At Dish Cult we love good news. And the good news in Sydney is the arrival of some exciting new microbreweries and distilleries.

And if you think of only beer, gin and whisky when you think “brewery”, think again. Think great food, innovative new drinks, live music, distillery tours, cocktail masterclasses, dog havens, repurposed heritage spaces, food trucks, merchandise and more. Here are some of our favourites…

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Brix Distillery Bar & Kitchen
cuisinesDistillery, South American, Caribbean

We recommend that you veer off Oxford Street or divert up from Crown Street to try this winning distillery at the northern end of Surry Hills. What you’ll find is more than you might expect: a lot of great tastes and experiences distilled (sorry!) into a relatively small space with shots of imagination.

Outside you’ll find barrels and stools to perch on at the Bourke Street entrance, and inside a central bar flanked by cosy seating on one side and the copper still on the other. I visited Brix on a quiet weekday afternoon, taking a seat at the long timber window bench – impressed with the view and the menu.

Rum or beer? That was the question. I combined both and tried the Bay Road Brewing Tropical Rum Porter (a collaboration between Brix and Bay Road Brewing). I’ll be back to sample more in-house creations, and other collabs. I’ll also be back for the live music (Friday nights), for a cocktail masterclass, and to try more of the great food. Special shout out to the pumpkin croquetas with goat cheese, minted honey and pecorino – yum!

Dish Cult’s top pick: Cubano burger – pulled pork, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, Westmont pickles, American mustard, lightly toasted ($19)

Book it here

Wayward Brewing Company
cuisinesBrewery, Burgers

The word is out amongst the hipster canines of the inner-west: Wayward Brewing is the place to meet. And according to the furries in the know, the humans seem to like it too!

It’s no exaggeration that Wayward Brewing is not only a microbrewery with fine beer but also a haven for dogs, a kind of doggie meeting place that also keeps the two-legged beer drinkers happily occupied. It even has a dog of the month and a “wall (woof) of fame”: photos of all the regulars. The first “drinker” I walked past was a tall oodle sitting on a bench next to its owners, closely checking out people as they arrived.

Seriously though, this place is great. In some ways it is exactly what you would expect from an inner-city microbrewery: an anonymous entrance from an unremarkable back street to a laneway with tables and umbrellas, a large bar with craft brews on tap. In other ways it surprises: a cave-like interior, small intimate rooms, a food truck in the laneway, and extensive merchandise (including Wayward Brewing dog coats).

Dish Cult’s top pick: Peri peri chicken burger – House-marinated spicy grilled chicken with lettuce, tomato, guacamole and Peri Peri Mayo ($16)

Book it here

The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre
cuisinesBrewery, Chinese, Pub

There’s a bit of a theme here: craft beer and dogs. The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre is another inner-west microbrewery that welcomes furry friends as well as beer lovers.

But there are some things that make The Bob (that’s what I call it, for short) unique. The most obvious is its association with the late unionist and former Prime Minister of Australia, whose image appears on each tinnie, on memorabilia throughout the centre, and on a large mural outside.

Another unique feature is the interior of The Bob – a large, fun multi-level space carved out of an industrial brewery. Inside you’ll find a 1970s-1980s inspired public bar area, a mezzanine bar, a pool room, and a Chinese-Australian bistro – The Lucky Prawn.

And another great reason to have a drink here: Bob’s share of each beer is donated to the environmental charity Landcare Australia.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Deep fried Viennetta Cake (for 4 – 6 people) ($40)

Manly Spirits Co. Distillery
cuisinesDistillery, Mediterranean

The epicentre of Sydney’s brewery and distillery scene is the Inner West and CBD, but the North Shore and Northern Beaches are also home to some great local enterprises, including the Manly Spirits Co. Distillery in Brookvale.

Here the focus is on sophisticated locally produced spirits and enticing Mediterranean food, inspired by the marine environment and coastline of New South Wales.

At the welcoming Distillery Bar you can combine local gins, botanical vodkas, liqueurs, and whiskies, with artisanal cheeses and meats, or a toastie with a difference: the Berkelo sourdough bread with fennel salami, red lester and spicy aioli toastie.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Charcuterie board ($35)

Mountain Culture Beer Co.
cuisinesBrewery, Burgers, Pub

You’ll be happy to know that if you head west from Sydney you are never too far away from craft beverages. In the Blue Mountains, you can find locally made beer, wine, cider, gin, and more. From the Grose Vale in the east, Bilpin to the north, the Megalong Valley to the west, and a few places in between, there are plenty of choices.

One of the newer brewers in the hills is the Katoomba-based Mountain Culture Beer Co. brewpub, a beautifully restored building just off the highway and close to the Katoomba Railway Station. At this brewpub you can enjoy beer, wine and burgers in the main bar area, a mezzanine room upstairs, or beer al fresco on the deck.

And you guessed it: dogs are welcome too, on the deck anyway.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Veggie burger – homemade patty with tamarind chutney, cucumber raita, lettuce & tomato

 

 

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