Coming Soon: Hop Nation Is Revamping Its Taproom with Brooklyn-Warehouse Vibes and a New Pizza Menu

After eight years in business, Footscray's Hop Nation Brewing Co is giving its taproom a major makeover. The new space, which opens on Thursday, September 28, will feature a spacious open-plan brewhouse, room for events with up to 50 people and a new purpose-built kitchen helmed by ex-Figlia Pizzeria chef Alex Addams Williams.

Called Good Pizza, the kitchen will focus on woodfired pizzas using a long-ferment dough process, with both thin and thick crust options available. Addams Williams and Hop Nation encourage you to get creative with your order, as they reckon that everyone has their own idea of a "good pizza" — so loading up with wild ingredients isn't frowned upon, but actually encouraged (just please leave the pineapple on pizza debate in 2012 where it belongs).

Hop Nation closed its doors on Sunday, August 27 to allow for the renovation — but fans of the Hop needn't fret, as it is still around for takeaways in the interim. The revamp itself is being handled by Studio Y, with "Brooklyn warehouse-meets-Melbourne brewery" the ultimate vision.

The made-over taproom will have 17 beers on tap, including seasonal brews such as Grapefruit West Coast IPA and Guava, Dragon Fruit & Toasted Coconut sour, as well as a few hard seltzers. Punters can also enjoy the newly released Footscray Draft, created to pay image to the brewery's home suburb. And of course, the full Hop Nation core range will also be available.

Hop Nation's revamped taproom will also host a number of events, including a party on the AFL Grand Final (which falls nicely on opening weekend). Footy fans needn't worry about a subpar viewing experience either, as the game will be projected onto the walls.

Other events to look forward to include a Oktoberfest-style shindig that will feature three European-style beers, such as a limited release Kellerbier and Czech pilsner. Regular events span new limited-release beers on tap every fortnight and "Hoppy Hour" drinks every Thursday and Friday from 3–6pm.

"We can't wait to welcome our neighbours, beer lovers and pizza aficionados to the newly renovated Hop Nation Taproom for some good pizza, good times and obviously some damn good Hop Nation beer," says co-founder Sam Hambour.

Hop Nation was founded by two former winemakers, Duncan Gibson and the aforementioned Hambour, with the pair releasing their first beer in 2015. When the brand took over a brewing site in Mornington in 2020, too, it created more room for renovations to occur in the Footscray taproom.

Find Hop Nation Brewing Co at Unit 6/107–109 Whitehall Street, Footscray. It will reopen on Thursday, September 28, operating 3–9.30pm Thursday–Sunday