From microbreweries and your favourite local independent brewery to full-blown craft beer empires, Sydney is never going to be lacking when it comes time to sink a few cold ones closer to the source. No Australian city is truly complete without a healthy amount of breweries, and while Melbourne is traditionally considered a mecca for Australia’s best breweries our biggest city has certainly stepped it up over the past few years. As such, anyone trying to decide on their favourite breweries in Sydney has plenty of choices to get across.
There’s not much argument to be had. Sucking down a Denzel Frothington in a spot designed to brew beer is almost always going to be a better experience than grabbing a pint of your favourite beer at the local pub.
For starters, the best brewers tend to give you a more comprehensive experience with their pride and joy, whether it’s highlighting a specific brewing process, serving you up a high-value tasting paddle with the label’s core beers and limited releases or offering up a tasting bar where you can pick and choose from the brews – including some exclusives only available at the brewery.
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The complexities of craft beers have driven the popularity of breweries through the roof in recent years, with the concentrated flavours and variety of craft beer pulling in more beer lovers than ever before. With how profitable the craft beer industry has become, it’s little wonder there are so many breweries in Sydney constantly popping up to try and slice off a piece of a very lucrative pie.
Want something incredibly hop forward like an American pale ale? Prefer to explore Czech pilsners? Got a particular taste for the caramel and toffee notes of something maltier? Or maybe you’re more of a sours guy.
To give you a bit of a hit list, we’ve pulled together what we think are the best breweries in Sydney so all you need to do when the boys are thinking of a sesh is open up this page and work through the below.
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Best Breweries In Sydney – Table Of Contents [Not Ranked]
- The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, The Rocks
- Wildflower Brewing & Blending, Marrickville
- Philter Brewing, Marrickville
- Young Henrys Brewery, Newtown
- Mountain Culture Beer Co, Katoomba
- Frenchies Bistro And Brewery, Rosebery
- 4 Pines Brewpub, Manly
- The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, Marrickville
- BlackFront Brewhouse Tasting Room, Marrickville
- Atomic Beer Project, Redfern
- Wayward Brewing Co, Camperdown
- Nomad Brewing Co, Brookvale
- Modus Operandi Brewing, Mona Vale
- Sydney Brewery, Surry Hills
- Yulli’s Brews, Alexandria
- Willie The Boatman, St Peters
- 2 Halfs Brewing & Distilling, Alexandria
- Sauce Brewing Co, Marrickville
- Mountain Goat, Newtown
Where To Find The Best Brewery In Sydney
The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, The Rocks
A legendary Sydney brewery and the only real choice we have when deciding on what to lead with on this (unranked) list of the best breweries in Sydney. Craft beer lovers have been swarming this historic venue in The Rocks since the grand old English-style pub started brewing its emblematic natural ales back in 1986.
It’s mostly about the classics at The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, so don’t go expecting anything funkier than straightforward natural ales. Although the English bitter in Lord Nelson’s core range is easily the best thing here, alongside the big, hefty porter for when you want something a bit more of a knock-out than those incredibly sessionable pints of English-style pale ale.
Address: 19 Kent St, The Rocks NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9251 4044
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (12 pm – 10 pm)
Wildflower Brewing & Blending, Marrickville
Wildflower’s penchant for experimentation typically has everyone’s tastes covered. It’s hard not to find something at this Marrickville warehouse that doesn’t leave you deeply satisfied, worshipping at the temple of wild-fermented beers that are mostly cobbled together from indigenous yeast sourced from the bush and the mountains.
Topher Boehm knows exactly what he’s doing here, going against the grain and pumping out craft beers that you really wouldn’t taste anywhere else. The flavour profiles come first, so these beers are all incredibly unique and pungent to help expose even the most seasoned beer drinkers to something new.
Hit up Wildflower on the first Saturday of every month if you want the full experience. The ticketed brewery tour is known as one of the best in Australia.
Address: 11-13 Brompton St, Marrickville NSW 2204
Opening Hours: Friday – Saturday (12 pm – 8 pm); Sunday (12 pm – 6 pm)
Philter Brewing, Marrickville
A tried-and-true favourite in the Boss Hunting office. Philter Brewing carves out a former yoghurt factory in Marrickville and transforms it into a buzzy, clandestine brewery and bar. The constant flow here is split between a cosy public bar on the first floor and the more colourful resort-style rooftop bar dubbed Marrickvile Springs, both ideal drinking spots for anyone looking to down Philter’s crowd-pleasing XPA that faultless Red Session Ale or any of the brewery’s several impressive stouts and seasonal offerings.
The food at Philter Brewing is also some of the best you’ll find in Marrickville, pimped up with dude food like pizza and burgers followed by delicious cheese plates. When the sun comes out, opt for some of those beer slushies for something different from other breweries in the area.
Address: 92-98 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
Contact: (02) 9199 9655
Opening Hours: Wednesday (5 pm – 10 pm); Thursday (4 pm – 10 pm); Friday – Saturday (12 pm – 11 pm); Sunday (12 pm – 6 pm)
Young Henrys Brewery, Newtown
If you’re looking for a fairly engaging, insightful Sydney brewery tour there are few options as viable as a quick deep dive into what is now one of Sydney’s most definitive breweries.
Young Henrys Brewery has become one of Australia’s foremost leaders of the craft beer movement so Newtown has certainly earned some bragging rights considering the inner-west hub is home to this reliable boozer.
Framed by stainless-steel brewing tanks and filled with the regular sounds of rock ‘n’ roll, the sunny beer garden is packed full of energy. You’ll grab a decent bite here and down it with any one of Young Henrys’ five core beers – real ale, hop ale, cloudy cider, natural lager and of course the ubiquitous Newtowner. Make sure you’re checking for the one-off experimental releases as well.
Address: 76 Wilford St, Newtown NSW 2042
Contact: (02) 9519 0048
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (12 pm – 7 pm)
Mountain Culture Beer Co, Katoomba
While most of Sydney’s most popular breweries these days are located in Marrickville, Mountain Culture Beer Co isn’t even found anywhere near the city. You’ll have to drive on out to Katoomba to visit these lads, but it’s worth taking the time to head on out to the Blue Mountains.
Co-founder DJ McCready, who runs the joint with his wife Harriet, earned his chops in Australia at Modus Operandi Brewing and, before that, Colorado’s popular Oskar Blues Brewery. Now he lands at this highly technical brewery in the Blue Mountains, which separates itself from the pack by focusing on the art of water and how it can be manipulated to mimic profiles from around the world before building each beer.
Such a focus on brewing water is complemented by specially sourced yeast strains and natural grain, letting the Mountain Culture boys maintain complete control over every layer of the beer, from the lager and the Double Red IPA to the Eudaimonia (similar to an Imperial stout) and experimental brews that are only available at Mountain Culture Beer Co.
Address: 23-25 Parke St, Katoomba NSW 2780
Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday (11 am – 6 pm); Thursday – Saturday (11 am – 9 pm); Sunday (11 am – 8 pm)
Frenchies Bistro And Brewery, Rosebery
Passion is what helps build the best brewery experiences, and you’ll find it in spades at Rosebery’s Frenchie’s Bistro And Brewery. As the name suggests, this is a brewpub that’s as much about the food as it is the French beer styles like Saison and Biere de Garde.
Francophiles may be caught up in dining across the best French restaurants in Sydney to pay much attention to what’s happening in Rosebery. But make no mistake about it, from the classic French food through to the elaborate charcuterie platters and an incredibly generous amount of Australian and French cheese, the food here alone is worth the trip.
But you’re here for the beer, first and foremost. And the bar’s eight taps will take care of that need immediately, pouring up any one of Frenchie’s five core beers along with special brews and barrel-aged sours. Terroir counts for a lot here, so don’t go thinking it’s just all French beers – the old world IPA and Red Rye Ale are musts.
Address: 6/61-71 Mentmore Ave, Rosebery NSW 2018
Contact: (02) 8964 3171
Opening Hours: Wednesday (12 pm – 10 pm); Thursday – Saturday (12 pm – 11 pm); Sunday (12 pm – 4 pm)
4 Pines Brewpub, Manly
When 4 Pines opened opposite Manly Wharf in 2008 this energetic, terraced brewpub and microbrewery almost immediately galvanized Sydney’s northern beaches community and started to turn the tides for Sydney’s craft beer scene, which up until then had always been overshadowed by that in Melbourne.
While the inescapable brand has since opened up a worthy 50hL brewhouse in Brookvale, there’s something about the homeliness of this Manly brewpub that’s hard to resist.
Address: 29/43-45 E Esplanade, Manly NSW 2095
Contact: (02) 9977 5287
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (12 pm – 11 pm); Friday – Saturday (12 pm – 12 am); Sunday (12 pm – 10 pm)
The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, Marrickville
The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre may have only opened in Marrickville recently but already the wildly playful and ambitious neighbourhood pub underneath Hawke’s Brewery already feels like it’s been here forever.
That could be because it was designed as a retro-futuristic ode to the 19080s and vintage Australian culture, doing its namesake proud with an array of spaces like the Chinese restaurant Lucky Prawn and a lavish pool room modelled after the former PM’s own.
With a workhorse craft brewery upstairs, The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre is now one of the most exciting spots to grab a beer in Sydney. No one can disagree with that once they sit down to a succulent Chinese meal and sink it down with a Legend IPA.
Address: 8-12 Sydney St, Marrickville NSW 2204
Contact: (02) 9069 5583
Opening Hours: Wednesday (12 pm – 11 pm); Thursday – Friday (12 pm – 12 am); Saturday (11 am – 12 am); Sunday (11 am – 10 pm)
BlackFront Brewhouse Tasting Room, Marrickville
BlackFront Brewhouse may be overshadowed by some of the bigger players in Marrickville at times, but make no mistake – this microbrewery is pumping out some of the best beers in Sydney right now. You’ll even need a ticket to enter, keeping it all nice and intimate inside while beer lovers suck down Vienna-style lagers and thick, deep black Imperial stouts.
BlackFront Brewhouse does nothing by half-measure, so if you’re a serious beer drinker this one is an essential stop. Just sit down with one of those coffee-infused triple stouts or the heavy Scottish-style dark ale and you’ll soon consider yourself a regular.
Just note, that opening hours are sporadic and hard to pin down for BlackFront Brewhouse so your best bet is to keep track of them via social media.
Address: 92 Meeks Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
Atomic Beer Project, Redfern
Western Australian brewery Gage Roads now have a hefty Sydney presence with Atomic Beer Project, an easy favourite for the local craft beer community and a great place to grab a modern Asian feast as well.
You’ll find this excellent brewpub in Redfern, where Head Brewer Nick Ivey directs a core range of eight beers on tap, all the result of a highly technical process that uses a reverse-osmosis filter to maintain complete control over the water profile of each brew.
Their XPA, IPA and Pale Ale are consistent standouts here, and reason enough to head along to Atomic Beer Project. But don’t ignore the limited releases.
Address: 158 Regent St, Redfern NSW 2016
Contact: (02) 8367 5888
Opening Hours: Sunday – Thursday (11 am – 10 pm); Friday – Saturday (11 am – 12 am)
Wayward Brewing Co, Camperdown
When it comes to the best breweries in Sydney, you aren’t casting your net wide enough if you focus only on Marrickville. Yes, the inner-west suburb has become ground zero for the next stage in Sydney’s craft beer industry but it doesn’t help to limit your scope here.
Especially not when Wayward Brewing is doing such good work out in Camperdown, making the most of their eccentric beer hall with a bar of no less than 24 taps constantly flowing with crowd-pleasures like the Charmer India red ale and Keller Instinct Kellerbier.
Address: 1 Gehrig Ln, Camperdown NSW 2050
Contact: (02) 7903 2445
Opening Hours: Monday (4 pm – 10 pm); Tuesday – Wednesday (4 pm – 9 pm); Thursday – Saturday (12 pm – 10 pm); Sunday (12 pm – 8 pm)
Nomad Brewing Co, Brookvale
Since their first beer was brewed back in 2014, Nomad has been one of the biggest names in Sydney’s craft beer scene and a largely dependable brewery throughout the years. There aren’t many Sydneysiders left who haven’t gleefully downed a Nomad IPA or the label’s equally beloved Saison.
Dedicated to telling the story of Australian produce, Nomad is reliable when it comes to using native ingredients like lemon myrtle and wattleseed wherever possible. The team even takes salt water from Freshwater Beach for the excellent Freshie Salt N’ Pepper, presenting a distinctly Australian take on a German Gose.
The best time to head along to the Brookvale brewery is on a lazy Saturday when the brewery hosts a bunch of live music and food trucks.
Address: 5 Sydenham Rd, Brookvale NSW 2100
Contact: (02) 9907 4113
Opening Hours: Thursday (4 pm – 8 pm); Friday – Saturday (12 pm – 10 pm); Sunday (12 pm – 6 pm)
Modus Operandi Brewing, Mona Vale
Modus Operandi Brewing is another strong case for the Northern Beaches being one of the most important areas for Sydney’s craft beer industry. Since this Mona Vale brewery first opened in 2014, it has been a dominant force on the scene, powered by the know-how of husband and wife owners Grand and Jaz Wearin who lead a team of brewers in creating some of the city’s most impressive beers.
You’ll find Modus Operandi packed any day of the week, full of enthusiastic beer drinkers sucking down everything from the label’s core range of sex beers, from the pale ales and IPAs to one of the most satisfying porters you’ll find in Australia right now.
Address: 14 Harkeith St, Mona Vale NSW 2103
Contact: (02) 4011 5850
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Thursday (12 pm – 10 pm); Friday – Saturday (12 pm – 12 am); Sunday (12 pm – 9 pm)
Sydney Brewery, Surry Hills
Just a stone’s throw from Central Station in the Rydges hotel, Sydney Brewery Surry Hills is one of the most conveniently located microbreweries in Sydney for when you want a quick freshie after work. Although weekends are the best time to head along to this reliable brewery, which pours out one of the best East Coast IPAs you’ll find in the city.
That’s alongside the rest of the core range, of course, which includes the fruity Lumberjack Rye IPA, Smooth Talker Porter, a pilsner and a lager. Considering Sydney Brewery Surry Hills is in an actual hotel, you’ve also got somewhere to crash if you want to make it a bigger blowout.
Address: 28 Albion St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Contact: (02) 9289 0028
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday (12 pm – 12 am); Sunday (4 pm – 10 pm)
Yulli’s Brews, Alexandria
Head along to this warehouse space in Alexandria where Yulli’s Brews offers up a complete experience that’s especially popular with anyone after some good vegan food. Vietnamese, Korean and Greek flavours are mashed together to offer one of the most likeable and unique menus of any brewpub around Sydney.
That food is best paired with Yulli’s Brews flagship Norman Australian Ale, but equally worthwhile from the core range is the Dolly Aldren wheat ale with its fresh melon profile and an incredibly satisfying maple pecan brown ale that’s been aged in Bourbon barrels.
Address: 75A Burrows Rd, Alexandria NSW 2015
Contact: (02) 9519 0161
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Saturday (12 pm – 12 am); Sunday (12 pm – 10 pm)
Willie The Boatman, St Peters
Sometimes it doesn’t get any better than drowning in an Albo Corn Ale at Willie the Boatman’s expansive St Peters brewery and soaking up the constant buzz this inner-west stape has built over the years.
The cult following that adores this brewery is there for a good reason, regularly packing out this atmospheric, slightly nautical-themed space with long queues of beer drinkers waiting to get their mouths across essentials like the aforementioned Albo and other core range favourites like the Lil’ Louis XPA or the left-field cocktail sours.
Address: Precinct 75 Suite 601, 75 Mary St, St Peters NSW 2044
Contact: (02) 8556 7528
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Friday (12 pm – 9 pm); Saturday (10 am – 9 pm); Sunday (12 pm – 7 pm)
2 Halfs Brewing & Distilling, Alexandria
Favouring old-world European beer styles and spirits, 2 Halfs Brewing & Distilling turns its own slice of Alexandria into a globe-trotting showcase of history that’s unlike anything else you’d find in Sydney.
Missing your time in Prague drinking Czech pilsners? Head here. Want to be taken back to Brussells by the pint? Grab some of those easy-drinking Belgian Blondes. This family-run brewery is built on nostalgia, firing the spacious tap room with a comprehensive experience that’s as much of an education for beer drinkers as it is just a damn good time.
Address: 2 Stokes Ave, Alexandria NSW 2015
Contact: (02) 8068 0915
Opening Hours: Thursday (1 pm – 9 pm); Friday – Saturday (1 pm – 10 pm); Sunday (12 pm – 6 pm)
Sauce Brewing Co, Marrickville
From gypsy brewing to bricks-and-mortar. Sauce Brewing Co is another Sydney brewery that has built a strong following as the company has grown organically from the early days when Mike Clarke and Kate McBean would need to rent brewing equipment from other brewers.
The team are relentless when it comes to experimenting with different beer styles and profiles, showcasing a fascinating range that most recently has reached a creative peak with the Saucy Mole – a porter infused with chipotle and cacao. The core range is excellent here, so make sure you’ve got room to try all three of the heavy-hitters – the signature Hop Sauce, Extra Hop Sauce and Mega Hope Sauce.
Address: 1a Mitchell St, Marrickville NSW 2204
Contact: (02) 9145 8288
Opening Hours: Thursday (4 pm – 9 pm); Friday – Saturday (11:30 am – 10 pm); Sunday (11:30 am – 9 pm)
Mountain Goat, Newtown
You’ve got plenty of options when it comes to sinking a cold one in the sun in Newtown. You could head on up to the Bank Hotel or grab a seat in the iconic beer garden of the Courthouse Hotel. Most recently, Mountain Goat Brewery has become a viable option as well, with a sunny beer garden of its own perfectly sized and shaped just off King Street.
The pioneering Asahi-owned Melbourne brewery made the move up a few years ago, carving out a distinctive Sydney presence with a brewpub that fit right into the local scene. There are a few exclusive brews only available in Newtown as well, like the Newtopia Pae Ale – fashioned after a classic American ale.
Address: 435 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
Contact: 0413 787 161
Opening Hours: Monday – Tuesday (4 pm – 10 pm); Wednesday (12 pm – 10 pm); Thursday – Saturday (12 pm – 12 am); Sunday (12 pm – 10 pm)
Best Sydney Brewery – Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Sydney brewery?
Some of the best breweries in Sydney include Young Henrys, Wildflower Brewing, Atomic Beer Project, Mountain Culture Beer Co, Philter Brewing and 4 Pines Brewpub.
What Sydney breweries also have great food?
If you’re after some Sydney breweries that offer great food as well start by hitting up Bob Hawke’s Beer and Leisure Centre then work on over to Atomic Beer Project and Frenchie’s Bistro and Brewery.
What is the oldest brewery in Sydney?
If you’re looking for a historic brewery in Sydney then hit up Lord Nelson Brewery in The Rocks.
