The Best Geelong Pubs and Breweries for the Finest Ales

Salute the humble hop at our pick of the finest Bellarine and Geelong pubs and breweries.

I’ve always been a Melbourne laneway kind of reveller but a recent visit to Victoria’s second city, Geelong, converted me into a craft beer cheerleader. Home to industrial-chic warehouse operations churning out hopalicious heroes, plus sprawling all-day taprooms with stellar beer gardens, Geelong pubs and breweries are casual-cool yet filled with quality indulgence.

Here are my top port city picks – stretching into the Bellarine Peninsula – for good times and great classic pours.

In short

If you only visit one of the best Geelong pubs, make it Little Creatures Brewery Geelong. With a kids’ playground, indoor and outdoor seating and slick merchandise, it’s the city’s OG craft beer superstar.

1. Little Creatures Brewery Geelong

a crowded pub at Little Creatures Brewery Geelong — Gather with friends at Little Creatures Brewery. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Arguably the flagship taphouse that kickstarted Geelong’s craft brew craze, Little Creatures Brewery Geelong is my go-to for a family-friendly afternoon session. When I visited, I managed to get a table for eight adults and two children without calling ahead – it’s that huge. The rustic-meets-industrial brewery and beer hall is housed in a vast brick building that was formerly a wool mill, and there’s even an entirely separate taphouse for the brand’s sister brewery, White Rabbit. Just wander down the alley to spot it. If you’re here for Little Creatures proper, you’ll love the Freo-born business’ signature hop-driven American Pale Ale, best washed down with woodfired pizzas and share plates. The food is surprisingly delicious, earning the Geelong pub’s dining room a place on my list of the best Geelong restaurants. Hopheads can take a brewery tour or simply try a paddle of whatever taps, including the crowd-pleasing Pipsqueak apple cider, take their fancy.

Address: 221 Swanston St, South Geelong

2. Mount Pleasant Rd Brewers

the bar counter at Mount Pleasant Rd Brewers — Enjoy a range of beers on tap. (Image: Mount Pleasant Rd Brewers)

In town on the weekend? Run, don’t walk, to Mount Pleasant Rd Brewers , which only opens Friday to Sunday in summer, or Friday and Saturday during the cooler months. The independent brew masters blend seriously killer flavours that flow freely in their small yet cosy taproom and umbrella-dotted brew garden out back, drawing Geelong locals plus passionate beer fans from all over. Nine taps pour the brand’s beloved lager, IPAs, pilsners and experimental takes while a snack menu lines stomachs if there’s not a food truck hanging on-site.

Address: 110 Mt Pleasant Rd, Belmont

3. Malt Shovel Taphouse

With its super contemporary look and feel – all white walls and flourishes of greenery – this Geelong taphouse welcomes both the uninitiated and the hobbyist brewer. Expect 16 beers on tap at any one time, a collection curated from different local brewers in addition to their own. Can’t decide on one? Opt for a tasting flight instead, and if you don’t pledge allegiance to the humble hop, there are wines and cocktails, too. Take your poison out to this Geelong pub’s sizable beer garden, festooned with string lights and featuring a retractable roof – it’s an ideal spot to while away an entire afternoon in the sunshine. Once hunger strikes, you’ve got options: this place specialises in rotisserie meats (think beef brisket, roasted herb porchetta and more), but pub grub classics like steaks, burgers, a chicken parmi and salads, are also up for grabs.

Address: Corner Bellarine and Malop St, Geelong

4. Flying Brick Cider Co.

a cider tasting paddle at Flying Brick Cider Co. — Swap your beer for a cider tasting paddle. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Over on the Bellarine Peninsula, Flying Brick Cider Co. is a haven for the sweeter stuff. Choose from three core creations as well as taproom-only seasonal batches that lean into peak fruity flavours. The team are proud to play with purely Australian-sourced fruits including local apples and Packham pears, so it’s a great spot to visit if you like your cider more delicious and less carbonated water. Vibe-wise, the Geelong pub dazzles through its natural light-flooded beer hall and restaurant which opens to spacious lawns (often used for weddings). Wash your homegrown beverages down with grazing platters, hearty pub classics spanning burgers, steaks and a market fish, while children get their own dedicated menu of deep-fried delights.

Address: 1251-1269 Bellarine Hwy, Wallington

5. FarmDog Brewing

a bartender holding two glasses of cocktail at FarmDog Brewing, Geelong pub — Kick off the night with punchy cocktails. (Image: Johnny Rollins Photography)

While we’re exploring the Bellarine, drop into FarmDog Brewing too, a top-notch operation located on McGlashan’s Wallington Estate winery. You’ll score a range of beers plus house crafted gins, best sampled as a FarmDog Gin Tasting Board with Fever Tree tonic and zesty garnishes. Beer paddles are also a popular choice, plus there’s a long list of classic cocktails to choose from if your sweet tooth can’t be silenced. The FarmDog love extended into a second tasting room right in the heart of Geelong in September 2025, offering the same famous blends in an intimate bar space right off Little Malop St. Destined to be hot in summer 2025, mark our words.

Address: 225 Swan Bay Rd, Wallington and Unit 2/5 Denny’s Pl, Geelong

6. Blackman’s Brewery Geelong

people sitting inside the pub at Blackman’s Brewery Geelong — Beer lovers gather at Blackman’s Brewery Geelong.

Located in an industrial precinct, Blackman’s Brewery Geelong is perhaps the archetypal new-age craft beer brewery. Open since early 2021, Blackman’s brews are poured out of a repurposed neon orange shipping container, and its mash tuns and fermentation tanks are on full display in all their shiny silver glory behind the taproom’s chairs and tables. There’s about 10 beers – and one cider – in its core range, plus a steady stream of seasonal brews. The spacious spot often plays host to live music sessions of a weekend, with regular food truck pop-ups too. If you’ve got time on your side, pay a visit to this Geelong brewery’s sister bars in Torquay and Ocean Grove, too.

Address: 29/8 Lewalan Street, Grovedale

7. The Batesford Hotel

Brown leather seating and tables in a pub — The charming country pub delivers historic charm. (Image: Ryal Sormaz)

Moving into proper country pub territory, The Batesford Hotel is a regional Geelong pub with bucketloads of charm. You’ll spot it about six minutes’ drive from town, right along the highway – look for the long white building with a Carlton Draught sign on the roof, and don’t let the facade fool you. Inside, a beautiful, refurbished space, rich in timber and forest green to reflect its lush surroundings, instantly impresses. Live music flows all weekend, classic pub meals roll out of the kitchen and a beer garden dotted with picnic tables, right by a lake, sets a totally serene scene.

Address: 700 Ballarat Rd, Batesford

8. Murphys

Let your hair down at Murphys , a pub every Geelong local’s practically grown up with. The spot to catch a game of footy or sink cocktails with friends, Murphys is my favourite pick for low-key hangs as the drinks flow freely of a weekend and there’s always a crowd. The views are impressive from the pub’s rooftop too, stretching out over the skyline, with protective sheeting ensuring it’s a great spot even when the weather is miserable. Grab an affordable feed as weekly specials include Tuesday Parmi Night, Wednesday Burger Night and Thursday Steak Night, while the regular menu features six different parmis, several burgers, steaks, pastas, fish and chips, and more.  

Address: 30 Aberdeen St, Geelong West

From geothermal pools and luxury spa sanctuaries, Victoria’s mineral-rich waters and restorative landscapes offer total renewal.

I pass waving coastal spear-grass and coast saltbush as I follow the curving path through 15 hectares of thoughtfully curated gardens at the Mornington Peninsula’s Alba Thermal Springs & Spa . I hang my robe at the entrance and slip into the first sunken geothermal pool I find – feeling the tension from the 90-minute drive from Melbourne melt away as I watch steam dance across the surface in the late afternoon light. There are 31 pools, a mix of geothermal, cold plunge and botanical, that range in temperature and design, spread over six regions.

a woman relaxing at Alba Thermal Springs & Spa on the Mornington Peninsula — Alba Thermal Springs & Spa on the Mornington Peninsula. (Image: Visit Victoria)

I gravitate toward The Hemisphere, with its dry sauna, steam room, cold plunge and dreamy open-air pool called The Hide. But it’s Alba’s brand-new Sanctuary that really elevates the experience. The five luxurious stand-alone villas and two additional studio rooms opened in June 2025 and feature an indoor fireplace, oversized bathtub with views across the bay, a deck and extensive all-inclusive (minus the cocktails) mini-bar.

After dining at Alba’s Thyme restaurant, I return to my villa, content to fall asleep early listening to the fire crackle, feeling thoroughly restored. While Alba is one of the newest in the region, it’s certainly not the only place to enjoy a soothing soak. Here are others to book for a wellness weekend.

Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa

A woman bathes in the new Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa private bathing room with marble tiled walls — The marble private bathing room is one of five new designs. (Image: Supplied)

Nestled in the Daylesford region, Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa has been welcoming guests to its historic bathhouse for 130 years. With a $1.7 million renovation now complete (part of the 21st season of Channel 9’s The Block), find five new private bathing rooms, an apothecary experience where guests blend a custom body scrub and all-new spa treatment menu.

There are three bathing areas: Bathhouse for communal bathing for all ages, adults-only Sanctuary and a private bathing space for a personalised experience – try the skin-softening Mineral Milk Bath.

Lake House Daylesford

Inciting deep exhales, the spa at Alla Wolf-Tasker’s iconic Lake House has long been a beacon of wellness in the region. Tucked into the cottage gardens that wind down to the lake’s edge, the spa is beautifully and deliberately cloistered away from guests and diners visiting the celebrated on-site restaurant.

From Ayurvedic facials and hydrotherapy that makes use of Daylesford’s mineral waters, to cocooning thermal rituals and massage, treatments here promote tranquillity. While a day spa experience is delightful on its own, staying on the property adds a luxe layer to your corporeal renewal, especially if you’re in your own private spa villa.

Metung Hot Springs

Imagine immersing yourself in a barrel overflowing with geothermal water, all while taking in views of Gippsland Lakes. It’s one of several unique bathing experiences available at Metung Hot Springs .

There’s also a floating sauna and a Reflexology Walk constructed with carefully placed stones designed to stimulate the acupressure points in your feet as you walk. The 12-hectare site opened in 2022 with three bathing areas – Bathing Ridge, Lagoon Precinct and Hilltop Escarpment – and premium glamping tents that feature king-size beds and private bathing barrels.

Four more blissful day spas to visit

Lon Retreat & Spa is an award-winning, adults-only retreat on the Bellarine Peninsula.

Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs features sensory caves and cleansing waterfalls in Warrnambool.

Peninsula Hot Springs renews with 70 bathing and wellness experiences.

The Benev is an indulgent spa and luxury accommodation in Beechworth.

the Peninsula Hot Springs — Bathe in beautiful surroundings at Peninsula Hot Springs. (Image: Tourism Australia/Harry Pope/Two Palms)

8 of the most thirst-quenching Geelong pubs and breweries