The beery delights of the Barossa Valley

When one thinks of the Barossa, they think of wine. Loads and loads of wine. Thankfully, I’m pleased to report, the Barossa has it’s fair share of decent breweries too. On a recent trip there I experienced almost all the beer that the region had to offer, and I was well impressed.

The first brewery we visited was right in the heart of the Barossa – funnily enough called Barossa Brewing Company. This little place is run by a very dedicated couple who work in other jobs during the week, the brew like crazy on the weekends. Their setup is small but effective, churning out a range of 4 standard lines. I don’t want to understate how blown away I was by all four of their varieties – they were magnificent. I was particularly pleased by their Miller’s Lager – to be honest it’s the first lager I’ve really enjoyed in a long, long time – so full of flavour! And nothing like almost any other lager you’ll find in a shop.

In addition to the lager they brew a Wheat Store Ale, Greenock Dark Ale and a Victorville Ale, which is their American Pale Ale variety.  All are good – so good that I had to order a carton to be shipped up to Queensland. Expecting to pay handsomely for the privelege, I was delighted to find that it only costs $15 to ship a carton of beer from SA to Qld! So if you’re keen on trying these wonderful beers, it’s not that difficult – just enquire here. It’s probably the only way you’ll get to sample this wonderful beer because the only place it’s on tap is just down the road at the Greenock Tavern!

After the delights of the Barossa Brewing Company, next on the list was the Lobethal Bierhaus. This isn’t technically in the Barossa – it’s about an hour away in the Adelaide Hills. It’s a sight to behold from the outside – a beautiful old woolstore that’s been converted into a brewery and brewpub. We arrived at midday on a Sunday and just as well – almost every table was booked and by 12.20 the place was full. The beer was excellent, as expected, but the real treat at the Bierhaus was being able to buy my very first growler.

For those unfamiliar with growlers, they are large vessels (around 2 litres) that are commonly sold by craft breweries in the USA. You buy a full growler, take it home, then bring it back for refills as often as you like. They’re unheard of in Australia, and I was taken aback to see them in the fridge at the Bierhaus. Needless to say, I had to have one. Despite me being unable to return and fill it up, I now have 2 litres of Lobethal Chocolate Oatmeal Stout chilled in my fridge ready to drink. It was a right pain in the ass to bring back in my luggage from SA, but it will be worth it.

After Lobethal we hunted down another small brewery, Grumpy’s – which also moonlight as a pizza joint in a sleepy little town called Verdun just outside Hahndorf. Sadly I only got to try a couple of their varieties as I was driving, but the beer available is less important than the fact that places like Grumpy’s exist. Here is South East Queensland we’ve recently witnessed the demise of Eagle Heights Brewery, and it’s a struggle for many of our craft breweries. But here, on a Sunday afternoon, was a packed-out venue serving pint after pint of delicious beer and tasty pizza. It’s testament to how far we have to go up here.

So, next time you’re in the Barossa, give a few of the wineries a swerve and try some of their breweries. You won’t be dissappointed!