Visit these breweries in Brisbane and take your taste buds on a hoppy journey through Queensland’s capital city. Travelling by wheels, boat or foot, here are the best ways to visit Brisbane for beer lovers.

Queensland might not be as famous for wineries as the southern states, but we more than make up for it with a first-rate range of breweries. In the past six years, the scene has transformed from solely the iconic XXXX Brewery to over 15 breweries around the Brisbane CBD.

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Whether you’re a beer aficionado planning your trip for the purpose of sampling award-winning brews or you’re just keen to add a few taprooms to your itinerary, this guide will help you easily navigate Brissie’s brewing landscape.

The Turrbal people have been the custodians of the Brisbane area (Meeanjin) for many thousands of years.

Plan your visit to Queensland’s winery regions of Childers and Stanthorpe.

9 best breweries and craft beer bars in Brisbane to visit on foot

Search for breweries on Google Maps and it might be a struggle to know where to start. Luckily, many of the tap houses are clustered together, meaning you can create your own craft beer brewery tour. Here are a couple of suggested routes:

• West End and South Brisbane (2.3 kilometres): The Catchment, Brisbane Brewing Company, Ballistic Brewing West End, and The Charming Squire.
• Kangaroo Point, Tenerife, and Newstead (2.6 kilometres): Felons Brewing Co, Green Beacon, Newstead Brewing Co, and Range.

The Catchment Brewing Co.

Beginning on Boundary Street in the beloved suburb of West End, The Catchment is housed within an art déco building from the 1930s. The influence of this establishment pulls from the original West End Brewery (1986 – 1913) and the unique community that surrounds it.

Book a tour with a brewer, munch on some bar food, and, of course, knock back a few craft brews. We had a tasting paddle with four beverages: We Are Red (Red Lager), Pale Select (Pale Ale), Unbreakable (Pacific Ale), and Vulture IPA (Indian Pale Ale) which were all fantastic.

Where: 150 Boundary St, West End QLD 4101
When: Open Monday to Thursday from 12pm to late, Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 1am, and Sunday from 11am to late.

Brisbane Brewing Company (West End)

The next stop is just a couple of steps down Boundary Street at the West End location of the Brisbane Brewing Company. This is one of two locations with the second in Woolloongabba.

Set further back from the street, tables line the alleyway entrance with outdoor heaters for cooler nights. Once inside, you’ll find a laid back atmosphere to enjoy great-tasting craft beer.

When we visited there were around nine beers on tap and we were able to sample nearly all by sharing two tasting paddles. Four signature beers form the core range, including the award-winning Walker Texas Ranger (Indian Pale Ale), as well as limited-edition releases.

Where: 124 Boundary Street, West End
When: Open Monday to Thursday from 3pm to 11pm, Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 11:30pm, and Sunday from 12 to 11 pm.

Archive Beer Boutique

Continue down Boundary Street towards the city and take the time to look at all the colourful cafes, international cuisines, and quirky boutiques that make this neighbourhood unique. In less than a minute, you’ll find yourself standing in front of Archive Beer Boutique.

Unlike the other mentions on this list, this isn’t a microbrewery, but they do have an impressive 22 draught beer on tap. I have fond memories of coming here with friends and trying different craft beer labels. The archive hosts daily events such as trivia, menu specials, pool competitions, and live music. Plus drag bingo on the first Thursday of every month.

Where: 100 Boundary St, West End
When: 11:30am-Midnight Mon-Thurs, 11:30am-2am Fri-Sat and 11:30am-1am Sun.

Ballistic Beer West End

One of five locations, Ballistic Beer West End, is a ten-minute walk from Boundary Street on Montague Road. We’ve also visited the original Ballistic Beer Co in Salisbury on the Southside and were frequent patrons at the Whitsundays taproom while living in North Queensland.

At Ballistic, you’ll have the opportunity to savour their Hawaiian Haze (Indian Pale Ale) which came in eighth in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Beers.

Where: 1/208 Montague Rd, West End QLD 4101
When: Wed-Sat 11:30am-10pm, Sun 11.30am-7pm

The Charming Squire

Crossing the invisible border between West End and South Brisbane to Grey Street, you’ll find your next cold one at The Charming Squire. This tap house is huge, with plenty of seating a view of the working brewery and an open-plan kitchen.

James Squire started brewing beer in Australia in 1787 and now has become a legend, with his story reflected in each of the beer names such as 150 Lashes and The Hop Thief. The largest brewing company on this list, James Squire, has tap rooms across four Australian states, with this venue providing a great atmosphere, food menu, and craft beers.

Where: 3/133 Grey St, South Brisbane QLD 4101
When: Opens at 11am every day closes Midnight Fri-Sat, 11pm Thurs, 10pm Tues-Wed and 9pm Sundays

Felons Brewing Co.

Felons have by far the most magnificent views to accompany a cold one. Situated in Howard Smith Wharves, the outdoor deck seating looks out over the Brisbane River and Story Bridge. The name comes from four real-life felons who washed up on Moreton Island in 1823.

Fast forward to the present day, and you’ll find merry groups of people sitting in the sun and clinking glasses together with the Brisbane skyline as a backdrop. Felons are pouring beers seven days a week and running daily brewery tours. This is a brilliant spot for lunch or dinner and you can book a table online.

From here you can choose to cross the Story Bridge to Kangaroo Point, then continue your self-guided brewery tour with Sea Legs Brewing, Easy Times Brewing Company and Black Hops East Brisbane. Or stick to the same side of the river to check out some of my favourite breweries in Tenerife.

Where: 5 Boundary St, Brisbane City
When: 11am-midnight every day

Green Beacon Brewing

Welcome to the Bermuda Triangle of three brewpubs less than 1 km apart in Tenerife and Newstead. Opening in 2013, this microbrewery is a solid choice and you may have already seen some of their brews on tap at bars or in cans at your local bottle shop. Green Beacon Brewing has been crowned the Champion Medium Australian Brewery in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

The core range has seven delicious beers with rotating limited releases. From Tuesday to Sunday, there are also food trucks serving up beer food such as tacos and chicken wings.

Where: 26 Helen St, Teneriffe QLD 4005
When: Monday 2pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-10pm

Range Brewing

Another winner of the Champion Australian Independent Small/Medium Brewery in 2020, Range Brewing, is our top pick for delicious beer in Brisbane. When we visited on a Friday night, it was lively, but it didn’t take long to be seated around a barrel.

The aesthetic is bare bones with wooden stools and steel, to keep the focus on the brews. Range’s sourdough pizza is the perfect companion food to wash down with a cold pint of beer.

Where: 4 Byres St, Newstead QLD 4006
When: Wed-Thur 3pm-10pm, Fri-Sat Noon-11pm, Sun 12-8pm.

Newstead Brewing Co.

To round out our best breweries in the Brisbane CBD that you can visit by foot is Newstead Brewing Co. There are two inner city locations in Milton and Newstead as well as one inside the Brisbane Domestic Airport.

We tried to visit the Milton taproom twice, but they had closed early. However, we did enjoy a nice lunch at Newstead, washed down by a couple of beers.

Newstead Brewing boasts new IPA, session, and sour beers every three months.

Where: 85 Doggett St, Newstead QLD 4006
When: 6am-10pm Mon-Thur, 6am-midnight Fri, 11:30am-Midnight Sat-Sun.

3 best breweries in the Brisbane Suburbs to visit on wheels

• Aether Brewing on Brisbane’s Northside: The taproom is open 3-7pm on Friday and 12-7pm on the weekend. You will find it at 340 Melton Rd, Northgate and accessible by train from the inner city.
• Bacchus Brewing Company on Brisbane’s Bayside: The brewery and bar is open seven days a week with food trucks from Thursday to Sunday. It’s at 2 Christine Place, Capalaba. There is a bus that runs from the city.
• Slipstream Brewing Company on Brisbane’s Southside: Open from Wednesday to Sunday with 20 brews and a tasty menu. Slipstream is at 94 Wilkie St, Yeerongpilly QLD 4105 and easily reached by train.

Brisbane Brewery Tours

Only have a few days in Brisbane, I suggest you join a tour. Some tours make good use of the city’s position on the river to combine sightseeing and beer tastings.

If you don’t have much time and want to see and drink as many brews as possible, then consider taking a tour. The Brisbane River Brewery Cruise Tour is a fantastic way to experience Brisbane’s best brews.

Brisbane Brewery Cruise

Departing from the Northshore Harbour in Hamilton, you’ll be brewery hopping by boat. Float along while admiring the city skyline and then enjoy exclusive offers and priority entry at each brewery.

Each tour visits three taprooms, which may include Sea Legs Brewing, Felons Brewing Co in Howard Smith Wharves, Ballistic in West End, BrewDog in Murrarie, or Black Hops Brewing in East Brisbane.

Combine a day exploring the river with tasting some of the city’s best beer. Travel is a fast boat along the Brisbane River as staff tell stories of the bay and point out the local wildlife. 

Brisbane Twilight Brewery Cruise

Jump on board for sunset on the river, and visit 3 breweries over 6 hours. This tour includes river transfers to three of Brisbanes’ favourite breweries.

The cruise begins at the City Botanic Gardens river hub, with a short trip to Felons, where you will have 90 minutes to work your way through some of their brews before you jump back on board for a 30 minute cruise to East Brisbane and your next stop. Your last stop is Kangaroo Point, where you can choose to leave the boat or board again after your visit for the trip back to the starting point.

Visit: 

• Black Hops Brewing Brisbane
• Felons Brewing Co
• Sea Legs Brewing 

Your tour includes two drinks on the boat.

If you don’t really have your sea legs or prefer to keep your cruising and drinking separated, there are a couple of alternatives.

Dash Of Brisbane Brewery Tour

The perfect choice if you are short of time, this 4 hour tour is a great way to cover 4 breweries in half a day. Your tour includes tastings at each stop, snacks to keep you going, a brewery tour and transport in an air-conditioned van.

On your tour you will visit:

• Newstead Brewing Co. or Green Beacon Brewing Co
• Common Ground Brewing at Milton Common
• And a mystery brewery, which could be one of the following:
  • Soapbox Brewery
  • Sea Legs Brewing Co
  • Revel Brewing Co
  • Helios
  • Slipstream Brewing
  • Ballistic Brewing Co
  • Brisbane Brewing Co.
  • All Inn Brewing Co. 

This tour is great value for money with each stop on the tour coming with roughly 4-6 x 120ml beer samples, so it’s unlikely you will go home thirsty! This is a fun tour for a great day out with friends or for anyone wanting to learn more about beer. Our team is happy to help you discover a new favourite.

We hope you enjoy visiting these Brisbane Breweries and finding your new favourite.

About the Author: Chantell Collins is a Pinterest Advertising Consultant, eco enthusiast, and occasional Travel Writer. Her work has been featured in Skyscanner, Yahoo, MSN, and many more. After living abroad for almost ten years, she’s renewing her affection for Australia through slow travel. 

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