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dailytelegraph.com.auSydney Taste

Breweries tapping into foodies with everything from foodtrucks to gourmet restaurants and beer-infused desserts

by: Mercedes MaguireFrom: The Daily TelegraphApril 21, 2015 12:00AM

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Beeramisu with beerscotti and a beer sample paddle from Blackrock Brasserie in Sylvania. Picture: JohnFotiadis.Source: News Corp Australia

BEER has always had a food partner — a pie on the way home from the pub or a shared pizza

with mates over a few coldies.

Now, breweries are taking classic beer and food pairing a step further by expanding the gourmetofferings at their establishments. Breweries across Sydney and NSW are offering customers everythingfrom mobile food trucks through to full service, award-winning restaurant meals in a bid to broaden theirappeal beyond the beer connoisseur. Some are even incorporating beer into their recipes.

“The wine industry has been doing food matching forever, but with the explosion of craft beer and themammoth selection now available, it’s possible to match beer with food as successfully, if not more so,than it is done with wine,” says Dave Phillips, from Dave’s Brewery Tours.

Phillips plans to expand his Sydney beer tours with mealtime-specific itineraries, including a beer andbreaky tour.

Dave Phillips from Dave’s Brewery Tours. Picture: Supplied.Source: News Corp Australia

There are around 25 craft beer businesses in NSW, according to IBISWorld, with the industry growing ata rate of 10 per cent a year for the past five years.

While most breweries offer an informal food option such as a food truck stopping by on certain days, ahandful have full kitchens on-site.

In Sydney’s west, the Australian Hotel Brewery at Rouse Hill entices diners with an extensive bistro-stylemenu, while in the north, 4 Pines in Manly has offered food with beer fresh from the fermenting tankssince it opened in 2008. New kid on the block, Modus Operandi at Mona Vale has a tasty selection ofAmerican-style dishes and a smaller bar menu available.

In the CBD, Sydney’s oldest pub brewery, the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, operates a restaurant in its

convict-quarried sandstone building at The Rocks and Redoak Beer Boutique Cafe has an award-winning menu matched to its craft beers.

A year ago Blackrock Brasserie — the only brewery offering food in Sydney’s south — opened inSylvania. Owner and passionate craft beer drinker, Lance Cochrane, says the extensive menu at theBrasserie was developed in conjunction with his brother, Bryce, a one-time home brewer and chef, andthe establishment’s head chef, Graham Johns and takes beer and food matching one step further.

Beergustation from Blackrock Brasserie in Sylvania. Picture: John Fotiadis.Source: News Corp Australia

“There’s food matching and then there’s using the beer recipes, which is what we do,” Cochrane says.“There’s a lot more you can do with beer in food than make beer batter. We have beeramisu withbeerscotti on the dessert menu (pic, cover) as well as a whole selection of brewhouse options includingstout braised beef shin and beer fried chicken.”

Diners at Blackrock Brasserie can see the brewing process in operation behind glass panels and sampleits range of nine beers, labelled Blackhorse, straight from the tanks.

“Our customer base is largely locals who may not necessarily be experienced craft beer drinkers,”Cochrane says.

“They mostly come for the food, but then they try our beer and for many it’s an introduction to craft beer.”

MUST-VISIT SYDNEY BREWERIES

Australian Hotel & Brewery

Opened in 2010, this beer and food venue promises something for everyone, and as such is a popular

option in Sydney’s north west. The family-friendly brewery has a large and hearty bistro-like menuincluding burgers, chicken parma, pizza and crisp pork belly alongside its regular range of beers brewedon the premises.

350 Annangrove Rd, Rouse Hill, australianbrewery.com.au (http://www.australianbrewery.com.au)

A brisket Pizza from The Australian Hotel and Brewery, Rouse Hill. Picture: Bradley HunterSource: News Corp Australia

4 Pines Brewing Company

The Manly Mega Burger is the signature dish on the mainly pub-style menu, which also features a fewofferings for finer tastebuds including the seafood bouillabaisse, ceviche and pork belly. Guests enjoy ameal and a quality brew alongside the massive steel fermenting tanks overlooking Manly Wharf.

29/43-45 East Esplanade, Manly, 4pinesbeer.com.au (http://www.4pinesbeer.com.au)

4 Pines tasting rack and the Manly Mega Burger. Picture: Braden Fastier.Source: News Corp Australia

Batch Brewing Co

After hours, this 400sq m warehouse brewery is converted into the production space of an enterprisestarted by American mates Andrew Fineran and Chris Sidwa. Patrons come for the selection of craftofferings made, as the name suggests, in batches and rotated as needed. Conscious of being located inan industrial estate, the owners have always offered informal food options via a weekly rotation of foodtrucks including Mexican, German hot dogs and vegetarian fare.

44 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville, batchbrewingco.com.au (http://www.batchbrewingco.com.au)

Chris Sidwa and Andrew Fineran from Batch Brewing Company in Marrickville. Photos: Chris McKeenSource: News Corp Australia

Rocks Brewing Co

Tucked away in a semi-industrial part of Alexandria, this brewery is as Australian as they come. Run byfifth and sixth generation convict descendants, its beer labels mimic this historic association with namesincluding Convict Lager and Governor Golden Ale. Sit alongside the big steel fermenting drums as yousample the beers and American-inspired menu. A large outdoor seating area is great for larger groupsand families and live bands often entertain on weekends.

160 Bourke Rd, Alexandria, rocksbrewing.com (http://www.rocksbrewing.com)

Simon Osbourne in front of the vats at the Rocks Brewing Co in Alexandria. Picture: John AppleyardSource: News Corp Australia

Young Henry’s

In place of a kitchen, this hip inner city venue offers classic street food through a rotating food trucksystem. Patrons jump on social media to see which trucks are due, mostly stopping on weekends.Guests can indulge in a “straight from the tanks” beer and enjoy the relaxed vibe.

76 Wilford St, Newtown, younghenrys.com (http://www.younghenrys.com)

Modus Operandi

Put simply, the ‘method of operation’ is to craft good beer. But the owners of this relatively new operationon Sydney’s northern beaches understand that a more complete experience comes with food.

So they also opened a full kitchen catering to guests with an American-inspired menu including buffalowings, burgers and Texas-style ribs.

14 Harkeith St, Mona Vale, mobrewing.com.au (http://www.mobrewing.com.au)

Blackrock Brasserie

The closest breweries to this Sylvania offering are Rocks Brewing Co in Alexandria and the IllawarraBrewing Company in Wollongong. But the year-old family business is not resting on its sole statuslaurels. It has developed a menu around its range of craft brews, often incorporating beer into the actualrecipes. A favourite with diners is the four-dish beergustation taster.

117-119 Princes Hwy, Sylvania, blackrockbrasserie.com.au (http://www.blackrockbrasserie.com.au)

Beer fried chicken from Blackrock Brasserie in Sylvania. Picture: Supplied.Source: News Corp Australia

Flat Rock Brew Cafe

Beers replace coffee as the brew of choice in this north shore cafe, but don’t be fooled by the name. Anextensive menu filled with share-plate options including cured meat and cheese boards is on offer as wellas regular Sunday specials matched with a beer and curry nights.

290 Willoughby Rd, Naremburn, flatrockbrewcafe.com.au (http://www.flatrockbrewcafe.com.au)

Prawn curry with naan bread served with side dishes of cucumber yoghurt and homemade pickle fromThe Flat Rock Brew Cafe.Source: News Corp Australia

Redoak chocolate and beer-infused truffles from Redoak Boutique Beer Cafe in Sydney. Picture:Penelope BeveridgeSource: Supplied

Red Oak Boutique Beer Cafe

This microbrewery in the heart of Sydney offers award-winning food and beer, but best of all it combinesthe two to provide a well-rounded experience. The well-established brew restaurant provides a beer andfood matching service but also uses beer in its recipes, including its Red Oak ice cream, sorbets andchocolate and beer-infused truffles.

201 Clarence St, Sydney, redoak.com.au (http://www.redoak.com.au)

Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel

It claims to be Australia’s oldest pub brewery and with an award-winning restaurant serving modernAustralian cuisine to patrons, it’s also one of the most popular. Set in the historic Rocks precinct, the oldcolonial sandstone building was restored by the current owners.

19 Kent St, The Rocks, lordnelsonbrwery.com (http://www.lordnelsonbrwery.com)

The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel in The Rocks. Picture: Supplied.Source: Supplied

Regional NSW breweries

Black Duck Brewery

Hidden away in an industrial part of Port Macquarie, Black Duck has a laid-back atmosphere in a bar setinside the brewery. Brewer and one-time-engineer, Al Owen, is often around for a chat and a tour anddiners can enjoy the ploughman’s platters as they sample the 10-plus beers on offer here.

6b Acacia Ave, Port Macquarie, blackduckbrewery.com.au (http://www.blackduckbrewery.com.au)

Alan Owen from Black Duck Brewery. Picture: Supplied.Source: Supplied

Thirsty Crow Brewery

Wagga’s first brewery is attracting a steady flow of beer lovers, but the Brewpub menu caters to all. Thelunch menu includes relaxed pizza, burgers and ribs fare but the evening menu takes it up a notch withbraised lamb shanks and its signature oven roasted suckling pig, which requires three weeks notice.

31 Kincaid St, Wagga Wagga, thirstycrow.com.au (http://www.thirstycrow.com.au)

Lamb shanks from Thirsty Crow Brewery in Wagga Wagga. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied

Badlands Brewery

Jon Shiner started brewing at this location 18 months ago alongside cafe, The Agrestic Grocer, whichdoes amazing things with Shiner’s beers. The two businesses work closely together to producewonderful recipes (think chicken in an IPA brine and churros with a chocolate and porter sauce) as wellas food and beer matching events throughout the year. If he’s around when you pop in, Shiner’s happy toshow you around and have a chat.

426 Mitchell Hwy, Orange, badlandsbrewery.com.au (http://www.badlandsbrewery.com.au)

Brined free range chicken salad from Badlands Brewery in Orange. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied

Murray’s Craft Brewing Co

Murray Howe and his team have been brewing craft beer since 2006. At their Brewery Restaurant nearPort Stephens, beer remains a focus with recipes infused with their brews, including favourites WhaleAle-battered fish ‘n’ chips, pizza made with dough using Moonboy Golden Ale and, for something sweet,Dark Knight Beer scones.

3443 Nelson Bay Rd, Bob’s Farm, murraysbrewingco.com.au (http://www.murraysbrewingco.com.au)

Brewery chilli dog from Murray's Brewery at Port Stephens in NSW. Picture: SuppliedSource: News Corp Australia

BentSpoke Brewing Co

Coming up to its first anniversary, this Canberra brewery offers pub fare with a modern twist. You’ll findhot wings crusted with malted barley, slow cooked beef brisket in dark ale and signature sauces includingchilli ginger aioli with ginger beer and beer-infused BBQ sauce.

38 Mort St, Braddon, ACT, 02 62575220

Hot wings from Bentspoke Brewing in Braddon, ACT. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied

Wig & Pen Tavern and Brewery

Operating for more than 20 years in Canberra, this brewery is a local institution. At its new location on theground floor of the ANU’s Llewellyn Hall, this would have to be one of the best campus bars in thecountry. Music and arts students mix with off-campus visitors who come for the well-known craft beer andsimple cafe fare.

100 William Herbert Pl, Canberra, 02 6248 0171

Mudgee Brewing Co

The region is better known for its wine, but as the sign at the Mudgee Brewing Co says, “Come for thewine, stay for the beer”. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the menu is filled with pub favouritesincluding burgers, pizza and pasta with a more up-market dinner menu matched with its range of sixsignature beers.

4 Church St, Mudgee, mudgeebrewing.com.au (http://www.mudgeebrewing.com.au)

Interior of Mudgee Brewing Company boutique brewery and brasserie. Picture: Supplied.Source: Supplied

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