Overview
When most of us climb onboard a plane, settle into our seat and soar into the sky, we don't conjure up a boozy new business idea. To be fair though, most of us aren't ex-commercial pilots like Stuart Martin. Once he landed after a trip from Melbourne to Sydney, he had a chat with Lucy Martin and brewer Gavin Croft, and before long had put his plan into action. And that's how Archer's Brewing was born — as well as its home base, Archer's Bunker.
Named after the Archer planes, which were the first type of aircraft Stuart ever piloted, Archer's Brewing pumps out yeasty beverages of the mid-strength lager, pilsner, pale ale and IPA variety, all using Australian ingredients. Archer's Bunker, however, is the place where the magic happens.
If you're wondering why it's called a bunker, the site's space beneath The International Hotel in Spring Hill answers that question. To find the bar, eager drinkers should look for the Archer Brewing fridge inside the Cellarbrations bottle-o on the premises. Once inside, a few themed items — helmets, paintings and the like — keep the high-flying vibe going, while the decor is dark and earthy like an underground shelter (albeit one with full views to the brewery's copper fermenters and brew tanks).
In addition to sipping their way through Archer's range (which first launched at this year's Beer InCider Experience) patrons can snack on cheese and charcuterie share boards, oven-fired pizzas, vegetable rice paper rolls and a vegetarian board that comes with grilled haloumi. And if their tipples delight your tastebuds, you can also enjoy them on tap at a range of other venues around town, such as Fitz + Potts and The Mill on Constance. Colour-coded cans will also be available soon as well.
Find Archer's Brewing and Archer's Bunker at The International Hotel, 525 Boundary Street, Spring Hill. Check out their website and Facebook page for further details.