Public House

Overview

Following the successful opening of their new all-day eatery Manly Underground (which sits underneath their brewpub on East Esplanade), beloved northern beaches brewery 4 Pines has launched yet another new venue. It's called Public House and you'll find it further north, in the hilly, beachside suburb of Newport.

Where Manly Underground's focus is on brunch, Public House's big drawcard is barrel-aged beers. Anytime you wander through, you'll notice at least 20 barrels hanging around, each of which is devoted to storing the good stuff — thereby making it tastier by the time it gets to your tastebuds.

So far, two drops have hit the taps. The first is Vlad, a Russian (you guessed it!) Imperial Stout, which has spent six months in whisky barrels provided by Lark and Black Gate distilleries. The second is King Dong, a tart and dry, yet spicy and aromatic, wheat beer that hid away in Muscat barrels for an entire year. On top of those two, there's also one available in a bottle. Known as Jean Claude Van Lambic, it's a golden ale that was aged in Muscat barrels and comes with hints of cherry and orange leaves, topped with buttery overtones. You can't get it anywhere else in the world.

For traditionalists who prefer to stick to 4 Pines's more familiar beers, there are 12 on tap. And non-beer drinkers are catered to, too, thanks to a bunch of 4 Pines- and Brookvale Union-infused cocktails, Aussie craft spirits and local wines.

Whatever your beverage of choice, you'll find a match among the food menu, which offers a mix of classic dishes from the brewery's Manly Brewpub and new standouts from Underground Manly, taken care of by chefs Rob de Paulo and Adam Rust. Go for the black and white fettuccini (fresh fish, scallops, prawns, asparagus and tossed in a mint and lemon sauce) or the Tree Hugger salad, which comes with hefeweizen-soaked quinoa, chickpeas, avocado and feta.

As usual, 4 Pines's design expert Sheree Mitchell has sorted out the interior, so you can expect the familiar, handcrafted-meets-industrial aesthetic. Think lighting made of re-purposed shackles, pulleys and barrel staves, complementing exposed brickwork, recycled timbers, leather and black steel. The walls are covered in a brand new artwork by Murray Fraser, commissioned by 4 Pines and featuring extraordinary photos of the northern beaches' numerous rock pools, framed in timber. As good as the beer is — you won't be forgetting that the water isn't far away.

Public House is the fourth venue in the 4 Pines family, joining the Manly Brewpub, Manly Underground and their Brookvale Truck Bar. They're also gearing up to open a brand new beer and bread concept in Belrose's Glen Street Theatre. It will offer beer and freshly baked bread, including the stout bread which has been baked in the Manly BrewPub since 2010, when it opens next year.

4 Pines Public House Newport is located at 313 Barrenjoey Road, Newport. It's open 11.30am till late, seven days a week. For more information, visit their website.