The Incubator

Fixation Brewing Co, the Byron Bay brewery that's a joint venture between Tom Delmont and the Stone & Wood Group, is responsible for some pretty tasty brews. Well, one type of brew specifically: India Pale Ales.

Brewing hoppy IPAs is the company's calling card — and its fixation, if you may — and now it has opened a hoppy tasting room right here in Collingwood.

Smith Street is home to The Incubator, a tasting room for the IPA-dedicated brewery. A bar and brewery all rolled into one, it's creating and serving up a slew of IPAs — including some of its signature brews, and some Melbourne exclusives. Two new ones you can taste are The 86 IPA and the Easey Street IPA, poured straight from the tanks.

The brewery bar isn't just good turf for those who want to drink, though, it's also the right place to be to learn about the brewing process, and IPAs in general. With the tanks right up close to where you'll be sitting having a tipple, be assured that any questions you might have – what is an IPA? What are hops? How does beer get made? What's in the vat? – are going to be answered by those IPA-obsessed folk in the know.

No kitchen, but bringing in your own food or UberEats-ing is a go, so your stomach won't be going unlined.