Bubbles by the beach squeal party times but nothing exudes Sunny Coast holiday vibes like a Noosa brewery or distillery.

Alongside a destination’s top restaurants, I’ve found that its brewhouses and distilleries often provide a true taste of the region. Foraging a vast collection of local produce and ingredients, Noosa’s best of the bunch fuses brilliant technique, unwavering passion and signature flavours to stir up delicious drinking. Whether I’m angling for an ale or stinging for a spirit, a top-shelf Noosa brewery or distillery always hits the spot.

In short

If you only have time for one Noosa brewery or distillery, make it Matso’s Sunshine Coast. It’s fit for the family (thank you, playground), plus its sun-drenched beer garden is crying out for lengthy afternoon sessions where boozy ginger flavours flow.

1. Sunshine & Sons

I visit Sunshine & Sons on a sweltering hot Queensland day, but its distillery and ‘Distillery Door’ in a giant Woombye shed, about 40 minutes’ drive from the centre of Noosa Heads, offers instant reprieve — as do the ice-cold samplers I’m poured over the hour I spend there. What I love about this place is how comprehensive its vodka, gin, cane juice and liqueur tastings are, even without a booking: it’s no measly shot in a glass here. I sample spirits with sliced citrus and mixers including tonic and ginger beer and the experience feels as though I’ve signed up for an itty-bitty cocktail masterclass (which you can formally book, arriving with local cheese and three full-size drinks, for $99 per person). Don’t miss their award-winning vodka, and don’t fret if you’ve got the kids in tow like I did. Bean bags, high tables and an outdoor grassed area give them ample space to wait patiently as Mum and Dad indulge.

Address: 104 Nambour Connection Rd, Woombye

2. Matso’s Sunshine Coast

I’m a big alcoholic ginger beer fan so arriving at Matso’s Sunshine Coast feels like a utopian dream. Not only does this brewery, located 25 minutes’ drive inland from Noosa, pour up experimental creations exclusive to its confines, it’s also home to a gorgeous beer garden (with umbrella-shaded tables, a must under the summer sun), a kids’ playground and an all-day, everyday menu of quality Asian-inspired pub grub. Drink-wise, Matso’s is the country’s first alcoholic ginger beer (and still one of the best), so you’re sorted with a core range before delights like the stronger, six per cent Nightlife, a chilli and lime take and even a mango beer tempt your taste buds. Try and organise a lift (or a local cab) if you can swing it, because the drinks and vibes are irresistible.

Address: 85 Memorial Dr, Eumundi

3. Noosa Heads Distillery

The ultra-convenient Noosa Heads Distillery, located in charming Noosaville, is yet another standout hipster venue putting this region on the artisanal craft map. I only have to travel 10 minutes or so from my Noosa accommodation to get among the action, which is a sibling operation of the legendary Land & Sea Brewery (more on that stalwart Noosa brewery below). Crafting hand-bottled whiskey, gin and vodka, the hot spot in the suburb’s industrial area impresses at first glance as giant copper vats distil the good stuff and a bar stacked high with bottles shakes killer cocktails. They also stock the beautifully Australiana-labelled Noosa Spirits Company (think colourful caricatures of a rosella, a koala, a pelican and more), which arrives as its own gin, vodka and alcoholic ginger beer. Highly recommended: I grabbed a jar of Noosa Heads Distillery’s dehydrated lime drink garnishes when I last visited, and popping them on my own at-home creations still makes me smile.

Address: 19 Venture Dr, Noosaville

4. Seabourne Distillery

The boys at Seabourne Distillery specialise in gin but it’s their infectious adoration for distilling the hard stuff in their favourite corner of the world that leaves a lasting mark. I wander past a small courtyard in the burgeoning industrial sector of Noosaville to find a beautifully designed Noosa distillery recommended by locals. The team are chatty, jumping on the opportunity to share what Seabourne stands for: teaming native and locally sourced ingredients with several gins and aperitifs to reflect the magic of their hometown. The addition of native river mint in its ‘Coastal Dry Gin’ kapows freshness amid a blend of juniper, sea parsley and pepperleaf, while a series of finessed cocktails, including a knockout Negroni made with the brand’s After Dark Amaro, released in September 2025, excels. Arrive for a tour of their operations, featuring sleek copper machinery, but stay to savour the exceptionally great vibes through ‘til close, just like I did.

Address: 9 Rene St, Noosaville

5. Boiling Pot Brewing Co.

There’s no shortage of thirst-quenching beer around here, but this Noosa brewery offers so much more than a spot to sink cold ones. Boiling Pot Brewing Co. in Noosaville is a family-friendly place dishing up first-class brews, hearty share plates and friendly, come-one-come-all service. I love its relaxed yet quality operation and grabbed several pieces off their merchandise rack at the front door during my last visit. Go for the ‘Golden Ale,’ a crowd-pleaser bursting with light, tropical flavours, or the ‘Hastings’ lager for a delicious taste of Europe. There’s also ‘22 Patels’, a stellar IPA. Meals are generous and finessed, particularly the white wine Belgian-inspired mussels with locally sourced vegetables and garlic bread, and a ‘Bambinos’ menu for little ones in addition to a faux grassed deck they’ll love running laps across as you laze the afternoon away.

Address: 130A Eumundi Noosa Rd, Noosaville

6. Pomona Distilling Co.

I discover Pomona Distilling Co. during a 2025 road trip along Queensland’s Pacific Coast Way and kick myself for not visiting sooner. The small-batch boutique distillery is located on the outskirts of Noosa, nestled at the foothills of Queensland’s Mt Cooroora, about 30 minutes from Noosa Main Beach; it’s arguably the hottest ticket in the sweet little town. I peruse a wide range of upscale gin cocktails and local craft tap beers, spanning a signature twist on an espresso martini and a trend-driven Dubai chocolate invention using the label’s white chocolate liqueur. I down both within the hour without any regret. Meanwhile, a share-plate food menu provides blissful accompaniments. Think all-day grazing and cheese boards, a signature smoked plate straight out of Texas, surprisingly exotic burgers and loads more. Push your indulgences into the evening when the outdoor area twinkles with fairy lights.

Address: 18 Reserve St, Pomona

7. Heads of Noosa Brewing Co.

Another gem tucked in the depths of the Noosaville warehouse mecca, Heads of Noosa Brewing Co. is a long-loved Noosa brewery favourite. You’ll find a suitably industrial vibe at this Noosa brewery – high ceilings, feature lighting, wooden doors, bar stools, dark timber tables and textured cement walls. Beers are inspired by the nearby rocky headlands of Noosa Heads, bottling raw natural ingredients and presenting them superbly to the masses.

Address: 85 Rene St, Noosaville

8. Terella Brewing

My pick of Noosa breweries for families, Terella Brewing is enormous and a guaranteed great day out with everyone, especially little ones (yes, especially – just stay with me). Just a quick drive south of Eumundi, it’s famed for a stellar range of brews inspired by the German-born methods universally loved, but this place wins serious points for its farmyard filled with chooks, pigs, ducks, miniature horses, goats, guinea pigs, bunnies and more. My kids also adore the monthly night markets, staged on the first Friday of each month, which sells handmade arts and crafts including toys. The beers themselves are excellent, expertly blended with earthy and fruity flavours depending on your preferred poison. The Pale Ale is a fruity headliner while the ‘Hazy IPA’ is a dream duo combining hoppy goodness and tropical bursts. Visit on Friday and the weekend and you’ll also find food trucks which you should definitely order early from because large queues ensure extended wait times.

Address: 196 Bunya Rd, North Arm

9. Copperhead Restaurant Brewery

The only place to sample Copperhead’s homebrewed delights is at Copperhead Restaurant Brewery, a Noosa brewery best known for nailing sophisticated international flavours. Home to more than half a dozen tap mainstays within the team’s Firetail Brewing Co’s label, the buzzing destination offers a tasting paddle so you can sample the biggest hits alongside cameos from experimental blends. An extensive food menu provides the perfect comfort food to help wash it all down. Expect towering burgers, mouth-watering pizzas, pub classics packed with flavour and a dedicated children’s menu.

Address: 52 Kauri St, Cooroy

10. Land & Sea Brewery

As the name suggests, Land & Sea Brewery is a celebration of Noosa’s sensational surroundings; its rich coastal land and those endlessly tranquil waters. And while the fruits of this team’s labour are consistently tasty, the Noosa brewery’s playful aesthetic, spanning their killer merch, those unmistakable tinnies and their Melbourne-cool industrial space, elevate the brand further. At its core, I discover the beer is also very yummy. The ‘First Point Pale Ale’ offers an easy, super-smooth entry point while the crisp ‘Lager’ and ‘Japanese Rice Lager’ are my personal favourites. Food-wise, there’s a world of options. Loaded nachos, antipasto platters, and a southern fried chicken burger will send you around the globe, not that you’ll want to leave this place any time soon.

Address: 19 Venture Dr, Noosaville

11. Eco Brewing Co.

Is there anything these guys can’t do? Habitat Noosa Everglades Ecocamp, famed for some of the best camping in Noosa, knock up their own beer on-site at the foot of the stunning Noosa Everglades. The team’s Eco Brewing Co. uses water from the nearby Cooloola Sandmass basin to nail all-natural brews including a pilsner, a mango beer and more. I was also impressed by the property’s bistro menu, available in the microbrewery, which is right next to the kitchen, which flows with elevated pub classics including burgers and pizzas.

Address: Elanda Point Rd, Elanda Point

12. Noosa Hinterland Brewing Co.

A merry-go-round of top-notch beers is always on tap at Noosa Hinterland Brewing Co., a family-owned microbrewery built in a rustic old pre-cut house workshop. It’s a little bit German tap house and a little bit country farmhouse, as wafts of hops drift over timber tables and antique armchairs, creating the homeliest of locations about 40 minutes away from Hastings Street. Try the ‘Cooran Crusher’ which blends pilsner and pale ale malts and washes down far too easily, while ‘Hazo’s IPA’ has picked up several awards thanks to its bitter boldness paired with subtle fruits. A charcuterie and cheese board, plus an epic $22 ploughman’s, provide the ultimate sidekicks. There are also wings, beer-battered chips and a kids’ mini burger meal deal with a juice coming out of the kitchen.

Address: 28 King St, Cooran

13. Eumundi Brewery and Eumundi Distillers

Just a jump across the road from the world-famous Eumundi Markets are the Eumundi Brewery and the Eumundi Distillers, both housed inside the jumbo Imperial Hotel. The former offshoot brews a core range of three – the ‘Refreshing Lager’, the ‘Pale Ale’ and the ‘Ginger Beer’ – plus limited-edition varieties, while the latter cooks up a suite of gins. Find a feed at this one-stop pit stop, too, with the Imperial’s dining menu of generous pub classics like schnittys, burgers, pizzas and steaks along with Asian-inspired share plates.

Address: 1 Etheridge St, Eumundi