An oceanside brew heals all ale-ments
An oceanside brew heals all ale-ments
If there’s one thing we can’t get enough of – besides shirt’n’short sets and binging Wednesday on Netflix – it’s breweries. We’d happily spend our days bouncing from one to the next and it would be more of a wobbly stagger than a bounce, but our point remains. Well, this particular brewery involves a ferry and shut up, it must be somewhere #HighKeyGoals if a boat ride is involved (it is).
After a 12-month build and much anticipation from #e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e, Straddie Brewing Co opened its doors to their Island Brewery at Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island. Two months young, this architecturally designed showstopper is collecting fans as quickly as we collected Jonathon Taylor Thomas posters in the mid-90s.
Located mere minutes from the Sealink Ferry Terminal, let’s take a moment to applaud founders Kylie Taylor, Troy Beaven and Andrew Sydes. The ground floor of the three-level brewery welcomes you with double-height glass windows revealing stainless steel fermentation tanks, and a 10hl brewhouse. Get your steps up and venture to the 90-seat taproom on the first floor, which also houses eye-popping art installations like the 3.6 metre wall mural by Queensland artist Jarad Danby #artyfarty.
The working brewery feel certainly aren’t compromised, as you look down into the brewhouse and speaking of looking down, a visit to the top floor is a highlight. We’re talking a deck situation friends, seating another hunji or so bods with panoramic views of the BrisVegas CBD skyline, the Glasshouse Mountains, and the stunning Redlands Coast. The sunsets here are simply beyond, and we love nothing more than an amber sundowner with our amber sundowner.
Speaking of the top floor and epic views, it also boasts an exclusive ‘Brewery Caretakers Unit’ which can be booked by the night on AirBnB! Taking into consideration the obvious (a brewery downstairs) and the breathtaking outlook to Moreton Bay and Russell Island, this place is as sought after as the Kmart air fryer.
Now let’s unpack the most important information: the frosty Bronsons. The brewery’s two bars both have 12 taps pouring the six core ranges of Straddie beers: Point Lookout Lager, Amity Pale Ale, Myora Springs Gose, Manta Dark Lager, Jumpinpin IPA, and Mid Track Session Ale with taproom only ‘Sandpit Series’ beers constantly rotating. Now pouring Sandpit Series #1 – Rock Stout and Sandpit Series #2 – Super Pale, plus a couple of craft beer guest taps, the sand-filtered water that flows from Straddie’s aquifer is perfect for brewing and is an important part of the soul of Straddie beer. Non-beer drinkers don’t fret, coz there are hand-picked artisanal spirits, non-alcoholic spirits, and a stellar wine list, ensuring no-one exits without adequate hydration.
We all like a snack…or feast…with our refreshments and thanks to Chef Casey Burke, there’s both in abundance. The mostly sharing-style menu includes plenty of Straddie’s iconic seafood eats like Market Fish Ceviche with fennel and caper remoulade, and Handmade Fettuccine a la Marinara with pipis, black mussels, prawns, capers chilli and garlic. Perhaps a chow down of Beef Tataki with barrel aged Tamari and house made ponzu is more up your alley, or Smoked Kangaroo loin with chilli Quandong jus. Or, get stuck into the ultimate beer partner fare; one of the drool-worthy neo-Neapolitan style hand-stretched pizzas.
So join us and say G’day (and cheers…on repeat) to the brews, fresh food, brewery tours, and mint ocean views at the island home of Straddie Brewing Co.
Where: 5 Junner Street, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island
When: Taproom: 11am – 9pm Monday, 4pm – 9pm Thursday, 11am – late Friday to Sunday. Closed Tuesday & Wednesday.
Kitchen: 11.30am – 2.30pm & 5pm – 8:30pm Monday & Thursday to Sunday. Closed Tuesday & Wednesday.
Words by Bianca Trathen.
It’s been awhile since we’ve brought you news of something opening on the Gold Coast for obvious reasons, but that is changing as of this very second.
We’re very excited to let you know that a new brewhouse is set to open in Surfers Paradise as of late 2020 and by then, the days filled with eating and drinking across our city that we miss very much, might just be possible once again.
The newbie is called Bobs Beer (the Bobs part stands for best of beer) and it’s set to be a state-of-the-art taproom, brewery and dining room which are right up there with all our favourite things.
You’ll be able to find Bobs on the corner of Elkhorn and Orchid Aves, where the Louis Vuitton store once lived and that’s pretty much the perfect place for what we’re sure will be an absolutely pumping new establishment in the heart of Surfers.
The venue will be of the three-storey variety with both an indoor seating section and a stunning outdoor patio, perfect for people watching. Inside will seat around 52 lucky folks and outside, there’ll be room for 68.
Extremely knowledgeable brewer Ryan Fullerton has made the trip up from Victoria to oversee the project so we know we’re in good hands. His rapsheet includes time spent working for Red Duck Brewery in Ballarat, Bad Shepherd Brewing Co, Melbourne’s Clifton Hill Brewpub. So that’s good news for us.
He’s currently in the process of researching the types of beers we Gold Coasters like best (tough gig), so we can assume there’ll be a good range to choose from, no doubt including a few out-of-the-box options.
In terms of eats, Bobs Beer is said to be offering a slightly fancier menu than your usual pub grub dishes and again, that is something we can get behind.
Now if you’ve ever frequented the site at all in the past, you’ll know it’s a grand position so we’re very excited to see what the team are able to do with it.
Of course, exactly how it all rolls out is dependent on the state of the world, so please friends, keep washing those hands and keeping your distance so we all get to visit this epic newbie sooner rather than later.
Stay tuned for more details when Bobs Beer opens.
LOCATION: Cnr Orchid and Elkhorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Words by Kirra Smith
December is already looking very good Gold Coasters, summer is here, it’s almost Christmas, 2021 isn’t far away and we get to frolic in our sparkly city, sipping frosty beers and exploring all the epic things going on here.
The latest of which, happily, is the opening of a brand new Miami brewery combining both said drinking of frosty beers AND exploring epic things.
It’s called Precinct Brewing Co. and it’s the work of The Imlach Group who, as you know, are the creators of SO MANY impressive local venues including Bine Beer Bar, Mr Hizola’s, Hideaway Kitchen & Bar, Nightjar, Nightcap and The Backyard Cafe.
They’re a busy lot but no rest for the wicked as they say and that absolutely works for us.
Precinct Brewing Co. can be found on Christine Avenue and if you’ve ventured down there lately, you’ll have seen the colourful, graffiti-covered entrance promising a world of good times within. As is the norm with anywhere that has the names Simone Tunbridge, Scott Imlach and Michael Craighead on it.
Not to mention Head Brewer Jeremy James, who has more experience brewing a tasty drop than any of us have drinking it – which is a lot because we all Gold Coasters.
But back to the venue. Once you’ve stepped through the doors you’ll be welcomed into a sleek, all white space with greenery dripping from up high, their signature art adorning one wall and an absolute slew of tanks brewing up some tasty treats.
Precinct features 12 taps and four direct-pour tanks behind the bar meaning there’ll be sixteen brews to taste and Jeremy has quite the penchant for unique tastes. Mango-flavoured Kettle Sour anyone? Yep.
For opening week, there’ll be four new beers and a few from local brewers to get things started PLUS all of the Mr Consistent cocktails, a range of local, sustainable vegan wines, Hard FIZZ Seltzer and local spirits. It’s pretty much the best selection of sips around and we are absolutely pumped.
Of course, there’s food to go with all those drinks and it’s delicious, as you’d expect.
There’s starters like Precinct Fried Chicken, Fried Crispy Zucchini and Wagyu Beef Bao. But we’ve tried and tested the gourmet pizzas, so share a Parma, Italian Pork Sausage or Capricciosa variety.
What more could you want? Nothing is what.
Precinct Brewing Co. opens Friday 4th December and you should definitely get down there.
LOCATION: 17 Christine Avenue, Miami
HOURS: 11am until 10pm Monday to Thursday, 11am until midnight Friday, 12pm unil midnight Saturday and 12pm until 10pm Sunday
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
