Overview
The inner north's famed craft beer scene is about to score a major new arrival — and it's all thanks to an old favourite. Small Collingwood brewery Molly Rose is stepping things up a few notches, taking over the two adjoining Wellington Street buildings to create a sprawling new home with a suite of supercharged offerings.
Set to open in mid February, the newly expanded venue will be a haven for beer lovers and foodies alike, complete with a new bar and mammoth new beer garden, plus a lounge, a chef's table restaurant and a private dining room. Oh, and plenty of room for additional brewing operations, too.
While the new site's central bar is set to hero Molly Rose's own core range — like the Skylight IPA and the lemon farmhouse ale — and its innovative limited-release creations, the fun won't end there. It'll also showcase a curation of brews from across the world, an Australian-led wine list and a lineup of signature cocktails.
Amanda Santamaria
Driven by another of owner Nic Sandery's passions, Molly Rose 2.0 will also be taking a deep dive into the art of food and beer pairing. This vision will be brought to life with the help of chef Ittichai Ngamtrairai — aka Biggy. He'll draw on his experience in renowned Melbourne kitchens like Nomad, Matilda 159 and Marameo, as well as time spent at Sydney's LuMi, where he trained in fusing classic Italian flavours with Asian technique.
To that end, expect a fresh take on modern Australian cuisine across a menu filled with house-made elements and Biggy's own fermented seasonings. You're in for plates like Sri Lankan string hoppers, stuffed chicken wings, and squid elevated with saltbush and mountain pepper.
There's more to come, too — slated to join the offering from autumn is the 20-seat chef's table, where Biggy and Sandery will be showcasing a dedicated menu paired with finely-tuned beer matches.
Find the new-look Molly Rose at 279 Wellington Street, Collingwood from mid February.
Images: Amanda Santamaria.