We may not have as many breweries as our Southern and Western cousins, but we do have some of the best. You’ll visit at least three on a Thirsty Critters tour – which three depends on the tour! If you’re keen on visiting breweries we don’t visit on a standard tour (such as Sunshine Coast Brewery) we are more than happy to oblige – just get in touch.
Burleigh Brewing Company
Burleigh Brewing Company is Queensland’s flagship craft brewery, pumping out fantastic beers like 78 pale ale, Hef witbier and Bighead low-carb. They are also renowned for their acclaimed seasonal beers like Black Giraffe coffee lager and Fanny Gertrude’s Bickie Beer. All their beers are now widely available locally in stores and on tap, but nothing beats a visit to their huge brewhouse, where you can find master brewer Brennan and his wife Peta (the namesake of their cheekily-named ‘My Wife’s Bitter’) doing their thing. The brewhouse only opens to the public once a month, but Thirsty Critters tour guests are always welcome!
Stone & Wood Brewery
Stone & Wood Brewery was opened by ex-Matilda Bay brewers Brad, Jamie & Ross in 2010 and has gone from strength to strength since then. Their flagship beer, Pacific Ale, won the 2011 Critics’ Choice Award, and also came #1 in the Hottest 100 Beers of 2011 poll. The Stone & Wood team are always happy to see a Thirsty Critters tour arrive on their door step, so if you want to see where some of the best beer in Australia is lovingly made, get on board.
MT Brewery
MT Brewery is part of a very popular and tourist-friendly complex atop Mt Tamborine at Eagle Heights, sitting alongside the excellent Witches Chase Cheese Company and Liquid Amber restaurant. There’s around 7 craft beers on tap at any time, including 2 Belgian ales and the legendary Black Cockatoo dark lager. Their Belgian ‘St Bridget’ dubbel is also highly prized.
Bacchus Brewing Company
Bacchus Brewing at Capalaba is owned and run by the always affable and friendly Ross Kenrick (above). As well as running Bacchus, he’s head of the Brisbane Amateur Brewers Association – he really knows and loves his beer. Bacchus currently brews over 20 beers, many of which can be found in Brisbane’s better beer venues – but to try all of them, you’ll have to come on a Thirsty Critters tour to the brewery. At the brewery you can also buy many of his already-legendary creations like Obama IPA and Red Belly Black ale to take home with you in 5 litre mini kegs.
Byron Bay Brewery
Byron Bay Brewery is part of a larger complex which also includes a cinema, restaurant, theatre and huge outdoor beer garden area! The brewhouse has five house beers and one speciality beer on tap at all times, including an Australian pale ale, dark lager, a pilsner and an English bitter. They also have great tucker which is handy because we usually stop in here for lunch!
Brisbane Brewhouse
The Brisbane Brewhouse is the fresh face of South Brisbane’s iconic Clarence Corner Hotel. While the locals still prop up the front bar, beer lovers fill up the back bar which stocks their great range of beers brewed at their brewhouse in Clayfield. The Brisbane Brewhouse range includes their classic Brisbane Pale Ale, Star Lager, Sunshine Honey Wheat and ‘Up Yer Kilt’ Scottish Ale.
Sunshine Coast Brewery
Thirsty Critters can also arrange visits to the Sunshine Coast Brewery – an award-winning brewery an hour north of Brisbane.