

1. The Lobster Mac & Cheese
It’s out of this world. As if Mac & Cheese wasn’t already the best thing that ever happened, the addition of lobster tips it over the edge. Basically it’s fresh lobster meat in a three cheese sauce baked ‘au gratin’ with a gremolata breadcrumb topping. Yes. It. Is.

2. The Cheeseburger Empanadas
These may just blow your mind – housemade empanadas with grass fed beef, American cheese, pickles, onion and served with Depot special sauce – they taste better than a cheeseburger but look more like a curry puff. Thank you America.

3. Chicken n’ Waffles
Not just any chicken n’ waffles though, sweet red velvet ‘bubble style’ waffles topped with crispy southern fried chicken pieces, served with maple cream syrup and flavoured butter. Soul food done the Brooklyn way and oh so Instagrammable.

There’s plenty more where they came from too y’all so a couple of visits a week for the next month should do it. The good old US of A comes through for us again, cheers legends.

Inside tip: the Yo’ Mama milkshake will make you very happy.

LOCATION: Brooklyn Depot Kitchen & Brew, The 4217, 10 Beach Road Surfers Paradise
HOURS: Open 7 days, 11am until late

Words and photos by Kirra Smith

There will never be too many waterfront venues, serving up frosty cold brews and epic views (that’s a poem right there). Especially because summer is right around the corner and that combination is our absolute fave on a steamy, sun-drenched afternoon.

Which is lucky because Paradise Point recently became home to a brand new venue boasting, you guessed it, frosty brews and epic views.

Brewed Brewery can be found on Marine Promenade overlooking the sparkly Coomera River and serving up not only frosty brews but tasty tapas-style eats too.

The industrial-esque space offers plenty of seating on the big old undercover deck with said views stretching as far as the eye can see. Inside, a piano sits in one corner while a little window against the back wall allows you to peek in at the keg room adorned with disco lights.

The tasty eats-filled menu is the work of Head Chef Jack Dillon and has been made with a community style of dining in mind. Jack has worked at many a fine dining restaurant in his time, including Copenhagen’s Noma, and his experience shows in the array of American BBQ-influenced dishes.

First up, let’s chat about the ribs, Finger Licking Ribs to be exact (which are obviously the best kind). We’re fans of the Hickory Smoked Pork Ribs with caramelized mandarin. Obviously. So eat those.

Definitely also try the Wagyu Tataki with shaved roasted garlic miso jelly and chargrilled wild mushroom. Love you all things tataki.

The Puffed Haloumi and Watermelon dish features our two very favourite foods so clearly this one is a winner too. Times three please.

Of course, since the name suggests all things brews, we best mention the 25 craft beers on rotation in said disco-style keg room. All your local favourites are represented along with a sweet selection of wines, ciders and cocktails to keep your thirst quenched.

So there you have it, a new northern goodie to add to the list. It’s going to be a sweet summer indeed friends.

LOCATION: 2/4 Marina Promenade, Paradise Point
HOURS: Wednesday to Sunday 11.30am until late

Words and photos by Kirra Smith