A hophead’s guide to every epic brewery in Brisbane

Sip on the state’s finest artisanal cold ones at a top-notch brewery in Brisbane.

Midweek lunches, after-work downloads, taste investigations or weekend hangs – I’m often inclined to find a new brewery in Brisbane. As the city’s hospitality and dining scene excels, rivalling the edge and creativity once reserved for Melbourne and Sydney, Brisbane breweries are on fire. Restaurant-quality meals, trendy crowds and, of course, outstanding handcrafted brews are nourishing everybody (even those more wine and bubbles-leaning, like me) across the city. Here’s my guide to every must-sample brewery in Brisbane.

In short

If you only have time for one brewery in Brisbane, make it Felons Brewing Co. for its riverfront location, gigantic outdoor beer garden with a kid-climbable pirate ship, and ever-experimental creations.

1. Flat Lizard Brewing

a hand holding a glass of Flat Lizard beer in front of Yebisu Catering food truck — Pair your Flat Lizard beer with chicken karaage from Yebisu Catering.

While exploring burgeoning Stafford recently, I stumbled upon Flat Lizard Brewing and loved what I tasted. Making their mark on traditional German stalwarts like the hazy Hefeweizen and malty Marzen, the brewery in Brisbane knows how to whip up slurpable sips (there’s also a wide range of Aussie favourites), paired with what sealed the deal for me: live tunes. I visited on a Sunday when a musician was set up right beside the team’s steel vessels and pizza was shipped in from Funkateers Pizzeria in Chermside, making my hang even more memorable. Feeling more of a Friday or Saturday session? You mightn’t find live music, but the same pizza returns regularly to line stomachs responsibly.

Address: 18 Harvton St, Stafford

Opening hours: Thursday 4-8pm, Friday and Saturday 12-10pm, and Sunday 12-8pm

2. Felons Brewing Co.

riverfront dining under the story bridge at Felons Brewing Co. Brisbane brewery — Felons Brewing Co. is a riverfront beer wonderland right under the Story Bridge. (Image: Jesse Lindemann/Tourism and Events Queensland)

With comfortable capacity for thousands, yes thousands, of guests, Felons Brewing Co. is my go-to for a guaranteed party vibe. Arguably the highlight of Howard Smith Wharves, this place is a wonderland for beer lovers, set right against the Brisbane River and poured over two venues plus a mammoth central beer garden overlooking the Brown Snake (Brisbane River). They nail a core range of lager, Aussie pale ale, Indian pale ale and my preferred poison, a hazy American-style pale ale, before throwing fearless innovation at cider and barrel-aged beer. Oaky wine notes breathe euphoric life into some blends, particularly the Running Ashore fizz that I once tried for its silky-smooth chardonnay, yes chardonnay, influences. Then there’s the food. My kids love the fish and chips, best gobbled down between runs to the interactive outdoor pirate ship art installation, but I’m always torn over the pizzas, burgers and flavour-jammed Thai in the Barrel Hall. It’s a head-spinning hub of creativity (there’s even yoga on Wednesdays) with tasty beer at the core of every master stroke.

Address: Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary St, Brisbane

Opening hours: From 11am to late daily

3. BrewDog’s DogTap Brisbane

Do family-friendly Sunday sessions get any better than a brewery with a fenced playground? I’ll wait. BrewDog’s DogTap Brisbane kept my extended family smiling from ear to ear when we recently visited, with the smallest of our bunch hitting the outdoor playground and the older ones dropping dollars into a row of pinball machines. Us adults? We embraced the industrial-cool Brisbane brewery with a choice of 28 tap beers (I like the Lost Lager here, despite normally craving a richer variety) and generous lunch dishes that span loaded burgers, salads and other pub classics. The kids even got their own dedicated menu, filled with the good stuff like chicken nuggets and fish bites.

Address: 77 Metroplex Ave, Murarrie

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 11am-10pm, Saturday and Sunday 8-10pm

4. Catchment Brewing Co.

a look inside Catchment Brewing Co. Brisbane brewery — Indulge in excellent brews within a beautifully restored Art Deco West End home. (Image: Catchment Brewing Co.)

In the heart of energy-plus West End lies Catchment Brewing Co. , a brewery where good times roll until the wee hours. While the brews are delicious (think crowd-winning lager, pale ales, and sours), it’s the atmosphere that locals love. There’s a bunch of rotating events and deals to get amongst including Pints & Pizza Wednesdays and Trivia Thursdays, but no matter when you drop by, you’ll meet a mouth-watering menu of comfort food including pizzas, and friendly staff eager to spread their passion for beer.

Address: 150 Boundary St, West End

Opening hours: Wednesday and Thursday 12pm until late, Friday and Saturday 12pm until 1am, Sunday 12pm until late

5. Sea Legs Brewing Co

friends enjoying pizza and beer at Sea Legs Brewing Co., Brisbane brewery — Catch up with friends over pizza and beer at Sea Legs Brewing Co. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

An industrial warehouse in one of the city’s prettiest suburbs is home to Sea Legs Brewing Co , a brewery just moments away from Story Bridge. The staff are instantly endearing, as are the beers they pour which include one extremely smooth session ale, a lager, an American-style pale ale, a stout, an Indian pale ale, and additional special releases. When it’s time to chow down, a menu of beer-perfect accompaniments like burgers, pizzas, wraps, sandwiches, wings, share boards and small plates, satisfies.

Address: 89 Main St, Kangaroo Point

Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 12-9pm, Friday and Saturday 12-11pm

6. Soapbox Beer

a look inside Soapbox Beer, Brisbane brewery — Good times are guaranteed at Soapbox Beer. (Image: Supplied)

I respect how these guys love a play on words almost as much as they love beer. Soapbox Beer brings hipster cool to inner-city workers and retail enthusiasts, delivering a range of big-impact brews to the bustling inner-city locale of Fortitude Valley. There’s the Opinionator Pale Ale, The Rant IPA, the Loud Mouth Amber Ale, the Chatta-Box XPA and other clever concoctions to help hydrate visitors. The team also boast an impressive food menu as the waft of grilled steaks, burgers and other greasy bites cooking in the kitchen proves totally irresistible.

Address: 89/101 Gipps St, Fortitude Valley

Opening hours: Wednesday and Thursday 12pm to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm to 12am

7. Range Brewing’s Patio

beer being poured from tap at Range Brewing’s Patio, Brisbane brewery — Pour yourself a glass of craft beer on tap. (Image: Patio by Range)

Soak up that signature Queensland sunshine at Patio , my favourite of Range Brewing’s multiple Brisbane venues. Wooden frames let abundant light in as the team’s beloved creations – spanning an amber larger, a West Coast IPA, various stouts, IPAs and more – flow on tap. Alternatively, there’s a cool collection of cocktails (plus wine) to splurge on. Wash high-quality blends down with share plates or pizzas including the Prawn Toast alongside Chinese sausage, stracciatella, house-made crispy chilli and garlic.

Address: 146 Baroona Rd, Paddington

Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday 5-9pm, Friday and Saturday 12-10pm, Sunday 12-9pm

8. Valley Hops Brewing

the lush beer garden at Valley Hops Brewing, Brisbane — Sample refreshing ales in the lush beer garden. (Image: Valley Hops Brewing)

Moonlighting as one of the best rooftop bars in Brisbane, Valley Hops Brewing is a play-all-night institution in the thick of the city. Head upstairs to the al fresco area (above the thumping club downstairs) to find a leafy space filled with cosy nooks and sensational city views. The core range includes crowd-pleasers like a pale ale, lager and IPA but I highly encourage you to get stuck into the seasonal specials to get a taste of what this brewery in Brisbane is famed for.

Address: Top floor above Cloudland, 641 Ann St, Fortitude Valley

Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday 11.30am to late

9. Milton Common

people sitting and smiling while enjoying food and drinks at Milton Common, Brisbane brewery — Milton Common is a microbrewery with a strong sense of community.

For some of the most Instagram-perfect packaging in town, check out the takeaway tinnies from Milton Common , a microbrewery that’s always a scene. Blending up a core range plus surprise collaborations with like-minded brewery friends around the state, the team pushes brewing boundaries while injecting ample fun. That signature creativity extends to those takeaways, emblazoned with works of art that often tweak colonial imagery with humorous contemporary spins. When it’s time to dine, Asian-inspired food is available in fine, often deep-fried form – think Szechuan-peppered calamari, wings, loaded fries and beyond.

Address: 35 Railway Tce, Milton

Opening hours: Tuesday 12-9pm, Wednesday and Thursday 12-10pm, Friday and Saturday 12-12am and Sunday 12-6pm

10. Ballistic Beer Co

friends walking outside the Ballistic Beer Co Brisbane brewery — Ballistic Beer Co. has fitted out its warehouse with a buzzing taproom. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Located in the southern suburbs of Brisbane, Ballistic Beer Co is home to a buzzing taproom within its warehouse operations. Pouring the brand’s core range of brews, spanning lagers, stouts, sours and ales, there’s always something exciting and seasonal to tickle your taste buds. Get there on a Friday or weekend night for a revolving door of local food trucks, dishing up classic beer accompaniments to help wash down the magic.

Address: 53-55 McCarthy Rd, Salisbury

Opening hours: Thursday 4-7.30pm, Friday 1.30-10pm, Saturday 1-10pm and Sunday 1-7pm

11. Slipstream Brewing Co

A hidden inner-city gem located within walking distance from the Yeerongpilly train station, Slipstream Brewing Co attracts a cult following. The team have picked up several awards, including Champion Brewery at the 2024 Royal Queensland Beer Awards, and one sip of any one of the elixirs will have you nodding your head in agreement. The core range is never a bad idea while special editions like a hazy IPA and ginger beer are also entirely smashable.

Address: 94 Wilkie St, Yeerongpilly

Opening hours: Wednesday to Thursday 11-9pm, Friday and Saturday 11-10pm and Sunday 11-8pm

12. Helios Brewing Co.

Helios Brewing Co., Brisbane brewery — The solar-powered Helios Brewing Co. produces quality craft beer. (Image: Joel Thomas/Thunderone Media)

Firmly focused on putting sustainably crafted brews on the map, Helios Brewing Co. is a low-key brewery in Brisbane that flows with a sense of community. Located in Yeerongpilly, just like Slipstream, the spot is a favourite of locals, blending a masterful range of ales including the popular Poseidon Pale Ale. If you’re a fan of the heavy stuff, they’ve also got a regular chocolate stout on tap. Savour your poison downstairs by the bar or upstairs in a chilled-out room that often holds trivia events.

Address: 15 Palomar Rd, Yeerongpilly

Opening hours: Thursday 4-9pm, Friday 12-9pm, Saturday 12-9pm and Sunday 12-5.30pm

13. Aether Brewing

beer being poured from tap at Aether Brewing, Brisbane brewery — Brisbane and beer go hand-in-hand. (Image: Supplied)

Dog-friendly, Aether Brewing ’s taproom is one of the city’s most relaxing spots to sink a cold one. Take a seat under an umbrella in the brewery’s al fresco space as you knock back hit after hit including a revolving range of stouts, ales, pilsners, sours and more. If you can look past the brews, there’s also wine, cocktails and nibbles to devour but mark our words, this place is all about enjoying quality, fresh-poured beer. It closes once the sun sets, so get there early to make a day of it.

Address: 340 Melton Rd, Northgate

Opening hours: Friday 3-7pm and Saturday to Sunday 12-7pm

14. Happy Valley Brewing Company

a glass of beer at Happy Valley Brewing Company, Brisbane — Sink a cold one at Happy Valley Brewing Company.

Paying tribute to the suburb of Stafford’s old-school nickname of Happy Valley, the Happy Valley Brewing Company is a popular haunt amongst locals thanks to its warm and welcoming personnel. Always pushing the envelope with its limited-edition releases, the brewery in Brisbane also nails its gluten-reduced core range consisting of ales, lagers, sours and stouts. When hunger strikes, burgers and ‘tuckshop classics,’ such as mozzarella sticks, have your name written all over them. Hot tip: Scan the kids’ menu for good-as-gold Dagwood Dogs, too – the most delicious beer chaser, in my opinion.

Address: 34 Wolverhampton St, Stafford

Opening hours: Wednesday 4-7pm, Thursday 4pm to late, Friday to Sunday 12pm to late

15. Future Magic Brewing Co

Step inside an unassuming warehouse space to meet the instantly charming Future Magic Brewing Co , a brewery in Brisbane that excels at sensational blends. From apple pie-inspired ales and fruity sours to the especially delectable West Coast IPA, there is always an impressive pick for every brand of beer enthusiast. Wash the good vibes down with the kitchen’s extensive pizza menu or well-executed range of classic pub bites.

Address: 32 Manilla St, East Brisbane

Opening hours: Wednesday 12-7pm, Thursday to Saturday 12-9pm and Sunday 12-8pm

16. All Inn Brewing Co

Low-key and local, All Inn Brewing Co is a relaxed weekend-mostly operation filled with long communal tables and free-flowing fun. A revolving door of food trucks helps ensure lined tummies but it’s all about the brews here which span a core range of IPAs, pale ales and a lager, as well as small batch and seasonal creations. You’ll find Banyo only a 30-minute drive from the Brisbane CBD.

Address: 189 Elliott Rd, Banyo

Opening hours: Thursday and Friday 10-9pm, Saturday 12-9pm and Sunday, 12-7pm

Discover the best bars in Brisbane

Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

Getting there

car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland — Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

Best accommodation in Clermont

Theresa CreekDam in clermont — Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn .

Things to do in Clermont

three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting — Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters , Four Mile , Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings . To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting . They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum . Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland — See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services . Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs . The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

meal at Commercial Hotel — Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.