Overview
Cookie-cutter watering holes complete with identical menus, the same five beers on tap and a 1:1 pokie to punter ratio are an increasing scourge on our proud publican tradition. It’s a sad state of affairs but luckily with a little digging there are still plenty of unique experiences to be had in the realm of the 'public house'.
This is the beginning of a short series of treks taking in the finest drinking and dining experiences Brisbane has to offer from the comfort of a bar stool. This is the Discerning Person's Pub Crawl - Southside Passage edition.
Begin at The Brisbane German Club
416 Vulture Street, Woolloongabba, 3391 24 34, www.brisbanegermanclub.com
For maximum effect this journey should begin on a Saturday in the mid-afternoon. That means come 3pm you should be basking in the glorious afternoon sun in the German Club’s front beer garden. This journey contains a few stops, which means sneaking in a pub meal is essential and for quality and price, the German Club is nigh impossible to beat. If you’ve missed lunch the signature Pork Knuckle ($25.90) will satisfy any hunger or delve into any of the other fantastic traditional options including the classic Bratwurst ($16.90). For a sunny afternoon a crisp lager is in order, try the Löwenbräu or the Fischer Helles, both on tap.
Stroll 900m to the Brewhouse Brisbane
601 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba, 3891 1011, www.brewhouse.com.au
Home to the Brisbane Brewing Co., the extensive roster of microbrewed beers on offer will leave thirsty patrons spoilt for choice. With the sun still up, a refreshingly light-bodied Brisbane Pale Ale is hard to pass up. For the more adventurous beer drinker, the award-winning Up Yer Kilt Scottish Ale, also microbrewed in Brisbane, may be more rewarding. If you gave the food a miss at the German Club, why not try one of seven variations of the humble fried potato from French Fries with Tomato Sauce ($8) to Crispy chats topped with eye fillet strips in mushroom gravy with baby tomatoes, spinach, gravy & goats cheese ($14).
600m Down Stanley Street to The Ship Inn
Corner Stanley and Sidon Streets, South Brisbane, 3844 8000, www.theshipinn.com.au
Constructed in 1864 and originally point of call for salty sea farers, this venue is now an established dining experience. Housed in a beautifully refurbished vision of it’s original self, this stop offers a fantastic sunset view of the Brisbane River in it’s central South Bank location. The beverage’s on offer are a pretty standard affair, so take this opportunity to cleanse your beer palate with a classic beer you know and love, no judging for reaching for the XXXX here. The food options are a classy take on traditional pub fare and if this is the meal stop for you try the Lamb Shank ($27).
500m through South Bank to The Plough Inn
Building 29, Stanley Street Plaza, South Bank Parklands, 3844 7777, www.ploughinn.com.au
Another fantastic view awaits at the Plough Inn, also located along South Bank. Pull up a stool in the beer garden and enjoy a beer courtesy of one of Australia’s bigger craft beer houses, Matilda Bay. The Fat Yak or the cloudy I.G.P Ale (Itchy Green Pants, incase you were wondering) are both solid options. If you haven’t eaten by this stage, Hickory Smoked BBQ Pork Ribs ($38) are a must for more than one reason.
800m walk to the Fox Hotel
71/73 Melbourne St, South Brisbane, 3844 2883, www.thefox.com.au
Recently renovated, the Fox Hotel is no longer a $2 rubber steak, mass production, overcrowded, poor excuse of a pub. The Meatball Company is in control now and that means fantastic bar food for the discerning man. You can’t go wrong with the beef meatballs served in a smokey tomato sauce ($14) and once you wash it down with something nice and simple from the standard tap choices it's onwards you go.
850m up Boundary Street to your final destination Archive Beer Boutique
100 Boundary St, West End, 3844 3419, www.archivebeerboutique.com.au
A fitting end to a journey through the southside of Brisbane, Archive Beer Boutique is perhaps Brisbane's most lauded server of all things yeast, hops and water. The taps at Archive are constantly changing so your best bet is to ask the man in the know, the bartender. If it’s on, the Stone and Wood Pacific Ale is a fantastic way to end your evening. Archive’s bistro menu is full of classic pub food and its hard to pass up the Chicken Schnitzel ($18).
Southside Passage complete.