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Overview
Melbourne is on a roll when it comes to craft beers and the fine establishments tailor-made for enjoying them. Whether it's bars that specialise in small batch beers or a cosy local breweries serving their own concoctions, craft beers are slowly taking over taps and winning hearts throughout the city.
To aid you in your mission to find the perfect brew, here are our picks of the best watering holes catering to craft beer aficionados. Prepare to get crafty.
The Alehouse Project
Beer geekery is at its finest at this East Brunswick gem. Their 12 taps constantly rotate microbrewery beers, so if you plan on becoming a regular (or are one already), there's always a fresh selection for you to sample. They're currently pouring the likes of Das Unterseeboot Imperial India Pale Lager from Brookes Beer and the Mornington Peninsula Brewery's Brown Ale to name just a few. It's not just the local stuff you'll find here either; The Alehouse Project also seeks out international craft beers and ciders. Bring friends, share some tasty bar snacks and sip on a whole collection.
98-100 Lygon Street, Brunswick East; (03) 9387 1218; www.thealehouseproject.com.au
The Terminus Hotel
This is a favourite among craft beer experts, and really, who are we to argue? The folks at the beautifully renovated Terminus Hotel love craft beer so much, they even have a craft bar and beer garden, which is perfect for the warmer months. With 16 tap beers and fridges full of bottled varieties, you're spoiled for choice here, including limited release stock and brewery showcases. Grab a pint of Two Birds Brewing's NZ Hopped Pilsner and call us in the morning. On second thought don't call us, we'll meet you there.
492 Queens Parade, Fitzroy North; (03) 9481 3182; www.terminus.com.au
Forester's Beer and Music Hall
Beer and music: it's a winning combo. From the good folks who run the Terminus and Royston Hotels comes this little beauty, which is located where A Bar Called Barry once stood on Smith Street. If we're talking quantity, it's hard to beat Forester's and their 50 taps — 32 of which contain craft beers. Overwhelmed? Let the friendly bar staff help you make the all-important decision, just tell them what you're into and they're sure to sort you out. Maybe you're looking for something specific or rare? If they don't have it (although they usually do), there's a beer request form on their website so you can get your hands on your favourite imported brew. Now that's service.
64 Smith Street, Collingwood, (03) 8415 1464, www.forestershall.com.au.
Matilda Bay Brewery
It's known as Australia's original craft brewery, so it would be rude not to include Matilda Bay. While it currently resides in Port Melbourne, Matilda Bay Brewery was first located on the west coast, and they haven't looked back since. Their popular drops — like Beez Neez, Fat Yak and Dirty Granny cider — can all be found here, but the best thing to do is sample their small batch brews. You could be sampling a limited edition run or even try out the next big thing in Australian craft beer, so hops to it.
89 Bertie Street, Port Melbourne; (03) 9673 4545; www.matildabay.com.au
The Local Taphouse
The Local Taphouse legends go through 400 different beers every year, and 20 of those are on tap at any given time. This European-inspired neighbourhood tavern is equally excited about imported drops as they are about supporting home-grown craft heroes. They recently showcased nine incredible beers from the Modus Operandi Brewing Co from Sydney's northern beaches, which went off like a frog in a sock. The Local Taphouse also delivers on the entertainment front. They have an indoor bocce pitch and comedy nights with rotating lineups for those who like a laugh with their libation. In other excellent news, there's also a Local Taphouse in Sydney, so you're never far from a good brew.
184 Carlisle Street, St Kilda East; (03) 9537 2633; www.thelocal.com.au.
Moon Dog Brewery
We like our beers the same way we like our Tinder matches: with a good sense of humour. And with how great Moon Dog tastes, we'd consider straight-up dating it. Moon Dog's Love Tap Double Lager and Jukebox Hero IPA in particular are truly great, and they're even popping up at other craft beer establishments around the city. As always, the brewery is the best place to go though. And with beer on tap such as Henry Ford's Girthsome Fjord — self-described as "the ideal post-coitus celebratory (or commiseratory) drink" — there's clearly a lot to love. They also have the likes of Pizza Wagon and Mutter Kraus dropping in to deliver the food goods, so don't forget to snack while sipping.
17 Duke Street, Abbotsford; (03) 9428 2307; www.moondogbrewing.com.au
Markov
Carlton is no longer only famous for its Italian vino and Aperol spritzes; you can get a darn good beer there too. Markov's rear bar was originally created for fine dining, but boy were we glad when they decided to swap that for ten taps of craft beer and some smashing bar food to boot. Serving the likes of Kooinda, Stone & Wood, 4 Pines, and 2 Brothers, they boast some of he best local craft beer action around. Pair a Coburg Lager with fried school prawns, lime and spiced salt and you're onto a winner.
350-352 Drummond Street, Carlton; (03) 9347 7113; www.markov.com.au
Temple Bar and Brewery
There's something pretty special about drinking a beer where it was actually made, and Temple Bar and Brewery is certainly a lovely place to drop into. Here they use traditional brewing techniques and their systems are as environmentally friendly as possible, so you can an enjoy a sustainably produced beer. Temple has two beers in particular that are served all year round: the thirst-quenching Bicycle Beer and the Anytime IPA. For something dark and heavier, give the American stout New World Order a go. We know you're here for the beer, but the food is the business — try the Midnight Burger and beer fries.
122 Weston Street, Brunswick East; (03) 9380 8999; www.templebrewing.com.au
East of Everything
Located above Camberwell's Bar None, East of Everything is unpretentious by nature, but the team there know their craft beer like the back of their hands. They rock out on six taps and their bottled beer list is ever expanding, so keep your eyes on the fridges for the latest updates. Some of the local legends rotating on tap include Red Duck, Mountain Goat, Hargreaves Hill and Holgate Brewery. They also make a concerted effort to pour American craft beer from at least one of their taps.
72 Auburn Parade, Camberwell; (03) 9882 4216; www.eastofeverything.com.au
Cookie
It's easy to forget that Cookie is a beer hall, considering their stellar range of Asian cuisine and killer cocktails. And though its wine menu is the same size as a large novel, Cookie also stocks over 200 beers, and 24 of those are on tap. While their international selection is impressive to say the least, they do make an effort to feature Australian craft beers, such as Bridge Road Brewers from Beechworth, Brunswick's Thunder Road Brewery and Sydney stalwart James Squire. Their menu is so extensive, it's arranged first by types of beer and then they have an alphabetised beer index at the back. We're not complaining; any assistance is always appreciated.
252 Swanston Street, Melbourne; (03) 9663 7660; www.cookie.net.au
Want to brush up on a few craft beer basics before buying? Check out our Bluffer's Guide to Craft Beer.
