The Gold Coast is more than just sandy beaches and dazzling attractions; it's also home to a thriving craft beer culture that has taken the city by storm. Whether you're a seasoned beer enthusiast or a curious visitor eager to explore, this article introduces you to the most prestigious, popular, and unique breweries across the Gold Coast's vibrant suburbs.
These Gold Coast breweries are creating some unique, delicious and award-winning ales, pilsners, lagers, stouts and sours that have put us on the map when it comes to Australian beer. Get ready for a delightful journey as we raise our glasses to excellence and uncover the finest brews the Gold Coast has to offer.
Burleigh Heads
1. Burleigh Brewing
The couple behind this beloved brewery were the pioneers of Gold Coast’s craft beer culture and the boutique operation has become a local empire. Since 2006, Burleigh Brewing been producing award-winning beers with balance, character and soul, that are now found in fridges and bottle shops all over Australia.
Pay a visit to their taphouse where you can sip on an ever changing lineup of brews that aren’t available anywhere else, alongside their core range of favourites including Twisted Palm Pale Ale and Big Head No Carb Larger. The taphouse is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and you can get a look at the love and dedication that goes into every drop on a behind-the-scenes brewery tour. Enjoy a local drop alongside live music and food truck fare and hang out with the locals who flock to their favourite watering hole.
- Tasty tip: Enjoy their refreshing My Wife's Bitter, an English-style ale, alongside their delectable Brewery Burger for a perfect blend of flavours.
- Location: Location: 2 Ern Harley Drive, Burleigh Heads
2. Burleigh Barrels
This establishment opened its doors in 2022 and has since developed a core range of six beers brewed in house, all of which won awards at the Independent Brewers Awards. The expert brewers are dedicated to crafting unique seasonal brews, ensuring a diverse selection that appeals to both beer connoisseurs and casual drinkers.
Add a delicious smokehouse menu serving up mouthwatering BBQ cooked low and slow over hardwood and slathered with secret sauce and you’ve got yourself a winning combination. (PSA: There are delicious vegan options as well). Located just 1km from the beach, Burleigh Barrels is the perfect place to end your day, or begin your night out. Visit from Wednesday to Sunday to sample a drop from 24 tap beers including new seasonal releases.
- Tasty tip: Wash down some of the succulent Buffalo Wings or Brisket with a Pandanus Pale Ale.
- Location: 105 West Burleigh Rd, Burleigh Waters
3. Black Hops Brewing
It began with three Gold Coast mates brewing a stout in their backyard and now Black Hops Brewing has expanded into three taprooms (Burleigh Heads, Biggera Waters and Brisbane) and a portfolio of very tasty and multi-award winning beers. In 2022, they took out the prize for Australia’s Best Craft Brewery in the Beer Cartel Craft Beer Survey.
There are drops like the Liquid Schwartz, a black coffee lager; the Caribbean Haze, a fruity, rum-soaked Hazy IPA and a varied selection of Gold Coast craft beers with unique and delicious flavours. Drop into their original HQ and try and tasting paddle or sample one of the 16 beers on tap. Visit from Wednesday to Sunday, bring your mates and your dog to this family friendly venue. Grab a bite to eat from their resident food truck from Thursday.
- Tasty tip: Try their award-winning Pale Ale, the flagship beer that put them on the map. Enjoy with beer battered fish and chips for a perfect pairing.
- Location: 15 Gardenia Grove, Burleigh Heads
Currumbin
4. Balter Brewing
Their mission is simple; good beer with enjoyment. Mission accomplished because Balter Brewing's upmarket taproom delivers both of those things in abundance. Nestled in the heart of Currumbin on the Gold Coast, this is a brewery where everyone is welcome, no matter your level of beer knowledge.
With a rotating roster of fresh, limited-release beers, live music, and food from the best regional food trucks, you’ll be wearing a smile on your face that matches their logo. After all, six of their beers won a spot in the GABS Hottest 100 (a prestigious people’s choice beer award). After a recent expansion, the original warehouse-style set-up now includes a sun-drenched beer garden and mezzanine bar. With plenty of taps and plenty of beer nooks to settle into, kick back and enjoy Balter beer just metres from where it was made.
- Tasty tip: The qualities of the Balter IPA pair perfectly with the rich flavour and intense heat of a spicy chorizo calzone.
- Location: 14 Traders Way, Currumbin Waters
5. Currumbin Valley Brewing
Currumbin Valley Brewing is a small batch boutique brewery located in the lush surroundings and subtropical climate of the region, with a focus on capturing wild yeast and brewing artisanal handcrafted beers using water from the natural volcanic spring. Unsurprisingly, the results are nothing short of spectacular and their beers are highly sought after.
Sample unusual brews like Strawberry Bubblegum Sour and Mango Sour with Lemon Myrtle. This brewery isn’t open to the public but visit their website to discover which Gold Coast bars and bottle shops stock their liquid gold.
- Tasty tip: Tuck into a juicy cheeseburger accompanied by their Flying Fox Black IPA for an ideal flavour sensation.
- Location: Currumbin Valley
Miami
6. Precinct Brewing Co
The people behind Precinct were passionate about creating first-class craft beer and a great place to enjoy it. Mission accomplished with this amazing Miami venue that’s become a firm favorite in our local craft brewery culture.
The bright, airy space is home to not only a slew of locally brewed frothies, but a menu packed with wood-fired pizzas, weekly trivia and of course, live music - all the best drinking accompaniments. Precinct Brewing has created superb sips including a Tropical Stout and a Strawberry Sour and every drop to be poured in this place is delicious and they’re open every day of the week.
- Tasty tips: Sip on a Precinct Brewing Co Session Ale and fill your belly with their Wagyu Beef Bao for a true taste sensation.
- Location: 7 Christine Ave, Miami
7. Lost Palms Brewing Co
You won’t miss this bright pink brewery in Miami - it’s a stand out in more ways than one. Lost Palms is known for their pretty pastel venue, brilliant beer and colourful cans. This Gold Coast craft brewery produces all sorts of beers suited to the local climate and lifestyle, from easy-drinking lagers to more adventurous styles to satisfy the craft beer fanatics.
Sip on a heady Hibiscus and Guava Sour Ale, a Gold Coast Bitter or try Talle Daze Hazy Pale, which captures the tropical vibes of nearby Tally Creek (keep the can with cool illustration as a souvenir). A food truck in the courtyard slings delicious burgers, including very tasty vegan options, and there’s a basketball court where you can shoot some hoops for added entertainment. Just off the Gold Coast Hwy, find your way to Lost Palms for a sensational beer drinking experience. Open Thursday - Sunday.
- Tasty tips: Feast on a Fried Onion Ring Burger with their Laid Back Beat Watermelon Pineapple Sour for a tasty tropical refresher.
- Location: 11 Oak Ave, Miami
Surfers Paradise
8. BOBs Beer
One of the best pubs Surfers Paradise has to offer is also a craft brewery - makes sense really! BOBs Beer not only creates their own unique brews onsite but you can also sample some of the best independent craft beers from Australia and New Zealand.
The stunning venue is a 5-minute stroll from the sands of Surfers Paradise beach and as well as an enticing range of beers including their Czech It Out Pilsner and Cosmos IPA, you can also enjoy exceptional dining for lunch and dinner. The head chef and brewer have worked together to ensure the beer menu and food menu complement each other perfectly. Be sure to drop in to BOBs Beer, share a meal and raise a glass of the good stuff.
- Tasty tips: Tim Tam Tom Beef Cheek Slow braised with mashed potatoes wIth Tim Tam Tom Brown Ale used in the recipe. A double whammy of deliciousness.
- Location: 10/2 Elkhorn Ave, Surfers Paradise
Northern Gold Coast
9. Hound and Stag Brewing Co
Northern Gold Coast has joined the craft brewery scene with the addition of Hound and Stag - an epic venue that celebrates good food, good times and great beer. Built using lots of recycled materials, it’s got a rustic barn vibe and plenty of space to spread out in.
Whether you’re a fan of hoppy ales, smooth stouts, or crisp lagers, Hound & Stag Brewing Co has something for everyone. Their rotating tap list features a variety of small batch brews, so you can try something new with every visit. The crowds come for live gigs and stay for the atmosphere, and the amazing menu will have you in a spin about what to order because it all looks so good.
- Tasty tips: Indulge your tastebuds with this mouthwatering combo - order the chicken roulade wrapped with prosciutto and wash it down with the Red Barron Berliner Weisse.
- Location: 13 Wrights Place, Arundel
Mount Tamborine
10. Fortitude Brewing
Housed in an beautiful sprawling venue with a sprawling alfresco deck to take advantage of the mountain sunshine, Fortitude Brewing brings fresh, clean, full-bodied, well-balanced craft beer to the Hinterland. They describe themselves as the Goldilocks of beer; not so crafty that the flavours will overwhelm your palette, not so mainstream that they’re found everywhere - but just right.
All beer is brewed on site and you can sample it to your heart’s content with a tasting paddle to sample five of their core range, along with limited releases to add some creative craft beer flair. They also serve fabulous wood-fired pizzas and a few tasty fried plates to go with your beverage.
- Tasty tips: Roots & Leaves Ginger Beer pairs exceptionally well with the Beer Battered Flathead on the menu.
- Location: 165 Long Rd, Tamborine Mountain
Gold Coast Brewery Tours
Hop On Brewery Tours
Hop on board with Queensland's original craft brewery adventure, Hop On Brewery Tours, for a unique day out where you’ll sample a range of craft beers, meet the brewers, explore new Gold Coast locations and find a favourite new brew. These guys are bonafide beer aficionados and their passion for pale ale, larger and the like is contagious. You’ll feel like a VIP on their Coldie on the Goldie tour, where you can select three breweries to visit and be escorted around them, while learning about local neighbourhoods and tasting a beautiful variety of brews. A delicious lunch is included too. Half day tours available if you’re tight on time.
Smooth Hoperator Brewery & Distillery Tours
Smooth Hoperator runs an awesome Gold Coast beer tour that fits in four local breweries in one day. Fun and relaxation are front of mind and your dedicated beer pilot (aka tour guide) will provide good vibes, insights into the breweries you visit plus plenty of beer and banter. Roadies (Aussie slang for a beer on the road) are permitted on the Smooth Hoperator bus and to make the commute between venues more fun, the sound system is stacked. There’s even a roaming mic for karaoke if that's your thing. Spend a day with these Smooth Hoperators for an authentic local insider experience and a fun day sampling the Gold Coast’s best brews.
Crafted Beer Festival
Across one weekend in September the shady surrounds of Kurrawa Park in Broadbeach are transformed into a beer lovers utopia as Crafted Been Festival comes to townl. This annual celebration of craft brews, live tunes and good times brings over 400 delicious drops from all over Australia are on offer to sample, savour and skull. Froth over 50 different breweries including locals like Burleigh Brewing, Lost Palms and Black Hops. Gourmet food trucks, awesome live music by major acts and the beautiful beachside location make Crafted Festival a firm favourite on the Gold Coast events calendar. This year, the brews, bites and bands roll into town on September 9th and 10th.
Discover Gold Coast's finest craft beer from Burleigh to Surfers Paradise, with each suburb hosting unique breweries and brews. For more foodie adventures be sure to explore the myriad of wineries, breweries and distillieries that the Gold Coast has to offer.
Check out more Destination Gold Coast blogs for holiday inspo.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Destination Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.