Felons Is Brisbane's New Riverside Brewery Located Inside Howard Smith Wharves

Brisbane has a brand new hangout spot with plenty of beer to drink, thanks to the opening of Felons Brewing Co. at Howard Smith Wharves.

Launching today, Friday, November 23, the brewery is the first of the precinct's bars and restaurants to welcome customers. It's also the city's first riverside brewery, so prepare to sink plenty of hoppy beverages with one mighty fine view of the water, the Story Bridge, Kangaroo Point and the CBD.

First announced back in August, Felons serves up brews made on the premises, with an Australian pale ale, crisp lager, middy and IPA always on tap — and a sparkling cider, too. The focus is on "natural and balanced beers of no fuss," says head brewer Tom Champion, who's one of several Felons team members with an ex-Little Creatures background.

A rotating array of other beers are also on offer, as well as a wine list; however, Felons' other big highlight is its food. Think shucked oysters, prawns with cocktail sauce, hot wings and burgers, with woodfired pizzas set to join the menu at a later date. If you're settling in for a substantial meal, then mains that range from Moreton Bay bugs to crumbed veal to a whopping one-kilo Angus rib eye are available as well. From the dessert selection, a mango and passionfruit pavlova looks like a standout — as does the warm choc chip and macadamia cookie with vanilla malt ice cream and butterscotch.

Making one of HSW's heritage-listed sheds its home, Felons wants everyone to know that it's there — so much so that you can spot its name on the brewery's roof from afar. The black-lettered sign is designed to be a landmark that can be seen from the air, and measures 47 metres long and five metres tall. It's also a nod to the site's past, with the wharves' old warehouses decked out the same way back in the day. When HSW's other two sheds open, they'll do the same thing.

On Friday, November 30, Felons will have company, with long-awaited overwater bar Mr Percival's also opening this month. And already available to hire is the first of HSW's venues, Howard's Hall. It boasts uninterrupted river views, retractable glass windows and rooftop terraces.

Eventually, the precinct will also include five other indoor entertainment spaces, plus multi-use outdoor spaces and entertainment stages. The list goes on, with the finished precinct also set to welcome Greek taverna Greca, a two-level Asian fusion joint, Brisbane's first Toko restaurant and four other restaurants, as well as the city's second Art Series Hotel, a coffee roaster, a bakery and a green space that supplies HSW's eateries with fresh produce.