Craft Beer & Breweries

Though you’ll find great beer all over the city, there is something special about drinking a beer right from the source, and with a great number of breweries in Sydney, you have plenty of opportunity.

Take a behind the scenes brewery tour, chat with the passionate brewers, discover historic pubs that have been brewing since the 1840s and sample one-of-a-kind beers you won’t find anywhere else.

Tours & trails

Don’t know your IPA from your pilsner? Take a tour and learn from the experts. Dave’s Brewery Tours runs half- and full-day tours. Or join a walking tour in The Rocks to learn about the history of Sydney over a beer at some of the country’s oldest pubs. If you have a few days in Sydney, this gourmet trail takes in eight breweries across the city.

Inner West

The Inner West is Sydney’s craft beer heartland with more than a dozen breweries in the area, many within walking distance. Grab a tasting paddle at the no-frills Willie the Boatman, the artsy Young Henrys, dog-friendly Sauce Brewing Co, American-style Batch Brewing Co and the laneway Wayward Brewing.

Northern Beaches

Over the bridge, 4 Pines in Manly runs tours of the brewery every weekday and you can sample the full range at the brewpub upstairs. They also have a truckbar in Brookvale, where you’ll find a great selection of breweries, including Nomad Brewing Co, 7th Day Brewing Co and Dad and Dave’s Brewing Co.

The Rocks

Head over to the city’s oldest neighbourhood for Sydney’s oldest pub brewery, the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, which brews 100% natural beer with no added sugars, preservatives or additives. Nearby, the Endeavour Tap Rooms has a small brewery on-site and eight rotating taps.

South

In the south of the city are a number of fantastic breweries, including Sunday Road Brewing in Kirrawee, who believe great beer is an extension of their commitment to family, good produce, sustainability and community. Nearby is Shark Island Brewing Company which has food trucks at the weekends, and on the shores of Botany Bay is Hairyman Brewery, a small family-run craft brewery open six days a week. Dave’s Brewery Tours also offers tours of the area.

Pubs

If you’d prefer to just drop in for a drink, many of the city’s pubs and bars have a good selection of craft on tap or in bottles. Try the Keg & Brew in Surry Hills, Harts Pub in The Rocks, Bitter Phew and The Taphouse in Darlinghurst, or the Noble Hops in Redfern.