The best breweries in Sydney right now

Grifter’s three owners, Matt King, Glenn Wignall and Trent Evans, started off as home brewers. They graduated to brewing in their kitchens and then to contract brewing in the Young Henrys facilities when they weren’t in use. Now, they're some of the biggest names on the circuit, and their giant Marrickville brewery is a crucial stop – not just for the pale ale, but for a tasting tray, a game of pool, and something from the epic food trucks they host every weekend. Make sure you pat all the doggos.

Must try: The Watermelon Serpent's Kiss

We have to assume that the rest of Sydney is low on sausage dogs, rock’n’roll babies and beardy gents, if the crowd at Young Henrys is anything to go by. This Newtown brewery bar is as popular today as the day it opened, and the curative power of their cloudy cider remains an excellent way to get back on the horse if you’ve overdone things the night before.

A revolving line-up of food trucks keeps hunger at bay and sometimes a mobile record shop drops by for extra Inner West cred. If you’ve got your heart set on an afternoon of chat and fresh beers, get in early – tables here fill fast and stay that way until last drinks.

Must try: Newtowner Pale Ale 

Fermentation with native yeasts, barrel-ageing and blending are the watchwords at this disarmingly charming and rustic warehouse. For the uninitiated, that means lightly carbonated, funky brews that some might say drink more like wild styles of natural wine. You won't find beers like this anywhere else in this city, and that is reason enough to pay these guys a visit. Hours are limited, so plan ahead and make sure to get the lowdown from the lovely staff who are always more than happy to explain the artisanal processes in depth. Oh, and you can get your hands on A.P. Bakery pies on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Must try: Something that scares you

Mixtape is a brewery in Marrickville’s brewery district, AKA The Golden Triangle. The chic and green warehouse space is designed to reflect the Inner West neighbourly love from the hanging plants to the succulents nesting in cans from other nearby breweries. Just like the mixtapes of times gone by, Mixtape Brewing and Bar has a bit of this and a bit of that. Across 16 taps there is an ever-changing line-up of Mixtape’s house-brewed beers alongside a grand selection of taps from breweries such as One Drop, Hawkers and Sunday Road. Currently, Mixtape brews only three to five beers at any given time with a focus on seasonality and freshness. Pack your growler if you think you’ll fancy taking home some of their very limited brews. You can soak up the beer with Nutri Grain heavy nuts-and-bolts mix or order a more substantial pizza or curry from the attached kitchen. There is trivia every Wednesday from 7pm and although it doesn’t quite need to be said, dogs are welcome. Find out more here.

Must try: Beers are ever changing, go with your gut.

Suspend your reality for a moment. Imagine it's 1980s Australia and you're a True Blue Bruce. This is truly your time. On the cusp of its five-year birthday, Hawke's Brewing Company, the brewery co-founded by former prime minister Bob Hawke, has thrown open the doors of a flagship venue, housed inside its newly built 2,100 square-metre brewery in Marrickville.

Must try: Hawke's Lager

You can have bucket loads of fun down at Brookvale-based brewery, Bucketty's Brewing Co. Husband-and-wife team Nick and Alexi opened the sprawling warehouse space back in 2021 and it’s been pumping ever since. They don't offer regular tasting paddles, and instead they allow punters to have unlimited free tasters from any of their 17 taps, so you can find one that you love. There are more than 300 live acts throughout the year at Bucketty's, so no matter what day you come on down you’re pretty-much guaranteed to catch a rocking band or a chilled acoustic set. 

Must try: Bucketty's 5 Day XPA

Sydney’s love affair with locally made liquor is a long-standing one, which is why we consider it particularly fitting that Camperdown’s brewery bar is set up inside what was once
a winery – the wax-lined walls of the wine tanks now enclose alcoves of cinema seats and little tables.

Having carved a comfortable niche in the Aussie craft scene, Wayward beers cater to the masses a range that goes from easy-on to deliberately absurd. For non-beer drinkers there is a housemade selection of seltzers, wine and soft drinks. The Wayward food truck serves up classic brewery burgers and share plates with quirky twists like the cheeseburger spring rolls with special sauce.

Must try: Raspberry Berliner Weisse

Chuck Hahn is an Aussie beer legend. He started brewing in 1971 – more than 50 years ago – and went on to found Hahn Brewery, one of the country’s most famous breweries, as well as being the driving force behind the likes of James Squire and Kosciusko. In 2022, Chuck retired from brewing, hanging up his beer hat after a successful innings. But now, he’s back in action. And he’s teamed up with his son Scott Hahn to open a brewery and tap room in Sydney’s St Peters. Say hello to Chuck & Son's Brewing Co. And yes, you bet it’s time for a cold one.

Must try: Two-World Pale Ale

Sydney can't get enough of rooftop bars. And we can't get enough of breweries. So it was only a matter of time before one of Marrickville's most beloved craft beer purveyors bit the bullet and brought this love affair full circle. Enter: Marrickville Springs, the '80s tropicana resort-style bar atop Philter Brewing in Sydney's inner west. The airy sky-high bar is pretty in pink, with warm wooden bench seating and tropical plants galore.

Must try: Sour Beer Slushie, preferably on a hot day.

Home to one of Sydney’s most beautiful beaches, a ripping pub and a happening, thong-wearing town, Freshwater has it going on (notable mention goes to Freshie Chickens – your Portuguese burger still slaps). And now it’s got its very own brewery, thanks to Freshwater Brewing Company, which was founded by Jonny Bucknall (ex-Lion and Modus Operandi). The relaxed white-washed and pastel-hued brewery focuses on lagers, though there are a few non-lagers too, as well as natural drops and cocktails for those among us who don’t like the taste of beer (wild). Go for the Freshie Pils, which is crisp and has a light fruitiness.

Must try: Duke’s Pilsner

In great news for craft beer lovers, one of the world’s biggest and OG craft breweries BrewDog has come to Sydney. Creating thirst-quenching golden ales since 2007, the Scottish-born brewery now has a huge bar, taproom and lush beer garden in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of South Eveleigh. Housed in an historic locomotive workshop, the bar and taproom holds up to 720 people (hello, summer hangs). Expect to find more than 20 craft beers on tap from BrewDog as well as other local breweries and guest takeovers.

Must try: Brewdog Passionfruit Blitz Sour

Frothing for a cold one in Bondi? Good news: the Eastern Suburbs hotspot is now home to its first brewery and taproom, Curly Lewis Brewing Co, found on Campbell Parade. The idea was sparked at a pub by four Bondi locals and mates – Adam Richards, Oliver dos Remedios, Gareth Morton, Loren Morton, and brewer Scotty Morgan – who were keen to bring local, crisp and "crackable" beers to the beach. There’s a smooth Clean Cut Lager, the dry and crisp Salty Mermaid Gose, a sour Berry Bomb and more. Our pick is the Bondi Hazy Ale – a tropical, full-bodied and hoppy beer that tastes even better after a swim.

Must try: Bondi Hazy Ale

This bare bones brewery down in Marrickville keeps it simple with the equipment out the back of their Sydenham Road warehouse, and a tasting bar in front. Set up by two Americans who began with an American West Coast pale ale, Batch are now serious contenders for some of Sydney’s most daring and creative brewers. Start with something bright and weird like the dazzlingly pink Pash the Magic Dragon before graduating to the smooth, rich Elsie the Milk Stout. Depending on when you visit they might have a comforting chocolatey brown ale, or one of their fruitier sour numbers, juicy with the seasons finest.

Must try: Pash the Magic Dragon

From little things, big things have grown. James Harvey and Karl Cooney spent years working together at Yulli's, the much-loved vegetarian Surry Hills diner with a craft beer focus. In 2014, they released their first batch of beer. Half a decade later, they opened a giant brewery in Alexandria to call home, and a whole cast of crafty characters in their repertoire. Say g'day to Norman, a good, clean Australian ale or shake hands with Slick Rick, whose rampagin' red ale will keep your motor running. Fun is always first on the agenda here, and the vegan eats are killer.

Must try: Slick Rick Red Ale

A pet stop on the Northern Beaches brewery circuit, Modus Operandi pours a scintillating stream of brews that will refresh, soothe and amuse. The original Mona Vale brewery is where the Modus journey started in 2014 and remains the best place to enjoy the housemade beers of which there are usually up to 16 on tap. Sample the beach bred core range on a tasting paddle or have their staff select some of their wild seasonal releases.

Wine, cider and cocktails will service non-beer drinkers while those out for a long one (not a big one) will enjoy Nort beers, a range of four low-alcohol beers brewed in-house.

Must try: Hazy 3.5

Beer geeks will get their kicks admiring the brewing gear that's proudly on display up front, while family fun can be had out the back in the Astroturf beer garden surrounded by picket fencing. Hop-forward brewskis are the drawcard here – Hop Sauce, Extra Hop Sauce and Mega Hop Sauce make up the core trio of ales – so kick off that Sunday session with a 500ml pour and get in early if you want to score a picnic table.

Must try: New England IPA 

Beware planning your stop at Willie the Boatman on the inner west ale trail; once you’ve entered you may find it very difficult to leave. Named for the Scottish highwayman turned convict turned river boat operator, Willie serves up a locally loved core range alongside Unusual Edition limited releases which have previously been yuzu hazies, cherry sours and even once a lamb souvlaki ale.

The paired back warehouse has two airy and relaxed seating areas with comfy couches and booths suitable for big groups. Be sure to make a booking or be ready to sip while standing until a space opens.

Must try: Alblo Ale

This is officially Sydney's oldest continually licensed hotel, and it's also home to Australia's oldest pub brewery. For those who like their beer with a side of history, it doesn't get much better than the Lord Nelson – creaky floorboards, working fireplace, tonnes of sandstone and all. If you're one of a small handful of people left in this city who've never tried the Three Sheets pale ale, make haste and do so where it springs to life.

Must try: Victory Bitter

Gladesville welcomed Village Days Brewing Co in 2023, and the head brewer is a traditionally trained German Brewmaster – so know that your frothy beers are legit. Founded by experienced homebrewer and beer lover Dan Smith, Village Days Brewing Co aims to bring together Ryde locals for fresh, local beer and fun times. “Our beers are inspired by the rich history of our area and bring together the best ingredients from around the world, alongside a relentless focus on quality,” says Smith. Bring your village and come knock back a coupla cold ones. Prost!

The Truck Bar is literally that – a bar built on the back of a 1960 Dodge pickup with 21 taps. The second instalment from the 4 Pines team is a much more industrial affair than their famous Manly brewpub. Here, it’s all about sports on the projector, games of giant Jenga and live bands on Sunday. The creative Keller Door releases (Fernet Branca stout, anyone?) are always changing, but the classics stay put (including the dynamite Brookvale Union Ginger Beer). Burgers and chorizo hot dogs are on call to soak it all up if needed.

Must try: Any of the whacky Keller Door limited releases

This is south Sydney's first microbrewery, and it's definitely made a big first impression. Wife-and-husband duo Meg Barbic and Clay Grant quit their jobs, sold their house and opened the roller doors in 2019. It's got everything you know and love about a local brewery bar – a beer garden, milk-crate seating, festoon lights, visiting food trucks – and the flaship Botany Bay Lager is an easy way to get acquainted with the laidback style they're rocking down here by Mill Pond.

Must try: Any of the limited release nitro or milkshake beers 

You can get started at 11am here on the weekends, which is just about the closest thing you can get to a guaranteed hangover cure. Nab the hair of the dog that bit you with a seat in the 800-square-metre beer garden, a fresh stonefruit-driven golden ale and something from the giant restaurant-sized menu, and you'll be back on top in no time.

Must try: The Allrounder Pilsner Lager

Frenchies was started by homesick French people and it shows. Inside the Cannery, Frenchies Bistro and Brewery is an unpretentious take on the classic French brasserie. Unlike their Parisian counterparts, beer is the beverage of choice at Frenchies, stealing the spotlight from wine with an effortless and tasty flourish.

Brewed with imported ingredients, Frenchies beers are crisp, balanced and perfectly fulfil their destiny of being served up alongside the sumptuous bar and brasserie menu, which
includes French classics like confit duck leg, smoked cheeses and cured meats sliced to order.

Start with the Draught Pilsner Lager with a side of bresaola before moving up to the wine-like Black Ale paired with a blue cheese funkier than a ‘70s bass line. Go all out and pair the golden Laperouse with the Mixed Board ($38) featuring the best meat, cheese and produce of the season. Keep an eye out for the weekend bottomless lunches, perfect for when that French holiday is too far away and you need a tasty cure for ennui.

Must try: Lapérouse Golden Bière de Garde

Unless you’re in the market for a human statue with a dog’s head, there’s not a lot of reasons to visit this remote corner of Botany. That is until Slow Lane Brewing opened their tap room in January 2021. As their name suggests, Slow Lane brews using methods that put tradition and flavour above time efficiency. Despite the time invested in each batch, Slow Lane are aggressively prolific with an ever changing menu that can feature up to 37 beers, all brewed on site.

From an astute German kölsch to decadent Belgian tripels, Slow Lane is a masterclass in traditional beer styles (even if their not-at-all-traditional hazy pale ale is one of best going).

A tasting flight is the best way to experience the Slow Lane spectrum that goes from crisp and clean to sweet and funky. Pair it with a hot gooey three cheese toastie and you’ve got the most delightful way to trigger an afternoon nap. Find out more here.

Must try: Refreshing Belgian Blonde Ale