It is one of the most incredible settings in Australia with it’s dramatic rugged coastline, picture perfect surf breaks, quaint little villages, lush farmlands, rolling hills of grapevines and piles of incredible craft breweries.
Margaret River is well known around Australia as a world-class wine region and tourists flock here for wine tasting and gourmet food escapes. However after my recent visit, I would say it has now become one of our counties true craft beer meccas as well. You literally can’t drive 10-15 minutes down any given road around here and not stumble across a brewery. Some are good, most are great! Beer lovers, do yourselves a favour and plan a trip to the Margaret River region, you will not regret it!
My top 10 spots in the Margaret River region are:
Location: 3 Hemsley Rd, Yallingup WA 6282
Opening Times: Sun – Thurs: 10am – 5pm / Fri & Sat: 10am – 6pm
Beer Options: Bush shack specialise in out of the ordinary beer flavoured with everything from Mango and Strawberry to chocolate, cherry and chilli. Beers include: Dark Roast Wheat Beer, Chilli Beer, Stout, Spelt beer, Strawberry Blonde, Twisted Lemon Larger and a Yallingup ‘Old’.
Phone Number: (08) 9755 2848
Website: http://www.bushshackbrewery.com.au
Location: 114 Bussell Highway, Margaret River WA 6285
Opening Times: Sun: 10am-11pm / Mon-Fri: 11am-12am / Sat: 10am-12am.
Popular Food: ‘Settlers Hot Dog’ roasted WA pork and cheese kransky on a brioche hotdog bun. Slow-braised local Arkady lamb in rich sauce, mashed potatoes, caramelised carrots and fresh green beans.
Beer Options: 6 Taps pouring local and International Beers including The Settlers Tavern’s very own ‘Margaret River Ale Company’ brews.
Phone Number: (08) 9757 2398
Website: http://www.settlerstavern.com
Location: 4259 Caves Rd, Margaret River
Opening Times: 10am-6pm, 7 Days.
Popular Food: SA Mussels with gaunciale, eschallot, parsley, lemon and pale ale. 16 hours slow-braised Korean Beef Short Rib.
Beer Options: All the Cheeky Monkey range brewed on site; ‘Travelling Monk’ mid-strength red ale, ‘Hatseller’ Pilsener, ‘Old Reliable’ Pale Ale, ‘Hagenbeck’ Belgian IPA, ‘Southern Wailer’ Seasonal Brew. Also if your lucky, they will have their ‘Milk Of The Hoppy’ Imperial IPA on tap too.
Phone Number: (08) 9755 5555
Website: http://cheekymonkeybrewery.com.au
Location: 26 Dunn Bay Road, Dunsborough
Opening Times: Mon-Sat: 4pm-12am / Sun: 2pm-10pm
Popular Food:Slow cooked pulled pork. Jerk spiced chicken wings.
Beer Options: A fine selection of great craft beers from the local area and as far as Norway! 12 rotating craft beer taps and over 100 bottles of beer to choose from.
Phone Number: (08) 9759 1720
Website: http://www.pourhouse.com.au
Location: 177 Gale Road, Metricup, WA. 6280
Opening Times: Mon–Sat: 10am–7pm / Sun: 12pm–7pm
Beer Options: All the core Young Henrys range (Hop Ale, Real Ale, Natural Lager, Newtowner English Summer Ale) as well as some seasonal releases (e.g. Stupid Sexy Flanders Cherry Red Sour Ale).
Phone Number: (08) 9755 7177
Website: http://www.younghenrys.com
Location: Osmington Road, Margaret River, WA 6285
Opening Times: 11am-6pm.
Popular Food: Witbier battered fish and chips with tartare sauce. Sweet Soy Wasabi-chicken Pizza with ginger and coriander.
Beer Options: All Colonial Breweries beers including a Pale Ale, Wit Beer, Small Ale, IPA and a Porter.
Phone Number: +61 8 9758 8177
Website: http://www.colonialbrewingco.com.au
Location: 229 Treeton Road North, Cowaramup WA 6284
Opening Times: 11am-6pm, 7 Days.
Popular Food:Margaret River venison chorizo, ham, BBQ chicken, roasted capsicum, Kalamata olives, mushrooms, sun-dried tomato on a Napolitano sauce base garnished with spring onion & BBQ sauce.
Beer Options: All the Cowaramup range, including a pilsner, summer ale, pale ale, hefeweizen, IPA and a Porter.
Phone Number: (08) 9755 5822
Website: http://cowaramupbrewing.com.au
Location: 3517 Caves Rd Wilyabrup 6280
Opening Times: Mon–Thu: 11 am – 5 pm / Fri–Sun: 11 am – 6 pm
Popular Food: Pork Knuckle (it is seriously colossal) with sauerkraut, potato mash and pickles. Schnitzel and other German classics.
Beer Options: All German-style beers brewed onsite according to the German Purity Law. You can find Hefeweiss, Pilsner, Dunkel and Altbier, though Duckstein also brew seasonal beers such as Maibock and Festbier for Oktoberfest.
Phone Number: (08) 9755 6500
Website: http://www.duckstein.com.au
Location: Eagle Bay Rd, Eagle Bay. W.A. 6281
Opening Times: 11am-5pm, 7 Days.
Popular Food: Coconut Chicken Salad, rice noodles, green papaya and herb salad. 6 hour BBQ braised beef brisket ciabatta sandwich, coleslaw, gruyere cheese and pickles.
Beer Options: The entire Eagle Bay range: Kolsch, Vienna, Pale Ale, Extra Special Bitter, Mild Ale, Summer Ale.
Phone Number: (08) 97553554
Website: http://eaglebaybrewing.com.au
Location: CNR Puzey & Johnson Roads, WILLYABRUP, WA
Opening Times: 11am-6pm, 7 Days.
Popular Food:14 hour Prinsep Cider braised pork sliders with bacon jam, Raging Bull BBQ sauce, sour cream slaw and fresh chilli. Speakeasy IPA cheesy dip, apple & date chutney, dip of the day, kangaroo & emu chorizo, olives, danish feta & turkish bread.
Beer Options: All the beers from the Bootleg range. ‘The Raging Bull’, ‘Speakeasy’ IPA, ‘Toms’ Amber Ale, ‘Sou’ West‘ Wheat, ‘Prohibition’ Pils.
Phone Number: 08 9755 6300
Website: http://bootlegbrewery.com.au