All beer is beer, but not all beer is the same and in today’s day and age there is one type of beer that is standing head and shoulders above the rest: Craft Beer. The discerning drinker among us is a big fan and so are we of the many Brisbane breweries that continue to innovate, create and vat up some truly thirst-quenching brews.
We’re in no short supply of trendy taphouses either. From the riverfront to the city to the suburbs, they’re not just pouring tasty ales, stouts, IPAs and more, but they’re also serving up a whole heap of tasty treats.
1. Sea Legs Brewing, Kangaroo Point
To find Sea Legs, you need to go under the Story Bridge at Kangaroo Point. And, once you do, you’ll find a 15 hectolitre brewery with 9000 litre fermenting capacity that brews the five beers in their core range: Tropical Lager, Dr Swift’s Golden Ale, Sea Legs Pale Ale, Breakaway IPA, and Nitro Milk Stout.
They’ve got specialty, seasonal and experimental batch brews covered too in a couple of other 1000 litre fermenters, plus pizzas and burgers to chow down. While you’re knocking back the brews and snacking on food, grab a board game for some healthy competition.
📍89 Main Street, Kangaroo Point
2. BrewDog DogTap, Murarrie
The brewery and taproom by BrewDog in Murarrie is the first in Australia for the Scottish craft beer brewery. On the premises, they house a fully-automated four-vessel 25HL system that allows them to serve up to 28 beers on tap plus a bunch from friends.
You always find the all-time favourites plus a range of local-focused brews.
📍77 Metroplex Avenue, Murarrie
3. Stone & Wood, Fortitude Valley
If you need just one reason to drink beer from Stone & Wood in Fortitude Valley, then you should know that a dollar goes towards local not-for-profit organisations for every litre of beer poured. That’s what we like to call incentive.
Found inside a spacious heritage-listed building, the Stone & Wood crew has 24 taps pouring a range of tasty beers perfect for after-work drinks, weekend celebrations or to accompany great-tasting Gastro-pub fare.
📍99 Bridge Street, Fortitude Valley
4. Helios Brewing, Yeerongpilly
If you want to know if beer tastes better with the Aussie sun, then Helios Brewing is the brewery for you. The local brewery out in the leafy suburb of Yeerongpilly, is all about being eco-friendly thanks to owner Scott’s environmental engineer know-how.
Harnessing thermal and solar power to brew their beer, the brewery has enough energy for a core range year-round plus seasonal and limited edition beers that you can sample in their taproom.
📍15 Palomar Road, Yeerongpilly
5. Valley Hops, Fortitude Valley
Look up because above Cloudland you’re going to find Valley Hops — Fortitude Valley’s very own brewery. The rooftop micro-brewery is not trying to be the biggest, but they are trying to make the Valley proud.
From the Exhibitionist Tropical Ale to the 21 Pubs Pale Ale, all their beers pay tribute to the Valley and its characters and charm. Knocking back a pot is a story in itself.
You can find out more about Valley Hops via our full feature.
📍641 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
6. Soapbox Brewing, Fortitude Valley
Soapbox is proud to proclaim that they were the first craft beer brewery in the Valley. They produce handcrafted beers onsite and serve them there as well so you can sip on a tasty bevvie while overlooking the work floor.
You can get a closer look at it all on a brewery tour, or just hit up the bar and kitchen where you can tuck into some quality eats and premium beers. You’ll be Storytelling Lager, Opinionator Pale Ale and Loud Mouth American Amber Ale all day long.
📍89/101 Gipps Street, Fortitude Valley
7. Brisbane Brewing Co, West End
Brisbane Brewing Co is brewing the beers to suit Brisbane’s tastes. Found down a little alley off of Boundary Road, the family-friendly brewery is a beer-haven pouring their signature range, as well as a whole host of special drops being released every Wednesday.
Find them all in West End or at the brewpub in Woolloongabba.
📍124 Boundary Street, West End
8. Slipstream, Yeerongpilly
If you’re looking for somewhere to tuck into a classic pub feed while you sink a locally-brewed cold one, then this southside taphouse will sort you right out. The industrial warehouse-style space at Slipstream Brewing Co is the perfect spot for a cheeky after-work bev or weekend lunch with the gang.
But don’t just take our word for it! They were recently named Best Pub at All the Best of Queensland!
📍94 Wilkie Street, Yeerongpilly
9. Ballistic Beer Co, Multiple Venues
With three venues across Brisbane, it’s a no-brainer that Ballistic Beer Co is doing pretty darn well for themselves. And with good reason too: their beer is tasty and the vibes at all their outposts is on point.
Their brewery in Salisbury plays house to 12 taps and offers up brewery tours as well as live music and food trucks. You can also check out their alehouse in Springfield.
📍53-55 McCarthy Rd, Salisbury / 37 Sinnathamby Blvd, Springfield Central
10. All Inn Brewing Co, Banyo
A true northside favourite, this boutique brewhouse in Banyo specialises in ales, with rotating daily food trucks to tantalise your tastebuds and weekly live music to set the mood.
All Inn Brewing Co also offers trivia nights on Thursdays from 6.30pm, plus exclusive first sips of their new beer release that you can’t try anywhere else.
📍All Inn Brewing Co, 189 Elliott Rd, Banyo
11. FICK Brewing Company, Northgate
The name FICK comes from the remaining and rearranged letters of the old, derelict Henry Funck brewery in Luxembourg where owners Nadresha and Fabri used to live. Home is now Brisbane and their love of brewing led them to create a brewery for their local area.
While the backbone of their beers is Belgian, which shouldn’t come as a surprise when you know that that is where Fabrizio completed his brewing studies, they do love all types of beers and so, hops and malt feature on the menu alongside wheat.
📍108 Old Toombul Rd, Northgate
12. Aether Brewing, Northgate
Aether is local, it’s independent and it’s owned by Dave and Annie Ward and backed by their families. This is big because everyone who wanders through Aether gets treated like family too making their taproom a great place to hang and chill on weekends.
The beers are quality, from the colours of their brews to the aromas and the taste. An Aether beer is creative and is tasty.
📍340 Melton Rd, Northgate
13. Bacchus Brewing Co, Capalaba
Bacchus never settles with what they’ve got. The brewery is able to produce 12 different beers a day and on average produces 3 new beers every week. The bar at the brewery is pouring from 20 taps and their huge variety of cans means that you can be drinking something pretty special every time you visit.
They’re also a Cellar Door to The Granite Belts’ oldest winery, Ballandean Estate Wines.
📍1/2 Christine Pl, Capalaba
14. The Catchment Brewing Co, West End
Beer has been brewed in the West End for a very long time now and The Catchment Brewing Co continues the proud history with their core range — Whynot Lager, Pale Select, Hoogley Session and Vulture IPA — as well as limited editions brews.
📍150 Boundary St, West End
15. Range Brewing, Newstead
Range had us at draft pours and sourdough pizza. But, they’ve got us coming back with their ever-evolving range of beers on tap, their constant exploration and keen sense for what we like.
📍4 Byres Street, Newstead
16. Green Beacon, Teneriffe
For over 10 years, Green Beacon Brewing Co have been recognised as one of the best — actually, the best in their weight division by the Australian International Beer Awards in 2023 — and despite being at the top of the game the passion and commitment to brewing good beer have never faltered.
📍26 Helen St, Teneriffe
17. Felons Brewing, Brisbane CBD
Felons Brewing is hard to miss. Down under the Story Bridge — the massive lettering on the roof makes it easy to spot — the beer is brewed and the people gather at the Barrel Hall to drink and be merry. It’s the modern Australian take on the traditional German beer hall but the beers are made for Australian tastes.
There’s plenty of space down at the Howard Street Wharves brewery with shaded areas and phenomenal views of the river.
📍5 Boundary Street, Brisbane CBD
18. Brewtide Brewing, Albion
Located at Craft’d Grounds dining and lifestyle precinct, Brewtide Brewery is also a cocktail bar. But, the beer. The beer is good. And, they’ve got 20 taps pouring the very good beer. From the Brewtide Lager to the New Zealand Pilsner, the Scenic Pale Ale to the Coffee Stout, your tastebuds are in for a treat.
📍35 Collingwood Street, Albion
19. Happy Valley Brewing Co, Stafford
Now, that does look like a crisp-tasting cold beer and we think the Stafford locals, who have welcomed Happy Valley Brewing Co with open arms since opening in 2020, agree. The tasty and creative brews have won the locals over with beers like Jack Daniel’s Barrel-Aged Caramilk and Cherry Cola as well as more run-of-the-mill thirst quenchers.
The food, from hot dogs to burgers and salt and pepper calamari, is good too.
📍34 Wolverhampton Street, Stafford
20. Fonzie Abbot, Albion
Coffee. Beer. Spirits. You can find it all under one roof in Albion at Fonzie Abbot — the world’s first and only roastery, brewery and distillery.
If you’re around for the beers, the Fonzie Abbot Tap Room features 12 taps of their core range — lagers, pale ales, IPAs, and more — as well as a bunch of seasonal brews and limited editions.
📍40 Fox Street, Albion
21. Revel Brewing Co, Bulimba and Morningside
From Bulimba to Morningside in the Historic Acetate of Lime Factory, Revel Brewing Co has won awards for its hand-crafted, locally-brewed beers. And just like the cans that those beers come in, they’re bursting with personality and flavour.
They say that the wood-fired pizza at Bulimba is also some of the best in Brisbane while Morningside’s full menu offers up plenty of sumptuous treats to share or demolish yourself.
📍82 Colmslie Road, Morningside / 41 Oxford Street, Bulimba
22. Archer Brewing
Fresh off being named Best Beer at All the Best of Queensland, Archer Brewing’s outstanding QPA alone is worth the trip.
But they’re no one-trick pony! Their Around the World in 80 Pints event, for example, features brews and accompanying dishes from all over the globe, and their specialty brews are always a crisp and delicious surprise.
📍Shed 1/278 Newmarket Rd, Wilston