LOCAL’S GUIDE: BREWERIES, WINERIES AND DISTILLERIES

Since Peta and Brennan Fielding started Burleigh Brewing in 2006, the craft beer scene has exploded on the Gold Coast with micro-breweries popping up across the city. We’re establishing a reputation as a leader in the sector, with local breweries and brewers picking up national and international awards. Around our perimeter, several wineries and a distillery are also making their mark.

BURLEIGH BREWING CO.

This family-owned local business uses traditional brewing methods, cutting edge science and equipment to produce a superlative product, scoring consistent wins at the World Beer Cup and the World Beer Championships. Single-handedly changing the face of craft beer on the Gold Coast, Burleigh Brewing Co. is now the largest Australian-owned brewery in Queensland.

BLACK HOPS

With the help of crowdfunding for start-up, Dan Norris, Michael McGovern and Eddie Oldfield documented progress from their first homebrew to the establishment of their Burleigh Heads brewery, gaining market traction through social media. Persistence paid off, with Black Hops winning three gold medals at the 2017 Australian International Beer Awards.

BALTER BREWING

A huge success story, Balter beer was stocked throughout Australia within six months of its launch. In its upmarket warehouse and tasting room, shining tanks extend back as far as the eye can see. Co-founder Stirling Howland says the aim is to make the best beer possible, “…to expand a person’s world view on what a beer can be.”

TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY

Founded in 1998 by Michael and Alla Ward, Australia’s smallest operating pot still distillery has won over 300 awards – in fact it’s the most internationally awarded distillery in Australia. Their liqueurs have won gold medals in world spirit awards in Europe, America and Asia including the coveted China Wine and Spirits ‘Liqueur of the Year’ Award.

THE LAKE BREWHOUSE

Opened in 2017, The Lake Brewhouse is a restaurant with its own in-house boutique brewery overlooking Lake Orr. Now brewing to capacity with four 400-litre vats, the brewery’s two preservative-free lagers, both on tap, accompany a menu of Canadian bar favourites, such as buffalo wings, ribs, onion wings, poutine and jalapeno poppers.

WITCHES FALLS WINERY

Established in 2004 by Jon and Kim Heslop, Mt Tamborine’s Witches Falls has been rated a ‘5-Star winery’ by James Halliday. The winery makes three different ranges of wine with varying styles (Granite Belt, Wild Ferment and Prophecy), the Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon forming the pinnacle of the Prophecy range, some vintages scoring 94 points.

FORTITUDE BREWING

Founded in late 2012 by Ged Connors, Jim O’Çonnor and Ian Watson, Fortitude Brewing today boasts an expansive brewery and tasting room on Mt Tamborine with ten rotating taps of Fortitude and Noisy Minor beers. Head Brewer Ian Watson has raised the standard of Australian lager, his Belgium-styled Pale Lager now a Queensland favourite.

HARAJUKU GYOZA

Broadbeach is the first of Harajuku’s numerous stores to ostentatiously add ‘beer stadium’ to its name, putting the emphasis squarely on good times. Four shiny 1,200-litre tanks behind the bar form the core of Harajuku’s microbrewery, producing their six in-house craft brews under the label Yoyogi.

O’REILLY’S CANUNGRA VINEYARD

Picture perfect beside Canungra Creek surrounded by lush subtropical rainforest, O’Reilly’s Canungra Vineyard is as much a tourist attraction as it is a vineyard. Whether you visit to tour the winery, enjoy a family picnic or dine at Vintage Restaurant, this is a beautiful weekend escape. Wine Club members can enjoy a more hands-on experience in the vineyard.

BEENLEIGH ARTISAN DISTILLERY

Opened in 1884, Beenleigh Artisan Distillery is Australia’s original rum, and the Gold Coast’s longest running hospitality establishment. Using small batch copper pot distillation, Beenleigh rum is aged in handmade oak barrels to gain complexity. Not only has the distillery won ‘World’s Best Rum’, it also won silver and bronze medals at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition 2016.